Exploring Hollywood on the Metro: A Day at Universal CityWalk and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

When it comes to visitors seeking advice about visiting Los Angeles, one of the most difficult questions to answer is about our public transit system. It is a system that is ever-growing and changing. LA might be late to the public transit game, but Metro is trying to change the most car-dependent city in America, and that is not an easy task. I have been riding Metro for twelve years and have never been in possession of a driver’s license. I have learned to make it work for me.
While I always end up advising visitors to rent a car, I do want to stress the importance of trying our subway/light rail system. At the core is Union Station – and from there you can hit up many top destination spots like Hollywood and Highland, Long Beach, Pasadena and of course, Universal CityWalk. Take a ride with me as I explain the basics of our train system as I go from South Pasadena (Metro Gold Line) to Union Station to Universal CityWalk.

Wasn’t that a smooth adventure? Maybe I’m biased, but I did bring along two rookie Los Angeles residents to give me their first impression of riding Metro to Universal CityWalk – my mother and her friend Dawn. They were equally impressed with the ease of purchasing, transferring and riding on Metro. They were also both just as hungry as I was after all of that traveling and were eager to dig in at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Appetizers are a must – and there is no better combination than mixing classic with contemporary with a traditional shrimp cocktail and shrimp and fish hush puppies. I really could have just stopped there and called it day… had I not had to share.

Mom ordered Lt. Dan’s Drunken Shrimp – chargrilled shrimp and Andouille sausage arranged around a bed of mashed potatoes and potato sticks, all in a thin bath of bourbon sauce. It had just enough kick to keep her coming back for more!

Dawn enjoyed the home-style tilapia with capers, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes in a lemon butter sauce on a bed of rice (and with a few pan-seared shrimp for good measure). It was just rich enough to satisfy that all-important balance of healthy and indulgence.

In a rare moment of health conscientiousness, I ordered the red snapper with mango salsa and a side of steamed veggies. No rice, no sauce. I know – who am I and what have I done with gravy-loving Rachael? No worries, though, my fish was just as succulent and flakey with only the mango salsa to frill it up.

Though I personally did not partake in dessert (now you know I’ve been kidnapped by aliens), my mom and Dawn could not stop praising the cinnamon bread pudding.

It must be said that the staff at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. cannot be topped by all the fine dining waiters in America. Everyone was friendly, welcoming and eager to make sure that our dining experience was a joy from the moment we stepped into the restaurant to the second we left.

Universal CityWalk is located at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. Find out more at citywalkhollywood.com. You’ll find Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Universal CityWalk at 1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal City. Check out their menu and more online at bubbagump.com. And for more information about Metro, including a handy trip planner, visit metro.net.