About Us

About Pearl’s Red Hots

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The Legacy is Real. The Hot Dogs? Unreal.

 

Welcome to Pearl’s Red Hots, where classic Chicago comfort food gets a flavor-packed upgrade—and a whole lot of personality. Pearl’s is a nostalgic-yet-modern tribute to Brad’s late mother, Pearl—the matriarch who always had lunch ready and a deep love for a chili dog (fittingly, we named ours The Pearl). The lease was signed on what would have been her 101st birthday.

 

Rooted in tradition and built on quality, Pearl’s brings an authentic taste of Chicago to Los Angeles. We proudly serve 100% Vienna Beef hot dogs, just like you’d find back home, alongside Italian beef piled high, juicy burgers, and made-to-order favorites. Our bread and giardiniera are sourced straight from Chicago, and every detail—from the snap of the dog to the balance of toppings—is done right.

 

Brad Roen: Commander in Beef

Commander in Beef. Serial Entrepreneur. Reluctant Retiree.

 

Meet Brad Roen, the fearless force behind Pearl’s Red Hots. After four decades of shaking up LA’s restaurant scene—from his very first venture, a Chicago-style hot dog joint called Beamers in Agoura Hills to the neighborhood favorite Vitello’s—Brad finally hung up his apron… briefly.

 

Retirement lasted all of five minutes.

 

Now he’s back where it all started—at the counter, on the grill, and fully in his element. Pearl’s Red Hots is a full-circle moment and a tribute to his mother Pearl, whose name graces the awning and whose spirit lives in every bite.

 

Whether he’s crafting the perfect dog, swapping stories with guests, or talking shop with fellow food lovers, Brad proves that some people don’t retire—they just reload.

 

Valerie Roen: Brains Behind the Buns

Designer by Passion. Operator by Nature. Slovak Girl with Serious Bite.

 

Valerie Roen is the creative mind and operational backbone behind Pearl’s Red Hots. While Brad brings the beef, Valerie brings everything else—from branding, logo and menu design to web, social media, accounting, POS systems, and keeping the operation running seamlessly behind the scenes.

 

Before Pearl’s, Valerie worked as an Automation & Controls Engineer and even won The Price Is Right—twice. Today, she blends that analytical mindset with her design expertise to build a brand that is both visually compelling and operationally tight.

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She also proudly represents anyone who’s ever asked, “What can I actually eat here?” With gluten-free and plant-based options thoughtfully built into the menu, the answer at Pearl’s is simple: plenty.