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Out and About: East L.A. Edition
We know what your thinking, East L.A. edition? Isn’t that a bit broad. And where is East L.A.? Isn’t everything past WEHO just L.A? This edition is for the locals, your where’s where of places to dine, shop, and see as a true Angeleno would care to do.
On the list of up-and-coming neighborhoods you can relocate to, we share with you East L.A.’s most noteworthy stops to the best restaurants in Los Feliz. You’ll wonder why you don’t step outside your zip code more often.
Morning
Swing by the airy Skylight Books and peruse the independent shop’s well-curated staff picks for some morning reading material, then take your paperback of choice up the street to the small patio at caffeine-fix mainstay Bru Coffeebar. If you’re after a decadent breakfast, claim a booth and order up something from the griddle at 24/7 throwback diner Fred 62. Wait out your inevitable food coma with a $6.50 early matinee in the plush, Egyptian-style Vista Theatre.
Afternoon
Work your way down Vermont Avenue and its collection of shops, from radical decor courtesy of queer feminist-owned Otherwild to an indescribable assortment of pop culture at Soap Plant Wacko. Then cross over Hollywood Boulevard and climb up to Barnsdall Art Park for a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark, the temple-like Hollyhock House.
Make your way back to the other side of town and into Griffith Park for a sandwich and slice of pie from the Trails Cafe, which overlooks the lovely Fern Dell, a shaded, rustic oasis equally stocked with relaxing strolls and hiking trailheads.
Evening
Feeling intrepid? Hike the two-mile trail up to Griffith Observatory. Otherwise, drive up and settle in for a sunset with shimmery city views from the Art Deco hilltop observatory.
Trek back down for dinner on one of L.A.’s most idyllic patios at Alcove Cafe and Bakery, which serves up large, unfussy plates in its twinkle-lit courtyard, with top-notch whimsical cocktails at the adjoining Big Bar. Afterward, make sure to visit lounge legends Marty and Elayne at the Dresden before swinging by House of Pies for a midnight slice of banana cream pie.
Courtesy of: Time Out L.A.
‘Two Bit Circus’ Now Open in Downtown Los Angeles
Offering a spot where games and drinks mix isn’t a particularly new idea. Chains like Dave & Buster’s have been doing it for a long time, and there are even a fair amount of local bars such as the The One Up in Sherman Oaks or EightyOne in the Arts District that offer cabinet games to pair with their libations. However, Two Bit Circus, which saw its doors open to the public in Downtown earlier this month, takes things to an entirely new level.
Billing itself as a “Micro Amusement Park,” the renovated 50,000-square-foot warehouse in the Arts District has a wide range of gaming activities to check out, including VR experiences, classic arcade games, and Story Rooms, which take guests into a themed-location where they must interact with their surroundings and their team in order to solve puzzles or unfold a narrative.
Virtual reality stations are abundant, offering the chance to immerse yourself in a world where you can fight dragons, drive tanks, explore crafted sci-fi terrain, and much more. One experience, called ‘The Raft’, has you defend a swamp against an infestation of supernatural creeps. Other offerings range from pinball to four-player air hockey to arcade staples like Street Fighter II, to more immersive experiences like Two Bit’s ‘Story Rooms’, which create what are essentially mini escape rooms that require a group to play through. There are even ‘VR Cabanas’, karaoke-style rooms that can be rented on an hourly basis and allow you and up to five friends to play a variety of Virtual Reality games together.
Food and drink wise, a circular bar dominates the center of the space while a concession window off to one side offers a moderate range of bar food (fries, corn dogs, sliders, tots, etc…) at somewhat immoderate prices ($15-ish per dish). But let’s be real, you’re coming here for the gaming.
In order to play the arcade games you can pre-load a card you swipe at the various consoles (no quarters, yay!) and the Story Rooms and VR experiences require reservations, with costs typically ranging from $15 to $35. Experiences generally run from 15 to 30 minutes, though at least one will push an hour (The Lost City).
Two Bit Circus is located at 634 Mateo St. Los Angeles, CA 90021. Operating hours are Monday to Thursday: from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from 11 to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free, and games are purchase on a per-play basis. Occasionally the park will be closed for a private event, so calling ahead is always recommended. Parking is limited, so street parking is likely.
For reservations and more information, you can visit their website.
Article courtesy of We Like LA.
Restaurants To Try In Westwood
People usually don’t make the trek to Westwood solely for the purpose of enjoying a great meal — but they should. The area is firmly Bruin territory, so of course you’ll find lots of on-the-go, affordable eats catering to UCLA frat types and Anderson grads. That said, you’ll also discover second-to-none Persian food (the neighborhood occasionally goes by the nickname “Tehrangeles”) and plenty of creative kitchens putting their own spin on culinary concepts. Here are 20 restaurants and eateries to try in Westwood.
Best build-your-own bowl: Cava
1073 Broxton Avenue
If you scoff at the idea of yet another build-your-own sandwich/bowl/salad spot, you haven’t tried Cava. First of all, the offerings lean Mediterranean, so you get to choose from saffron basmati rice or black lentils, spicy lamb meatballs or falafel, lemon herb tahini or Sriracha Greek yogurt, and the list goes on. Secondly, the ingredients taste unbelievably fresh — and you’re allowed to choose as many dressings and toppings (like cauliflower quinoa tabbouleh, pickled onions, and crumbled feta) as you wish.
Best date spot: Double Take
10740 Wilshire Boulevard
By day, Hotel Palomar’s Double Take is a solid spot for breakfast or brunch where you can fuel up on fluffy coconut pancakes and sourdough waffles. By night, though, this restaurant/bar/lounge serves up a BLT wedge salad, a beet Reuben sandwich made with Emmental cheese, and grilled flatiron steak with chimichurri. After you scarf it all down, grab a craft cocktail (often made with fresh herbs and produce sourced from local farmers markets) and head to the interconnected game room that has Skee-Ball, shuffleboard, and pool. Date night accomplished.
Best meal you can have without a reservation: KazuNori
1110 Gayley Avenue
KazuNori doesn’t take reservations, so there’s bound to be a bit of a wait, but few other places offer food of this caliber in such a quick, casual setting. The restaurant’s hand roll concept comes from the folks behind Sugarfish, so you can expect the same signature warm rice and super-fresh fish all wrapped up in a crisp nori sheet.
Best lunch spot: Attari Sandwich Shop
1388 Westwood Boulevard
You’ll never suffer from sad-desk-lunch syndrome again after ordering a legendary tongue sandwich at this Tehrangeles eatery. What you’ll find is chunks of tender beef tongue piled into fresh, crusty bread (think of a banh mi loaf and you’ll get the picture), complemented by just the right amount of pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
Best strip-mall sushi: Hamasaku
11043 Santa Monica Boulevard
Some of LA’s best sushi restaurants, like Hamasaku, are hidden away in strip malls. This nondescript spot — which is surprisingly spacious inside — has a solid sashimi selection, in addition to several non-traditional rolls and shareable starters. Look out for seasonal specials like this summer’s cold noodle dish: a cluster of pork chashu, scallions, and key lime slices sitting in a refreshing scallop clam broth.
Best healthy food that doesn’t taste healthy: Necco
1929 Westwood Boulevard
“Necco” means “root” in Japanese, and that’s exactly what this restaurant specializes in. While it’s easy to knock a menu peppered with stuff like daikon, ginger, or burdock, Necco’s actually preparing these healthy ingredients in an innovative way. Lotus root is lightly fried in panko, yielding a soft-yet-crunchy texture that’s surprisingly delicious, while daikon and yam are sliced into crisp “chips” as an appetizer. The menu’s got plenty of non-root-related bites too, like miso-marinated salmon belly and tasty wagyu beef; for lunch, definitely get one of the beautifully presented bento boxes, which gives you a taste of everything.
Best for vegetarians: Veggie Grill
10916 Lindbrook Drive
Veggie Grill’s where you go when you feel like having a burrito or burger or hot dog… but you’re meeting your vegetarian or vegan friend for dinner. That’s because VG’s spicy Sicilian sausage sandwich comes with a juicy link from Beyond Meat (for the uninitiated, that’s a company making plant-based meats that taste like the real thing) and Pomodoro sauce, and their all-day breakfast burrito is stuffed with soy chorizo, vegan cheese, fire-roasted salsa, beans, and Just Egg (for the uninitiated, that’s a plant-based egg made from mung bean that scrambles like the real thing). You’ll hardly be able to tell the difference, so even the carnivores will be happy.
Best non-taco-truck tacos: Tacos Tu Madre
1945 1/2 Westwood Boulevard
No more chasing down your favorite taco truck after a night out; this colorful takeout window is tiny, but stays put. Plus, it specializes in unique taco offerings (like Korean barbecue, cactus, and fried chicken), breakfast burritos, and mouthwatering red velvet churros.
Best pizza: 800 Degrees
10889 Lindbrook Drive
Don’t expect sturdy pies that hold up perfectly while you eat them at this build-your-own-pizza spot. 800 Degrees is known for slippery, piping-hot, fresh Neapolitan-style pizza submerged in sauce and quality toppings — the mess, in other words, is a part of the fun. Keep it basic with a pepperoni or sausage and peppers pie, or go wild with a genre-topping custom masterpiece.
Best fancy restaurant for when you’re not paying: STK
930 Hilgard Avenue
Though their porterhouse steak and lobster ravioli are revelatory, half the reason you’re going to this restaurant in the W Hotel is its sleek, stylish vibe, designed to make you feel like Vegas has come to Westwood (there’s a lounge area with a DJ, if you feel like making a night of it). Though you’ll be paying a pretty penny for succulent wagyu and Alaskan red king crab, STK’s also got a weekday social hour from 4-6:30pm where drinks are half-off, oysters go for $2 a pop, and jalapeno Cheddar grits croquettes and tuna tartare tacos are just $8. For a slightly different vibe, reserve a table at The Hideout — STK’s newer poolside dining area at the W — where you can enjoy oysters, lobster BLTs, and craft cocktails by night or truffle-Cheddar grits, short rib hash, and croque madames for brunch by day.
Best ice cream: Saffron & Rose
1387 Westwood Boulevard
At this Persian ice cream joint, there’s almost always a line of people (though it moves quickly) — all waiting for a scoop of irresistible ice cream that owes its thick, gooey consistency to organic whole milk and ground orchid root (called salep). Newcomers should definitely pick up a quart of faloodeh (squiggly rice noodles in mouthwatering ice cream) golo bol bol (the shop’s namesake pistachio-studded saffron and rose, which, thankfully, don’t taste anything like perfume), and other delightful flavors like cucumber or orange blossom (designed to make you rethink every other ice cream you’ve ever encountered).
Best food truck turned restaurant: TLT Food
1116 Westwood Boulevard
The explosive flavors here — Mexican-Asian fusion with a distinct Cali twist — are all over the place, in the best way possible. Exhibit A: orange chicken tacos. This hodgepodge of taste and texture, which is new to the menu, consists of fried chicken covered in orange sauce and tossed with juicy mandarin slices, wontons, and a crunchy Asian slaw. Don’t leave without also gorging on braised pork belly nachos, cotija cheese-topped carnitas fries, and ahi tuna tacos with chipotle-honey slaw.
Best sandwich spot: Ike’s Place
1151 Westwood Boulevard
Ike’s, a Bay Area fixture, boasts a massive number of sandwich options at its LA location. Whatever you order — whether it’s the Menage A Trois (BBQ halal chicken, Swiss, and honey mustard) or the Kenny Washington (wild salmon with havarti) — definitely request it with Dutch crunch bread. It’s a dense, chewy loaf with a crisped-up top (that’s the “crunch”) and is arguably one of the best parts about eating an Ike’s sandwich.
Best meal when you’re sick of college student food: Ramayani
1777 Westwood Boulevard
This authentic Indonesian gem gives you a tasty respite from the area’s chain restaurants. Adventurous palates will enjoy the soto madura (traditional soup with beef tripe and coconut milk) and ikan balado (fried-to-a-crisp whole fish smothered in a kicky sauce).
Best lunch special: Fundamental LA
1303 Westwood Boulevard
Fundamental’s sandwich-heavy lunch menu is definitely among the neighborhood’s best. The go-to move here is the longstanding $14 power lunch special, which includes a sandwich or salad with a side AND a cookie (not one that’s an afterthought, mind you, but a marriage of perfectly crisp and chewy textures in one baked treat). If you’re in the area for dinner, the evening menu of locally sourced, artistically plated dishes is a must-try too.
Best fast food: In-N-Out
922 Gayley Avenue
There aren’t many In-N-Outs on the Westside, so this outpost — serving up the chain’s tasty double-doubles and animal-style fries — is the area’s fast-food unicorn. Pull up the not-so-secret menu, and drench those not-so-great fries in secret sauce.
Best kabobs: Shamshiri Grill
1712 Westwood Boulevard
South Westwood Boulevard is often referred to as Little Tehran, so most of the Persian restaurants along the street know how to whip up a mean kabob. Shamshiri’s ground lamb koobideh skewers, though, are particularly juicy, tender, and flavor-packed — the perfect complement to dishes like shirin polo (fragrant basmati rice speckled with saffron, orange peels, pistachios, and almonds), or tahdig, which is basically the crispy, crackly layer of rice at the bottom of the pot topped with stew.
Best late-night food: Bella Pita
960 Gayley Avenue
Night owls in Westwood have their pick of burgers, pizzas, tacos, and other greasy late-night eats around here, but Bella Pita’s probably the only spot that serves a satisfying, falafel-loaded pita covered in veggies, hummus, and tzatziki sauce — until 3am daily. The dough for their pitas and famous “wowshis” (think of a Mediterranean-inspired Hot Pocket, where warm, melty fillings are baked inside) is made in house, oftentimes right in front of you.
Best introduction to Middle Eastern food: Sunnin Lebanese Cafe
1776 Westwood Boulevard
Fantastic Middle Eastern restaurants abound in Westwood — too many to even include in this guide — but if you’re not familiar with the cuisine, beloved Sunnin’s Lebanese specialties are a good place to try a little of everything. Start with lemony baba ghanouj, tangy labneh cheese, and fatayer (a flavorful hand pie glutted with spinach and onion), then move onto falafel with a soft center and crisp exterior, juicy chicken shawarma, or kibbeh bil sanieh (minced beef and pine nuts layered between ground beef).
Best cheap eats: Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Avenue
Even if some say Diddy Riese’s famous stuffed ice cream cookie sandwiches don’t count as “real” eats (we’d beg to differ though), at $2.50 a pop, they certainly qualify as cheap. Customize your own from a dozen ice cream flavors (strawberry cheesecake chunk, cookie dough, espresso chip, the list goes on) and 10 different cookie varieties (ranging from decadent candy chocolate chip to the simple pleasures of sugar cinnamon), all made from scratch and baked fresh daily.
Story courtesy of Thrillist.
Downtown LA Restaurants You Should Try
LA’s got a ton of great neighborhoods, but few have undergone as massive a revitalization as Downtown LA. Courtesy of a building boom over the last decade and a half, DTLA’s seen a slew of new housing, hotels, and museums — but one of the most notable transformations in just the last few years is its metamorphosis into one the city’s hottest dining scenes that’s expanding at a dizzying pace.
It’d be impossible to call out every excellent DTLA restaurant worth hitting up (by the time you read this sentence, three more will have opened) but we’ve collected a helpful roster of many, many amazing venues that will fill virtually every need you have — whether it’s a hot spot helmed by a celebrity chef, a reliable sushi bar, or a life-changing taco shop. See you Downtown.
Best for life-changing hummus: Bavel
500 Matteo Street
The same duo behind Downtown’s beloved Bestia opened this stunner of a space that honors their family roots with a menu of modern Middle Eastern dishes. There are flavor-packed powerhouses like slow-roasted lamb neck shawarma and marinated okra with whipped feta, but the real showstoppers are the couldn’t-be-creamier spreads including a duck-laced hummus and smoky baba ghanoush. The dining room’s suspended garden is pretty cool, too.
Best (and only!) way to try David Chang’s food in LA: Majordomo
1725 Naud Street
The legendary Momofuku man himself has arrived on the West Coast with what’s become one of LA’s toughest reservations to land at this Chinatown beauty. He’s mixed both Asian and American styles of cooking to create an ever-changing menu of seriously inspired dishes. Certain dishes seem to be staying put, though, like the fried butterball potatoes, egg-and-smoked roe on bing bread, make-your-own Jumeokbap (rice and seaweed balls) along with large-format plates including a $190 short rib served with a long list accoutrements. Order them and others.
Best for tasty dinner inside an old rectory: Redbird
114 E Second Street
You’d never know that this bright and elegant space once housed clergymen (though the adjacent cathedral-turned-event-space Vibiana might give it away). Inside, longtime LA chef and restaurateur Neal Fraser churns out his take on modern American fare, with heavy focus on vibrant, layered dishes including chili-laced broccolini and foie gras with rhubarb jam and lychee. Bar director Tobin Shea also recently rolled out a massive new menu with 31 cocktails utilizing ingredients from the garden courtyard, so be sure to check that out as well.
Best old-school sushi: Sushi Gen
422 E Second Street
In addition to looking the “LA sushi joint” part with its windowless strip mall location and line out the front door, this long-standing Little Tokyo restaurant never disappoints with some of the freshest fish in town. A lineup of serious sushi chefs slice up no-frills nigiri and sashimi, and lunch and dinner combo options are always a great deal.
Best under-the-radar chef’s counter experience: Rossoblu
1124 San Julian Street
It doesn’t get a lot of buzz – probably because it’s tucked in the back of the sprawling dining room that’s flanked by a giant wall mural — but the low bar seats surrounding the open kitchen are some of this rustic Bolognese-inspired restaurant’s best. It’s there you can watch chefs grill steak and spot prawns and put the finishing touches on fresh pasta… and then, of course, eat it.
Best fancy French: Le Petit Paris
418/420 Spring Street
This bi-level space in the historic El Dorado building already oozes drama with its chandeliers, beveled mirrored walls, and velvet seats, even before you get a look at the menu. If you really want to feel like you’re out for a Don Draper-style dinner, though, try one of the specialties they prepare tableside, like the whole Dover sole the server filets in front of you, or the black truffle-topped pasta that shows up inside a giant parmesan wheel and gets flambéed in cognac.
Best scene-y new spot: Dama
612 E 11th Street
From the gang behind the Westside’s sexy Scopa Italian Roots (which they say is in Venice, but we know is actually in Marina del Rey) comes this gorgeous Latin-inspired spot just across the courtyard from Rossoblu. The bar is bustling, the patio is packed, and the design has an old Havana vibe that pairs perfectly with its menu of mainly small plates. Think seafood tostada, whipped heirloom beans, and a crispy calamari bocadillo.
Best artery-clogging breakfast: Nickel Diner
524 S Main St
Maple-glazed bacon donuts! Brioche cinnamon toast! Corned beef and eggs! Homemade pop tarts! It’s all here at this diner that looks likes like the quintessential diner-in-a-movie kind of diner. Yes, there are healthier options on the menu as well — but you’re not going here for the tofu scramble, so own your gluttony and dive into the deep end.
Best hotel restaurant: Nomad
649 S Olive Street
Eleven Madison Park’s Daniel Humm is at the helm of this all-day restaurant inside the same-named glam hotel, doing bright seasonal dishes like kampachi crudo with white peaches or suckling pig confit with charred cherries. There’s no shortage of spots to drink here, either, with the sophisticated Giannini Bar churning out creative cocktails on the ground level, and the view-heavy Rooftop Bar that also does a smattering of small plates and a duo of ice cream sandwiches.
Best vegetables: P.Y.T.
400 S Main Street
It’s not a vegan restaurant (or even a vegetarian one), but Josef Centeno’s two-year-old addition to his Downtown dining empire is undoubtedly an ode to veggies, with highlights like cold-smoked baby carrots, grilled fava beans, a leek tart, and homemade pasta. Yes, you can order a meat dish, but that would be missing the point.
Best gourmet street tacos: Guerilla Tacos
2000 E Seventh Street
After spending six years as one of the most beloved food trucks in town, Wes Avila’s Guerilla Tacos has parked the truck and gone brick-and-mortar with a space in the Arts District. The taco menu changes frequently, with fillings ranging from carnitas and crab to out-of-the-box adds like Medjool dates, pickled pineapple, and pine nuts, along with a selection of equally-as-good tostadas.
Best option when you can’t decide: Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway
There’s more food here than you’ll be able to take down in a single visit, so you’ll have to go back to this food hall pretty frequently. Many of the classic, been-there-for-decades stalls like China Cafe and 65-year-old Mexican food joint Roast to Go are still worth a stop, in addition to new faves including pastrami purveyor Wexler’s, Thai counter Sticky Rice, the forever-killing-it breakfast sando spot Eggslut, and Ramen Hood, which dishes out a vegan ramen that tastes as good as the real deal thanks to a broth made with sunflower seeds.
Best for underground Japanese food, art, and whisky: Mrs. Fish
448 S. Hill Street
After a year-long renovation, dual-level subterranean club Mrs. Fish has re-emerged as a sultry restaurant and lounge complete with multiple menus, bars, and dining spaces. The owners (the same folks behind rooftop spot Perch 15 floors above) have installed an over-the-top Japanese art collection, hung massive whimsical light fixtures, and kept the 5,500-gallon fish tank from the space’s club days. Two sushi bars dole out pretty nigiri, sashimi, and souped-up rolls made with fish flown in from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish market, while the whisky bar boasts several dozen Japanese imports. If you’re doing a full-on dinner in the dining room, don’t miss the kitchen’s smoky uni pasta with lobster and bonito flakes.
Best steakhouse: Nick & Stef’s
330 S Hope Street
Downtown LA was a very different place when the Patina Group’s Nick & Stef’s opened nearly two decades ago, and — despite a mind-boggling number of newcomers to the area — the steakhouse is still a nice option for a power lunch, blowout dinner, or martinis and oysters at the bar. And, thanks to a stylish makeover a few years back, it’s looking better than ever.
Best New York-style slice: Lupetti Pizzeria
710 E Fourth Place
In recent years, LA has become a city full of excellent wood-fired, Neapolitan-esque pies with inventive toppings at pizza palaces like Pizzana, Pizzeria Mozza, and Sotto — and that’s all well and good for those times where you feel like sitting down to a full $22 pie. What we don’t have nearly enough of, though, are spots where you can pick up a really good slice on the go. Enter the Arts District’s new Lupetti Pizzeria slinging plain slices for a glorious $3.50 a pop (along with Margarita and Sicilian slices for a bit more). You can also get whole pies and other classic pizzeria staples like a chicken parm sandwich — and look for the place to open a bar next door, soon.
Best dipping ramen: Okiboru
635 N Broadway
This new Chinatown storefront is one of only a few spots in town where you’ll find tsukemen: a ramen dish where the broth is served separate from the noodles and toppings, which are meant to be dipped. The kitchen makes its own thick noodles in house, churning out rich, creamy broths; perfectly charred pork; and a marinated tofu to go with the vegan version. The interior is fun and poppy with orange seats, noodle baskets serving as napkin and chopstick holders, and a chalkboard illustration on how to properly slurp… just in case you need instruction.
Best jaw-dropping space: Otium
222 S Hope Street
Before you head inside, take a moment to admire this Bunker Hill beauty from across the sprawling plaza out front: It’s a spectacular stand-alone, steel-glass-and-wood structure that sits in the shadow of The Broad. The space itself feels wine-country contemporary with its salvaged woods, olive tree-surrounded patio, and dramatic open kitchen centered around a wood-burning oven — not all that surprising, since chef Timothy Hollingsworth spent more than a decade in Napa, including a stint at French Laundry. Here he’s doing refined rustic fare — from pork chops to pasta — that you’ll want to linger over.
Best Japanese fried chicken: Karayama
136 S Central Avenue
There’s no shortage of fried chicken in LA (and no shortage of a never-ending line at Howlin’ Ray’s just a mile or so away) but it’s worth a stop at this new fast-casual spot in Little Tokyo. The first US venture by a popular Japanese chain, this place is all about karaage: ultra-crispy, marinated, breaded, and deep-fried boneless chicken. There’s a sandwich on white bread smeared with a garlic sesame sauce; a bowl of the fried thighs simmered with egg and onion in broth; and some standout dinner sets where the karaage is served with a few house-made sauces, rice, salad, and sides.
Story courtesy of Thrillist.