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.
You’ve worked hard, whether your on the 9-to-5 or somewhere in between, pampering is more a necessity then a treat. With the year winding down and the workload ramping back up, we decided to round together the top 5 places to treat yourself this fall. Whether your needing a rejuvenation or relaxation, the spas below are sure to help in achieving the most zen like state.
THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA, LOS ANGELES
Downtown Los Angeles get its on own oasis of calm at this 8,000 square foot luxury spa. There are nine treatment rooms and a luxe couple’s suite, relaxation spaces and aromatherapy rooms with private plunge showers. Neutral tones accented by gold and silver embody the classic Hollywood theme. This spa sparkles, and so will your body. Take the Champagne and Shimmer Body Treatment, which begins with with an organic scrub made from the seeds of champagne grapes, followed by an application of 24- karat gold shimmering powder.
There are some spa experiences so unforgettable, it’s hard to imagine having a better experience elsewhere. Tomoko Japanese Spa in Beverly Hills is one of those places. Founded on the principles of Japanese healing and renewal of the spirit, Tomoko offers treatments that aim to not only release tension, but renew the body with “khi” (energy). Couple treatments include sushi from Sugar Fish, a well-loved restaurant chain in Los Angeles. After treatments, guests can retreat to the main room to enjoy tea and mochi.
Though not as showy as its counterparts, Larchmont Sanctuary and Spa is just as special, with treatments to match. Located in a 90-year-old building under a beautiful tree, the spa feels like a cabin retreat in the heart of the city. Eight treatment rooms (2 outdoor) offer guests an opportunity to experience truly impressive pampering with all organic products. Wood tones and vibrant orange color accent the property, giving its outdoor spaces the feel of a chic cabana on the beach.
From its plush white furniture to minimalist yet welcoming decor, visitors are whisked away at Ciel Spa by Pearl Wellness in the SLS Hotel. Located on one of Los Angeles’ busiest streets, the 5,000 square foot getaway provides ample opportunity to forget city life. The signature Ciel massage is otherworldly, and you can be assured that every tense spot will not stand a chance.
The Spa by Joanna Vargas at The Sunset Tower Hotel
The Spa by Joanna Vargas at Sunset Tower hotel is 2,025 square feet with six treatment rooms and five aestheticians, led by Vargas veteran Asia Vereline. Along with a celebrity clientele that counts the likes of Elizabeth Moss, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Naomi Watts as patrons, the services offered reach new heights of luxury skincare. On the menu are LED light therapy sessions, which are said to boost collagen production and promote healing; eight types of facials that use tech gadgets; green tea-spiked oxygen; and body treatments, including microdermabrasion, sunless tanning, cellulite-targeting radio frequency and L.A.-exclusive scrubs, wraps and bath soaks; as well as massages.
Whether your hosting, pot-lucking, or just in the fall spirit-we’ve put together a list of the best beverages to try this October. So skip the generic apple cider and read below for tasty recipes sure to delight even your most ghoulish guest.
Halloween Bloody Mary Shooters
Homemade Bloody Mary mix is topped with a layer of black vodka in these spooky shooters. They’re just the thing for getting a Halloween party started.
The perfect concoction to serve to even the tiniest of terrors, the Blood Moon punch can be made sans spirits for family gatherings or spiked to appease grown up ghouls.
The smokiness of the mezcal perfectly complements the warming spices in the cider, yielding a complex, subtly sweet cocktail that was basically fall coziness in a glass. 100% delightful.
Serve up a little black magic in the form of a cocktail made with vodka that’s as dark as night — with a scoop of ghostly-white vanilla ice cream floating on top.
Whether your a candy corn lover or hater, nothing screams hallows eve or day quite like candy corn. This trick-or-treat essential turned cocktail is a Halloween must for those opting to sip their treats instead of snack.
Beckoning jewel-toned fruits are cleverly frozen into a block of ice using a cake pan, then floated atop a Halloween punch spiked with sake and plum wine. Pomegranate juice gives the drink a very apt blood-red hue.
If your not one for festive cocktails then no fret! Select your favorite seasonal beer or lager and bring out your inner craftsmen with this how to for the perfect Pumpkin Keg.
WHETHER YOUR ON HOSTING DUTY FOR THE EVENING OR SIMPLY LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT TREAT TO PAIR WITH YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY OR FESTIVE SUGGESTIONS. REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY AND MAYBE CUT YOURSELF OFF THE CANDY AFTER A HANDFUL OR SO!
We know what your thinking…more fall weekend activities in L.A.! Well if you weren’t thinking that, you are now(your welcome) and you can still read ahead because we’ve rounded up the next haul of weekend activities taking place in and around L.A. So grab your broomsticks and join us for this weekends tricks and treats throughout your neck of the woods!
With all the hustle and bustle of our weekday routine we bring you a curated list of the weekends top activities happening throughout the city of stars.
Limited engagements taking place this Oct. 12th-14th feature Pumpkin Nights Pomona to Cheat Day in DTLA! Read below for a breakdown of the weekend events.
The American American Contemporary Ballet invites you to their Halloween “Hellraiser” this weekend. This one night only event includes the world premiere of Burlesque and the opening night of Inferno. You will meet the composer Charles Wuorinen (one of the most eminent in the world), hear from ACB’s Artistic Director Lincoln Jones about his vision for the future of ballet, and have an opportunity to support one of the most cutting-edge performing arts companies working today. The evening will also include a reception where a selection of fine foods, wine, and other surprises will be available to indulge in. For ticket prices and more information click here.
*A portion of your ticket purchase is tax deductible.
Spend your evening beneath the stars and amongst the art of the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum. The LACMA Jazz series is free to the public and takes place in the museum’s Smidt Welcome Plaza. Arrive early to claim your seats and enjoy a selection of gourmet food and wine from Ray’s special Jazz night menu. This weekend’s concert features famed pianist and composer Josh Nelson. Nelson has performed and toured with some of the leading names in jazz. For more information click here.
Don’t miss this weekends showing of the cult classic family favorite(so many adjectives!) Halloween film Hocus Pocus. The event is being hosted by San Fernando Valley’s Halloween Drive-In Night where patrons cruise in for a truly authentic retro-style movie experience. The night will be a double-feature screening of Hocus Pocus and Christine. Guest have the option to purchase tickets for one or both films. Additionally, a variety of food trucks and family-friendly pre-show entertainment will also be provided. To join the Sanderson sisters and find out more information click here.
For a weekend of laughs and fun performances, join Disoriented Comedy and the JACCC for their 4th annual comedy festival. Indulge your funny bone with over 100 performers and famed comedians like “Adam Ruins Everything”‘s Adam Conover, Danny Pudi and Mary Sohn. Pop in for afternoon humor or enjoy the evening line up at this 3-day fest. The Comedy Comedy Festival is sponsored by the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, CBS Diversity Program and NBC Universal T.I.P. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Take part in this year’s Pumpkin Nights, an interactive experience inviting guests to explore eight different eight themed pumpkin-lands crafted with over 3,000 pumpkins! Demonstrations by professional pumpkin artists, pumpkin fire shows, pumpkin magic shows, and plenty of other pumpkin-themed activities and offerings will take place throughout the special 23 day event. Non-pumpkin offerings will be available as well, including a scavenger hunt, screening of Pixar’s Coco, food trucks, and plenty more for the whole family. For more information click here.
For an evening of music, laughs, and scrumptious eats UMPO’s production of Bridesmaids is the trifecta. Based off of the 2011 box office hit film, this musical parody put on at East L.A.’s Rockwell Table & Stage is theatrical magic. Most noteworthy is the venue which is styled as a cabaret with entertainment all around you. Tickets do require a (2) food/drink minimum and the menu never disappoints. Keep an eye out in the crowd as well, as the Rockwell is known to have its celebrity neighbor patrons stop by. For more information click here.
Join the L.A. Zoo for their spooktacular day’s of fun during the month of october. Weekend events include the Swazzle’s Monster Menagerie Puppet Show,“Spooktacular Science” Show, Masterpiece Pumpkins with Gene Granata, Crocodilian Craft, and the Fearsome Feedings & Creature Treats. It’s perfect outing for the whole family! The L.A. Zoo will also be featuring their Spooky Stroll where you’ll find Halloween games, a mini-pumpkin patch, and “boo-tiful” photo ops. Therefor, all ghouls and goblins are encouraged to wear costumes! For more information on the fun filled activities click here.
Is there a better way to spend your Sunday then as your “Cheat Day”? The story of Cheat Day Land is one of family and passion. An experience in which the celebration of family, food, and fun ooze out of every room you will experience. Similar to last summer’s hit the Ice Cream Museum and other recent Pop-Up photo perfect experiences-Cheat Day Land welcomes you with open arms… because you deserve it! For more information click here.
The perfect evening for those wanting a dose of Halloween fun without all the frights. A Night of Jack, invites guest of all ages to meander through Calabasas’ King Gillette Ranch, where thousands of pumpkins will be elaborately displayed. Along with the festive art will be carving demonstrations, a gift shop, and the Fear Garden Bar for drinks and food to satisfy the living and undead.
Grab your popcorn, comfort blanket, and sit tight. It’s the best time of the year to watch the spookiest flicks streaming right now. Whether your more on the Hocus Pocus(sidetone: no Hocus Pocus on Netflix–but it’s playing at El Capitan TheatreALL of October) side or wish to take a chance with the cringeworthy, there are plenty of options to chose this fall.
1. Hold the Dark
Hold the Dark will leave you with your fair share of chills, and not just because it’s set in Alaska. Jeremy Saulnier’s psychological thriller stars Westworld‘s Jeffrey Wright as a retired wolf expert who receives a disturbing letter from a grieving mother (Riley Keough), pleading with him to investigate the wolves that she thinks killed her son in their small Alaskan village. He agrees to go but soon finds himself tangled up in a web far more dangerous than he ever could have expected
2. Veronica
In Veronica, which is based on true events, a high-schooler decides to experiment with a Ouija board with some of her classmates but ends up getting followed home by an evil spirit. As her and her siblings’ sanity begins to crumble due to the haunting, you’ll find yourself questioning what’s actually real and what’s in Veronica’s imagination.
3. Malevolent
A brother and sister earn a living by faking scary paranormal occurrences for cash, but when they’re tasked with investigating some strange phenomena at a supposedly haunted estate, things take a turn for the worse.
4. The Ravenous
This is actually a pretty introspective and beautiful movie, as far as films in the zombie genre go. That being said, watching a small group of desperate survivors attempt to navigate the aftermath of a zombie-like outbreak in rural Quebec is going to come with some nauseating moments.
5. The Conjuring
If you haven’t seen modern-day horror classic The Conjuring yet, I’m honestly a little jealous you get to experience the film’s excellent thrills and chills for the first time. It’s a superb entry into the genre, following a family of young women possessed by the demonic spirit of a murdered witch who used to live on their property and the paranormal investigators who set out to help them.
6. Children of the Corn
Even Stephen King’s short stories translate to terrifying, full-length pictures. Children of the Corn is about a group of murderous children, so expect to say goodbye to restful sleep for a bit.
7. The Haunting of Hill House
No, Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House isn’t a movie. But I would be remiss if I didn’t include the upcoming 10-episode series, which is just as scary as any of the streaming giant’s selection of horror movies. Billed as a “reimagining” of Shirley Jackson’s iconic 1953 novel, the show follows five siblings who grew up in America’s most famous haunted house and how the home’s deadly secrets are still plaguing them decades later. Mike Flanagan (Hush, Oculus, Gerald’s Game) is on board as director and executive producer, while the cast is led by Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, McKenna Grace, and more.
8. Apostle
Occult horror-thriller Apostle stars Beauty and the Beast‘s Dan Stevens as Thomas Richardson, who returns home to London in 1905, only to discover that his sister has been captured by a cult led by the dangerously charismatic Prophet Malcolm (Michael Sheen) and is being held for ransom. Thomas sets out to rescue his sister, infiltrating the cult’s island community and eventually uncovering an evil secret.
9. Hush
Easily one of the best horror movies to come out of Netflix’s original slate, 2016’s Hush follows a deaf writer over the course of one night as she’s hunted by a masked maniac. Prepare for multiple people getting shot by a crossbow — King Joffrey-style.
10. Train to Busan
This South Korean zombie movie was a box office hit, for good reason. The terrifyingly claustrophobic horror film centers on a father and daughter who must survive a gory outbreak of the undead on a lengthy train journey to the country’s only remaining safe city.
11. The Reaping
Hilary Swank stars as a former missionary who loses her faith after the tragic deaths of her family members and now makes a living debunking religious phenomena. That’s what brings her to the Louisiana swamp, where a series of biblical plagues are destroying a small town with evil at its center.
12. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix gives Sabrina the Teenage Witch a very, very creepy new makeover in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which sees the titular witch (Mad Men‘s Kiernan Shipka) on the cusp of celebrating her 16th birthday when she has to sign her soul away to the devil. The trailer evokes old-school horror movies like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, so even though familiar faces like Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch), Aunt Hilda (Lucy Davis), and Aunt Zelda (Miranda Otto) make appearances, this is going to be a totally different series than the one Melissa Joan Hart starred in years ago.
13. The Shining
A writer’s decision to spend the Winter at a deserted hotel with his wife and son majorly backfires when it becomes clear that they’re definitely not alone in the grand building — but they’re not accompanied by the living, either.
Enjoy the feature and beware!
Captions and content Curated by PopSugar, Simplified by us.
Do you smell that in the air? Pumpkin season has officially begun. So throw together your witches brew, dig out your favorite fall sweater and take part in all things October kicking off this weekend with a howl.
With all the hustle and bustle of our weekday routine we bring you a curated list of the weekends top activities happening throughout the city of stars.
Limited engagements taking place this Oct. 5th-7th feature Warner Brothers Festival of Frights to Veuve Clicquots annual Polo Match. Read below for a breakdown of the weekend events.
Friday Oct. 5th, 2018
Warner Bro’ Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights
Location: Warner Bro. Studios–6510 Forrest LAwn Drive, Los Angles
The WB’s famed backlot studio tour goes for full frights as they transform into haunting square. Brave through a maze inspired by The Conjuring or attempt to tour Freddy vs. Jason’s Camp Crystal Lake and Batman’s Arkham Asylum. Other highlights include horror makeup demos, ephemera from Tim Burton films, and a special screening of select scenes from 1973’s The Exorcist. If your feeling parched, True Blood’s Fangtasia will be serving for all the visiting vamps. And if you happened to miss last years scariest haunted attraction. the IT haunted house returns as a pop-up for the fest.
Let your inner kid out out this weekend for Cartoon Networks “Adult Swim” Festival. Taking place over three days at the Row DTLA, the schedule features acts from Thudercat, Zola Jesus, Hannibal Buress and Nick Rutherford. Along with a variety of games, food, drinks, and previews of upcoming shows-Friday is giving a preview of the weekends events before it goes into full swing Saturday and Sunday. With music, comedy, and so much more, it’s the perfect way to jumpstart your weekend. For more info click here.
Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch
Location: 10100 Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City
Make your way to Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch Opening Ceremony! This family-friendly pumpkin patch-slash-amusement park has been an LA staple for over three decades, not just for great jack-o’-lantern materials, but for bounce houses, straw mazes, and petting zoos. Naturally, it’s open through Halloween proper, and if you have family in town it’s a great place to take them — Mr. Bones is notorious for celeb sightings, too. For more info click here.
Location: Will Roger’s State Park, Pacific Palisades
Pick out the perfect wide-brimmed hat and your daytime finest because Veuve Clicquot returns to Will Rogers State Park. Led by Argentine polo star Nacho Figures, the annual match is a day well spent of sips and sites. The celeb-filled soiree with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mandy Moore, and Lea Michele kicks off with Champagne bars and Food Trucks at 11am. After you’ve fueled up head to the field to cheer on the teams in the 2pm game. Tickets are sold out on the Veuve site but still available on StubHub.com. For more info click here.
Usher in the opening of the Hammer Museum’s fall exhibitions. “Adrian Piper: Concepts and Intuitions, 1965-2016” and “Stones to Stains: The Drawings of Victor Hugo,” opens in the Westwood museum this Saturday. The exhibition includes a free party in the museum’s courtyard, featuring a cash bar, DJ sets and food trucks. Have a little fun and culture yourself! For more info click here.
BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! Don’t miss out ton the 30th Anniversary screening of Beetlejuice in Pasadena’s Victory Park. Bring your blankets, chairs, dogs, children, cousins, and make your way to one of L.A.’s favorite outdoor cinema events. Street Food Cinema will also be renting out chairs for those not wanting to BYOS(Bring your own seats). With live music kicking off the night and food trucks on standby, there’s no better way to take in the night under the stars. Tickets vary in price and more information can be found by clicking here.
Explore the city of Santa Monica as this third annual event transforms two miles of streets into a festival for the day. Arrive by bike, bus, train, or walk your way to this free day of fun alongside stilt walkers, DJs, and local bands. Feel the seaside breeze while exploring interactive COAST Zones celebrating arts, culture, sustainability as well as other attractions along the route. Taking place on Main Street and Ocean Ave. For more info click here.
Spend the finale of your weekend at Twilight on the Pier’s final performance. In its 34th year, this outdoor music concert in Santa Monica’s famous seaside spot is an evening adventure. Complete with immersive art, food offerings, a beer and spirits garden, games and interactive activations all along the Pier promenade. For more information click here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.