Places to eat like a local in Los Angeles

Old Aug 5th, 2011, 08:20 PM
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Places to eat like a local in Los Angeles

When I travel, I like to eat in places that are frequented by the locals rather than just restaurants that are targeted at travelers. So, I got to thinking, what are some places that we eat with our own friends and families that we would recommend to travelers visiting the area?

Since I live in Culver City, I will start there: Tender Greens in downtown Culver City for an excellent salad; S&W Diner for breakfast, if you don't mind waiting in line; Celadon near Marina del Rey for Thai food; Green Peas for a good soup, salad or sandwich (including vegan and vegeterarian options; Versailles for wonderful Cuban food.

Please add to the list, with restaurants stretching from Simi Valley to Pasadena to San Pedro to Downey and everything in-between and further out.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 03:24 AM
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http://www.yelp.com/biz/titos-tacos-...city?start=360

Best rotgut cheap Mexican in the city most typical

of LA for me.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 07:34 AM
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Carney's railroad car for great burgers and such in Studio City (Ventura Blvd.) and on Sunset Boulevard. West Hollywood also. Probably no tourists at the one in SC..but on Sunset i summer, could be ovrwhelmed with turistas.

Thai Kitchen on Ventura Blvd, SC...a block from Art's deli. Best pad thai in town.

Or, something more "isolated" and quite local, in a little mall just south of Mulholland on Beverly Glen Blvd (we live in the neighborhood). The Glen Deli, Fabroccini's, Le Wok. Many local "biz" folks lurking about. They're harmless, unless you steal their script ideas!

In Brentwood, on San Vicente, La Scala for their famous chopped salad. Try the large one, it easily feeds two comfortably, for $13.95. And next door, La Salsa for very good Mexican. Across the street, Whole Foods Market for superb take-out selections....and also on San Vicente, Daily Grill...Cobb salad extraordinaire...along with pop corn shrimp...mmmm!

Stu Tower
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 07:37 AM
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I should add, if you're into a splurge frame of mind, up the street on San Vicente, Brentwood, The Tavern is very unique, quite new...a bit more expensive than the others. Has become a favorite with Angelenos.
stu
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 07:51 AM
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Church & State - Los Angeles (French)
Barbrix - Silver Lake - small bites
Gale's - Italiano in Pasadena
Girasole - Italiano in Larchmont
Cafe Beajolais - French in Eagle Rock
Daisy Mint - Asian Fusion in Pasadena
The Lazy Ox - Downtown Los Angeles
Peach Cafe - Monrovia (breakfast)
Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Pasadena - great kabobs

Below is a link to my personal website that has reviews (and photos) of some of my favorite restaurants (most are located in Southern California). Almost all are neighborhood-type restaurants. Lawry's The Prime Rib is the exception to that rule, but I have been going there since I was a little kid, so I still consider it a "local" place (yes, I know it caters to tourists, also) because of the great memories I have of dining there through the years.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...ng_Out%22.html

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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 07:56 AM
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Where were you guys when I was going to LA on business. I had to eat at expensive places on the company.

________

Is the Chinese food in Monterey Park still the best in the LA area?
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 07:58 AM
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Our favorite non-touristy Italian restaurant in LA:

La Bruschetta Ristorante. 1621 Westwood Boulevard | Los Angeles, California 90024 | 310.477.1052

We accidentally found it four years ago, and have returned every year since. Guests we have brought there have been very pleased.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 08:07 AM
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"Where were you guys when I was going to LA on business. I had to eat at expensive places on the company."

All you had to do was ask. We had operators standing by. With its large Asian population, I would surmise that Monterey Park has an abundance of great Chinese restaurants.

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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 09:11 AM
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If I am looking for a step above rotgut Mexican in LA, I like Baja Buds. For a nice sit-down restaurant, we love Lares, which is right on the border of Santa Monica and LA. There is also La Serenata de Garibaldi, with one location in West LA and one in East LA.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:07 AM
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What's your favorite LA deli? We like Art's and Jerry's ( both on Ventura Blvd.)?
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:15 AM
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@ sf -- My dad, right before he died a few months ago, had me run from Cedars Sinai to Label's Tables to get him a corned beef sandwich. It was his favorite deli for CB. That's on Pico by Doheny. Otherwise, Factors on Pico by Beverly in WLA is a local deli favorite.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:18 AM
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@ Aduchamp1 -- Yes, Monterey Park still has the best, according the latest edition "Best of LA" in Los Angeles Magazine. I can't personally answer that question, since I don't live close to Monterey Park, and have been there once in the last 10 years.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:19 AM
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All you had to do was ask. We had operators standing by. With its large Asian population, I would surmise that Monterey Park has an abundance of great Chinese restaurants.
_____
My business colleague was Chinese-American and her aunt owned a take-out place in Beverly Hills. But the family went to Monterey Park to eat and the food was fabulous. And although our work was downtown and in Century City we would travel to their family dinners.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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Tito's Tacos, of course, but practically next door to Tito's is Johnnies (cash only) diner and patio, famous for their hot pastrami's, but their corned beef on a french roll is nothing to sneeze at. Johnnies has been around since at least the early 50's, maybe even earlier than that.

Apple Pan on Pico by Westwood has been open since 1948, caters primarily to the locals, but has been hit up in all the tourist books. However, I suspect that tourists take one look at it from the outside and don't stay because it's all counter sitting. Best hickory burgers EVER.

I'm partial to French food, so my Westside Favorites are Le Petit Bistro on La Cienega just north of Melrose, and Lilly's on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Both reasonably priced.

We're off to La Paella tonight for some wonderful Spanish food -- that's another local regular spot on San Vicente between Wilshire & Third.

The local heavy metal/rock star wannabes dine at the Rainbow on Sunset Strip, which does have really good pizza.

That's a start.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 12:31 PM
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I think that someone on Fodor's from each well-traveled spot should start a thread about their favorite local restaurants (Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, Miami, et al), and soon we could compile our own Fodorite Restaurant Guide.

adu, did I hear you volunteering to start it off for NYC?

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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 01:56 PM
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Another Tito's Tacos fan here!

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 02:01 PM
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MaiTai

I will start it but we will need parameters.

How about under $25 person

Approximately $50 a person

And over and way over $50

Any type of cuisine, any part of the coty.
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 02:18 PM
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>>Tito's Tacos, of course, but practically next door to Tito's is Johnnies (cash only) diner and patio, famous for their hot pastrami's, but their corned beef on a french roll is nothing to sneeze at
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 05:09 PM
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In the Under $25 per Person category:
Versailles - several locations in West LA : Cuban
Misto - in Santa Monica : Italian
Al Gelato - on Robertson in Beverly Hills : homestyle Italian served in back of the gelato shop
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Old Aug 6th, 2011, 05:31 PM
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Any Cuisine

Two monetary categories:
Under $25 per person
Between $25 and $50 per person

Booze not included because everyone is different.

Does that sound OK?

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