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.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/titos-tacos-...city?start=360

Best rotgut cheap Mexican in the city most typical

of LA for me.

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

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

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

((H))

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?

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.

"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.

((H))

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.

What's your favorite LA deli? We like Art's and Jerry's ( both on Ventura Blvd.)?

@ 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.

@ 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.

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.

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.

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?

((H))

Another Tito's Tacos fan here!

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

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.

>>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<<

I was sitting here trying to remember the name of that pastrami place - thanks, Surfergirl!

We used to love Dinah's. Is it still there?

Lee Ann

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

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?

((H))

Yes, Dinah's is still there.

In n Out Burger, FatBurger, HabitBurger, Tommy's Burgers, Astro Burger and Hot Dog on a Stick.

All of my suggestions were in the under $25 per person category.

Speaking of the venerable Dinah's, a very similar place is "Dolores" in West L.A. Outstanding wraps and mucho comfort food on the menu. If you're at The Royal Theater on SM Blvd, it's only a block away (two blocks from the 405)

One other that has come to mind.."My Father's Office" on Montana and 12th(?)...unique burger preparations and a wonderful beer collection (imported and domestic). Their sweet-potato fries are addictive. Burgers come with carmelized onions and a long roll. One could easily feed two unless you're famished.

Stu

Prices:

Church & State - Los Angeles (French) ( 25-50)
Barbrix - Silver Lake - small bites (25-50)
Gale's - Italiano in Pasadena (about 25)
Girasole - Italiano in Larchmont (25-50)
Cafe Beajolais - French in Eagle Rock (25-50)
Daisy Mint - Asian Fusion in Pasadena (under 25)
The Lazy Ox - Downtown Los Angeles (about 25)
Peach Cafe - Monrovia (breakfast)( under 25)
Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Pasadena - great kabobs (under 25)

((H))

My Father's Office also has a location in Culver City. We haven't been there yet because they don't allow people under 21.

Good to know. DS is moving to Culver City this month. Will tell himm

Beachwood Barbecue and Taco Surf in Seal Beach

Hey Maitai, not many postings on the NYC favorites.

HATE Titos. Just hate it.

If you are in Long Beach, CA you might try our home grown mini-chain of standard Cal-Mex fare, SuperMex. There is one not too far from the downtown hotels, can be reached by the red Passport bus.

A more revered Mexican choice with secret menu is Enrique's, in east Long Beach not far from Cal State Long Beach.

My favorite Peruvian hole in the wall, El Pollo Imperial, is hidden in a dodgy neighborhood of North Long Beach. Get something more adventurous than lomo saltado or grilled chicken. The ceviche is quite good.

Another good neighborhood joint is Benley, quasi Vietnamese also in east LB.

Nice place for Sunday Brunch is the LB Museum of Art cafe. Easy to reach from downtown, also.

El Burrito Jr or Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach. The latter is a is the upscale restaraunt on Main Street.

Tourists don't fly to the LA/OC intent on going to Seal Beach. The multiple mentions of Tito's makes me believe that it is now on the tourist map. Seal Beach isn't and maybe it should not be, except for the OP who wants to get away from tourist areas. We have a lot of area visitors in SB, especially oh the weekends and in summer, who are getting away from the inland heat. But it is not touristy like our neighbors Long Beach and Huntington Beach.

You'll see visitors strolling Main Street to visit the restaraunts and shops (like the kite store, sea shell store, art & beachware stores). But there are a lot of locals there, like the old guys hanging out in front of Javatini's coffee shop) and the neighborhood kids walking buy in their swimsuits carrying boogie boards to/from the nice beach.

Come mid-week. On Thursday (maybe Wed) evenings in the summer they have a band playiing on the lawn next to the pier (scenic pier) and a lot of neighborhood folks show up.

Found another gem yesterday...I don't know how many of you ever venture up Roscomare Rd., to Mulholland..but about a miles south of Mulholland, there is a market and a little shopping center.

There you will find the "SUGAR CUBE" restaurant.

Very fair prices, gigantic chalk board menu covering a whole wall, featuring almost every category you can think of. Wife had a chicken cheese quesadilla, large and delicious. I had the "power scramble" with spinach, mushrooms and little potatoes, and small chunks of chicken. Their homemade desserts look super..but we passed this time. Quiet, neat place, attentive service. A bit isolated unless you live somewhere nearby like we do. We'll do it again, for sure.

Highly recomend it..open every day, specializes in Sunday breakfasts.

stu tower

All under 25$ per person.

President Thai is my local place in Pasadena on Rosemead Blvd. I have taken out of town guests there and they still talk about how good it is. It's family owned and I remember when they started out in a small wooden bungalow.

The Tibet Nepal House is great for dinner in Pasadena.

Tallyrand is the best for hot turkey sandwiches in Burbank.

Brents the best deli, it's in the Northridge area.

Ye Olde King's Head Inn is still good in Santa Monica.

Firefly Bistro is good in South Pasadena

I have some great Chinese places in Monterey Park but they change frequently.

I should say that at President's the only dish I don't care for is their Pad Thai, the more complicated dishes are the best, even some which are not on the menu. My guests had lived in Thailand and ordered specially.

Beachwood BbQ just opened up another branch in downtown Long Beach near 3rd Street on the Promenade, that location also includes a brewpub. Should be a nice addition for those staying downtown pre-cruise. They have a live "hop-cam".

http://beachwoodbbq.com/brewery.html

Long Beach has some scattered Thai restaurants, every neighborhood has their favorite.

Thai on Main is just a few doors down from Beachwood BBQ on Main Street in Seal Beach. Sweet Jill's Bakery is between the two. Get a brownie with peanut butter & chocolate topping for dessert and have a seat on one of the benches on the sidewalk.

bookmarking

Oh, good to know about Ye Olde King's Head, SeaUrchin! We had drinks there once but did not eat that time, so now we will be sure to try it. We will be in LA staying at the place where we stayed in '08 in west LA. I always get you and Surfergirl mixed up re: which one of you is near that neighborhood and which one is not!

One I forgot that rarely disappoints. Sit outside on the patio in Old Town Pasadena for some good Mediterranean food.

Cafe Santorini - $25-$50

((H))

Maitai, where do you go for BBQ in the area? Didn't you recommend an Ethiopian place nearby too? Or am I all mixed up.

Hi Socialworker, I do not live in that neighborhood but visit often. I like King's Head's (?) atmosphere and the food is good.