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Grill On The Alley
When they say 'Let's do lunch,' this is where they do it. Wood-paneled walls, framed portraits, see-and-be-seen booths and white-jacketed wait staff lend a Golden Age flair to the A-lister power scene. Succulent Kobe beef burgers, towering cobb salads and the 'orgasmic' John Dory are faves. Reservations recommended.
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Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom
It's the free samples that get you. Spicy hot Italian, chicken Andouille, Louisiana hot links: once you've had a taste of one of Jody's gourmet sausages, it's near impossible not to order the whole onions and peppers shebang. Serving 'em up on fresh-baked rolls since 1979, Jody's is the place to refuel after a long day of Ocean Front Walk gawking.
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Koi
Some come for celeb-spotting, some come for superior service, but all come for the spicy tuna on crispy rice at this bamboo-fortified sanctum in the heart of the TMZ. Nobodies nibble Japanese specialties in the warm, Asian-accented central dining room while patio-dwellers - Owen Wilson, David Spade, Nicolette Sheridan and Avril Lavigne - float past. Reservations recommended.
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Kung Pao Kitty
Fat cats and tomcats follow the pretty kitties to the late-night kitchen at this dependable Asian eatery in the heart of Hollywood. The mild, mixed-Asian menu - curries, noodles and General Tso standards - regularly fuel the bar-hopping masses. Try the red curry or the namesake Kitty's Kung Pao.
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Lobster
Chef Allyson Thurber crafts lobster and seafood specials as stunning as the oceanfront views at this lively pierside perch. Tables are tight and the noise levels high, but that's de rigueur at the beach.
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M Café De Chaya
Place your order at the counter then grab a spot at one of the tightly packed two tops at this bright but narrow eatery where the people-watching can be intense. The menu is macrobiotic -natural whole foods eaten in season - and primarily vegetarian except for tuna and shrimp. The grilled tuna burger and organic fries are especially keen. Celeb-spotting potential is off the charts.
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Mao's Kitchen
'Serve the People!' is the motto at red-bricked Mao's, so settle in with easy-going comrades at a communal table - capitalists permitted to sit alone - and choose from Chinese favorites made with a lighter, SoCal flair. Proles most often request the orange chicken. The small salad is just around US$1 .
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Martha's 22nd Street Grill
Every table has an ocean view on the cheery umbrella'd patio just steps from the Strand. Martha's scrumptious scrambles, tasty wraps and addictive chicken cilantro soup keep locals rolling in by bike, blade and stroller. Don't worry, the waiting list moves fast.
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Mijares Mexican Restaurant
Pasadeneans have flocked to the tapestry-lined walls of sprawling Mijares for almost 90 years. Although the focus is more on fun than fine cuisine, addictive chips and salsa, traditional combo platters and powerful margaritas keep the patios filled with families, friendsters and a business team or two. Try the yummy avocado- and chip-filled tortilla soup.
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Minibar
The stylishly stressed seek the warm tones and tasty tapas of Minibar after a hard day in the studio mines - under somewhat disconcerting portraits of wide-eyed waifs. The menu, divided into This, That & The Other, offers an eclectic selection of delish small plate specialties. The gouda-stuffed yucca bread is a must. To find the place, look for the Valet of the Dolls stand between Universal Studios Blvd and Barham Blvd.
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Mulberry Street Pizzeria
Regularly voted one of LA's best pizza joints, this red-checkered, low-attitude respite is the spot for New York-style slices - thin, greasy and served up quick.
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Nate & Al's
An old-school, 'You want the pastrami?' deli, you'll feel like a local the moment you slide into a worn, rust-colored booth. Dapper seniors, chatty sisters, loud-mouthed stuntmen, even Larry King - everybody's stopped by at some point. Loxes, blintzes, omelets, briskets and knishes, served up since 1945.
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O-Bar
The seductive stylings of owner/designers Thomas Schoos and Michael Berman - stone fireplaces, rippling fountains, flickering votives, elegant cabanas - entice passersby, but it's the exquisitely prepared dishes - Ironman steak salad, mahi mahi picatta - that close the deal. Pastry chef Meadow Lyn Ramsey's decadent desserts will ensure a second date.
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Pete's Café & Bar
Sparkling lights, glittering mirrors and towering mahogany walls project Victorian airs, but Norm-and-Cliff friendliness make this upbeat watering hole a mecca for chatty locals, post-work tipplers and those wanting a pre-show bite. The menu spotlights salads, pastas and American standards. And check yourself out, girlfriend - the downstairs bathrooms have way-flattering mirrors.
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Petros Greek Cuisine & Lounge
Petros - the place that launched a thousand positive reviews - may be new on the scene, but top-notch service, superb Greek specialties and a friendly, upscale vibe have made this charmer worthy of critic's kudos. Locals like it too. Grab a seat on the people-watching patio or lose your baseball cap for a dress-code-worthy experience indoors.
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Pizzeria Mozza
'At the table, one never gets old,' is the motto on the menu here. How true. But old age comes when you're trying to score a reservation at this booked-for-weeks posh pizzeria from Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali. Fennel sausage, prosciutto and salami are indicative of the high-fat, high-taste toppings that gourmands and groupies demand. No reservation? Come early for a seat at the bar. Sister-venture Osteria Mozza opening soon.
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Poquito Mas
Poquito Mas has fueled under-the-gun TV writing staff since 1984 - just ask the assistants who pick up the massive orders. This local fast-food chain serves up classic Baja-style Mexican - fresh ingredients prepared with a light touch (no lard). It's the hit-the-spot steak burritos that best help writers finesse that 3rd-act turn. Also in West Hollywood (310-652-7008; 8555 Sunset Blvd).
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Primitivo Wine Bistro
Primitivo will bring your sexy back. From the sensuous Mediterranean designs to the luscious hot tapas to the thoughtfully paired wines, this rustic wine bar inspires a sultry mood perfect for a romantic rendezvous. Sautéed tiger shrimp, seared scallops and the bacon-wrapped dates may keep you from ever going home.
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R23
Frank Gehry-designed cardboard chairs are the seat du jour inside the minimalist redbrick interior of this popular sushi hideaway. At the sushi bar, exquisite daily specialties are masterfully prepared, but gracious chefs won't throw newbies to the curb for ordering California rolls.
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Rock'n Fish
Sometimes it's about the blackened halibut, sometimes it's about the smokin' waitstaff, but it's always, always about the sour apple martini at sexy Rock'n Fish, just steps from the Manhattan Beach Pier. Part seafood restaurant, part upscale bar, this appropriately named hangout is an always-popular fallback. Great for group dinners or an early date, it's boisterous once the martini crowd flows in.
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Roscoe's House Of Chicken & Waffles
It's not spiffy, the lighting's not so great, and the decor's best described as well worn and wooden. But for LA's best Southern soul food, look no further than this 30-year-old landmark where the namesake dish is can't-miss. The combo sounds strange but the reality - crispy, juicy fried chicken with a side of soft, syrupy waffles - is simply delish. There's salad on the menu, but why?
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Saladang Song
Inside the soaring glass walls of Saladang Song, it's the details that first impress - a bright flower on every table, efficient service, artfully presented food. But the first bite of one of their beloved Thai specialties brings it all home. Song serves light, fusion-friendly Thai - sassy salads, spicy wraps and savory soups - while sister restaurant Saladang next door offers a more traditional Thai menu.
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Sanamluang Café
If dining in a tiny, rundown strip mall in Hollywood's grittier east side is unappealing, read no further. But if you thrill to a good culinary adventure, grab your keys for a trip to Thai Town for some of the best noodles around. The no-frills, pictures-of-the-food decor may be uninspiring, but all is forgiven once that huge, simmering bowl of General's Noodles - stuffed to the rim with shrimp, duck and barbecued pork - arrives. Cash only.
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Skooby's
Hot dogs are king at this pocket-sized paean to America's favorite guilty pleasure. Grab a seat at the Walk-of-Fame-adjacent counter and order a 7-inch dog with Guinness chili, grilled onions and peppers, or keep it easy-squeezy with a squirt of spicy mustard. Fries and dipping sauce are scrumptious. Cash only.
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Spago
The primped and the powdered preen inside the glass-encrusted patio like poodles at Westminster, nary a hair out of place as they nibble smoked salmon pizza, pan-roasted milk-fed veal rib chops, Cantonese-style roasted duck and other long-winded kibbles and bits. Is an LA travel guide definitive without a nod to Wolfgang Puck's paean to extravagant dining? Not today. But soon.
