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Sprinkles Cupcakes
Pay around US$4 for a cupcake? And you have to wait in that line out the door? Are you kidding - hey, that looks pretty good. Red Velvet? With cream cheese frosting? And that one? Peanut butter chocolate? Eighteen more varieties inside? Uhh, can you move over a little?
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Square One Dining
Breakfasts here are so darn good you'll want to lick your square white plate. The decor's not much but thick slabs of bacon, fluffy egg dishes and unbleached heirloom grits confirm the focus is where it should be. Artists, couples and business brunchers fill tables for the all-organic menu, but for a different view, grab a window seat and watch the buttoned-down faithful at the nearby Scientology complex.
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Sweet Lady Jane
There's a cake for every craving - orange chiffon, seven-layer chocolate, triple berry shortcake - inside the Ivy-colored walls of Sweet Lady Jane, one of LA's most popular bakeries. To make the choice even tougher, peek into the cake-making workshop to see what's frosting up next. Fresh sandwiches too.
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Tender Greens
At Culver City's latest hotspot, lines regularly spill out the door. Exclusive nightclub? Nope, it's Tender Greens, home of the freshest salads in the city. Order at the bright counter - try ahi tuna nicoise or grilled flatiron steak - and they'll toss it up as you move down the line. There's a whiff of salad nazi in the prep - 'We don't recommend substitutions' - but trust them, they're that good.
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Tere's Mexican Grill
Tucked in an easy-to-miss mini-mall near Paramount Studios, Tere's may be no-frills, but its authentic Mexican grub draws a heavy stream of 'to-go' traffic from hungry hipsters and harried homemakers alike. Eclectic South of the Border decor, drink crates and tightly packed two-tops crowd the small space but happy noshers don't seem to notice these distractions.
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The Counter
Grab a clipboard and mini-pencil, it's burger-building time at this bright and cheery corner hotspot that's best avoided by the indecisive. From the four meat choices to the 10 cheeses, 27 toppings (avocado, pepperocini and fried egg!) and 17 sauces, it's all up to you. Tasty fries are great for sharing.
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The Hump
Romance runs high behind the bamboo-accented windows at this tiny but superb rooftop sushi bar with stellar views of private planes soaring off to the great unknown. The Hump - an aviators' nickname for the Himalayas - is perched on the 3rd floor of the Santa Monica Airport building just above bustling Typhoon (3221 Donald Douglas Loop S, 2nd fl), where the Pan-Asian specialties menu includes crickets.
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The Hungry Cat
Hollywood hep cats know their way to the zinc raw bar at Suzanne Goin and David Lentz's seafood hideaway - tucked behind Borders books - where peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters on the half shell and savory fish du jour specials shine. For seafood-avoiders, the hefty Pug Burger is a must, a smoky affair memorably slathered with avocado, bacon and blue cheese.
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The Village Idiot
Delish comfort food, upbeat staff and a welcoming vibe draw the smart crowd to the soaring wood-and-brick walls of the newest eatery on Melrose. Although the busy wait staff can be stretched a bit thin, idiots and gastronomes alike don't seem to mind after biting into juicy burgers and fluffy fish and chips, the latter some of the best in town.
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Three Square Bakery & Café
The decor may be minimalist chic, but the scones, croissants, tarts and cheesy pretzels jostling for space under this new bakery's happenin' glass counter are anything but. Strong Julian Meinl coffee, an array of fresh breads and gourmet sandwiches round out the everything-looks-scrumptious menu. Try the chocolate lavender tort.
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Toast Bakery Café
From sitcom stars to dolly grips, the Hollywood crowd loves its Toast. Not to mention its tasty egg scrambles, luscious pancakes and frothy lattes. This popular eatery recently added dinner hours, so avoid the crush on weekend mornings and stop by for an evening bite.
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Uncle Bill's Pancake House
Nothin' could be finer than a pancake in a diner known far and wide as Uncle Bill's. Grab a stool, grab a booth, or best yet grab a table on the sun-drenched patio. In season, the pumpkin spice pancakes are can't-miss. Omelets are darn good too. Tousled hipsters, tottering toddlers, gabbing girlfriends - everybody's here or on the way. Put your name on the clipboard, quick.
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Vert
The exquisite, almost too-pretty-to-eat salads are the must-try dishes at Wolfgang Puck's stylish new addition to the Hollywood & Highland complex. While you wait for your leafy lunch, sip on a signature Bellini (prosecco and green apple juice) and watch the continuous parade of passersby - the adjoining exterior walkway provides an awesome view of the Hollywood sign.
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Yang Chow
All hail the slippery shrimp, the signature dish that's coaxed Angelenos to Chinatown for the last 30 years. Although outposts have opened in The Valley and Pasadena, the original downtown location, despite its coral-colored, somewhat uninspired decor, remains most popular.
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Yuca's
They may have paved paradise and put up a taco hut but who's complaining? At Yuca's tiny taco shack, tucked between a liquor store and nail salon, they've served fast, hot, authentic tacos for years. Some say they're the best in town. Place your order at the counter and see for yourself - won't cost ya more than four bucks.
