Restaurants in Los Angeles
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A
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?
reviewed
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B
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.
reviewed
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C
El Cholo
Happy hipsters, hungry families and rowdy birthday parties compete for tables at this festive two-story adobe landmark. A handful grumble that the food is so-so, but the blue-corn chicken enchiladas, potent margaritas and a buzzing lounge keep most everyone coming back for more.
reviewed
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D
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Pay $3.25 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?
reviewed
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E
Sanamluang Café
If the thought of dining in a tiny, rundown strip mall in Hollywood’s grittier east side sounds unappealing, read no further. But if you savor the thrill of 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 at your table. Pad thai is available for beginners. Cash only and open late.
reviewed
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F
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.
reviewed
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G
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.
reviewed
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H
Abbot’s Pizza
Surfers have savored Abbot’s Pizza gourmet slices for years but word of the crisp-crusted specialties – tequila-lime chicken, wild mushroom – has spread beyond the flip-flop crowd that fills the handful of tables at this elevator-sized hot v\spot. Mid-afternoon, ask for a fresh-from-the-oven slice – heat lamps spoil the fun.
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I
Café at the End of the Universe
Wolfgang Puck’s latest satellite venture – a cafeteria-style café – orbits just past the observatory’s Cosmic Connection hallway. Designed with retro space-age flair, the café offers tasty gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads. Grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich then hit the patio for inspiring views of the Hollywood sign.
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J
Griddle Café
Giant portions, friendly service and French-press coffee keep the wooden tables and U-shaped counter full all morning at this tasty breakfast joint favored by Hollywood’s young and tousled. Located just east of the dark-towered Directors Guild; look for the mobs huddled outside on weekend mornings. Arrive early.
reviewed
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K
Swingers
Americana with a dollop of Hollywood is the ammo of this genuine retro diner where booths are red and servers wear fishnet stockings. Join the kool kids combating hunger pangs or hangovers with juicy burgers, awesome fries and other all-American faves while Little Richard heats up the juke box.
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L
Europane
With its concrete floors, small wooden tables and jumbled baskets of unmarked pastries, Europane doesn’t exactly ooze warmth. But buttery bearclaws, fluffy croissants and smooth cups of coffee make up for any lack of coffeehouse coziness. Arrive early for croissants; they sell out.
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M
Campanile
Occupying a spot in the city’s culinary pantheon for over 15 years, chef-owner Mark Peel knows how to turn market-fresh ingredients into beautiful dishes. For more casual dining, stop by for Thursday’s popular Grilled Cheese Night and sample one of 12 traditional and not-so-traditional sandwiches created with LA flair and Campanile care. Reservations recommended.
reviewed
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N
Bob’s Big Boy
The red-checkered, pompadoured kid still woos hamburger-craving hordes at America’s oldest remaining Big Boy’s – his fiberglass form a refreshing reminder that some people in LA still eat. Inside, grab a burnt-orange booth for a double-decker combo, or, on weekend nights, enjoy carhop service in back.
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O
In-n-Out Burger
Shhh… LA’s best burger chain has a secret menu known only to locals. And now you. In-n-Out Burger is a true LA phenom, as the cars jamming the drive-through can attest. Burgers, fries, soda, shakes – that’s all it offers under the yellow-and-red roof but fresh and simple works, as does the burgers’ tasty sauce. The secret menu adds a twist to the preparation. Order your burger Animal Style for an awesome grilled onion topping, Protein Style for no bun, or, if you’re hungry – the 4 by 4.
reviewed
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P
Dong Il Jang
This is a wonderfully old-school Korean restaurant with chocolate-brown booths, waitresses in starched dresses and lots of traditional fare. If you go for the barbecue, be sure to order the ros gui (thin beef slices); if you have leftovers, they make kim chee fried rice for you to take home. Other tempting dishes: duk mandoo (dumpling soup) and chap chae (noodles with vegetables). Alas, service can be lackluster and English appears to be a foreign language here.
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Q
Casbah Café
For indie-minded shopping, check out Silver Lake’s funky but fashionable Sunset Junction at the intersection of Santa Monica and Sunset Blvds. It’s a happily-not-hip little corner where sassy sundresses, one-of-a-kind kicks, local coffee, worldwide cheeses and low-key patio dining draw a laid-back neighborhood crowd. Worth a stop is the Casbah Café. The massive Sunset Junction Street Fair draws multi-cultural crowds for bands, food and community mingling in late August.
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R
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. The fennel sausage, prosciutto and salami are indicative of the high-fat, high-taste toppings that gourmands and groupies demand. No reservation? Come in early for a seat at the bar. Equally packed is Osteria Mozza, the pizzeria’s adjacent sister venture.
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S
Tacomiendo
Cops, construction workers and clued-in hipsters flock to this unassuming Mexican pit stop to fortify themselves on ginormous tortas, tacos, burritos and other staples. Everything's freshly prepared in the smokey open kitchen, so it's not exactly fast food. While you wait, sip a refreshing melon agua (fresh fruit drink) and help yourself to three salsas, pinto beans and crunchy radishes from the excellent condiment counter.
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T
Madre's
Jennifer Lopez obviously had a lot of fun decorating her restaurant in a style that might be termed girly shabby-chic – think flowers, chandeliers, etched mirrors and lacy tablecloths. Inspiration for the menu, which blends robust Cuban and Puerto Rican classics, came from her grandmother. Try tasty empanadas, grilled churrasco (flank steak) or J Lo's personal favorite, ropa vieja (slow-cooked, spicy beef).
reviewed
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U
Abode
The latest to enter the pantheon of respected gourmet restaurants in Santa Monica, Abode will indeed make you feel right at home. With chocolate booths, tangerine chairs and walnut tables, its design is as tastefully composed as its contemporary American cuisine. Only organic, sustainable and artesanal ingredients find their destiny in such dishes as arctic char with truffle berry guacamole and vegetarian eggplant chorizo.
reviewed
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V
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 (Tel: 310-652- 7008; 8555 Sunset Blvd).
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W
El Gringo
Grotty-looking dives usually make the best Mexi-fare and this tri-city mini-chain definitely delivers. Authentic charm is doled out with as much abandon as the delish dishes. Skip the standards in favor of machaca (shredded beef) burritos, pollo negro (blackened chicken) salads and flavor-packed xcholti (pronounced ‘soul-chee') soup. Also in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach.
reviewed
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Hal's Bar & Grill
The name may evoke brass and wood, but Hal's dining room is an all-cool industrial loft brightened by revolving art from local artists who treat the place like an extended living room. The menu, sourced from farm-fresh ingredients, changes seasonally but always features superbly executed staples such as grilled chicken, Caesar salad and bread pudding with crème anglaise. Free jazz on Sunday and Monday.
reviewed
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Y
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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