Cheap ethnic food in walking distance to Olive and 6th downtown

[Paliau]

There seems to be a paucity of good ethnic food downtown. I would especially like to find any of the following (preferably within walking distance of 6th and Olive for a lunch break - Korean or Indian - but any really good ethnic food would do. And keep in mind Grand Central Market is hard to do on an hour lunch break!

Any suggestions?

[silverlakebodhisattva]

My one experience with the Santee Food Court Indian was that, considering the location, it wasn't bad. I'd try more stuff next time. The two kebab places there looked kind of interesting, too.

As to the secret indian place: fooey!

[silverlakebodhisattva]

oooh, a SECRET restaurant! Seriously, if this place is in business at 619 Olive, I've been walking around/past it for more than a year without any inkling that it exists at all! Anyone have any more info.? I'll be checking for myself tomorrow.

r gould-saltman

[weebie]

silverlakebodhisattva: Save the trip. I just called the number listed on the Downtown News website for Little India and it was disconnected. So I called the management company of the P. International Bldg to check the status of their lease and they are no longer there. Didn't mean to get your hopes up. Maybe they've moved elsewhere in Downtown [?]

BTW - How is that Indian place in the Santee/Fashion District Food Court?

[weebie]

If Little India Cuisine @ 619 Olive is still around, I'd recommend it for it's value and proximity to your location. It's a small, all-you-can-eat buffet with chicken and lamb curry standards, various vegetable dishes, rice, naan, etc. I remember it being tasty and fairly cheap.

The spot is a bit hard to find though, down a long narrow hallway toward the back of the Intercontinental bldg. Don't be afraid to ask for directions from building staff/security. Hopefully it's still there...

[silverlakebodhisattva]

I had previously been a fan of both the Pasadena (now gone?) and downtown locations of Lamonica's, but I've been disappointed the 2-3 times I've been to the downtown location since the name change, (particularly since I visited NY in February and refreshed my memory of what the real thing should taste like...) and take no delight in reporting it. On the other hand, I've never been less than pleasantly surprised and pleased with the slice at Next Door. Anyone have ANYTHING positive to say about any other downtown by-the-slice places?

[calabasas_trafalgar]

Roma at 5th and Hill is decent, but I still prefer Lamonica's

[calabasas_trafalgar]

2 great places:
LA New York Pizza(formerly Lamonica's)518 Sixth. Whole pizza or by the slice

Terrace Cafe(off Grand, in the walkway behind the Checkers hotel, across from the library. Apart from usual sandwich shop fare, they also serve Kalbi and other Korean dishes.

550 S. Hope St
Terrace Entrance
LA, 90071

[silverlakebodhisattva]

Gotta say, I think "NY Pizza" is a downhill step from its predecessor. On the other hand, I think the pizza at "Next Door Pizza" (8th btw. Fig and Flower) is as good a by-the-slice pie as you can get downtown.

[calabasas_trafalgar]

It's not really a successor, the owners are the same as before. I haven't noticed any drop off at all.

[calabasas_trafalgar]

I tried Pizza Next Door(a bit far to walk at lunch for me), and it's pretty good, but I'll probably stick with NY/Lamonica's. It's directly across the street from my office, and they take phone orders, so it couldn't be more convenient. And I really like the pizza, and the owners(Nick & Lila)are very nice.

[DanaB]

I feel your pain.

There is good korean bbq (i.e. teriyaki bowl) on 6th between Grand and Olive, on the north side of the street. Not transcendent, but decent enough for lunch, and cheap.

There is the Sultan, with decent middle eastern food, on 6th, just east of Broadway on the North side of the street.

There is a Mexican place, on the north side of 5th, I think it's between Hill and Broadway, that's okay.

Despite the proximity (car-wise) to very good ethnic food, there's very little in walking distance in that area.

[Ernie]

Korean BBQ Plus in the Bonaventure Hotel (5th & Figueroa) is OK for decent and cheap Korean plates with generous portions.

[silverlakebodhisattva]

Indian downtown as far as I know is confined to Gil's at the Hotel Stilwell (8th and Hill? Broadway? Olive, maybe?) and the Indian place in the Santee food court. Korean? Lots of little holes-in-the-wall, mostly owned by Koreans, do some Korean; the cafe in my own bldg (7th/Flower) conjures up kalbi every once in a while... There's various kebab-based things, in some variety, including Turkish and Persian, in the alley in the Jewelry District (just north of 7th?)

[young_chower]

I've been to a few of the midlle eastern restaurants in the 7th St. alley, ordering a shawerma and a teramsu. Although the alley is actually very charming, I would say the food is not great. It's good, but nothing really that special. Granted, that might not matter to a hungry worker looking for a quick lunch.