477825 Wed Jan 09 17:09:15 -0800 2008 46 2 Los Angeles Area 0 3279148 Can anybody help me find the best steaks available for grilling in LA area? Wed Jan 09 17:09:15 -0800 2008 155964 Speedracer5 1 3279190 harvey guss Wed Jan 09 17:21:55 -0800 2008 3279148 10704 wilafur 2 3279374 I strongly second Harvey's Guss. They are a wholesale butcher to some of the best restaurants in town. Prime beef, well aged at a price no market can compete with. Note that you must call a day ahead with your order and pick it up by about 1:00 p.m. the next day. Bring cash. Wed Jan 09 18:21:01 -0800 2008 3279190 10240 Bob Brooks 2 3280626 Does Harvey Guss only do beef or can I also get chicken, pork, veal, etc. there? Thu Jan 10 07:40:57 -0800 2008 3279190 13350 glutton 3 3280857 yes Thu Jan 10 08:41:40 -0800 2008 3280626 19185 budlit 3 3281043 yep, they are a full service butcher. Thu Jan 10 09:20:43 -0800 2008 3280626 10704 wilafur 1 3279195 Try Whole Foods. Wed Jan 09 17:22:59 -0800 2008 3279148 25720 eefoodgeek 1 3279206 We've had good experiences with the USDA Prime selection at Bristol Farms. Pricey, but definitely worth it Wed Jan 09 17:26:54 -0800 2008 3279148 14558 Ernie 2 3609348 UGH. a chain . . . Bristol is good but there are FAR BETTER - try Alexander Meats Fri Apr 18 22:00:55 -0700 2008 3279206 13339 blackbookali 3 3609390 Don't be so quick to pooh-pooh Bristol Farms. I've found some of the best Wagyu beef at Bristol Farms. Expensive, sure, but when you're slicing it thin for shabu-shabu you don't need very much. Fri Apr 18 22:43:00 -0700 2008 3609348 11583 ipsedixit 4 3612184 went there today for pork tenderloins and watched them peel em out of the Farmer John wrapping . . . same thing I have seen at Ralphs. Bristol is GOOD but I would take Harvey Guss over them any day of the week. Sun Apr 20 10:46:16 -0700 2008 3609390 13339 blackbookali 5 3612769 Any day of the week except on the weekend. Or in the afternoon. Or most of the other times that place is closed, which seems to be most of the time. I appreciate that the shop is open at all to the general public but damn you've got to plan way ahead to enjoy Harvey Guss meats. :) Sun Apr 20 15:19:22 -0700 2008 3612184 101728 Frommtron 6 3615667 so true, and i have not done Harvey Guss nearly as often as I have places like Alexanders, Maracondas or Jims but they have stood out as the one of the best steaks i have ever had, including restaurants. If you are looking for "the best" - its Guss by a mile. Mon Apr 21 12:54:39 -0700 2008 3612769 13339 blackbookali 3 3612377 I tried Alexander Meats once for some filets and rib eyes and not impressed at all considering the price. Would definitely not go back. Sun Apr 20 12:09:33 -0700 2008 3609348 14558 Ernie 1 3279258 Save a buck over Bristol (which doesn't even always carry prime beef), and at half the price but better quality, go to Huntington Meats in the 3rd/Fairfax farmer's market. That's your best bet by far. If you feel really compelled to get the "best" also consider Vicente Foods in Brentwood. They're the only retailer I'm aware of in the area that sells wagyu beef (granted it's Snake River from America). The catch is it runs about $70pp. Also, in my personal experience the marbling and look of the beef despite being wagyu is comparable to what I get at Huntington. Wed Jan 09 17:42:56 -0800 2008 3279148 145678 rogermexico 2 3279303 I second the emotion on Hunnington Meats. That place is the best butcher I have found in LA. I did a prime grade prime rib for $100 for 8 pounds on NYE, and it was to die for. Gorgeous meat. Their sausages are also the best in town hands down. Wed Jan 09 17:56:12 -0800 2008 3279258 71915 lalaw05 2 3280867 Vicente foods does have very good meat and kurobuta pork. I love the meats from Snake River farms. Thu Jan 10 08:44:14 -0800 2008 3279258 19185 budlit 2 3282014 I second Roger's call on this one. Vicente foods, at San Vicente and Bundy, has AMAZING meat as well as everything else. Amazing selection crammed into a seemingly small building. Bristol Farms, Whole Foods, the Ralphs in Malibu Colony (ASK FOR REGAN!!!!) are all good places. And for the prime Omaha shit... OMAHA STEAKS on Pico, east of Sepulveda, has large aged filets. Off the hook. Thu Jan 10 12:37:04 -0800 2008 3279258 125151 WORX4FUDE 3 3282025 I never noticed Omaha Steaks selling prime grade meat. Is this something new? Thu Jan 10 12:39:29 -0800 2008 3282014 108169 Servorg 4 3282374 Ooops! ha ha... not Prime with a capital "P." More prime like... wow, "that is a prime parking spot." =) I'm not sure what the quality is... Choice? Either way, I've cooked with these.... some wrapped in bacon, some grilled, other cubed into soups.... ALL good. =) Thu Jan 10 14:01:08 -0800 2008 3282025 125151 WORX4FUDE 1 3279302 Both Sam's Club and Costco have excellent beef. Their ribeye steaks are hard to beat! Prices are reasonable for that quality. Wed Jan 09 17:55:05 -0800 2008 3279148 116037 Clinton 2 3280912 Costco beef is good value, but not ultra-high quality, IMHO. Quite good, but short of top-drawer. I buy it, but my requirements aren't as stringent as some folks'. Thu Jan 10 08:55:02 -0800 2008 3279302 89849 Akitist 1 3279314 http://hows.foodmagic.com/fmap/jsphows/frames_main.jsp?forward=/fmap/jsphows/shopping/weekly.jsp?rnd=797678 Wed Jan 09 17:59:12 -0800 2008 3279148 108169 Servorg 2 3279656 I havent been to every place yet, but when I first moved to LA I looked around to find out where all the meat suppliers were. This is what I found European Deluxe Sausage Kitchen, 9109 W Olympic Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Alexander's Prime Meats, Howie's Ranch Market, 6580 N. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, (626) 286-8871 Bel Air Prime Meats, Beverly Glen Market Place, 2964 Beverly Glen Circle, L.A. (310) 475-5915 The Farms, 2030 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 828-4244 Harvey's Guss Meat Co., 949 S. Ogden Drive, Los Angeles, (323) 937-4622 Huntington Meats & Sausage, Los Angeles Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., (323) 938-5383. Marconda's Meat, Los Angeles Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., (323) 938-5131 Owen's Market, 9769 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 553-8183 Vicente Foods, 12027 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 472-5215 Victor's Meats & Delicatessen,10002 National Blvd , los angeles Of course, Costo is the cheapest and most decent and gelsons, bristol, and whole foods are your typical chains Wed Jan 09 20:04:09 -0800 2008 3279314 61311 jlrobe 3 3281362 Has anyone been to Owen's Market lately? It reopened recently with new ownership. Thu Jan 10 10:22:56 -0800 2008 3279656 94169 Renault78law 3 3282023 PS, Victors Deli ((National and Palms... yes, they cross)) has AMAZING deals on sandwiches that are VERY reasonably sized. The hot BBQ chicken sandwich is mouth-watering and their deli meats are never pulled from a package. All fresh stuff. Heartily suggested Thu Jan 10 12:39:12 -0800 2008 3279656 125151 WORX4FUDE 4 3282157 Is Victor's Deli in that minimart right across from Hu's? About how much are the sandwiches? I'm at Hu's for lunch probably about once a week or so... Thu Jan 10 13:10:24 -0800 2008 3282023 10855 nosh 5 3285561 No, Victors is about 1/2 a mile further east on National, in the same strip as Co-op Pizza. I recall that Victor's had a good meatball plate, sort of like a grandmother from Iowa would make - starchy, rib-sticking, put you in a deep slumber. Hu's is closer to National & Motor. The place across the street is Cheviot Farms which has decent smoothies. Fri Jan 11 11:32:49 -0800 2008 3282157 88585 mungus 6 3285597 Thanks. Gotta try them. Second time I've gotten them wrong -- once confused them with Victor Jr.'s, the excellent sandwich, salad, and pizza place on Washington in Culver City. Fri Jan 11 11:41:56 -0800 2008 3285561 10855 nosh 1 3280594 HOWS Markets carry prime beef (choice as well so check the label) for a ridiculously low price. It is not dry-aged as far as I know so if price is no option by all means go to one of the butchers mentioned here. Thu Jan 10 07:33:02 -0800 2008 3279148 103155 ebethsdad 2 3281336 If you are ever in the Valley, Jim's Market on Fallbrook (in between Ventura and Canoga) has really great meat. I used to have a friend who was really terrible on the grill and when he bought steaks from Jim's they still tasted good because the quality was so high that even he couldn't ruin them. Not very nice to say but completely true. Thu Jan 10 10:18:26 -0800 2008 3280594 34837 suzyshi 3 3286548 Second Jim's. Nice and helpful butchers, too. Fri Jan 11 15:24:53 -0800 2008 3281336 76480 ozhead 2 3282471 You are correct. Hows is prime but not aged. However they are not really having any more deals on Prime, except for their Prime prime rib (9.99/lb) around Christmas time. It is now 11.95, still goo though. I really like Alexander's Meats in San Gabriel. Thu Jan 10 14:22:51 -0800 2008 3280594 12882 jkao1817 3 3283606 No specials this week, but that changes weekly. They run specials on rib eyes/spencer steaks fairly regularly, and a couple times a year they run specials on NYs as well. A couple months ago, I bought some Choice NYs for $4.99/lb, and some Prime ones for $8.99 (usually $15.99). Thu Jan 10 19:57:38 -0800 2008 3282471 11553 Jack Flash 4 3285956 It may be just a local special, but I just picked up Prime bacon-wrapped Tournedos for 2.99/lb. Now filet is not my favorite cut, but at that price I can whip up a sauce to boost their flavor. 2.99/lb for Prime filet. It must have been a time warp. Fri Jan 11 13:05:35 -0800 2008 3283606 103155 ebethsdad 5 3286014 I'm headin' for How's! Might get lucky... Fri Jan 11 13:20:10 -0800 2008 3285956 89849 Akitist 1 3282761 I know that this is not in the LA area as you requested, but if you truly want the BEST steaks, i have found that nobody matches the dry aged prime steaks from Lobels in NY. They overnight them anywhere in the US and they are well worth it. I have cooked their steaks for Ruth Chris fans, Morton fans and other meat lovers and have been told that they were the best steaks they have ever eaten. You can find them at www.lobels.com . I highly recommend them Thu Jan 10 15:26:41 -0800 2008 3279148 21052 carln 1 3283080 Go to Google, type in Peter Luger's, order the New York Strip steaks, go to your bank, apply for loan. Eat steaks when they arrive, they are the best according to my wine tasting group after having done a steak tasting, then used borrowed money to pay off credit card. Lastly, pay off loan Cook the steaks anything but rarre or medium rare more towards the rare side and you will have committed sacrilige Thu Jan 10 16:55:01 -0800 2008 3279148 12033 Hughlipton 1 3283137 Thank you for all the replies, I was raised in Argentina and just came back from a trip to Buenos Aires. I can't get over the beef that I had over there. Last weekend I bought some Rib eye steaks from Bristol Farms and my brother and his girlfriend were telling me how good they were but I didn't think they were anywhere close to the steaks that I had in Argentina. So, I'm trying to get the best the US has to offer so I anyone has more suggestions I will be happy to read. Thu Jan 10 17:18:15 -0800 2008 3279148 155964 Speedracer5 2 3284295 The primary difference is that Argentine beef is grass-fed, not corn-fed like American beef. Your best bet for getting decent grass-fed beef in the US would be looking on the internet. I cannot promise that it will be as good as Argentine beef still, but it will at least be a similar style. Fri Jan 11 06:30:45 -0800 2008 3283137 13350 glutton 3 3286559 Whole Foods carries some cuts of grass-fed beef, I think. Fri Jan 11 15:27:06 -0800 2008 3284295 76480 ozhead 1 3284487 I am an absolute steak lover and eat a good steak at least once a week. I just moved down to Southern California but have found a couple good spots to buy beef (all mentioned here already). You should really try Whole Foods though. I'm not saying they are the best but I was really surprised how good the quality of meats they have. The problem is I know not ever Whole Foods is the same for some strange reason. The best one I've found is in Tustin which seems to be the biggest one I've seen so far. How you cook the steak plays a big part in it too! Fri Jan 11 07:34:01 -0800 2008 3279148 156123 Rachel529 2 3610881 I was in Whole Foods last month to grab some Spencer steaks. The butcher was cutting some 24-day dry aged boned-in rib eye for another customer as I was waiting so instead of the $14.99/pound Spencer, I got the $24.99/pound dry-aged for my dinner party. 4 fairly large boned-in, dry-aged rib eye came to about $200 but my guests (and I) were in meat heaven. A simple grilling with kosher salt and freshly grounded pepper was all I needed. I love Harvey Guss but Whole Foods was surprisingly close. Sat Apr 19 17:15:23 -0700 2008 3284487 155500 ExtraCheesePlease 3 3612353 You served ~2 lb. rib eyes to your guests?! You're quite the host... Sun Apr 20 12:02:52 -0700 2008 3610881 10606 Joe Blowe 4 3612843 Two were women and they finished everything, sides and all. We're still talking about it. Sun Apr 20 15:50:55 -0700 2008 3612353 155500 ExtraCheesePlease 1 3286239 Also try Taylor's in Sierra Madre or Harmony Farms in La Crescenta, Fri Jan 11 14:05:58 -0800 2008 3279148 51764 mbh65 1 3612208 Lobel's mail order. They're consistently great. Sun Apr 20 10:58:19 -0700 2008 3279148 15114 epop