Help! I need a restaurant downtown on Friday night...not the same old, same old...

[cimero]

Hi all, I'm looking for a restaurant for after MOCA Friday night...we were going to go to Yang Chow but with Chinese New Year on Thursday we're thinking it'll be too crazy. Of course there are the obvious places, Pinot, Patina, Engine Co., Ciudad....anyone have any new finds, great hole in the walls, great good bangs for the buck, great experience restaurants...if we don't think of something better, we'll probably go to the restaurant in the Omni Hotel...but I'm thinking the Hounds can steer me to something a little off the beaten path? We're three adventours gals who like anything and everything (except a mob scene in Chinatown!)

[ns1]

colori kitchen?

BYOW and get hammered

excellent food to boot

[kek is khmer]

Honda Ya on Alameda is a excellent recommendation. They have good service and its usually kickin on Friday night.

You might also consider e3rd Steakhouse and Cafe Metropol. Both have solid food but service is spotty. Their also in parts of downtown that people don't know about (which I think is kind of cool).

e3rd- The kimchi mashed potatoes aren't great (bland) but their steak (short rib) is good. The ahi tuna salad was solid and their avo tuna appetizer uis beautiful and good.

Cafe Metropol- I've only been for lunch but their salads are very good. Their burgers are average but they have a good selection of cheeses. While cloth restaurant with baked fries, which I wish were crispier.

Street parking at both.

[bite bite]

Yongsusan -- North Korean imperial style feast where they serve you about 50 small courses. Unlike any meal I've ever had. Pumpkin porridge, jellyfish, v. good kim chi, scorched rice, soon tofu, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc....

Yongsusan
950 S Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006-1611
2133883042

[silverlakebodhisattva]

Vermont isn't really downtown, and to get to S. Vermont from MOCA, you'd probably take, oh, say, 6th Street, so before you got to Vermont, you could go right to (not past) CHICHEN ITZA!

On the other hand, if you're actually going to remain downtown, I'd say Izayoi for izakaya or , Kokokeko for yakitori. Maybe Takumi (not to be confused with Takami) or Gen for sushi.

r gould-saltman

[chowchow12345678]

Warning: Daikokuya has a mob scene every weekend, holiday or not. Good food, but the wait is a killer.

[slacker]

JTown:
Haru Ulala
Izayoi
Honda Ya
Daikokuya
Hana Ichimonme

[christof]

Do you guys rate Curry House as good eats in the area as well? I like it but after reading all these foodie boards, I think my taste isn't as good as i thought it was =/

[slacker]

I think Curry House is fine. I'm just not personally big on that kind of food, although I like curry a lot, so it just wouldn't be the kind of place I'd frequent. I'm sure others here like Curry House.

[kek is khmer]

I too love the curry. I prefer that the take-out location though cause they have that frequent buyer card.

There is also a new Korean BBQ place in that the center, which is pretty good (and cheap)

[slacker]

The K-bbq place is open now? I gotta try it.
I'm so glad these new places are opening in that plaza; only place in Jtown with easy parking.

[mollyomormon]

Tiara Cafe just started serving dinner and has been getting some good reviews...

[jkao1817]

Watergrill? Roy's?

[JE33]

R-23, La Serenata, CBS

[ipsedixit]

Why would there be a mob scene Friday night in Chinatown? It might be a little hectic tonight and Thursday, but I doubt Friday would be a "mob scene".

In any event, I would recommend Wood Spoon for Brazillian.