Will be in Beverly Hills and Anaheim, where to eat out and to buy groceries?

[mama who loves to cook]

My husband and I are wanting to find a fun, good place to eat with our 2 children ages 6 and 12 around West Hollywood/Beverly Hills and Anaheim.

We are going to be staying over in West Hollywood/Beverly Hills area for a couple of days. We are staying at a really nice suite hotel which has a kitchenette. Love to know where we can shop for a few breakfast and dinner items and where to find a great place to eat with our kiddos that isn't considered too formal... and has families eating at..

We are also staying in Anaheim and like to know the same as far as restaurants go. We will be eating out more extensively there due to our room is just a room..
Any tips too on where to eat at in both Disneyland parks would be appreciated.

Is Beverly Hills close by Universal City walk too? Someone told me Cafe Tutu is good there. Any other places around there?

[yogachik]

Depends which hotel and whether or not you'll have a car. There are some areas that don't have a grocery store within walking distance, but in West Hollywood, there's a Whole Foods on Santa Monica at Robertson (are you staying at Le Parc or Montrose? Both are nearby).

Lots of places along Sunset Plaza (also near the abovementioned hotels) for families, there are diners, cafes, hot dogs... Also along Beverly Blvd, and at the Beverly Center.

Regarding where to eat at Disneyland, try tripadvisor.com

Beverly Hills and Citywalk are not near each other (it's about 30-45 minutes by car) - but there are many (pricey) choices for the kids.

[justagthing]

If you search the board you will find many recommendations for both of the Disney parks including:
the skewers at Bengals near the Jungle Boat Cruise, dole whip by the Tiki Room, and especially the corn dogs at the cart on Main Street or in California Adventure.

[holleygolitely]

Beverly Hills is 30-45 minutes to Universal Citywalk (which I don't think is that great since you are going to Disneyland.) I would get groceries at Whole Foods as suggested or there is a Trader Joes on Santa Monica Blvd. and they have great prepared foods, snacks and groceries at reasonable prices. A great choice for dining out in that area is Gyu-Kaku on La Cienega Blvd. We go often with our kids--it is a Japanese robata place where you grill chicken, meat and other sides on the center of the table. They are very helpful with first timers and the children AND adults always enjoy roasting marshmellows at the end and having s'mores for desert. California Pizza Kitchen on South Beverly Drive has a kid's menu and that location is the original. The Grove on 3rd Street next to the Farmer's Market is fun to walk around and then eat at the Farmer's Market at one of the stands. Mexican is always a fun way to eat when visiting L.A. If you have a car, you could drive to El Cholo or Antonios on Melrose. Speaking of Melrose, Angeli Caffe has great Italian food and they let kids roll their own pizza dough out to make pizza. I agree as well with Yogachik about Sunset Plaza. Right near where you are staying and with outdoor cafe tables, you are fine with kids at Chin-Chin, Cravings and le Petit Four. Carneys is the place nearby on Sunset Blvd. which is an old train car with great hot dogs/chili-dogs. I also love to eat by the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Great environment-great food and the 6 year old can eat off the kid's menu--just remember to wear your sunglasses! On Robertson Blvd. in Beverly HIlls you could eat breakfast or lunch at Newsroom Cafe-a bit on the healthy side for some kids, but mine love it. Michel Richard is also good, reasonable and great french pastries. We like the omelets there. Also notable would be Pinkberry-the frozen yogurt-esque place with several locations that has been the rage here for awhile and Sprinkles cupcakes in Beverly Hills.

[ahuacatl]

Groceries at Trader Joe's & Pavillions on Santa Monica Blvd.

+1 dole whip by the Tiki Room

[Bob Brooks]

If you tell us exactly where you are staying and whether you will have a car (which, really you must!), we can all give you more helpful advice.

[mama who loves to cook]

Yes we are staying at Le Parc and we will have a car. :) That Japanese place sounds awesome, so does the hot dog train cart and Holy Moly to eat at the orginal California Pizza Kitchen, my husband will love that! Awesome thus so far!

[Bob Brooks]

I don't know if you're from a city that has Trader Joe's, but it is ideal for buying breakfast supplies. The have the lowest price for eggs anywhere in town, Niman Ranch bacon, great fresh juices, artisan breads, etc.

[Kitchen Queen]

When in Anaheim, it would be a crime to miss Jagerhaus. The best darned b-fast ever!! Don't forget to also enjoy the homemade plum jam!! I can't get passed the spaetzle and ham omelette. The german pancakes are a looker too. - KQ :)
www.jagerhaus.net

[notmartha]

I would second the recs for Farmer's Market. You can eat there, and get some groceries at the many meat, bakery counters and also Monsieur Marcel has a few items.

I also like Terroni's for their pasta - it's across from the Grove/Farmer's Market. 7605 Beverly Blvd, LA. No reservations.

TJs can be good for basic stuff like milk, eggs, cheese, cold cuts, etc. They have a killer chocolate croissant in the freezer section if your kitchenette has an oven.

Within Disney the old standbys are the corn dogs, the turkey legs and also the chicken strips at the Golden Horseshoe.

Near Disney I like the rec for Jaegarhaus - their breakfast is really filling, but I don't like the dinner as much. I also like Chu's Wok Inn for chinese (13053 Chapman Ave, Orange). A nice, very informal option in Anaheim is Zankou Chicken (search on this board). Some people like Thai Nakorn (11951 Beach Blvd., Stanton) also, but I am in the minority.

[Das Ubergeek]

King Harbor (SE corner of Harbor and Garden Grove Blvd.) is better than Chu's Wok Inn.

[mama who loves to cook]

Well I am back and we had a great time! We ate at Carney's and California Pizza Kitchen while in West Hollywood. We also went to Burbank and ate at Acapulcos across the street from The Tonight Show.
We had ended up over there to take the NBC back stage lot tour and the tour was at 3 and had time to spare. The page recommended it and was happy for the little afternoon break. I loved the chili at Carneys, it went so well with french fries, CPK was good as always and Acapulcos was good too, I ordered ala carte a beef enchilada which was different than the beef enchiladas in Texas or Florida I have eaten and also ate some chicken and veggies fajitas without the tortillas. While at Disneyland, we ate at Naples Downtown Disney and adored the fusilli with meat sauce and the green salad with raspberry dressings. That salad is the best salad I have ever had. We did the character breakfast too which was good. My youngest was in pure heaven from meeting characters up close and personal.

Overall the food experience was good in LA. Lots of choices and thank you all who responded. I would never have known about Carney if you didn't tell me... :)

[holleygolitely]

no problem--that's what chowhound is all about!