Hollywood Area food shopping, retail seafood and restaurants

[FatMess]

I just moved to the Hollywood Highland area, which feels like a dead zone for all things culinary. I'm looking for any recommendations in the area. Specifically, any place to buy decent seafood (thai town area?), meat, restaurants, etc. I know there is Beard Papa, so that is something. But, are there any other hidden gems in this touristy mess?

[aflores]

I've been living in Hollywood forever (Western/Franklin) and don't know too many places as I'm always in West LA. However I can tell you that Palms (Thai) on Hollywood Blvd (with the Thai Elvis) is Yummy. It's open late and can get crowded. You can order for pickup.
Another place that I love is Vivoli (Italian) Sunset Blvd http://www.vivolicafe.com/ Great italian. Don't be put off by the fact that it's in a shopping center. It's very nice and elegant inside. I am NEVER disappointed when I go there!

[Peripatetic]

I second Vivoli's, though it's a bit far from Hollywood and Highland. Closer, there is Lucky Devils and Citrus at Social. The new Loteria Grill outpost gets okay reviews. (I've only been to the FM Loteria, which is decent, if unexceptional.) Other places on my to-try list: 25 Degrees, Robert's Russian Cuisine, and the recently opened Blue Palms Brewhouse.

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25 Degrees Restaurant
7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Vivoli Cafe
7994 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Lucky Devils
6613 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Social Hollywood
6525 W Sunset Blvd Fl 5, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Roberts Russian Cuisine
1603 1/2 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Loteria Grill Hollywood
6627 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Blue Palm Lounge
6126 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[Jack Flash]

For meat & seafood, the best, closest bet is Mayfair at Franklin & Bronson.

Restaurants: what are you looking for? You're only a few blocks from any number of fine Thai restaurants. Tons of rec's all over this board. A few oft-mentioned favorites: Yai, Jitlada, Sanamluang, Ruen Pair, Palms. Literally dozens of others.

[Chandavkl]

Of course at Mayfair (can somebody explain why this one was not re-named as a Gelson's) you'll pay through your teeth for fresh meat and seafood.

[tastycakes]

i haven't tried the seafood but i shop at silom market on hollywood east of western for all my thai/japanese ingredients and decent produce especially asian herbs. some of the produce can be hit or miss. my favorite spot was the 99 ranch market (not to be confused with the asian superstore) on western and sunset which is going to be replaced by a stupid target store, like we need another one of those in hollywood.

i try to get the rest of my fruit & veg at the amazing sunday farmer's market at selma and ivar. they have oysters now as well as fresh fish, bison, cheeses, and heritage pork, plus bakeries, juice guys, and other vendors.

some favorite places to eat are:

hungry cat, sunset & vine - modern take on seafood with excellent seasonal cocktails

blue palms brewhouse, gower and hollywood - 25 beers on draft and really good bar food, burgers, etc.

super tortas, sunset & fountain - mexican

numero uno, sunset & fountain, pupusas and fresh licuados

birds - right near you at wilton and franklin, though i only go for the bar scene, the food i've tried has always been just ok.

ruen pair, western & hollywood - excellent thai, don't let the B in the window scare you, and BYOB

the dip (in the Hwd/High complex) is pretty good, french dips and good mashed potatoes that they mix with the extra jus. the shabu shabu place in there is also not too bad. and also in H/H there is a great little wine bar that does tastings too, ov er in the corner when you are heading west towards the long staircase that exits by the mac store and the virgin records. i can't remember what it's called but they are really cool and not pushy and the patio is nice and shady.

search the board and you'll find lots more!!

[FatMess]

Thanks so much.

Good recs. I actually happened across the H/H wine bar the other day and loved it. It seemed like such an oasis in all the H/H craziness.

Will check out the Thai markets and restaurants in the coming weeks. I'm also intrigued by Vivoli. In LA, being in a strip mall is almost a recommendation.

As for seafood, I guess I'm going to have to travel, unless Silam looks good. I got Trout at Mayfair this weekend, and one of the trout I was given was way over the hill. My own fault for not being more aggressive about seeing everything before I buy, but I'm suspect of a place that would even try to sell a fish that looked like that. The eyes were beyond cloudy, and there was even a small dried hole in one. For that price, forget about it.

[bulavinaka]

You may have put it in your bag of recs alraedy but I didn't see an acknowledgment to tastycakes' rec for the Sunday farmers market in Hollywood. I just wanted to give another shout-out for it just in case you missed it the first time around. It's definitely one of the better farmers markets in SoCal which says a lot in my eyes. Tons of great produce tables, a fair amount of good to great specialty tables, and a handful of excellent prepared food stands. Very laid-back atmosphere in the AM but it can get crowded as the day progresses along with the street entertainment so go early as possible if crowds are not your bag.

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