Good Eats Near LAX

[sandiegomike]

I will be driving from San Diego to LAX for a pickup at 7:00pm on Tuesday. Any tips for a good place to eat near LAX or on the way? Good and/or interesting food more important than ambience. Like ethnic.

[heinous]

Izakaya Bincho on the Redondo Beach pier is only about 10 minutes south of LAX on PCH. Search the boards for reviews - it is truly a South Bay gem for thoughtful, delicious Japanese food that far outshines its humble place. And you can stroll right down the pier to the Quality Seafood oyster bar for a follow-up (or a starter)!

[Servorg]

I gotta see you drive that in 10 minutes! (at least without being the first car in a televised highspeed pursuit) ;-D>

[JEN10]

I LOVE BINCHO, and yes it will be more like 1/2 hour drive. Thay are only open in the evenings, be sure to call ahead for a reservation. Well worth the trip!!!

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Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

[heinous]

Haha, OK, so maybe it's 15 minutes from LAX. I work near the airport, and without traffic, it's pretty quick. Especially when I get excited about the agedashi tofu... :)

[cookingodyssey]

There's always In n' Out!

[Ogawak]

On the way to LAX just off the 405 is some of the better Japanese food in LA.

My favorites include
Santouka for ramen
Komatsu for tempura
Shinsengumi (2 locations) one for yakitori, the other for ramen.
Musha for izakaya.
Oddly, Gardena/Torrance is not known for sushi, but I would recommend Kampachi, especially for sushi you might never get elsewhere.

also
Kyochon for Korean fried chicken.

Bruddah's for some of the best Hawaiian plate lunch around.

Below is a discussion of best Japanese food. Note Exilekiss's post.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6039...

otherwise I like Pann's for fried chicken and waffles (yes better than Roscoes

)

Ayara Thai is good, but only if you are in the mood for Thai. It's not a world beater.

[ElissaInPlaya]

This is a fantastic list.

[DiveFan]

Here are my nearby lists of nearby places to fill in any gaps:
El Segundo/LAX - http://www.chow.com/lists/87
Inglewood/Lennox - http://www.chow.com/lists/89
Hawthorne - http://www.chow.com/lists/54
Gardena/Lawndale - http://www.chow.com/lists/71
South Bay area Hawaiian - http://www.chow.com/lists/67
South Bay area BBQ - http://www.chow.com/lists/73
South Bay area ethnic markets - http://www.chow.com/lists/72

To drive from SD through the Orange parking lot, eat and then make it to LAX by 7pm, you should leave mighty mighty early.

[jeffandnat]

Just south of LAX is downtown El Segundo. Try Richmond Grill. Great pub for Burgers, homemade chips and Micro Brews on tap. Second City Bistro has great seafood and a quiet atmosphere. Indian Summer for fab Lamb Korma and garlic naan.

[jaypeezy]

Ayara Thai is pretty good and really close by...like 5 min away...
6245 West 87th Street
Westchester, California 90045

[westsidegal]

second the ayara thai cuisine recommendation

[flylice2x]

Hokkaido www.hokkaidoseafood.com Off 405 Long Beach
Buggy Whip www.thebuggywhip.com In Weschester
Versailles www.versaillescuban.com/locations.html In Manhattan Beach
The Proud Bird www.theproudbird.com Just off the LAX Runways

[westsidegal]

must respectfully disagree with the buggy whip recommedation. imho, buggy whip serves 'average" eats, not "good" eats.

[Harry Nile]

If your pickup is at 7pm, then you probably want to eat very close to LAX to make sure you're not going to be late, otherwise I'd recommend Jongewaard's Bake 'n Broil, in Long Beach not far off the 405. It's a very good ethnic Midwestern American place. ;-) On Tuesday they have fine Swedish meatballs on special, along with the regular menu of chicken pot pie, hamburger steak, etc., and great cakes and pies. Much closer to the airport you'll find Pann's, same general kind of food but less Martin Mull, more funky and even better than BnB in MHO. Their Tuesday special is beef short ribs, which you can get with great biscuits.

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Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop
6710 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Jongewaard’s Bake 'n Broil
3697 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

[westsidegal]

if you go to pann's, i'd recommend that you skip the milkshakes unless you like the taste of very poor quality ice cream and an awful aftertaste of artificial flavor.

[Harry Nile]

When did you last have that milkshake, westsidegal? What did you like at Pann's?

[westsidegal]

i had the milkshake about a year ago.
the other two things i had were:
1) a waffle, which in my opinion was no better than those sold in the frozen food cases of any chain grocery store
and
2) a grilled cheese sandwich made with institutional grade cheese and they badly charred the bread.

[Harry Nile]

I haven't had the milkshakes, waffle, or grilled cheese and am sorry to hear about your experience. My advice is: Go back for the biscuits, the fried chicken, the wings, the beef short ribs, and the clam chowder, which is great right after they make a batch but not bad even later.

[westsidegal]

i am a pescatarian/vegetarian, also, the 'americana' style of food (think joy of cooking) is my least favorite, so even if the dishes you named were all brilliantly executed, i would have no interest in returning.

for the money, i would prefer to go to mariscos chente for mexican seafood, dinah's for the baked pancakes, ibex rahel awash and meals by genet for ethiopian, ayara for thai, 26 beach for salads and burgers, houstons for their veggie burger, hide or k-zo for sushi, and samosa house for indian.