628268 Mon Jun 15 21:10:05 -0700 2009 22 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4776392 I love some fried calamari and haven't really found a good spot in LA for this. I've only tried the calamari at Maggianos at the Groove. So where should i go? Mon Jun 15 21:10:05 -0700 2009 122639 waxfondler 1 4776414 Maria's Italian Kitchen. But tread lightly on the rest of the menu. Mon Jun 15 21:21:47 -0700 2009 4776392 10811 Das Ubergeek 2 4778705 Hey, D.U. Based on one of your earlier posts I went to Maria's recently In Sherman Oaks. The calamari was not very good. Rings only, no heads. Completely unseasoned and cooked to a very pale shade of beige. I'm sure that was not what you experienced. Tue Jun 16 13:27:17 -0700 2009 4776414 10240 Bob Brooks 3 4778775 Not at all... they've always been crispy and tender. I hope it was just a fluke! Tue Jun 16 13:46:02 -0700 2009 4778705 10811 Das Ubergeek 4 4779053 Calimari don't have flukes. Whales have flukes. Tue Jun 16 14:53:22 -0700 2009 4778775 76480 ozhead 1 4776478 Uh... the Peruvians do it better in LA, as far as I can tell. Excellent calamari platter at Mario's, and Puro Sabor is the best damn fried squid in the state, maybe. The peruvian-ness is subtle. Mon Jun 15 21:55:05 -0700 2009 4776392 14404 Thi N. 2 4776518 Damn i've eaten at Puro Sabor many times and didnt even realize they had fried squid! Thanks for the heads up. Im gonna have to go tomorrow. Thanks Mon Jun 15 22:20:22 -0700 2009 4776478 122639 waxfondler 3 4776539 Mario's has an all-calamari plate. I can't remember of Puro Sabor does an all-calamari plate - but it's definitely the major component of the Mountain Which Is Jalea de Mariscos. Mon Jun 15 22:35:34 -0700 2009 4776518 14404 Thi N. 1 4776499 I love the fried calamari at Far Niente and at Marino's. Far Niente 204 (and a half) N. Brand Blvd. Glendale Marino's 6001 Melrose Ave. Hollywood Mon Jun 15 22:09:04 -0700 2009 4776392 135030 omakase 1 4776516 This might be a bit different from what you had in mind, but Vermont in Los Feliz has a wonderful fried calamari salad.....with very nice spicy Asian flavors. Mon Jun 15 22:18:44 -0700 2009 4776392 11375 perk 1 4777688 Primativo in Venice has an amazing calamari app that manages to have slight chew, melting tenderness, and crunchy coating all at the same time. a friend i took there for lunch exclaimed on first bite "Damn! now this didn't come off a Sysco truck!" Tue Jun 16 09:21:13 -0700 2009 4776392 227301 jdwdeville 1 4778193 Domenico does a good, interesting version that's fried calamari strips with fried lemon in a romesco sauce. Tue Jun 16 11:07:27 -0700 2009 4776392 212178 noahbites 1 4778437 Oliva on Van Nuys just North of Ventura on the west side of the street. Tue Jun 16 12:21:44 -0700 2009 4776392 12033 Hughlipton 1 4779059 Scott's Seafood in Costa Mesa has good food but incredible Calamari. Tue Jun 16 14:56:06 -0700 2009 4776392 10974 1000steps 1 4779096 Malbec has a very nice fritto misto app. http://www.malbeccuisine.com/ Tue Jun 16 15:08:12 -0700 2009 4776392 11583 ipsedixit 1 4779173 I think Angeli Caffe on Melrose does a good calamari. Tue Jun 16 15:34:42 -0700 2009 4776392 285206 DianaTakesABite 1 4781225 I hate to admit it, but I really like Cheesecake Factory's fried calamari. It comes with a great garlic dipping sauce, as well as cocktail sauce. Another surprise entry is Springbok Bar & Grill in Van Nuys. It is also served with a garlic mayonnaise. Wed Jun 17 09:39:46 -0700 2009 4776392 10568 Jwsel 1 4782824 At the risk of seeming way too provincial, the calamari at Dish in La Canada is terrific. Lightly battered, nicely spiced and perfectly fried. Best of all, it's half price during happy hour (3-6) making it at great bargain. Wed Jun 17 17:44:55 -0700 2009 4776392 292426 trimtab 1 4822277 BENLEY VIETNAMESE KITCHEN - vietnamese fusion, sometimes calamari, sometimes cuttlefish. the seasoning and the very light batter makes it so good, we find ourselves ordering a second batch! 8191 E Wardlow Rd Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 596-8130 Wed Jul 01 14:13:50 -0700 2009 4776392 22959 revets2 1 4824433 I like Captain Kidds in Redondo Beach. The batter is light and the squid is tender. The market/restaurant is near the Redondo Beach pier. Thu Jul 02 09:22:39 -0700 2009 4776392 251532 bgazindad 1 4825086 Fabiolus on Sunset Blvd, east of Vine, calamari-topped salad or appetizer. F'n delicious with marinara sauce, the real way to eat it. Thu Jul 02 12:36:03 -0700 2009 4776392 185665 DeePocketChopra 1 4828452 Guido's on Santa Monica near Brockton, a place that I can't recommend otherwise, has great calamari. I have no idea why but they fry it perfectly and serve it with a nice sauce. This joint also has one of the most aMAZING collection of celebrity photos tucked away in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. This is not some b.s. collection - these photos were all taken at the restaurant with the former owner who disappeared years ago under shady circumstances. This place was clearly HOPPING in the 70s and early 80s. I'm talking Ahnold, Chris Evert, Linda Carter, Michael Jackson (with OJ's kids!!!). Seriously, it's mind-numbing. Go now because it won't be there forever. Make it an appetizer/drink stop before your real dinner at Il Grano or Juquila or whatever you like in the neighborhood. Order a drink and calamari. Browse the photos while you're waiting for your calamari to come out, down your fried goods, then get out of there before you're tempted to spend way too much on mediocre Italian food. Capiche? Fri Jul 03 20:35:31 -0700 2009 4776392 13238 estnyboer 1 4828562 I actually like the rendition at Alejos I find it hard to beat.. Fri Jul 03 21:53:42 -0700 2009 4776392 97161 Foodandwine