663820 Sat Oct 31 23:29:49 -0700 2009 39 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5146202 So, I used to be so spoiled. I lived walking distance to 3 Paneras back home in VA. Now I'm in downtown LA, and I can't find a Panera that is close enough, and I really miss their amazing soup and bread. I know it's a chain restaurant, but they do pretty good soups, and I can't find a good hearty, crusty baguette anywhere. Anyone know restaurants around the downtown area that sells affordable and good soups for the colder season? Preferably with good bread, too! Sat Oct 31 23:29:49 -0700 2009 1108992 burp_excuzme 1 5146220 Urth Cafe, Mendocino Farms, and Panini Cafe. Sun Nov 01 00:32:06 -0700 2009 5146202 11583 ipsedixit 2 5146286 I second Mendocino Farms. And I'll bet Church & State does a mean french onion soup. Sun Nov 01 02:44:15 -0800 2009 5146220 11375 perk 3 5183243 Church $ State does do a good French onion soup. And Mazke seems to have rectified the previous issue with over saltedness. Sun Nov 15 10:46:53 -0800 2009 5146286 13235 lotta_cox 2 5148285 Oh yes! Mendocino Farms. I've been eyeing that place for awhile, and was wondering if it was any good. Thanks for your rec! Sun Nov 01 23:51:34 -0800 2009 5146220 1108992 burp_excuzme 1 5148193 The New England clam Chowder at Philippe's the Original (served only on Fridays) is the best rendition of this soup I've yet come across in L.A. Philippe's is an institution, near Chinatown/Union Station. Enjoy. Sun Nov 01 21:02:32 -0800 2009 5146202 11933 J.L. 2 5148295 I live in Silverlake and there's NO good soup anywhere (except wonton soup and I'm getting sick of it). I was on location w my hubby in Michigan this summer -- and everywhere -- even in the middle of a muggy summer, there was good soup. And yeah, I ate clam freaking chowdah in August and it was great! What's up LA! I have the flu and I want soup -- and not the salty, icky kind at Gelson's or even Whole Foods. Wish there was a Granville or CPK in Los Feliz -- I know, chains, but who cares when they deliver. Or a good deli! Waahhh! Mon Nov 02 00:11:13 -0800 2009 5148193 17418 Silverlaker 3 5166286 "I live in Silverlake and there's NO good soup anywhere" Polka in Eagle Rock has very good soups. Sun Nov 08 22:05:24 -0800 2009 5148295 11135 Briggs 1 5149088 Langer's Deli customers are usually too pastrami-craved to remember that they have very good soups. And I agree with Silverlaker that the lack of a decent deli between Langer's and Billy's is a disgrace. Mon Nov 02 09:23:49 -0800 2009 5146202 85884 maxzook 2 5149371 I was at Langers last week. But it's a schlep and their hours are TERRIBLE! Not open for dinner or Sundays - eeck. Anyway, I always get a cup of soup and half a sandwich when I go there. I'm not a fan of Billy's, their matzoh ball soup is not very good, don't like the matzoh balls or the broth. I can make a better soup. Mon Nov 02 10:44:35 -0800 2009 5149088 17418 Silverlaker 3 5164167 Silverlaker -- this is my pet gripe about our hood, too!!! NO GOOD SOUP!!! Victor's on Franklin and Bronson makes a good chicken soup. If you can stand to hop on the 101 and get off at Gower or brave the side street traffic, it does the trick. I like to add some dill to mine and just a pinch of salt. But seriously, this is a real problem, the lack of decent soup. Sat Nov 07 18:13:51 -0800 2009 5149371 67147 mandelabra 4 5166283 "Victor's on Franklin and Bronson makes a good chicken soup" Not any more. Victor's is closed - or so they said when I called this past week. Sun Nov 08 22:04:20 -0800 2009 5164167 11135 Briggs 5 5166954 Victor's Deli: closed :( Victor's Square Restaurant: alive and well :D Mon Nov 09 08:34:01 -0800 2009 5166283 85884 maxzook 1 5165585 soup plantation. Its cheap and made fresh everyday. Selections change often but they keep their signatures: Chicken noodle, chili, clam chowder, minestrone Sun Nov 08 15:13:23 -0800 2009 5146202 242519 sumo3175 2 5165902 Love me some Souplantation. Sun Nov 08 17:49:55 -0800 2009 5165585 212582 schrutefarms 2 5166194 While I like souplantation alot myself, there is none within the general vicinity of downtown LA (per the OP request). Sun Nov 08 20:51:33 -0800 2009 5165585 11583 ipsedixit 3 5182123 I occasionally get a Soup Plantation craving..but in reality their soups are pretty lame. The vegetable soups are just salad bar carry-overs, and their cream based soups are just wrong. Sat Nov 14 17:19:45 -0800 2009 5166194 87322 1newyorkguy 4 5182319 Listen, my friend. You MUST hit up Souplantation in March. Souplantation has different "flavors" monthly, and March (oh, I'm salivating at the thought!) is Grilled Cheese Focaccia and Creamy Tomato Soup month. There are other things I like th ere, such as their chicken noodle soup, Greek focaccia (when it's Greek month) and the honey whipped butter on the fresh, warm sourdough. But nothing beats March. Sat Nov 14 19:44:47 -0800 2009 5182123 212582 schrutefarms 5 5182368 Closest Souplantation to downtown LA is Alhambra. Sat Nov 14 20:13:05 -0800 2009 5182319 11914 monku 5 5182376 They just had that same soup and same focaccia last month. It was pretty good, and I didn't have to wait until March. Sat Nov 14 20:17:21 -0800 2009 5182319 97644 ReelMike84 6 5182413 They have a "Fan Favorites" month. I was looking forward to it for weeks, then ended up with a bit of heartbreak and went off food for a while. And of course that was the week the Grilled Cheese Focaccia and Creamy Tomato Soup came back. It was a terrible week :( Sat Nov 14 20:39:54 -0800 2009 5182376 212582 schrutefarms 7 5183141 Whoops! Sorry to stir up bad memories. But hey, you could always make it at home, probably even better. Sun Nov 15 09:55:38 -0800 2009 5182413 97644 ReelMike84 2 5182412 come on guys....seriously we can do better than soup plantation Sat Nov 14 20:39:03 -0800 2009 5165585 262621 peppermonkey 3 5182428 OP asked for "good soup", Soup Plantation has decent soups. What is soup but liquid and meat and/or vegetables. Sat Nov 14 20:50:07 -0800 2009 5182412 11914 monku 3 5182429 I stand by my choice. Sat Nov 14 20:51:57 -0800 2009 5182412 212582 schrutefarms 3 5182487 soup to me is a lot more than that...good soup takes just as much time, care, technique as any other dish. consider the sublte beauty of a bowl of pho bac at pho minh, or the brash in your face "beefiness" of sullongtang, or the rich, full flavor of onion soup at anisette. i've never met a soup i didn't like at campanile. There's so much good stuff out there. From warm and comforting to complex and savory. Soup plantation is the bottom of the barrel. Sat Nov 14 21:54:29 -0800 2009 5182412 262621 peppermonkey 1 5166295 Eastside Market and Deli for an Italian style lentil soup. Big and hearty bowl served with an Italian roll. Sun Nov 08 22:11:06 -0800 2009 5146202 11914 monku 1 5166298 How about Daikokuya for their famous tonkatsu ramen? Paul's Kitchen Downtown for their wor wonton soup? Sun Nov 08 22:13:06 -0800 2009 5146202 11914 monku 1 5167354 Not soup per say, but Lemonade (I don't know the address, but I know there is one downtown) has amazing stews-chicken lemongrass, chicken w/ artichoke hearts and olives, red miso shortrib, etc...Most are served over rice, and they have delicious breadsticks. OR.....and I can't believe I'm suggesting this, but Olive Garden has the $5.99 lunch special, unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks, none of which are half bad! There must be one downtown, what with all the travelers, conventions, hotels etc... Mon Nov 09 10:29:54 -0800 2009 5146202 212582 schrutefarms 2 5168597 No Olive Garden in downtown LA...closest would be in Glendale on Brand Blvd. Mon Nov 09 17:04:46 -0800 2009 5167354 11914 monku 3 5170057 Also at the Stonewood mall in Downey. The soup and salad deal is the best thing on their menu. It's also the only thing I'll eat on their menu. Tue Nov 10 09:12:35 -0800 2009 5168597 85884 maxzook 2 5182126 Lemonade has great soups! Sat Nov 14 17:21:43 -0800 2009 5167354 87322 1newyorkguy 1 5168696 There used to be a corner bakery in the southern fig area of downtown- not sure if it's still there but they have the soup/breadbowl thing and it's similar to panera. Mon Nov 09 17:39:57 -0800 2009 5146202 262696 sheila1 2 5168806 Corner Bakery is a good call. it's at the corver of 7th and Fig (not in the mall, but on the south side of seventh). Mon Nov 09 18:24:52 -0800 2009 5168696 12268 mollyomormon 1 5171923 I love the chicken soup at Urth Caffe. I add a bit of lemon to it for a really refreshing bowl of comfort! Their bread does the trick, too! Tue Nov 10 22:26:54 -0800 2009 5146202 12529 LAGirl 2 5172033 Mmmm...I love the tomato rice soup....and the bread! Wed Nov 11 00:52:27 -0800 2009 5171923 212582 schrutefarms 1 5177820 For the siverlakers...there is an amazing pho soup place on sunset. i live in Venice but always hit it up when I am out that way....so delicious...no sign, in a strip mall Thu Nov 12 22:10:16 -0800 2009 5146202 164445 jannajones 2 5179010 Do you at least have an address or cross street? Fri Nov 13 10:25:12 -0800 2009 5177820 85884 maxzook 1 5182533 Downtown LA sucks...Seriously, why is it so hard to find a simple decent soup? Sat Nov 14 22:58:29 -0800 2009 5146202 1108992 burp_excuzme 2 5183198 Again, I stand by my choice: Philippe's the Original in Downtown. Sun Nov 15 10:24:36 -0800 2009 5182533 11933 J.L.