664286 Mon Nov 02 22:42:23 -0800 2009 24 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5151197 I love to see what people's Top 5 choices for dining in LA is. I'm not talking about the Valley, Pasadena, or OC...I'm wanting to know about LOS ANGELES! From downtown, to the Westside, up to Hollywood down to Inglewood. Please include price range, fave dish, atmosphere and why you dig it! Mon Nov 02 22:42:23 -0800 2009 97924 Deidre7 1 5151489 Of course the Valley is as much LOS ANGELES as any of the other places you list (and even more so than Inglewood - which isn't Los Angeles at all, but rather its own city). That said, and assuming that someone like Maxzook steps up and REALLY takes one for the team, you will be here for the 2009 version of http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/580125 (and if you go back in time has been happening for the last few years on the LA board). So stay tuned to this station and get your voting finger lubed up and ready to go! And if no one takes on the Herculean task of running the 2009 version, then my apologies in advance. Tue Nov 03 06:00:06 -0800 2009 5151197 108169 Servorg 2 5151916 And I am sure OP also would include the cities of West Hollywood and Culver City and Beverly Hills in that territory, yet omit one third of the entire city of LA by not including the valley. Personally, there are none in the valley worthy of the question, so the point is moot. but if Maxzook is up to the task, be prepared as Servorg stated. Tue Nov 03 08:37:23 -0800 2009 5151489 10359 carter 3 5152422 LOL @ Valley and the Inglewood reference haha...basically, I'm a public transer so I don't care about the Valley as much hahaha...ewww @ finger lube!! DIRTY!!!!!!!!!!! Tue Nov 03 11:00:35 -0800 2009 5151916 97924 Deidre7 1 5152085 There's usually a poll at the end of each year, so I anticipate a full scale one next month. Here's last year's poll & results: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/580125- Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants 2008: The Poll Results [LONG] Tue Nov 03 09:30:18 -0800 2009 5151197 12873 OCAnn 2 5152522 Which reminds me ... let me know if you're planning to do the OC poll again? Tue Nov 03 11:32:24 -0800 2009 5152085 85884 maxzook 3 5152555 I was hoping someone else would; but rather than go w/o an OC poll, I'd gladly do it again.... Tue Nov 03 11:43:05 -0800 2009 5152522 12873 OCAnn 4 5159259 can we just have a DU oc poll instead?? Thu Nov 05 15:03:41 -0800 2009 5152555 262621 peppermonkey 5 5159560 Sure, ask him. Thu Nov 05 17:04:47 -0800 2009 5159259 12873 OCAnn 4 5159518 I hear you, sister ... the LA poll is going up sometime this weekend. Thu Nov 05 16:45:55 -0800 2009 5152555 85884 maxzook 5 5159723 Max, you da man! Thu Nov 05 18:24:20 -0800 2009 5159518 28703 RicRios 1 5152195 My list should be taken with a grain of salt...as I live in the excluded areas. But here's my list: Gilbert El Indio--I love the margaritas, marinated carrots and chile verde burrito. Very nice people. Asahi Ramen because of noodly goodness and cheap.Budget strategy...eat their for dinner, have drinks at someplace hip. Warsawa-cozy on a rainy night. Roast duck and spatzle. Entrees around $25 IIRC. Mastro's-split the bone in ribeye and scalloped potatoes. $$$$ a very special occasion Empress Pavilion-because it's a nice saturday morning with my family and I Iike to buy tchockes. I'm terminally unhip. Tue Nov 03 09:57:21 -0800 2009 5151197 219993 LA Buckeye Fan 2 5152424 LOLWhere is Gilbert El Indio?? I love nice people and margaritasssssss....yum @ Warsawa Tue Nov 03 11:01:22 -0800 2009 5152195 97924 Deidre7 3 5152484 Gilbert's is at 26th and Pico in Santa Monica. I love it too. The food is like the best Americanized Mexican food I grew up on, the cadillac margaritas are strong and the people are super nice. There's a reason it's on my top 5 list too! Tue Nov 03 11:20:44 -0800 2009 5152424 12268 mollyomormon 1 5152240 While you're waiting for the ultimate poll, many people have thier top 5's listed in their profiles (although often those include non-LA restaurants). Tue Nov 03 10:09:32 -0800 2009 5151197 12268 mollyomormon 2 5152381 In no particular order and for no reason other than personal preference (don't think less of me for omitting In & Out Burger . . . ) Spago Animal Osteria Mozza Jitlada AOC Winebar Tue Nov 03 10:46:57 -0800 2009 5152240 110328 Steve2 in LA 3 5152427 Should I try Animal for my first taste of foie gras or is there something better? Tue Nov 03 11:02:15 -0800 2009 5152381 97924 Deidre7 4 5152813 there is indeed better but more for the reason that u should try a simpler prep for ur first time... u should go elsewhere. i prefer seared and my personal 2 faves were at the dining room in sf (ron siegel) and cinc sentis in barcelon. sorry but don't have faves in this locale but just IMO i think you should try another place before animal's :) Tue Nov 03 12:56:52 -0800 2009 5152427 160317 namstermonster 5 5152834 I love Animal but agree that maybe trying foie for your first time would be better at somewhere with a simpler prep where it's just the foie. Here's a good list: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/658738 Tue Nov 03 13:01:33 -0800 2009 5152813 12268 mollyomormon 6 5155832 I too agree about the foie. I wasn't particularly keen on their foie on biscuit with maple- gravy. I've had better at Spago and elsewhere as well. On the other hand, shredded pig's ear with chile, lime and a fried egg is about as good as food gets. Wed Nov 04 12:27:57 -0800 2009 5152834 110328 Steve2 in LA 7 5157869 the biscuit with fois gras is unbelievable! i would definitely go and eat it their for your first time. Thu Nov 05 07:50:57 -0800 2009 5155832 1121937 afpargh 1 5153357 Urasawa has to be on the list. Tue Nov 03 15:38:31 -0800 2009 5151197 13794 SilverlakeGirl 1 5159584 With the huge caveats that I haven't been to a couple of these places in quite a while and there are tons of places that are supposed to be great but that I have not yet tried. . . Top 5 expensive: No. 1: CUT Nos. 2-5 (no particular order): Providence Melisse La Botte Osteria Mozza Top 5 moderate (no particular order): Animal LudoBites FIG Fraiche Pizzeria Mozza Thu Nov 05 17:13:47 -0800 2009 5151197 239779 krick 1 5159818 I'd be happy to give you my list. However since you choose to exclude a) the San Gabriel Valley, which has among its many cuisines, the best Chinese food in the world (outside of China, HK & Taiwan) not to mention fantastic Vietnamese & perhaps the best Mexican restaurant in all of LA County, Babita AND b) the San Fernando Valley, which has Sushi-row in addition to magnificent Peruvian, Middle-Eastern and Thai restaurants then I must question your judgment and any bona fides you claim as a Chowhound. So, go ahead and stick with downtown, the westside, hollywood. You'll definitely eat well enough (great pizz, Italian, Mexican & Seafood) but certainly not as well as someone who is willing to actually eat in Los Angeles, which, despite your posting, includes the dreaded San Fernando Valley. Thu Nov 05 19:08:08 -0800 2009 5151197 11731 bodie 1 5167332 Not that I mind the competition ;p ... but the eighth annual Chowhound Ultimate L.A. Restaurants poll is here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/665207 And these results will be tabulated! Mon Nov 09 10:26:12 -0800 2009 5151197 85884 maxzook