California Science Center Area

[handlertaper]

Are there any decent sit down restaurants within walking distance (or very short drive) of the Ca Science Center? Going with 8 people including adults and teens. Open to any type of food.

(I did a search and found very little).

[ickster]

This isnt walking distance, but Id say go to either North to Botega Louie which is downtown or drive west to Harold and Belles for sit down Creole.

[NAspy]

We are denizens of the Science Center and Natural History Museum and lack of good food places in the are has been ongoing. The offerings inside the Science Center are pretty bad too, though some might think that a mild criticism, since they are Pizza Hut, McDs and C- quality cafeteria food.

Solution other than what you've been given already? Bring a picnic lunch and eat on the grassy area in front of the Natural History Museum (one year we arrived at a massive tailgating party for a USC game -- it was fun) or resign yourself to simply driving into downtown and hitting up Yxta or Bottega Louies or somewhere not too far away.

-----
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

[Mattapoisett in LA]

The Mercado De Paloma is on the other side of the 110 from the science center. While it is informal , restaurants with counter service, they are some of the better representations of their cuisines in LA. Two examples are the restaurant Chichen Itza is my wife's second favorite Yucatecan place in town and she partially grew up in Merida. Also Mo-chica for peruvian which if you will look you will find a fair amount of raves in this board for it,

If you want unconventional and more like fast food Chic-Fil-A just opened across the street from the Science Center on Figueroa

-----
Chichen Itza
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Mo-Chica
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Chic-Fil-A
3758 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007

[Fru]

I went a couple of week ago to Chichen Itza and had a poc chuc torta. I have eaten there in the past and would recommend it to handletaper but just remember, it is a bunch of little stands inside a building, kind of like a food court-very informal. Mattapoisett-where is your favorite Yucatan place? I really miss Merida in Pasadena!

-----
Chichen Itza
3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Dommy would say La Flor de Yucatan Bakery but we have found another place which we have not fully checked out which has promise. Mariscos Yucatan.

But I must note that no one can beat La Comida de su Madre.

-----
La Flor De Yucatan
1800 S. Hoover Street, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Mariscos Yucatan
3469 Tweedy Blvd, South Gate, CA 90280

[Fru]

"But I must note that no one can beat La Comida de su Madre." Very Funny!

I'm in Pasadena. Making the drive to South Gate for dinner doesn't sound that appealing but let us know how it is. La Flor de Yucatan looks very interesting and doable.

-----
Madre's
897 Granite Dr, Pasadena, CA

[Nicole]

The Mercado de Paloma is indeed very close, but it is sort of like a food court. Mo Chica is one of my favorite restaurants...best ceviche in L.A., also great crab causa (glorified potato salad) and quinotto (risotto made from quinoa). For dessert, the carob mousse is amazing, also like the mango mousse. It is sit-down in the sense that there is table service, but it does feel like a food court, especially at lunchtime.

[wilafur]

good call on mercado de paloma

[QualityMart]

Mo-Chica and Chichen Itza are superb (if you don't mind the unassuming digs), but beware their hours! Not open Sunday and closed for a bit every afternoon.

[handlertaper]

Thanks for the suggestion. Thinking we will head over to Mercado De Paloma. Cichen Iza sounds great.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Remember, give us a report after. Thanks.

[handlertaper]

Ended up going to Chichen Itza and was very pleased. We sampled a number of dishes and enjoyed them all!

Had Conchinita Pibil which I hadn't had since my trips years ago to Acumal in the Yucatán. It was very tastey. We also enjoyed the Papadzules which are Yucatecan-style enchiladas filled with creamy pumpkin seeds and some type of sauce filled with crumbled hard-boiled egg, and topped with a spicey salsa. The panuchos were also good . The corn tortillas were nice and crisp and were filled with black beans, lettuce,turkey, tomatoes, avocado and such!!! And how could one go wrong with grilled plantains!!

So true that there really is nothing in walking distance of the museum besides fast food like Chik-Fil-A, Chipotle, etc...

Anyway, thanks for the recommendation.

-----
Chichen Itza
2501 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Chik-Fil-A
2040 N Rose Ave, Oxnard, CA 93036