First trip to LA ... where to eat?

[SouthToTheLeft]

Hey there,

I am planning my first ever trip to the Los Angeles area over New Years. Where should I go to get a slice of LA food culture? I love everything from high-end places to street corner taco trucks. What makes LA, LA?

Thanks!

[Peripatetic]

Not mentioned here so far is Pann's. It's one of the best examples of Googie architecture, and has excellent fried chicken (better than Roscoe's in my opinion), and isn't too uber-trendy, and is quintessential LA. I think this satisfies all of the OP's (later) stated preferences.

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

[monku]

Fried chicken...Honey's Kettle by a mile.
http://www.honeyskettle.com/

[Peripatetic]

Sure, for quality, but again it's a "best LA food culture" vs "best food" thing.

BTW do you mean the Culver City location or the Compton one? I've never been to the latter, but I've heard the Compton location is noticeably better.

[monku]

Sure, for quality, but again it's a "best LA food culture" vs "best food" thing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Correct you are.

I prefer the Compton location, yes it's rough around the edges (the inside is bare bones), but they have "special" deals the CC location doesn't have also the prices are a little lower. They also have this great rice with chicken gravy. The chicken is the same.

[A5 KOBE]

Pann's chicken wings are great, especially with a side of biscuits and gravy. By far the best biscuits and gravy in LA.

[ipsedixit]

Have you tried the B&G at Nickel Diner? Best I've had, better than Pann's.

[A5 KOBE]

No I have not. I have been hesitant to go back because the last time I went there was a waitlist. I need to get over there soon. Do you recommend a good time to go? I hate waiting in lines unless absolutely necessary.

[ipsedixit]

Recently, have not had to wait. Crowds have definitely died down of late.

Midweek is probably slowest (Wed, Thur).

[SouthToTheLeft]

What is Nickel Diner?

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Nickel Diner
524 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

[Servorg]

If you click on the place link (which is active in your post above) and then scroll down you'll see a lot of posts about it.

[Jase]

If in the Pann's area, I actually prefer Serving Spoon's biscuits. One of those with a homemade sausage patty sandwiched in the middle makes a great breakfast sandwich.

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

The Serving Spoon Restaurant
1403 Centinela Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302

[A5 KOBE]

The Hat - Pastrami Dip and Chili Fries

Tommy's - Chili Burgers and Chili Tamales

Mozza - Uniquely Californian style pizza

Animal - Meal lovers rejoice! Love everything they put in front of me.

Roscoe's Chicken n Waffles - Cannot visit LA and not go here. Love the smothered chicken over minute rice.

101 Noodle House - Best Beef Rolls in LA w/ pickled cabbage and chili oil

Scoops - Best Ice Cream/Gelato in LA

[glutton]

I have to disagree on roscoes. It's a fine place and I've been many times, but in the larger context of fried chicken places around the country, it's easily outclassed by places in the south. It's good, but it's not great.

[A5 KOBE]

It is not so much the food but the "What makes LA, LA" factor. I would take Pann's in a heartbeat.

[SouthToTheLeft]

Well, the fried chicken in SF sucks, period. I'm sure it's better than anything I have found here.

[rickym13]

i like that list...also

langer's
babita
al & bea's
el tepeyac
father's office

[ipsedixit]

This is almost an impossible question to answer ... What makes LA, LA?

I feel like I'm in Thebes, standing in front of the Sphinx ...

But to answer your riddle.

- Mr. Chow. Hollywood glam and hype. It's uber-style over substance. People go there more to be seen than for the food. It's the perfect restaurant for the constantly dieting Hollywood crowd who have eschewed Botox for the month.

- Spago. It sort of defined "California" cuisine way back when Devo was still popular and made goat cheese and pizza chic. If we are talking college football, this would be the "granddaddy of them all"

- Philippes. French dip, supposed to have been invented there.

- Pink's. See Mr. Chow up above, but for hot dogs.

- Langer's. The No. 19 is sort of the Left Coast doppelgänger of the best that Katz's can cook up over at the "other" coast.

- Kogi. Find this food truck on Twitter and be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes for (generally) subpar Korean/Mexican tacos, but you go because arguably Kogi started the food truck craze, or was at least in the vanguard of the trend.

- Musso & Frank. Old school LA. Food noir, baby, food noir.

- Din Tai Fung. This is sort of like the McDonald's of XLB, but it's one of the few places in North America where Din Tai Fung has a location and despite all of its hype, the XLB are actually passable and the chicken noodle soup is some of the best stuff you'll find this side of the Mississippi river.

- Nozawa. Not the best sushi, nor even the most inventive. But it started a trend of anal Sushi-itames, and for that we should all be grateful.

- Father's Office. Did they start the gastropub haute burger trend? Who cares, but whether you end up liking their burger (and what some call their "hipster" attitude), you owe yourself the opportunity to try the burger ... and no ketchup, please.

- Test Kitchen (if they are open when you are here; last day is 12/13 for the time being). Pop up restaurants. All the rage. Tell them you were there when it started.

- Babita. Haute Mexican. Just sort of makes sense in LA.

- Pizzeria Mozza. It took what Spago did with goat cheese pizza and may have just perfected it. In my book, one of the top pizzerias in all of the North America.

Enjoy your stay.

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Din Tai Fung Restaurant
1108 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

Spago
176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Kogi
Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles, CA

Father's Office Bar
1618 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA

Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Mr. Chow
344 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[yogachik]

Easier to get Kogi tacos at Alibi.

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Alibi Room
12236 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

[ipsedixit]

Ah, but it ain't just about the food. It's the experience. Most food from food trucks would be considered pretty pedestrian if it was served in a brick and mortar place. What elevates it to an experience is the fact you are getting it from food truck.

[SouthToTheLeft]

Ipsedixit - a lot of the restaurants you listed seem to be kinda trendy-places-of-yesteryear. Are there any classic places that you could suggest that aren't trendy or trendy-wannabe?

[wienermobile]

"a lot of the restaurants you listed seem to be kinda trendy-places-of-yesteryear."
********
I have to disagree with this statement, Spago, Langer's. Pizzera Mozza, Fathers Office. Musso and Franks and Kogi, there is a reason they have been around a while and they are certainly not past their prime. I had one of the best meals ever last month at Spago and I am going to Mozza Xmas eve (for the third time). These are not in any way trendy wannabes. You will be missing a lot of great LA food if you dismiss ipsedixit's list.

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Spago
176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Kogi
Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles, CA

[ns1]

Kogi has not been around for a long time.

[wienermobile]

Yes I know, but the longest of this generation of food trucks.

[Servorg]

Kogi is not an Old Fogie! ;-D>

[ipsedixit]

You asked for a place that "makes LA, LA" right?

I gave you an explanation of why each of my recommendation is part and parcel essential to LA and its food culture.

If what you want are just places that are just about good food but aren't necessarily essential to the fabric of LA and its food culture, then say so.

For example. I would go to Dean Sin World for XLB and not Din Tai Fung if all I wanted was the best of XLB. But, you said you wanted places that "makes LA, LA" and as far as I am concerned Din Tai Fung better represents the amalgam of XLB and Los Angeles food culture better than just about any other restaurant out there, even though it doesn't serve the absolute best XLB.

Sometimes you just have to be careful what you ask for I suppose.

[Porthos]

Kinda like "ultimate" vs "quintessential"...

As for where to eat specifically for a SF visitor:

1. Pizzeria Mozza- probably my favorite restaurant in town and as good as if not better than SF's many excellent new pizzerias.
2. Mozza2Go- Pop up restaurant in the style of Mozza. 5 course family style dinner. Some of the best food in town these days.
3. Mori Sushi- for traditional sushi. I agree, SF sushi is surprisingly poor given the location.
4. Din Tai Fung or Dean Sin World. Both solid for a SF visitor
5. Langers. No decent pastrami to be had in SF period.
6. Father's Office
7. Kogi/Alibi room
8. Park's BBQ. Better than SF's korean BBQ options.

I think the food at Elite and Sea Harbor is great. However both are at least a notch below Koi Palace in SF and thus unnecessary for someone visiting from SF.

[ipsedixit]

Indeed.

Nozawa is certainly not the ultimate. But, IMO, it is sort of a very good quintessential restaurant representing a very prominent part of LA sushi culture.

[Porthos]

Though I agree with everything you said, I personally blame Nozawa for the bastardized brand of sushi omakase that still dominates LA...down to the ponzu drenched sushi and that blue crab hand roll. I feel he's a big reason why traditional sushi and in my eyes "legitimate" sushi in LA lags behind NYC. Some people advance a certain cuisine (eg. Batali), and some people hinder a certain cuisine (eg Nozawa, PF Chang's, etc)...I'll get off my soapbox now.

[ipsedixit]

I personally blame Nozawa for the bastardized brand of sushi omakase that still dominates LA...down to the ponzu drenched sushi and that blue crab hand roll. I feel he's a big reason why traditional sushi and in my eyes "legitimate" sushi in LA lags behind NYC.
________________________

And that is makes Nozawa quintessential to LA food culture as it pertains to sushi, no?

[ns1]

"And that is makes Nozawa quintessential to LA food culture as it pertains to sushi, no?"

And therein lies the difference between ultimate and essential.

[Porthos]

You missed the first part of my quote. I totally agree that makes it quintessential just as Pinks is quintessential. But should one go to a place that is quintessentially bad for the sake of it being quintessential?

[ipsedixit]

But should one go to a place that is quintessentially bad for the sake of it being quintessential?
______________

Good question.

But what if a quintessentially bad place is integral to the fabric of LA food culture?

I agree with your take, but contend that Nozawa is quintessential to LA food culture even if it is quintessentially bad.

And what if what makes Nozawa quintessential to LA food culture is because it is so bad?

[ns1]

"And what if what makes Nozawa quintessential to LA food culture is because it is so bad?"

Isn't that the argument for Tito's?

=D

[ipsedixit]

Isn't that the argument for Tito's?
_______

Touche.

[lapizzamaven]

Porthos, what would you order at Koi Palace that is superior to Sea Harbour...anything not uber adventurous....no chicken knees,feet etc.

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Koi Restaurant
730 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

[Peripatetic]

Porthos said: "I think the food at Elite and Sea Harbor is great. However both are at least a notch below Koi Palace in SF and thus unnecessary for someone visiting from SF."

Porthos, is that true for dim sum, dinner, or both?

[ipsedixit]

Porthos, is that true for dim sum, dinner, or both?

_______________

Both.

(Feel free to disagree, Porthos ... and sorry for jumping in.)

[SouthToTheLeft]

Ipsedixit — I would agree with you if I were writing a thesis on Los Angeles food culture, its history, and its expansion. But I think I'm more interested in having 5-6 amazing meals that really show what LA does well, not what it DOES. I mean, McDonald's started in the LA-area, too (well, SoCal), but I'm not planning on visiting.

[ipsedixit]

Ipsedixit — I would agree with you if I were writing a thesis on Los Angeles food culture, its history, and its expansion. But I think I'm more interested in having 5-6 amazing meals that really show what LA does well, not what it DOES. I mean, McDonald's started in the LA-area, too (well, SoCal), but I'm not planning on visiting.

__________________________________________________________

SouthToTheLeft,

Then why did you ask, or phrase your post, this way?

" Where should I go to get a slice of LA food culture? I love everything from high-end places to street corner taco trucks. What makes LA, LA?"

Your words, not mine.

[Servorg]

Call me Shirley if you want, but I think Animal is more LA than some places that have been around here for 50 years.

[Porthos]

Call me Shirley if you want, but I think Animal is more LA than some places that have been around here for 50 years.
==================
Please elaborate. The cooking with pig parts or the meat-centric menu?

I just returned to Animal again last week and still am not as wowed as everyone else. Cochon in New Orleans, Incanto in SF, Momofuku Ssam in NYC do pig parts much better than Animal IMO. I will give Animal props for the foie biscuit and gravy for the sheer mad genius of it all. Bacon with chocolate was done way before Animal. Even in LA, Grace's Elvis donut with chocolate, bananas, peanut butter, and bacon topping was much tastier.

Btw, Servorg, I swear I do not have a bone or a short rib in tagine to pick with you. I totally agree with your Kiriko recs :-)

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Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 102, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[Servorg]

This review http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6209... (encompassing 3 visits I believe) by Exilekiss (his numerical rating of 8.8 was one of the hightest E-kiss gave any high end places he reviewed in LA) says it (both with words and photos) better than I can. But no place in LA has wowed my taste buds like the boys at Animal. And, while everyone has different tastes, I can't take for granted the fact that so many positive to the Nth degree reviews of Animal have been posted here on the LA board.

[Porthos]

I know I'm in the minority. I just don't get it.

But what about it makes it unique to LA or or the essence of LA (ie. not found elsewhere)?

[Servorg]

First of all it was unique for the playfulness and by taking many of the dishes you find (like poutine to name just one) and just supercharging them in ways that spun my taste receptors on their heads... and just the "in your face" of the tastes that they put together was quintessentially LA to me. And the great service, right from the hostess to the bus people to the wait staff and the notable lack of any pretentious attitude was refreshing in this city.

[Porthos]

Ipse- no apology needed. Yes, I think Koi Palace trumps both Elite and Sea Harbor both at dim sum and at dinner. Not only in terms of quality and variety of live seafood but also price. Koi Palace pricing is significantly more reasonable than Sea Harbor.

Koi Palace has 15+ tanks of live seafood depending on season, including but not limited to: maine lobster, australian spiny lobster, dungeness crab, king crab, that green crab where the claws have to be tied, black cod (aka sablefish), china cod, sea trout, rock cod, live abalone, giant clam, live shrimp. At any time there are at least 8-10 of the above. It's like going to an aquarium but you get to eat the display. King Crab at Koi Palace was $10/lb less than Elite and $15/lb less than Sea Harbor and better prepared than both...which adds up since the average king crab runs 5-8lbs.

The roast suckling pig is excellent. At dim sum the har gow and shrimp fun contain larger and higher quality shrimp. The wrapper is chewier and just better made. Items available at Koi Palace and not at either Elite or Sea Harbor that really shine include XO pork and mushroom dumplings, whole dungeness crab XLB (yes, XLB made from dungeness crab body meat, salt and pepper fried legs on the side all for the reasonable price of $32), lobster dumplings (whole lobster, meat wrapped with the clear dumpling wrapper and steamed, also available for $32)...the list goes on and on. Both the dim sum and dinner menus at Koi Palace are about the size of both Elite and Sea Harbor combined and then some. Not everything at Koi Palace is clearly superior though. The lotus wrapped rice at Elite is every bit as good if not better than Koi Palace's version.

In summary, there really is no need for a SF visitor to go to Elite or Sea Harbor for dim sum or for dinner.

[ns1]

wow porthos, you make me want to go to SF just to go to Koi Palace.

[ipsedixit]

Koi Palace pricing is significantly more reasonable than Sea Harbor.
____________________________

I think you nailed it, Porthos.

Aside from being just better overall in quality and variety, the price point is surprisingly reasonable at Koi Palace, esp. vis-a-vis Sea Harbour or Elite.

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Koi Restaurant
730 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

[hong_kong_foodie]

I absolutely agree with Porthos, especially for someone coming from SF.

[yinyang]

I agree on Kogi at Alibi. When my out of town friends visit LA, it's definitely a cheap and memorable meal!

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Kogi
Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles, CA

[ns1]

Also for taco trucks check out mexicali taco co, wed - sun nights

http://twitter.com/MEXICALItacoCO

[mdpilam]

For some good tacos, go to: Tacos Tamix, Leo's (as long as they have the spit) or El Chato Trucks, and also Mexicali Taco Stand (get the Vampiro and Cachetada).

[Servorg]

Classic Los Angeles"ana" can (and should) be found at El Tepeyac in ELA (as Cheech Marin sang "I Was Born in East LA")! ;-D>

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El Tepeyac Cafe
812 N Evergreen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033

[mc michael]

One Hollenbeck comin' up.

[monku]

Hollenbeck=Pork
OP doesn't eat pork.

[Servorg]

"OP doesn't eat pork."

That information was given later in the game than the suggestion. How about chicken taquitos and guacamole?

[monku]

Fair enough, but wouldn't go out of my way to ET for chicken taquitos.

[paprkutr]

Try their chiliquailles, they are huge and very good

[mc michael]

Yes, so I see. In answer to the query what makes LA, LA? I think El Tepeyac is just a classic LA pig out place. See also, Tommy's (Rampart & Beverly). If you want to experience what makes LA LA, sometimes you have to bend your personal rules and roll with it.

[ns1]

In no particular order

1. Ricky's Fish Tacos - guy who used to have a fry truck in front of a laundromat now turned illegitimate street food stand in front of what appears to be a nail salon. Legit fish tacos, arguably best in la). 1400 N Virgil.
2. Sea Harbour/Elite - Gotta hit up one of these 2 dim sum houses. I hear their dinner menus are also great.
3. Pick any of the big 10 sushi places. You will not find any type of consensus here about which sushi place is best.
4. Park's BBQ - Also arguably best KBBQ in LA.
5. Langer's - uber pastrami.
6. Fab Hot Dogs - Get an LA street dog here if you want a clean restaurant version. Or find a hotdog cart outside of a club after new years for the real deal.

Do NOT go to

Pinks, Philippes, Titos Tacos

LA landmarks but very love/hate relationship amongst foodies.

[monku]

OP asks for "What makes LA, LA?"
How can you turn someone away from two places that have historical significance in the LA food scene. I'd go to Pink's any day over Fab's...they wish they had the business Pink's does.

Pinks=71 years
Philippes=100+ years

[bulavinaka]

I'm not much of a hot dog person, but maybe do both for different reasons?

[ns1]

i say fab's because they make an LA street dog for those that are not willing to get the real deal

I disagree heavily with pinks and philippes cuz I think they both suck. Your opinion may differ.

When I first moved to LA I went to both Pinks and Philippes with the mindset "I must go because they are LA landmarks" and each time I left disappointed.

[SouthToTheLeft]

Are both of these places hot dog places? If so, I actually don't eat hot dogs at all ... so I suppose the point is moot...

[ns1]

Pinks/Fabs = hot dogs so you can scratch those off your list

Philippes = french dipped sandwiches. If you DO end up going here I suggest the lamb and not the beef.

[bulavinaka]

Just to add to your item#2 - if the OP really enjoys Cantonese seafood, or just seafood in general, the dinner menu is first rate. The freshness and preparation is amazing at Sea Harbour (haven't done Elite).

[wienermobile]

If you are a meat eater fellow chowhound ns1 recommended two of my favorites in LA. Park's BBQ for unbelievable Korean BBQ (you must try the short ribs!) and Langer's Deli for the most tender, moist and smokey best pastrami on the planet. Two LA musts.
http://www.parksbbq.com/
http://www.langersdeli.com/

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Park's BBQ
955 S. Vermont Ave, Suite G, Los Angeles, CA 90006

Langer's Delicatessen
704 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

[SouthToTheLeft]

Does Park's do chicken? I don't eat pork/beef.

[wienermobile]

Since you are not a beef eater you will want to skip Park's since beef is really their main thing.
You might really like Gjelina in Venice.
http://www.gjelina.com/

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

[SouthToTheLeft]

Well, that's disappointing. Any good KBBQ places that would have chicken?

[ns1]

if chicken is your thing...

kyochon for korean fried chicken. buy a 20 pack of spicy garlic ones and drive around town or something

pollo a la brassa for some peruvian woodfire chicken and ridiculously spicy aji sauce

[Ciao Bob]

yummy to both of those.

[Servorg]

I will say (for the board) that that sort of information is key and if provided up front can produce much more precisely tailored responses. Sushi is good to very good to excellent in LA. But the excellent places can get pricey too. Maybe try Kiriko on Sawtelle (Little Osaka) on the west side.

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Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd Ste 102, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[SouthToTheLeft]

Also, what are the "big 10 sushi places?" I'm coming from SF, where the sushi is mediocre at best and EXPENSIVE. I miss good sushi.

[glutton]

I'm a fan of sushi sasabune in set la. There are other options, but it depends here you'll be staying.

For fish tacos, I don't think tacos baja Ensenada can be beat. It's on Whittier blvd in east la.

The rec for gjelina in Venice was spot-on -- it's outstanding.

I also like Josie in Santa Monica for the farmers market driven menu.

For great oaxacan, I suggest Monte alb an in west la.

[ns1]

"tacos baja Ensenada can be beat

RFT > TBE and IMHO is more representative of what makes LA, LA. (twitter updates, illegitimate food stand, lots of hipsters, and great fish tacos)

[Porthos]

Is Gjelina and Josie really necessary for someone coming from SF since SF does cal cuisine so much better? Gjelina I could recommend to someone from SF as it is very good. IMO Josie wouldn't last in SF with its outdated interpretation of cal cuisine. Neither would Lucques while we're at it.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

[Servorg]

We were just at Josie before Thanksgiving and I had the tangine of short ribs and I have to say that they were beautifully done. Trimmed perfectly, cooked flawlessly and the combined tastes that came through were both powerful and imaginative. It actually blew away the short ribs at Gjelina.

[Porthos]

I will very respectfully disagree. I find the menu and cuisine at Josie very outdated...even when I went 5 years ago and looking at the menu today, not much has changed. That short rib in tagine is just short rib in tagine...a holdover from the days when things cooked in tagine were trendy...just like those truffle fries. Again, the cal cuisine going on up in SF right now is twice as good and half the price of Josie (eg. Commonwealth). There are better restaurants in LA that better showcase LA's culinary strength than Josie--Hatfield's, Bistro LQ, Mozza2go's Mangiare in Famiglia, Tasting Kitchen, Test Kitchen, Gjelina. Sushi is better in LA than SF. Go to Mori, even Zo. Any of those would be superior to Josie.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

Bistro LQ
8009 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[Servorg]

Yeah, you find this dish absolutely everywhere these days.. ;-D> http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C1TwXC...

[SouthToTheLeft]

I'll be staying in Huntington Beach, so actually in Orange County. Does that help?

[bulavinaka]

If you're staying in the OC, you should consider the Vietnamese options - where's Das Ubergeek for an update?

[ns1]

favori - get the baked catfish. every table has one. (santa ana)
hanoi restaurant - cha ca thanh long - catfish w/ tumeric and dill on skillet (westminster)

right next to hanoi restaurant....
le croissant dore - get the fruit tart.

[Discokill]

One of those rare cases in which the first response is actually the best, though I'd drop #6 and add a nicer restaurant - Gjelina, Providence, Animal, etc.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA