Downtown near (or easy from) Union Station

[Bada Bing]

I'm a visitor, unexpectedly staying a day or two extra in Claremont (which I asked about in another thread). Matapoisett on this board suggested I might take Metrolink into LA proper, which would bring me to Union Station. I have work to do, though, and don't have a whole day for getting to places, but I'm cool with taking the train in and out of Union Station for something special.

I live in Indiana now, which means that the following things are hard for me to get normally:

--great Asian flavors, especially Thai, Vietnamese and Korean, but also Chinese. In fact, I've never tried or even seen a place near me making banh mi sandwiches. Even pho is rare.

--really fresh, good Mexican foods, like tacos made with excellent corn tortillas and great carnitas, fish, adobada, barbacao, etc.

I gather that Chinatown is pretty close to Union Station. Walkable? If anyone wants to suggest that I go on the subway or bus to somewhere, could you add in the realistic time involved?

Thanks in advance for all ideas!

p.s., does anyone know if Spitz in Little Tokyo, or anywhere in LA, has German-style Döner Kebab? (Note: totally not the same deal as gyros or even traditional Turkish style.) For THAT, I would do serious travel.

[apple7blue]

I'd say that even Little Tokyo is walkable as are places like Church & State. I walked from Bunker Hill to Union Station but with the free transfers I'd just take public transport there. You can get Mendocino Farms there.

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Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Church & State
1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

[d_doubleyew]

For Banh Mi, I like Banh Mi My Dung which is in Chinatown (314 Ord Street). For tacos, you should take the Gold Line to East LA and try Guisados. Or check out Ricky's Fish Tacos (you'll have to take the red line and then walk a few blocks to the Sunset Junction area.) For Mole, try Moles La Tia, accessible on the Gold Line.

From Union Station, you can use the subway system to get very quickly to Little Tokyo (Gold Line), East LA (Gold Line), Koreatown (Red and Purple Line), Thai Town (Red Line) etc.

Here are some past threads on restaurants accessible by subway:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/436632

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/436841

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Ricky's Fish Tacos
1400 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Guisados
2100 E. Cesar E Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

[J.L.]

Agree with Spitz in Little Tokyo, which is walkable from Union Station!

Recently opened is Spice Table, a Singaporean-style restaurant which has received some good initial press, also within (walkable) Little Tokyo!

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Little Tokyo Restaurant
150 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773

The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

[Phurstluv]

Welcome to LA, Bada Bing! All of the recs above are solid, you will love Jitlada, Parks & any of the mexican taco places.

Note that the above rec for the Spice Table, only open for dinner. Other lunch spots in Little Tokyo include the Lazy Ox Canteen, one of my favorites when I get downtown, sit at the bar, it's great to watch them cook.

If you get out to the westside, give me a shout!

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Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Lazy Ox Canteen
241 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Spice Table
114 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

[carter]

Here is the website for Spitz for your assessment of its roots:
http://www.eatatspitz.com/

[caitybirdie]

Spitz is great. i just had lunch there today. i always get the chicken wrap, street cart style with pita strips. very fresh and simple. decent sangria too!

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Spitz: Home of the Doner Kebab
371 E 2nd St # D, Los Angeles, CA 90012

[pharmnerd]

Off the Mariachi Plaza station of the Gold Line about 3 stations from Union Station, is La Serenata di Garibaldi for more "upscale" Mexican. Personally, I haven't been too impressed with the eats in Olvera St.

For train accessible places from Un Station, I think K-town or Thai town will have more "best of LA" options than Chinatown for Viet/Chinese.

Also, not on your list, but Little Tokyo has various options, only 1 station away from Un Station.

FYI, there were threads regarding places to eat along the different train lines but haven't seen them in a while. May wanna search around for them.

BTW, I'm pretty sure you can travel free along any of the MTA train lines from Union Station with a valid Metrolink ticket. Check to make sure though.

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La Serenata
1416 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Little Tokyo Restaurant
150 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA 91773

[wienermobile]

My favorite Langer's Deil is just a few minutes and a few stops on the Red Line Subway out of Union Station for some of the best hand cut and tender Pastrami you'll find anywhere. They are open till 4pm and closed Sundays.
http://www.langersdeli.com/

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

[Bada Bing]

I'm tempted. All that softens my interest in this direction is that I've already experienced really solid pastrami in New York and also at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, MI. One day soon, I hope to try a place in Indianapolis that's supposed to be tops, as well.

[thestratbrat]

If you want a really quintessential LA sandwich experience, check out Philippe's French Dip - it's right across from Union Station.
Oh, and you don't want to leave Southern California, and the Inland Empire in particular, without hitting up In-N-Out. There are a couple right near Claremont - not walking distance, but a very short bus or cab ride will take you there.

[Akitist]

Purple Line from Union Station takes you to the heart of Koreatown. 10 to 15 minute ride. Chinatown is on the Gold Line north, there shoud be some acceptable Chinese food there. It's a walkable distance, too. Red Line will drop you in the middle of Thai Town in Hollywood.

Check CH for recommendatons in those areas.

[Bada Bing]

Thanks. To judge by browsing the board, it sounds as if Park's BBQ in Koreatown might be worth such travel. Perhaps also Jitlada for Thai. Will it be odd at either of these places to eat alone for lunch? They sound a bit upscale. I'd also travel for really great but cheap tacos or mexi, by the way, but it seems harder to nail down particular places.

It will take me up to 4 hours all told to get into and back from LA, but at least I should be able to do some reading on the Metrolink train. So I'm really trying to make sure this is a good bet before I jump.

Are these colored lines (purple, red. etc.) subways or buses? (The transportation website doesn't make that immediately clear to me). Sorry to be so out of it!

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

Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

[wienermobile]

All the colored lines (except the orange busway line) are rail lines and subways. The Red, Blue, Purple and Gold lines all leave from Union Station.
Park's BBQ is wonderful. The Seasoned Boneless Beef Short Ribs • 주물럭 are incredible. To me definitely worth the trip.
http://www.metro.net/around/maps/.
http://www.parksbbq.com/

[Akitist]

Well, the Blue Line doesn't go to Union Station, but I didn't see recs for anything on that line, so the point may be moot.

[apple7blue]

You can catch all the lines from union station through transfers

[cartbaby]

Jitlada is not upscale. It's more like a family restaurant. It's probably better to go there for lunch since dinner can get busy and it's not a big place.

[ipsedixit]

It would be hard at either Park's BBQ or Jitlada to eat alone -- either at lunch or dinner. Neither places is really suited well for the solo diner unfortuantely.

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

Jitlada
5233 1/2 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

[Bada Bing]

Thanks for this. I wondered with good reason, I guess.

[reality check]

Olvera Street is right across the street from Union Station. You may find some good Mexican there.

But, if I were you, I would take the Gold Line to East LA and you'll find some great Mexican food.

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Olvera Street
845 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

[mlgb]

La Luz del Dia in Olvera Street has good soft tacos. Cross Alameda at Los Angeles Street and it will be right on the plaza there at the end of Olvera Street.

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Olvera Street
845 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

[ipsedixit]

Yeah, Chinatown is walkable. You can definitely get your fill of banh mi and pho at Chinatown.

This link provides a pretty good rundown of the highlights of Chinatown. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7707...

[Bada Bing]

Great link! Thanks. You're always adept at finding these things.