Please help a Torontonian with his itinerary

[themiguel]

Hi guys,

Flying into L.A for the first time ever, and staying in the Venice Beach area. Since Toronto has such terrible Mexican food that is going to be our top priority, but we also have other ideas. Here is what I have so far and am wondering if you could help fill in the gap. We arrive Friday morning and leave Monday evening.

FRIDAY - Taco tour! From Leos to La Estrella to Mariscos Jalisco

SATURDAY - Have a very late dinner booked at Osteria Mozza but am willing to change this. Fiancee is an utter burrata fiend and loves great pasta dishes with outstanding fresh tomato sauces. I love sea urchin, bone marrow and other strong flavours. Doesnt necessarily have to be Italian but it is one of her fave cuisines (it is her birthday).

SUNDAY - Dinner at Rivera- higher end Mexican which seems to be outstanding.

MONDAY - Lunch at Santouka before leaving in the late evening (wait maybe it will be closed for July 4th?)

Here is what I would like help with - what's an amazing Yakitori place or Izakaya style place? And is there a must visit dessert joint in Los Angeles? Would probably plug those into our weekend lunches.

Thank you so much - super excited to visit and experience all this city has to offer. If anyone is ever visiting Toronto drop by our boards and we will always hook you up.

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Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

La Estrella Restaurant
940 S Lorena St, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Izakaya
8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Marisco's
718 S San Jacinto Ave, San Jacinto, CA 92583

Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[Windy]

Where did you end up?

[skaderal]

I'm a fellow Torontonian also having lived in LA for last 8 years and most of it on westside.

I love NanbanKan in WLA for Izakaya. Musha is good too in Santa Monica. Some hounds love the Redondo beach izakaya.

Love Mozza - stick with rez.

Some other good options: Joe's in Venice; Orris in WLA; Kiriko for Sushi on Sawtelle

For an exciting experience, try Bazaar at SLS

Also, for Oaxacan, Monte Alban is great....I don't think I recall a Mexican place like this in TO

Happy Travels

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

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Izakaya
8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

[New Trial]

Definitely keep Osteria Mozza--though, I prefer sitting at the Mozzarella Bar there to eating at a table so I can watch them work. To add to your list for yakitori and izakaya respectively, Robata-ya and Musha. For desserts, the baked goods at Farm Shop, Huckleberry (insane crowds though), Rockenwagner/Three Square (same owners) and Sweet Lady Jane (on Monatana in Santa Monica near 17th) or tea and confections at Jin come to mind (some of these close early though). If ice cream appeals, Scoops or Sweet Rose Creamery should fit the bill.

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Musha
1725 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

3 Square Cafe
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Rockenwagner Bakery Cafe
311 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA

Robata Ya
2004 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Sweet Rose Creamery
225 26th St #51, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Scoops Westside
10640 Woodbine St, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Farm Shop at Brentwood Country Mart
225 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Rockenwagner Bakery
395 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Peripatetic]

Second Jin Patisserie for tea and desserts. If you're staying in Venice you will almost certainly want to check out Abbot Kinney Blvd, and Jin is a great stopover there.

[sueshungry]

Also, note that there's a Musha closer to Venice in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica 424 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90401 | Phone: [phone]

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Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[ipsedixit]

J.L. basically covered the gamut.

But let me throw out a couple of ideas for dessert.

Providence and The Royce. Choose the dessert tasting at both.

[Phurstluv]

I assume you could at The Royce, since it is in a hotel, but can you just reserve a table at Providence, just for the desserts?!

[ipsedixit]

Yes.

[Phurstluv]

cool.

[Porthos]

From Opentable:

**Dessert only reservations accepted exclusively at the following times: Monday through Thursday at 6:00pm or 10:00pm, Friday and Saturday 10:00pm only, Sunday 5:30pm or 9:00pm.

[happybaker]

Oh... if you want to be an extra good guy - before or after your dinner at Osteria Mozza, go to Mozza To Go - and get some sweet and savory treats for your hotel room for a snack the next day. The baked goods do not need to be refrigerated - and they are awesome!

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Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[J.L.]

Welcome to L.A.!

A few thoughts on your (already well-researched) itinerary:

Mexican food: You may want to consider Mariscos Chente for seafood and Monte Alban for Oaxacan fare, in addition to your other picks. Highly agree with Rivera: The mixology is definitely worth trying at Rivera as well.

Pasta: The pastas at Osteria Mozza are excellent, and late night rezzies are just fine (service is even better as it gets later , as the crowd fades a bit). Get the wild boar ragu if they have it. Consider Scarpetta in Beverly Hills for a pasta tasting as well. Scoot Conant's basic-looking (but amazing tasting) spaghetti with basil is the embodiment of uber-fresh starting ingredients and deft execution.

Ramen: Santouka is my favorite ramen on the Westside. Get their special pork broth ramen (#7, I believe?). Call them at [phone] to see if they're open on 4th of July. In Gardena, Ramen Mottainai is fantastic also.

Izakaya: Izakaya Bincho, on the Redondo Beach Pier (bonus: Beach!)

Robatayaki: NanBanKan, on the corner of Santa Monica Blvd & Corinth (near Sawtelle) is where Japanese chefs go to enjoy flame-skewered yummies.

Dessert: Scoops Ice Cream has 2 locations: The original is at Heliotrope, near the eastern terminus of Melrose Ave., but closer to Venice would be its sister location, called Scoops Westside... Inventive, innovative ice cream flavors (brown bread, maple+bacon bits, walnut+Jim Beam, durian, strawberry+goji berry, blackberry+basil, etc.), definitely worth a visit. In Westwood, Persian Ice Cream (near the corner of Westwood & Wilkins) offer Iranian-style cucumber and rosewater ice creams.

Bonus good eatin': Father's Office (on Helms, near Culver City) would be perfect for a Sunday mid-afternoon burger & beer stop.
Metro Cafe: Unassuming diner serving great Serbian food. I like it on Tuesday nights (bean & ham soup)...
Sushi omakase: Kiriko (on Sawtelle): Sit at the bar for best experience.
Sushi kaiseki/fusion: If your pockets are deep, make a reservation for Urasawa (Beverly Hills), but if you want an almost equally nirvana-esqe gustatory equivalent, try n/naka (on Overland).

Enjoy our city!

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Urasawa Restaurant
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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

Monte Alban
11927 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Ramen Mottainai
1630 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Suite #9, Gardena, CA 90247

Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Scoops Westside
10640 Woodbine St, Los Angeles, CA 90034

[westsidegal]

if you take J.L.'s suggestion of Mariscos Chente for Mexican seafood prepared in the styles of Sinaloa and Nayarit, be aware that there are three establishments with that name.
the one that you want to go to is located in Inglewood on West Imperial Highway near the corner of Yukon.
phone [phone]
go there on some day OTHER than a Tuesday or Wednesday because those are the days that Sergio, the amazing chef there, takes as his days off.
also, be aware that this place closes weeknights at 8pm.

another great restaurant for excellent burrata is located in the Century City shopping mall. They import their cheeses and meats from Italy. OBIKA MOZZARELLA BAR.

[Peripatetic]

Note that Obika recently opened a location in Toronto. I went to the one in Selfridges a few times when I lived in the UK and never warmed up to it, though perhaps I'm spoiled by having spent too much time in Italy.

[Phurstluv]

I would stick w your Osteria Mozza reservation, your GF will thank you. I have heard mixed reviews on the "basic looking spaghetti" very recently at Scarpetta, and it may disappoint.

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Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Scarpetta
225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

[bulavinaka]

Great list, J.L., and I didn't realize n/naka was operational. What's the lowdown on this place?

http://www.n-naka.com/

Another place worth trying for Japanese-y pub fare would be Torihei in Torrance - yakitori, oden and a good number of izakaya dishes - the beer and sake ain't half-bad either. My only concern for the OP is their itinerary. I think Friday night is the only opening, but after a day's worth of taco crawl, what room is left for anything else?

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Torihei
1757 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90501

[ipsedixit]

n/naka from what I understand was great ... friend was there for soft opening.

[Porthos]

I second Torihei in Torrance for yakitori and izakaya. Look over exilekiss's review for both Torihei and Izakaya Bincho. Tough call.

Torihei:
http://exilekiss.blogspot.com/2009/03/newest-la-treasure-stunningly.html

Izakaya Bincho/Yakitori Bincho:
http://exilekiss.blogspot.com/2008/05...

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Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Torihei
1757 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90501

[whatsfordinner]

+1 on Nanbankan. For izakaya I love Musha in Santa Monica.

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Musha
424 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[Clyde]

Hello! I think you may want to fit in some Korean food? Not sure how it is in TO but it's a-mazing here. My favorites are Parks BBQ, Soot Bull Jeep, Western Doma Noodle (slooooow service but very good!), Beverly Soon Tofu, A-won... For Izakaya, I like Honda Ya in Little Tokyo. Hopefully I'll make it to Toronto and do an old school Degrassi Tour, if one exists... one should :) oh one tip about Rivera. While i enjoyed the food very much if you are looking to catch a buzz, order wine. it took forever to get drinks... and after three i walked out stone sober. if you are anywhere near eagle rock you must try Cacao Mexicatessan.

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Soot Bull Jeep
3136 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Beverly Soon Tofu Restaurant
2717 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

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

Izakaya
8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048