Do you order take away from restaurants that you would never actually eat at?

[ZoeZ]

Norm's French toast is just a great dish but I wouldn't want to go to Norms to eat it - however one portion is a good breakfast for Mme Zoe and me.

Same for their superior Cobb salad - really a huge portion with very very good dressing (order on the side). Again, enough for two.

[coffeebrownies]

Versailles. We frequently order their chicken in multiple orders in serving containers (all the chicken together, all the rice together, etc) and then throw it on the table for the quick centerpiece to a multi-family dinner. It's a great and fast way to extend a party through dinner time.

[Iceman]

Yeah, the chicken at Versailles is good, as is the roast pork. But it's crowded and the service is spotty so we normally do take out there.

Szechuan in the Marina is another place we do that, the atmosphere isn't great and the bathrooms are pretty icky. They have great chow fun though, and are one of the few chinese places that have lamb dishes on the menu,

Finally, the Cheesecake Factory in the Marina is a must for takeout, the wait is just interminable

[yogachik]

Hong Kong Cafe (no booze, no atmosphere, great Chinese take-out)
Tacos Por Favor (too loud)
Rosti on Montana (kids running around)
Tommy's on Lincoln (ick)
Umami at Fred Segal (nowhere to sit, ever)
Reddi Chik at 26th St. Country Mart (I like it better at home)
Cafe Vida in Pacific Palisades (tiny, claustrophobic, space)

[Servorg]

I think the conundrum here is between places YOU or I only do take out at and the ones that rarely (if ever) have ANYONE eating in at (which makes the game harder but more interesting to me). For instance, "Hong Kong Cafe" (if that is the one on Sawtelle that sits in with Hurry Curry, 2117, etc.?) has lots and lots of folks eating in, including us. Or your comment about Umami at Fred Segal is the perfect example of the famed Yogi Berra quote "No ones goes there anymore. It's too crowded." (add to that the fact that we've almost always walked right in and been seated makes me a little confused as well...)

One other place that we NEVER eat in and only do take out is Chutneys on Pico and Barrington.

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Fred Segal
500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Chutneys
2406 S Barrington Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Little Hong Kong Cafe
2129 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[yogachik]

I took the question to mean Where do I take away but don't eat in? Not that it was because the place is gross or that I wouldn't be seen in, but because I just don't. I listed the places where I constantly order take away, but don't sit in for a meal - and gave my reasons. While Umami may be sometimes easy to be seated, I find it a hassle to time it right, and prefer calling in my order and picking it up.

[Servorg]

The other reason we've liked going to that particular Umami is because the parking lot is normally easy to get a spot in and it's all one level (no structure to "lose" ones car in) and no valet that you have to ransom your car back from (at least when we've been there).

[kevin]

I always get lost in those parking structures. And sometimes I forget to right down my location in the multi-level lot.

[ipsedixit]

Mendocino Farms
Starry Kitchen
Gerlach's Grill

[kevin]

I've always found gerlachs fun to eat it. A nice little shoe box space.

[BSW6490]

Ate a lot of El Pollo Loco during my kitchen remodel.

[Bradbury]

Tacos Ensenada. Wonderful seafood tacos/burritos/cocktails, dirt cheap and friendly. Good pickled veggie bar too, and they'll give you an extra take-out box for it if you ask nicely.

But no A/C means it's a freaking sauna in there this time of year. Plus, "Sabadozo!" turned up to 11 on the flat-screen TV, and the place has gotten so popular lately as the word gets out, that no matter where you sit (if you get a seat) there will be someone's posterior in your face...

[JAB]

I wouldn't order their fried offerings to go as they don't travel well.

[Bradbury]

True. There is, however, a nice park with covered picnic tables about a mile away, which is a lot more pleasant than the sweat-lodge experience on site. Also, you can order "a la plancha" (grilled, not fried - works best with shrimp) to avoid the problem altogether.

[Just One Bite]

Lebanese Kitchen in Pasadena. The restaurant is empty & stark. The service doesn't seem too friendly either, even when ordering big catering orders. But the price is right & the food is really good, so it's worth it for take away.

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Lebanese Kitchen
1384 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104

[Peripatetic]

I've always wondered about that place. It's had good mentions, but it has that look that says "be afraid". What do you get there?

[Luna2372]

I find most Chinese/Thai restaraunts are so overly lit that I get a nasty vibe from them...So i take out. Foods good, these places are clean and tidy, but I'd rather walk home and eat by candle light.

[Scotty]

Just had a Norm's salad last night. I agree, not the nicest place to eat, but the food was surprising good and service VERY friendly.

[sammycakes]

Pollo a la Brasa on Western and 8th immediately comes to mind. I've never eaten in at OB Bear but I probably wouldn't rule it out. I assume taco trucks don't count. Edit: add Falafel Arax to this list.

[cant talk...eating]

Had to laugh at the above. Arax is def. more pleasant than Pollo a la Brasa, which is singularly horrible inside. Sort of laundromat-like, but with more smoke. Reyhan in Culver City has a very depressing interior, and it's always pretty empty. Removing tables might help it. Maybe Chao Krung on Fairfax? - really dark and stuffy, which of course brings to mind pizza from Damiano's that is difficult to see in the actual restaurant.

Wow - this is about the best praise I've heard of Norm's on this board. I better go check it out again. And, I guess I have time, as THEY NEVER CLOSE.

[Servorg]

I wonder if anyone ever "eats in" at Yee's on Slauson?

[coffeebrownies]

Chao Krung has moved to my never order take out from column, (although possibly eat in on a dark and stormy night). It has taken up to 2 hours to get food delivered and we live half a mile away.

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Chao Krung Restaurant
111 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

[kevin]

I always eat in at OB Bear. I didn't even think it was a takeout kind of joint. Spicy chicken wings and copious amounts of beer.

[queen jord]

I refuse to actually eat INSIDE Chang's in Brentwood (that empty tank freaks me out), but when I want Chinese food delivered it's the only place I turn to. That Sesame Shrimp? MMMM!

[silverlakebodhisattva]

I don't know of anyone who regards any branch of Zankou as a "dine in" destination; they have many fans of their food, though.

[Servorg]

I don't know about the other branches, but the WLA one is jammed with folks eating in when I get "to go" from there.

[Peripatetic]

"WLA one is jammed with folks eating in"
--------

No shortage of eat-in customers at the Hollywood and Pasadena locations, either.

[ray9x]

Bon Chon Chicken in KTown has a very depressing interior that doesn't exactly beckon me to stay inside. Great chicken, though!

[soniabegonia]

Chego. I wouldn't say I would NEVER eat there (and in fact, have, a couple of times) but it's not a pleasant experience for me to eat there... cramped seating, loud, too full of hipsters...

Takeout is great cuz they tend to oversauce everything so I can stretch 1 bowl into like 3 meals... add rice, fried eggs, some blanched veggies - et voila! - enough for 3 meals.

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Chego
3300 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034

[ns1]

PF Chang's is great for chinese takeout.

[westsidegal]

gee, i've never tried anything on their menu that turned out to be even remotely worth the gas it took for me to drive there.

[ns1]

i only order garlic noodles / lettuce wraps / hot sour soup

i wouldn't drive any worthwhile distance for chinese takeout and you shouldn't either

[ocshooter]

Does Del Taco count? I get the chicken soft tacos when I need a fast dinner on the run, and the crispy fish tacos are actually decent. Not the best I have ever had, but way beyond the quality of average fast food.

[LATrapp]

I've eaten Bossa Nova many, many, many times but have never once eaten inside one of their restaurants.