81356 Thu Apr 27 14:25:58 -0700 2006 13 2 Los Angeles Area 0 450925 We are from bay area with a daughter an incoming freshman.Her dad and I enjoyed the trips in past taking her older sis and friends out when she was in school. But we are not familiar with LA or the area around USC - Figuero corridor, I believe. Are there chowworthy spots nearby-if not perhaps rec in other areas. We enjoy all food and experiences except sushi (sorry). We would like recs that could be enjoyed by our college age group. Price not so important after all what are parents for? Thanks in advance. Thu Apr 27 14:25:58 -0700 2006 0 Ilikecake 1 450949 Having lived in the area for a while, I am familiar with many of the restaurants in the USC area. The best place to start is further downtown, where you can find Roy's (a pacific/asian fusion place), Cafe Pinot on 5th St. by the Central Library (California French), Patina (high end California French), Nic and Stef's (a steakhouse), and the Watergrill (artfully done seafood). Nic and Stef's has a lively bar and some very prime cuts of meat, but I've seen younger diners at Cafe Pinot. Pinot's ambience is nice--especially on the patio in Maguire Gardens. See the link below for photos of Patina, Cafe Pinot and Nic and Stef's. Link: http://www.patinagroup.com Thu Apr 27 15:44:23 -0700 2006 450925 0 Patiojack 1 450961 You're very close at 'SC to Koreatown. I used to go there for dinner quite often when I was a grad student at 'SC. Sa Rit Gol is good for general food. I like their bibimbahp. Soot Bool Jeep and Chosun Galbi, and Tahoe Galbi are good for BBQ. For SoonDuBu (fresh tofu, quick-cooked in a spicy broth with a choice of mushrooms, beef, pork, seafood, seaweed and panchan) either Beverly Soon Tofu or SoKongDong - both on Olympic, one block west of Vermont (across the street from each other). for a fun sitdown place that some here don't like, it's not very spicy and for some korean is all about how hot and spicy and garlicky one can endure, try YongSuSan. Reserve a private room and pick the prix-fixe menu that's second from the least expensive. There are quite a few mexican places nearby. Near 8th and Irolo, not far from USC either (remember the campus borders on Vermont) is Gueleguetza, a good Oaxacan restaurant. They have five of the seven moles they make in Oaxaca. I love the chicken tamale (wrapped in banana leaf, not corn husk). Across the street on the SW corner of 8th and Irolo, on the weekends are ladies selling homemade tamales, with and without meat $1 a pop, and atole, $1 a drink. Down Hoover, there's El Taurino, a wonderful taqueria, very simple. (these are all about 10 minutes from the campus). I don't know if they're open for dinner, but Chichen Itza at Mercado La Paloma just east of USC is worth it for a meal, if you want to try Yucatecan food. (addresses at the end). Cuban is relatively close (with a car) on Pico at El Colmao. ALso, if you go up Hoover from Campus, and take Alvarado as it branches off just north of the Santa Monica Fwy, you will shortly be at Langers Deli (breakfast and lunch only, closed sundays). Nora Ephron for one has rated their pastrami the best in the nation - in the New Yorker no less. Stick to the pastrami, even if you think you don't like pastrami, get it. I hated pastrami until I tried theirs. Now I adore THEIRS, I still don't care much for other delis' pastrami. The area around USC is constantly changing and new places do open up so don't be shy and ask some students for rec's. For old school good neighborhood food there's Harold and Belle's west of campus on Jefferson. wonderful louisiana-based creole dishes, nice setting. If you venture downtown, there's a whole bunch of other stuff. But two rec's that are fun:first is Angelique Cafe. Slowish very french service, and decent food. Second is a bit east of downtown proper, central and fifth is a lunch fish place, Fisherman's Outlet. Good ceviche in the cold section. All fish can be either fried or grilled. Busy at lunchtime (weekdays). But not impossibly far from campus and unusual and fun, esp. when your daughter is looking for a place to go with friends that's good but won't break the bank and no hidden tips. SA RIT GOL 3189 W OLYMPIC BLVD 90006 LOS ANGELES BEVERLY SOON TOFU 2717 W OLYMPIC BLVD #108 90006 LOS ANGELES SO KONG DONG SOON TOFU RESTAUR 2716 W OLYMPIC BLVD #104 90006 LOS ANGELES SOOT BULL JEEP 3136 W 8TH ST 90005 LOS ANGELES TAHOE GALBI RESTAURANT 3986 WILSHIRE BLVD 90010 LOS ANGELES CHOSUN GALBEE RESTAURANT 3330 W OLYMPIC BLVD 90019 LOS ANGELES YONG SU SAN DBA KOREAN GARDENS 950 S VERMONT AVE 90006 LOS ANGELES GUELAGUETZA RESTAURANT 3337 1/2 W 8TH ST 90005 LOS ANGELES (not as good imho but nicer digs also close is the former branch, now indy at GUELAGUETZA 3014 W OLYMPIC BLVD 90006 LOS ANGELES) EL TAURINO 1104 S HOOVER ST 90006 LOS ANGELES EL COLMAO RESTAURANT 2328 W PICO BLVD 90006 LOS ANGELES LANGERS DELICATESSEN 704 S ALVARADO ST 90057 LOS ANGELES HAROLD & BELLE'S RESTAURANT 2920 W JEFFERSON BLVD 90018 LOS ANGELES ANGELIQUE CAFE 840 S SPRING ST 90014 LOS ANGELES FISHERMAN'S OUTLET RESTAURANT 529 S CENTRAL 90013 LOS ANGELES There's lots of japanese in Little Tokyo, the city is freeway-close. I recommend you look at yahoo driving instructions maps to get an idea of the distances we're talking about here. Enjoy visiting your daughter. yahoo - http://maps.yahoo.com/dd (more reliable than mapquest, I find). Thu Apr 27 16:17:05 -0700 2006 450925 0 Jerome 2 450970 great post! Thu Apr 27 16:35:17 -0700 2006 450961 0 wilafur 3 450974 thx Thu Apr 27 16:44:43 -0700 2006 450970 0 jerome 2 450973 Forgot the address for Chichen Itza. ALso, call the places before you go and find out hours and if there are parking lots they use (langers for example has one, one block east of the restaurant on 7th). CHICHEN ITZA (at mercado la paloma, other restaurants there as well) 3655 S GRAND AVE C-6 90007 LOS ANGELES (less than a mile from the se corner of the campus, but I'd drive anyway, one passes through an industrial zone) Thu Apr 27 16:44:24 -0700 2006 450961 0 Jerome 2 450983 Thank you so much...where were you when oldest was attending school in san diego. Great recs! Downloading list now and thanks again. Thu Apr 27 16:58:50 -0700 2006 450961 0 Ilikecake 3 451058 Only thing now is that it would be nice if you'd post your reviews of the places you patronize so we can have more opinions, recent and varied. Thanks in advance. Thu Apr 27 20:14:39 -0700 2006 450983 0 Jerome 1 450999 Don't forget about El Cholo! It's a classic Los Angeles Mexican restaurant with good food and a great festive type feel. I graduated from USC in 2003, and I remember going to this place for numerous meals. The tamales are great they make great margaritas. The best part of it is, they give 50% any entree to USC students who present their student ID cards! I also second all of the KoreaTown recommedations. The Korean food in the area is tremendous. Thu Apr 27 17:37:45 -0700 2006 450925 0 I Love Grub 1 451004 Jerome's places are all ones that your kid might be better off going on their own and could afford. PatioJack's suggestions would be dream eating for any college kid. Thu Apr 27 17:56:48 -0700 2006 450925 0 duckduckgoose 1 451064 I highly recommend Yang Chow in Chinatown (just north of downtown - you could take a cab there if it's not rush hour). Fantastic Chinese food. One of their specialties is "Slippery Shrimp," which is basically cooked shrimp in a sweet glaze. They also make Slippery Chicken, which I usually get since I don't eat fish. Anyway, all the food is served family style, and they have everything from the more mainstream American Chinese food like Kung Pao Chicken, Eggrolls, Lo Mein, etc. to the more unusual. The pricetag is average but can add up. I always leave satisfied and full. Also, Tommy's is a big USC student eatery, known for the chili burgers and chili fries. It's very very cheap too. Most places are fast food in atmosphere, though the original one on Beverly and Rampart (2575 W. Beverly Blvd.), just west of downtown, is like an old-fashioned stand where you stand in a line, get your food, and stand at a counter to eat it. It's in a kind of sketchy area and can be difficult to find, but it's not very far, and worth the trip. Don't go to any of the knockoffs (Tomy's, Tommy Shack, etc.) - make sure it's "The Original Tommy's." They're actually celebrating their 60th anniversary this year too. They also sell t-shirts if you're looking for cool souvenirs. Thu Apr 27 20:54:18 -0700 2006 450925 0 LisaStitch 2 451135 I have a place at 32nd and Fig and know a lot of great spots in the area. Chinese Skip chinatown and head east to Monterey Park. New Concept on Atlantic is great. I think the new concept is fresh, hot, quality product with good service...what a concept. Japanese One of the best treats of USC is its proximity to Little Tokyo. Head to Sushi Genn or Hamakawa. Both are near 2nd and Alameda. Downtown American Patina and the Watergrill are good high end options. The Pacific Dinning Car is a good late night option. Mexican Too many to list, but La Barca on Vermont, La Taquiza at 30th and Fig, El Cholo on Western and El Taurino on Hoover are great. Greek Papa Cristos on Pico and Normandie is a great greek option. BBQ Phillips BBQ on Crenshaw at Adams may be the best west of KC. Korean Soot Bull Jeep is considered great, but we tried a place called Dae Sung Oak on Olympic near Hoover last night and thought it was top notch. Also, for a casual bite for breakfast or lunch, the Two Nine Cafe at 29th and Hoover is good. Fight on!!! Fri Apr 28 12:05:42 -0700 2006 451064 0 Jon 1 451142 Nobody yet has mentioned the Pantry, on Figueroa and about Ninth, just north of the Staples Center and on the southern edge of downtown. Not gourmet fare, but good portions with free coleslaw and hearty bread. Open 24/7, with a parking lot across the street. There have been extensive discussions of their breakfast dishes and other items recently on this board, and it is definitely an L.A. classic. Fri Apr 28 12:43:14 -0700 2006 450925 0 nosh 2 451170 Classic yes, quality NO, unless you are looking to heighten your daily grease intake quotient. Fri Apr 28 14:46:13 -0700 2006 451142 0 carter