LAX Hilton one night with Kids

[newstarr]

Our family is staying at the LAX Hilton one night before a flight. We are looking for a fun family place for dinner. Not trying to spend a lot since we have a huge trip to fund ahead of us.

Thanks!

[newstarr]

We are leaving for Europe and are looking for good, fun food to kick off the start of our trip. We loved going to the Cadillac diner in San Diego before it moved to it's new location. Something kitschy and unique to the area that we couldn't experience anyplace else. Our kids are 10-17 years old. $50 a plate is a little crazy to spend on kids. $20 out the door would be awesome but most likely not doable. I don't think we can do In and Out for that. But if there is anything like a $1.75 Sonoran Hot Dog that you can get in Tucson, let me know. I would buy a plane ticket to go back for a couple of those.

Inexpensive awesome food that you would make a trip into the area for because they don't even make it anywhere near you? That would be awesome!

[Servorg]

Featured on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT76papKmKY

http://www.northendcaffe.net/

[newstarr]

I'm so hungry now!!! That pasta looked so awesome.
Thanks! We don't TV, this is the best!

[wienermobile]

Make sure you try their Kahlua Pig Monte Cristo Egg Rolls. So good.

[Violatp]

Ah, you will have a car. Okay, then we need some parameters! How much do you want to spend (as Westsidegal says) and how far you are willing to drive.

If it was me, I'd stick to the west side, north or south. You don't want to spend your evening in the car.

Now, have you been to LA before? And what does family friendly mean to you? An upscale place with high chairs or somewhere you can draw on the tablecloths with provided crayons? Mind you, I don't know if such a place exists, but it'll give us a clue as to what you're looking for! :-)

[westsidegal]

ok,
with a car, your options are now wide open.

please tell me what you meant (a dollar amount) when you said:
<<Not trying to spend a lot>>

to some people on this board, "not a lot" means less than $50/pp
to others "not a lot" means less than $20/pp out the door.

[newstarr]

WOW!
Thank you for all the options. This is the best site ever! We do have a car as we are staying there to use their park and fly option.

[ipsedixit]

Well, if you have a car, then that opens up whole NEW can of worms.

I would pretty much disregard 90% of the recommendations thus far because they all assume you will be walking to/from hotel.

If I were you, and had a car, I would think about having dinner at the Getty Center.

[wienermobile]

Great idea but dinner is only served at The Getty Saturday nights.
http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/eat...

[ipsedixit]

Good point.

[scottca075]

With a car I might still go to Manhattan Beach, the Kettle is a fun, divey old place or head to Santa Monica. I can't think of a good spot for kids off hand. How old are they?

Oh and I wouldn't walk ANYPLACE from the LAX Hilton with kids.

[FoodObsessive]

Aliki's Taverna is walking distance from the Hilton, and they have very good Greek food in a family-friendly atmosphere. There was a review of the place recently in the Argonaut.

http://argonautnews.com/side-street-g...

It is not easy to see, but worth the trip - pricier than Greek junk food, but still moderate compared to other offerings near the airport.

[Violatp]

I do believe there is a bus stop for the Big Blue Bus almost directly in front of the LAX Hilton. That burger place mentioned below would be maybe 15 minutes MAX on the bus.

[westsidegal]

just so you are not surprised,
the LAX area is a wasteland in terms of a
"fun family place."

if you find a decent place, that will be good.
my favorite in the area is a Thai restaurant which is not walking distance from your hotel, but is in the Westchester area, relatively close:
Ayara Thai Cuisine.
310-410-8848

maybe your hotel will provide jitney service to westchester or to el segundo

also, going south, there is a HUGE outdoor shopping center called El Segundo Plaza. within that shopping center is a build-your-own burger place that i like called The Counter.
The Counter offers beef burgers, chicken breast on a bun, turkey burgers, burgers on salad instead of a bun, etc. their shakes are good. a burger w/o fries is $9 before tax and tip. if you add an order of fries there, it will be big enough for two people.

[Dirtywextraolives]

With kids, the Counter would be my call.

[wienermobile]

Ocean Express does stop at Plaza El Segundo also.

[wienermobile]

If you like modern Mexican you might like La Sirena Grill in El Segundo Plaza (including a full bar), also Veggie Grill and California Fish Grill are both very casual in the same outdoor mall all within a few steps of each other.
http://lasirenagrill.com/ElSegundo/
http://www.veggiegrill.com
http://www.cafishgrill.com

[cls]

I used to go to Johnnies whenever we arrived at LAX on the way home.
www.johnniespastrami.com/

[potts]

There's an in-n-out walking distance away

[Feed_me]

Just a thought because I've never been there, but a few months back a "Japanese style" hamburger place opened up not too far from the LAX Hilton. Maybe a few hounds who've been there recently can chime in. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/875524
The website. http://www.humblepotato.com/

[wienermobile]

Humble Potato is not walkable from the Hilton, it is on the other side of the airport on Lincoln near LMU about 3-4 miles away, But they have really good original burgers.

[Feed_me]

Wienermobile, I noticed you mentioned the Ocean Express Shuttle, but the poster never said they didn't have transportation so I suggested Humble Potato. I just thought if they had a car it was about the same distance as those Manhattan Beach locations. Also I thought since kids usually are burger-holics they might enjoy the place's take on burgers and (apparently) hot dogs.

[westsidegal]

the in-n-out is the only true walking option, imho

[Violatp]

Maybe I'm just a wuss, but I've actually made this exact walk (munching my double double along the way) and it was longer than I kinda thought it would be. Maybe it was an extra hot day or something, too.

There's always Hometown Buffet!

(I kid, I kid!)

[Servorg]

I actually convinced my wife that we ought to take our son to the Home Town Buffet in Westchester about 10 years ago. I told her afterward that she didn't need to say I told you so as the taste in my mouth was punishment enough...

[Violatp]

hahahaha

10 years ago is about the time I went there, too! I recall waiting in line (why?? why???) and some guy asked what I was reading (some sci fi fantasy novel) then berated me for not reading the bible as that was the only book people should read.

Good times!

[westsidegal]

also, to add to violatp's comment, if the time of this meal is after dark, i would not want to be walking these streets, obviously looking like tourists, with kids in tow.
(let's face it, no local would choose to be taking their kids on that walk after dark)

[Violatp]

No, they wouldn't. I mean, it's actually quite deserted but it's deserted in that creepy, industrial way. Last time I was in LA, I stayed at the Holiday Inn that's about 4, 5 blocks past the Hilton. I still took the Big Blue Bus but it only went as far as the Hilton. I didn't love walking that last part. Nope, not one bit.

But I do love the Big Blue Bus. :-)

[Servorg]

www.panns.com

[westsidegal]

i'd estimate the cab to cost about $15 each way from the hilton to panns.

[Servorg]

Pann's would probably run about $5 more to and from than Ayara. I don't think that the Hilton on Century offers transport other than to and from LAX AFAIK.

[westsidegal]

that's too bad.
even a modest amount of jitney service would be so helpful to these folks.

[wienermobile]

If you don't have a car you can take the Ocean Express bus into Manhattan Beach from your hotel. Lots to eat and just 3 miles away. My kids love the new Pitfire Pizza there or Lemonade (salads and sandwiches) & Mama D's Italian Kitchen are all very casual. Also the beach and Pier are just a block away. Not much to eat around your hotel other than In N' Out Burger.
http://www.gatewaytola.org/index.cfm/...

[potts]

I agree! This is a good option but I don't think the bus runs very laye

[wienermobile]

Last return trip back from Manhattan Beach Pier is 8:30 pm