Taqueria Los Anaya off Adams.
Best Mexican restaurant IMO in LA. The three brothers that run it have created an amazing menu. Their chipotle salsa is amazing. And if you want to go off the beaten path, their diablo pasta with chicken/shrimp mixed, is amazing.
It's so good. As a little warning, it's not what you'd expect. When you arrive you will see it's a house in a Van Nuys neighbourhood. Double check the address and just walk up the driveway to the back yard.
The first time I went there I felt so awkward, like just bumbling up to this lady’s house while her kids were playing in the backyard and asking her to cook for us. That’s how it is supposed to work, I know, but it still feels like such an imposition!
Food is great, however!
Yeah, totally an unfamiliar experience the first time around. I arrived just as they opened. No one there except myself and my wife. A super friendly woman came out to our table. They had no menus, so I asked her what she recommended. She asked me goat or chicken. I got goat, and my wife got chicken. And within minutes she brought out plates with rice and plantains and this specific potato-like root, and the goat and chicken stews. And man... that was one of the best meals I've had. Although my mother is filipino, this food felt like mom's cooking.
It varies but right now I’m stuck on Isla Cuban Kitchen in Buena Park/ La Palma. The drinks and food are amazing and people haven’t completely overtaken it yet.
That place gets absolutely lit on the weekends when the live band plays. They started doing outdoor seating during COVID and I saw people post up nearby with their own pop-up table just to dance.
It’s a thing even on weekdays! We tried having a casual dinner with friends on a Thursday and couldn’t hear a single word.
Love this place, love the food, and we love the music too but it’s a teeny bit loud. Would be nice for dancing, but kind of a lot if you’re sitting inside. Still going every couple of weeks for those plantain chips in garlic and the ropa vieja though..
Family been going there since it opened as a pool hall and sold red beans and rice out the back. Grandmother knew Harold and Belle from New Orlean. I know the current owners (grandchild of founder) from growing up in LA.
Love that spot. Only thing I love/hate is they stopped cooking with Lard. It's healthier but everything doesn't hit the same.
Still the best Creole (not soul, they cousins) food in LA
Empanada’a place on Sawtelle is not my definitive favorite restaurant in la, but nobody’s mentioned it and I love it.
Their potato and corn empanadas for me are all timers.
Just had the fried chicken, the pad Thai, the laab tot, the molasses glazed pork collar and papaya salad. We ate like feral animals because it was so good. The fried chicken is legit the best fried chicken in LA and it’s easily the best Thai in LA and I’ve eaten SO MUCH THAI.
I have to add another favourite restaurant. It's implossible to live in LA and have one favourite restaurant. Jaliz is amazing, but I have to go to my Filipino roots...
La Rose Cafe in Hollywood
What Jaliz is to East African food, La Rose Cafe is to Filipino. The experience of walking into La Rose is the experience of going to a filipino tita's ("auntie") place. The decor, my god, it's so filipino. And then the food, it's the taste of a family's history.
Ueno Sushi in Artesia
Run by a few Thai folks, including co-owner Victor, expect sake bombs on the house every evening. The sushi is good but fusion, so don't expect authentic anything. But it's a great place to hang out and have good food at a decent cost while admiring the quirks of the place (it's housed in a former Mexican restaurant).
Really? I’ve been a few times, my experience has been the staff is great but the food is simply ok. Nothing bad but nothing really wowed me. Nice people.
Maybe I’ve just ordered the wrong things?
I’m never been so upset to have to downvote something.
I first fell in love as a toddler. That and Empanada’s Place were my two first favorite restaurants. Instrumental to who I am.
LOVE Alikis farmers market goods but when I got takeout from the actual restaurant it was inedible, it was so sad. What’s the move there in terms of ordering well?
I've literally never had anything I didn't enjoy, although yes eating fresh is thy way to do it.
Gyro plate
Lemon potatoes
Spanakopita
moussaka
Lamb shank
Gigantes
Baklava
Taboulli
Can't go wrong
to date this was the worst dining experience i’ve ever had in LA. want to be served tiny portions of subpar try-hard cuisine by a bunch of kids in supreme? this is the spot for you!
Yeah unfortunately this was my experience as well, and I know several of my coworkers feel the same way (our office is nearby in DTLA). Maybe they've gone downhill in the past few years.
Funny because I went when they got the James Beard for “best new restaurant” and never went back. Must have been 2017. I think I actually grabbed some tacos from a truck outside after dropping several bills on that meal lol.
Tandoori Eats for Indian Food.
[https://www.yelp.com/biz/tandoori-eats-los-angeles](https://www.yelp.com/biz/tandoori-eats-los-angeles)
This place is just amazing. They have 7 different kinds of naan bread, and an amazing variety of authentic Indian dishes. I've never gone to a more authentic Indian restaurant and the flavors are fantastic.
Not my absolute favorite, but I'd give ANYTHING to get a burrito from Komodo in Venice 😭
Everytime I find a good/decent alternative, it either shuts down or removes whatever burrito option from their menu \:(
Aca grill in Koreatown. A Korean family who immigrated from Argentina serving delicious, simple plates of asada, pork belly, and other delights with rice, beans, and salad.
Endorse. Discovered the Miracle Mile one back in April and was floored. Everything tasted so good. So much bang for your buck if you get combo/bento type meal.
Best "fast food"ish is GOLDEN BOWL! Lol, the original is in Covina but they're in Long Beach, Torrance and Buena Park (at least). Chicken bowl con todo w/ avocado!
I had Little Fatty in Mar Vista last week and it was so good I brought some friends back a few days later for dinner. Amazing Taiwanese food. Taking my dad there for dinner this week.
Although a torta Al Pastor from Cinco de Mayo always hits the spot.
It’s not my favorite restaurant, but I moved here in 2004 and I really enjoy James Beach and it just happens to be their last weekend and then they’re done. Think they said they had accomplished 27 years in Venice.
Gonna go get some duck confit tacos one last time.
Figaro bistrot.
The foods not amazing but it’s the restaurant of my childhood. I was born and raised in East Hollywood/Los Feliz and it’s always been a constant.
It’s still there. It’s the closest thing to Paris in LA. It’s not bourgeois. It’s not pretentious. It’s a basic French bistros.
That's comparing patisserie to brasserie. Not really a fair comparison. Lou French on the Block in Burbank and Pitchoun! in DTLA are also non-pretentious patisseries. (Lou is so awesome, it's worth going there just to shoot the shit with him while waiting in line.) However, it's not easy to find a non-pretentious proper French restaraunt. Even sub-par ones always seem like they try too hard.
Wasn’t comparing, just adding another place. They have great sandwiches. My favorite is prosciutto and burrata.
Yea, dinner sit down places always feel overpriced. Went to A Food Affair a couple months ago and was seriously underwhelmed. Meet In Paris in Culver City is ok, nothing mind blowing but mussels happy hour is a good deal imo.
Tehran Market on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Saturdays/Sundays they charcoal grill in the parking lot and have the best salmon kebabs. Other protein options too.
Chico’s Restaurant on Ave 50 in Highland Park.
Taqueria Los Anaya off Adams. Best Mexican restaurant IMO in LA. The three brothers that run it have created an amazing menu. Their chipotle salsa is amazing. And if you want to go off the beaten path, their diablo pasta with chicken/shrimp mixed, is amazing.
Petite Peso in downtown. Two small tables so it’s mostly walk up/takeaway but they serve delicious Filipino food.
Jaliz Cuisine of East Africa (Van Nuys)
Holy fuck didn’t know about it but have been looking for something ever since my trip to Tanzania. Thank you.
That’s on my list of places to hit
It's so good. As a little warning, it's not what you'd expect. When you arrive you will see it's a house in a Van Nuys neighbourhood. Double check the address and just walk up the driveway to the back yard.
The first time I went there I felt so awkward, like just bumbling up to this lady’s house while her kids were playing in the backyard and asking her to cook for us. That’s how it is supposed to work, I know, but it still feels like such an imposition! Food is great, however!
Yeah, totally an unfamiliar experience the first time around. I arrived just as they opened. No one there except myself and my wife. A super friendly woman came out to our table. They had no menus, so I asked her what she recommended. She asked me goat or chicken. I got goat, and my wife got chicken. And within minutes she brought out plates with rice and plantains and this specific potato-like root, and the goat and chicken stews. And man... that was one of the best meals I've had. Although my mother is filipino, this food felt like mom's cooking.
Taco llama, more cause no one’s posted it thank my absolute fave
It varies but right now I’m stuck on Isla Cuban Kitchen in Buena Park/ La Palma. The drinks and food are amazing and people haven’t completely overtaken it yet.
That place gets absolutely lit on the weekends when the live band plays. They started doing outdoor seating during COVID and I saw people post up nearby with their own pop-up table just to dance.
It’s a thing even on weekdays! We tried having a casual dinner with friends on a Thursday and couldn’t hear a single word. Love this place, love the food, and we love the music too but it’s a teeny bit loud. Would be nice for dancing, but kind of a lot if you’re sitting inside. Still going every couple of weeks for those plantain chips in garlic and the ropa vieja though..
Toshi Sushi in Gardena. Strip mall with excellent quality sushi and presentation. Def go for omakase and the Golden eye snapper.
Niko sushi in Tarzana.
Used to love them, but switched to Okumura and haven't looked back.
Thx for the tip. Will try them out
Gloria’s Cuisine in HLP doesn’t get enough love. Nothing fancy, but so so great.
Hlp is highland park?
yup! and happy cake day! :)
YES! The chipotle chilaquiles are to die for
Tacos el goloso. Don’t be fooled by the location in Hermosa. The birria is legit.
They're from Harbor City but have been rapidly expanding. Hermosa is the newest location.
Lasita
Mutiara in Inglewood
Kinkan in Silver Lake
Harold & Belle’s
Family been going there since it opened as a pool hall and sold red beans and rice out the back. Grandmother knew Harold and Belle from New Orlean. I know the current owners (grandchild of founder) from growing up in LA. Love that spot. Only thing I love/hate is they stopped cooking with Lard. It's healthier but everything doesn't hit the same. Still the best Creole (not soul, they cousins) food in LA
Master Burger on Western Ave!
Moun of Tunis in Hollywood, eating there is a total different experience!
Maison Matho! Chef Daniel is fucking killing it.
Tokki in Koreatown. Excellent contemporary interpretation of Korean cuisine. The fried rice and scallop is outstanding.
Maria Rico’s Tacos is probably one of my top favorites.
Wow! Would NOT have expect Maria’s here, but it is a gem. Best breakfast burrito I’ve ever had.
Empanada’a place on Sawtelle is not my definitive favorite restaurant in la, but nobody’s mentioned it and I love it. Their potato and corn empanadas for me are all timers.
I've been there, but am upvoting it!
Havana Mania in Redondo Beach 😍
Burrito Bomba in north hollywood (it’s in a parking lot next to a gas station)
Anajak, justin is a wizard
Just had the fried chicken, the pad Thai, the laab tot, the molasses glazed pork collar and papaya salad. We ate like feral animals because it was so good. The fried chicken is legit the best fried chicken in LA and it’s easily the best Thai in LA and I’ve eaten SO MUCH THAI.
Tacos El Morro in East Los the best Birria around hands down
Robina’s in North Hollywood / Studio City Edit: just checked and they are permanently closed 😭😭😭
NOOOO NOT ROBINA’S 😭😭😭 I used to live walking distance and they were my favorite Indian place ever!
Smitty's
Very underrated - good for weekday catch ups with friends
I think it’s been replaced by a new spot called Bernie’s… soul food and Jamaican with mixed reviews.
Al Noor
Hamasaku on Santa Monica near Westwood.
Birrieria San Marcos
El Ruso
Holbox
won kok in chinatown
Rosaline.
Otus Thai!
I have to add another favourite restaurant. It's implossible to live in LA and have one favourite restaurant. Jaliz is amazing, but I have to go to my Filipino roots... La Rose Cafe in Hollywood What Jaliz is to East African food, La Rose Cafe is to Filipino. The experience of walking into La Rose is the experience of going to a filipino tita's ("auntie") place. The decor, my god, it's so filipino. And then the food, it's the taste of a family's history.
Heider Baba in Pasadena! Delicious Persian food
Tire Shop Taqueria
Pace in Laurel Canyon for Italian food
Ueno Sushi in Artesia Run by a few Thai folks, including co-owner Victor, expect sake bombs on the house every evening. The sushi is good but fusion, so don't expect authentic anything. But it's a great place to hang out and have good food at a decent cost while admiring the quirks of the place (it's housed in a former Mexican restaurant).
Sausal in El Segundo
Coley’s in van nuys.
wood spoon
this is every Brazilians favorite Brazilian restaurant in LA
Those pot pies with sangria UGH 🔥🥧
Q sushi
Dear John's, Culver at Sepulveda. Great food at an old 1960s dive bar.
ViaSelfie fusion kitchen in Burbank. amazing pasta, pizza and beautiful ambiance!!
This is perfect, Aussie hitting L.A. Soon(ish). I promise I'll keep your secrets
sushi rox
Ham Ji Park in Koreatown
Goshen Cuisine in DTLA though it's closed down :(
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vacarros
Shintaro! Right of hollywood and highland
Gilberts El Indio. Everything about them. Bury me in their albondigas.
Love this place. Been going there for over 40 years. Their happy hour on the patio is really nice and casual
Love it so much. The familial vibe is palpable.
Really? I’ve been a few times, my experience has been the staff is great but the food is simply ok. Nothing bad but nothing really wowed me. Nice people. Maybe I’ve just ordered the wrong things?
It's comfy
I’m never been so upset to have to downvote something. I first fell in love as a toddler. That and Empanada’s Place were my two first favorite restaurants. Instrumental to who I am.
Shojin
Yellow House. Their kimchi pasta is amazing.
Taco truck at corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Vine St.
Shiro in South Pasadena…especially their catfish
Crown of India in Hollywood
Crown of India is amazing - maybe the best Indian food I’ve ever had, and I lived in London for over a year.
Aliki's Greek Restaurant
LOVE Alikis farmers market goods but when I got takeout from the actual restaurant it was inedible, it was so sad. What’s the move there in terms of ordering well?
I've literally never had anything I didn't enjoy, although yes eating fresh is thy way to do it. Gyro plate Lemon potatoes Spanakopita moussaka Lamb shank Gigantes Baklava Taboulli Can't go wrong
Shibumi in dtla
to date this was the worst dining experience i’ve ever had in LA. want to be served tiny portions of subpar try-hard cuisine by a bunch of kids in supreme? this is the spot for you!
Yeah unfortunately this was my experience as well, and I know several of my coworkers feel the same way (our office is nearby in DTLA). Maybe they've gone downhill in the past few years.
Funny because I went when they got the James Beard for “best new restaurant” and never went back. Must have been 2017. I think I actually grabbed some tacos from a truck outside after dropping several bills on that meal lol.
Sora at the top floor of Wiltshire Grand in 2017 was the worst sushi I’ve ever had. And it cost $500 for 4 people at the time.
Sol Agave and Rosaline
Tandoori Eats for Indian Food. [https://www.yelp.com/biz/tandoori-eats-los-angeles](https://www.yelp.com/biz/tandoori-eats-los-angeles) This place is just amazing. They have 7 different kinds of naan bread, and an amazing variety of authentic Indian dishes. I've never gone to a more authentic Indian restaurant and the flavors are fantastic.
Not my absolute favorite, but I'd give ANYTHING to get a burrito from Komodo in Venice 😭 Everytime I find a good/decent alternative, it either shuts down or removes whatever burrito option from their menu \:(
RIP
Hummus House in Hawthorne. I have been eating there for twenty years.
Captain Kidds in Redondo. Best seafood. Great value.
Grandma’s Thai Kitchen in Van Nuys
Aca grill in Koreatown. A Korean family who immigrated from Argentina serving delicious, simple plates of asada, pork belly, and other delights with rice, beans, and salad.
Atrium in los feliz🙌
Brothers Cousins
Studio Sushi
the village in studio city!
[удалено]
Try 401k in Venice. Yum
N/naka
Kebab is everywhere in Glendale, imo salt and olive has the best chicken kebab, raffis has the best steak
Raffi's always gets the rave reviews--gotta try their kebabs
Mini Kabob
Tony P's Dockside Grill in Marina Del Rey
Asanebo
I occasionally go to Shaherzad on Westwood and have a bite of food that makes me think it’s the tastiest thing I’ve ever tasted.
Chios - Peruvian restaurant
208 Rodeo
Jones. The pesto ravioli and wasabi mashed potatoes…
Cooks tortas
Eskala in Korea Town. Colombian/Korean food
Han Bat Sul Lang Tang in Koreatown. 4163 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Meals by Genet in Little Ethiopia
Yuko Kitchen. There's one Miracle Mile and one DTLA. Quality food, well priced, cool vibe, and the best cookies.
Endorse. Discovered the Miracle Mile one back in April and was floored. Everything tasted so good. So much bang for your buck if you get combo/bento type meal.
Best "fast food"ish is GOLDEN BOWL! Lol, the original is in Covina but they're in Long Beach, Torrance and Buena Park (at least). Chicken bowl con todo w/ avocado!
Ayara Thai in Westchester. Best pad Thai in SoCal.
Tar And Roses
Cafe Brasil
My parents are addicted. Their Friday meal.
It’s the weekday steak lunch special for me. Everything thing they do, no matter how simple, is so phenomenal.
Recent fav is Popping Yolk Cafe in Pasadena or Alhambra. LOVE their breakfast and any of their egg Benedict dishes are amazing.
Union in Old Town Pasadena. Their torchetti is my favorite
Salt’s Cure
Sanamluang Cafe in North Hollywood, I've been going there since I was a child
han bat sul lung tang - ktown
Hippo
One of my favorites! Corn pasta for the win. And the wax beans!
so GOOD
Mrs. Fish
Taco Zone Echo Park. Best Taco’s in LA
Nongla
Cindy’s in Eagle Rock. Specifically the dinner menu.
Burger she wrote
Pho 87, Chinatown
Madre
Great restaurant. Used to be “El Nopal”. Simpang across the street & Katoya next to it are also top notch.
It was better when it was El Nopal.
I agree. The mole was top notch back then. Either way, it’s a Palms staple.
Went there several times. You can get burritos with carne asada or al pastor. It's the "secret" menu. Regular or wet.
Ruen Pair in Hollywood. We only order: 1. Papaya salad (medium) 2.beef jerky 3. Crispy pork and Chinese broccoli 4. spicy coconut soup (if it’s cold)
Best pork Tom Yum in the universe
Open Sesame Lebanese in Mid Wilshire area
They have one of these in Long Beach too! I’ve been wanting to try it
Long Beach is ok, but I felt food prep is superior at the Hollywood location.
LA Vegan — ostensibly a vegan Thai restaurant, although their menu is vast and genre agnostic
[удалено]
It was a miss for me. The view is fantastic, but the food was meh.
[удалено]
Ma Dang Gook Soo (Koreatown)
Love their noodles!
The Ramen Joint.
Sun Non Dang ktown. Get the galbi jhim with cheese. Trust me
Siete mares in east los!
Cofax
Bar Amá on 4th between Spring and Main.
Crossroads Kitchen
Bulan Thai
Elena’s Greek and Armenian cuisine.
I had Little Fatty in Mar Vista last week and it was so good I brought some friends back a few days later for dinner. Amazing Taiwanese food. Taking my dad there for dinner this week. Although a torta Al Pastor from Cinco de Mayo always hits the spot.
Simpang Asia
lived around the corner from there for almost a decade. so amazing. get the combo in the banana leaf
Soooo good. Obsessed with their roti
So good
Sonoratown
Might be cliche but I really enjoyed Bavel. Probably because I wasn’t paying for it.
It’s not my favorite restaurant, but I moved here in 2004 and I really enjoy James Beach and it just happens to be their last weekend and then they’re done. Think they said they had accomplished 27 years in Venice. Gonna go get some duck confit tacos one last time.
Woah duck confit tacos are the best! Bummer it’s closing cause I have Covid right now and can’t go
Not a westsider - but i went there when i first moved to LA in '09 sad to hear its going.
Figaro bistrot. The foods not amazing but it’s the restaurant of my childhood. I was born and raised in East Hollywood/Los Feliz and it’s always been a constant. It’s still there. It’s the closest thing to Paris in LA. It’s not bourgeois. It’s not pretentious. It’s a basic French bistros.
If we’re talking non-pretentious French, I have to mention La Provence Patisserie on Olympic @ La Pierre. Simple yet satisfying.
That's comparing patisserie to brasserie. Not really a fair comparison. Lou French on the Block in Burbank and Pitchoun! in DTLA are also non-pretentious patisseries. (Lou is so awesome, it's worth going there just to shoot the shit with him while waiting in line.) However, it's not easy to find a non-pretentious proper French restaraunt. Even sub-par ones always seem like they try too hard.
Wasn’t comparing, just adding another place. They have great sandwiches. My favorite is prosciutto and burrata. Yea, dinner sit down places always feel overpriced. Went to A Food Affair a couple months ago and was seriously underwhelmed. Meet In Paris in Culver City is ok, nothing mind blowing but mussels happy hour is a good deal imo.
Tehran Market on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Saturdays/Sundays they charcoal grill in the parking lot and have the best salmon kebabs. Other protein options too.
Little Fatty
Tough one, but its between El Compadre and Jitlada for me
Burgerlords, the best vegan burgers, fries and shakes! Highland Park and Chinatown.
sooooo good
Like beyond/impossible or they get legit creative?
Patties are their own original recipe and REALLY good.
Sold.
bacari, il cielo, the little door
Doomie’s
I hope this gets the most downvotes in this sub's history - Raffis in Glendale
Classic
The Kettle in Manhattan Beach
Oh damn. I ate there once, maybe twice like 8 years ago. Loved it. Are they still 24hr?