Los Angeles is a lot of things - flashy, beautiful, gritty, glamorous - but one thing it most certainly is not, is monotonous. The Los Angeles basin has the most spoken languages of any urban region in the entire world, with endless communities and cultures sewn together by a fabric of enormous freeways and weaving interchanges, an unending beam of golden light, and a horizon of endless palms. The beauty of the city is in the casual - as much as Hollywood scenes brim with pretentiousness, the real LA is a new city without the red tape and haughtiness of places like New York or Paris. Anything can be done here, recreated and thrown out, and born again - it’s a city focused on the modern, the new, the today versus its history; whether you like it or not. Eating in LA can be daunting - what neighborhoods to choose, and what spots within them. More so than more urban cities, decisions on itinerary in LA are grave - Los Angeles is a sprawling, infinite grid of freeways with amazing neighborhoods and cuisine to be found everywhere - and going neighborhood to neighborhood can be more like traveling city to city in other locales. Below is the oft-requested and abridged Los Angeles guide, enjoy.
*Continuously Updated*
Jeon Ju Bibimbap
A quintessential element of the urban fabric of Los Angeles are gritty, 2-floored strip malls with unmanageable parking lots. These also happen to often be culinary goldmines, with their cheaper rents yielding opportunity to immigrants looking to bring a slice of home to LA. Jeon-ju is a textbook example of this concept - serving the best bibimbap in Los Angeles. Go for the Galbi option which features high-quality, juicy, and flavorful short rib sitting pretty on a bed of assorted vegetables, an egg, and slowly crisping rice inside its stone pot throne. The gochujang is thick and brings added acid and texture. There’s simply nothing like this spot.
2716 W Olympic Blvd Ste #101, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Leos Tacos
A core of Los Angeles culture are corner taco trucks and stands. This one dishes out the best Al Pastor taco in the United States and happens to be in the back of a gas station. Crispy thin shreds of seasoned, nearly neon orange pork are shredded off a trompo and accompanied by a plump, citrusy chunk of pineapple. Open late.
1515 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Attari Sandwich Shop
Having one of the largest Persian communities of any city in the world, LA accordingly has top-shelf Persian food. Sitting on Westwood Blvd, arguably the commercial center of the community, Attari Sandwich shop’s floral piazza is the perfect location to indulge yourself in some of the best koobideh kabab - spiced ground beef that’s flame-cooked on skewers before being removed and placed on top of saffron rice with Sumac - or a Sosees sandwich - a Persian hot dog on a crunchy baguette with tomatoes, pickles, a mix of fresh herbs, and mustard. Of major additional note is the Ash, which is an herbal and light bean soup featuring yogurt sauce and fried onions that you mix in - I never leave without cleaning the bowl and this is a top 5 soup for me, anywhere. Digest with tea and relax at this beautiful escape.
1388 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Park's BBQ
Parks is the best KBBQ in all of LA, which let me tell you is certainly not short on options. Pick a combination and you are greeted with meats that are just as stunning to look at raw - because of their insane levels of marbling - as they are to eat. The banchan - free, little dishes surrounding the meal - change daily and blow any other joint out of the water. Instead of limp radish, we’re talking beef stews, vegetable dishes that deserve a paid spot on the menu, and the best kimchi in Koreatown - which features a crisp bite and thick sauce.
955 S Vermont Ave G, Los Angeles, CA 90006
The Ivy
A floral paradise on the Beverly Hills-West Hollywood border known as the see-and-be-seen locale for celebrities, this icon has created a renowned brand all behind the essence of floral beauty. From the cutlery, to the plating, to trellises dotted with flowers of neon hues and seating to match - everyday feels like Mother’s Day at this gorgeous destination. Go for brunch and have your pick - from fluffy pancakes to spicy chilaquiles, and of course the iconic chocolate chip cookies to cap the meal - you simply can’t go wrong here. LA is unlike any other city because of it’s natural flora, and the Ivy perfectly capitalizes on the comfort and beauty afforded by Southern California’s Mediterranean climate. Don't forget to ask for the scones.
113 N Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Dan Sung Sa
The owner’s of Dan Sung Sa aimed to open a slice of Korean nightlife in LA and without a doubt, they have succeeded. A small, wooden restaurant featuring small booths for groups of friends to throw back shots of painless soju and dive into incredible bar bites - including endless skewers, notable Korean fried chicken wings, and seafood pancakes - all surrounding a smoky grill with a chef at the helm. The restaurant is worn with graffiti, stickers, and etching into the wood that scream communal love all behind dim lighting and pounding music - if you’re looking for an unbelievably welcoming, fun, and transporting experience, let me be the first to tell you that this is it.
3317 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
El Chato
This is the best burrito I’ve ever had. Preferably cabeza (cow cheek) or chicken, these icons are served with rice, cilantro/onion, cheese, avocado, and salsas. Request the side of sautéed onions. Tender meat that cuts through potent salsas with insane texture and flavors every step of the way. The avocado quesadilla is the cherry on top featuring a beautiful and nearly transparent flour tortilla.
5300 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Luv2eat Thai
The Thai food scene in LA simply operates on another playing field. This Hollywood strip mall spot features insane renditions of the dishes you’re used to - think Pad Thai and Pad See Ew - but your attention needs to be on the “Chef’s Specials.” Do not leave without ordering the Hat Yai Fried Chicken - featuring the juiciest fried chicken you’ve ever encountered inside a crunch of a shell, accompanied by fried onions and a sweet chili sauce - the Dried Jade Noodles - a bowl of green noodles in a peanut sauce featuring multiple varieties of BBQ Pork and Duck, each with differing textures contributing to an insane culinary experience - or the spicy Phuket Crab curry. I always loved Thai Food, it’s just that before eating at Luv2eat Thai, I never experienced the true magnitude of Thai flavor; Luv2eat’s accessibility to fresh ingredients and spices in the LA area paired with home recipes changed the way that I look at Thai food forever.
6660 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Tire Shop Taqueria
An operation south of DTLA, known as the only street taco my friend from Tijuana will eat in the US. This Baja style stand literally on the side of a tire shop features an open flame browning fresh masa tortillas as well as slabs of carne asada and fresh chorizo. Indulge yourself in a chorizo vampiro - a crisped tortilla filled with cheese - or their iconic TJ-style taco filled with avomole. The smoky char from the grill sets any bite of meat here apart from the others and their corn tortilla situation is a work of art.
4077 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Apple Pan
An LA classic, the Apple Pan is a burger joint that has barely changed since it’s opening nearly a hundred years ago. The same chef’s have worked there for years, sporting the same uniforms and paper hats - there’s comfort that while LA is constantly changing, the Apple Pan persists. Sit yourself on a leather stool around the cash-only counter and order the Hickory Burger - the best cheeseburger you’ve ever had with notably crunchy iceberg lettuce and a smoky, tomato-based sauce. Finish up with a slice of their banana-cream pie, which pairs the softness of a nostalgic-feeling banana pudding with the literal perfect crunch of graham cracker-crust.
10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
*Additional Mentions*
Sapp Coffee Shop
Salazar
Sushi Park
Mayura Indian
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