L.A. Century City trip

G Wiv and others, please give me a good roadmap re good eating in L.A. I just got back from N.Y. and would like to duplicate my experience on the West Coast. Are fish tacos a must? I'll primarily be in the Century City area, but have contacts in other areas as well. Is Mexican fare what I'm looking for? Besides a pretty good sushi place I visited in the late 80"s, I'm not familiar with the local cuisine. Cheap to fairly expensive is the price range. I don't know when I'll get back so I want to make sure I take advantage of the opportunity to discover L.A.'s dining treasures.

I assume you'll have a car. "Near" Century City is, I s'pose relative, as Century City itself is mainly office towers. That said, the whole West LA area is primo eating zone.

Pretty much my favorite tag-team of LA eating is right by Century City. That would be Falafal King and Stan's Donuts. I love Falafal King pretty much for their daily selection of 20 odd salads and dips, their multiple hot sauces and the gratis chips. Whatever your "real" order, it is mostly superfulous to the sides. Then on to Stans, perhaps the greatest of LA donuts (meaning the greatest donuts in the world). Falafal King is at 1059 Broxton Ave in Westwood. Stan's is around the corner at Weyburn.

As to Mexican food, Guelaguetza is an Oaxacan place much different than anything in Chicago. All sorts of items from the Oaxacan kitchen like clayudas--like a big tostada or pizza and memelas, like a sope, and delicious hot chocolate, and well way more than you can order in one outing--and I've tried. There is a branch at 1127 Palms (off of Sepulvada), which is not to far from Cen City.

LA has so much great food, but perhaps my favorite meals there are the most "normal". Nothing is more normal and more better than the french toast at DuPars, a few locations, but the only one close to you will be the Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax.

If you have more spefic questions, let me know.

Rob

PS
I wanted to add, that near by Century City, on Sawtelle is a heavily Japanese section. I do not know specific places, but it is my understanding that there are great places in this zone. And another highly rated donut place (which I only tried at the end of their day), Primo's is on Sawtelle.

I am not sure how far you are willing to drive.I am waiting to hear from family out that way but I think these are the correct addresses.I have no personal experience with these so I am relying on them.

Billy's Delicatessen
216 Orange St.
Glendale,Ca
818-246-1689

Damon's Steakhouse
317 N Brand Blvd.
Glendale,Ca.
818-956-9056

Mario's Italian Deli
740 E Broadway
Glendale,Ca.
818-242-4114

I really think fish tacos are such a unique southern California thing that they are worth a try. I'm not a geographical expert on LA (as a matter of fact, i can never seem to figure the place out when i am there). However, I assume that you'll have a car.

There are two very worthy fish taco stands on Sunset Blvd., side by side, with similar names. El Siete Mares (part of a small chain of LA restaurants) does an excellent plate of fish tacos for around $7 with rice and beans. The fish, when hot and crispy, is magical. It is located at 3145 Sunset in Silverlake.

Right next door is La Playita de Siete Mares which I gravitated to one night when El Siete mares was very crowded. The selection here is better. You can have your tacos with various kinds of seafood including octopus (which i had that night).

Both are pretty good and pretty typical of what a SoCal taco shack should be.

An interesting place to shop:Galco's Soda Pop Stop.As for fish tacos,I am only familiar with chains like Rubio's and Wahoo's.

Galco's
5702 York Blvd.
Los Angeles,Ca.
323-255-7115

Hey Will, good call on Siete Mares (well at least according to the Condiment Queen who counts that place as one of her favorite LA experiences.) It is very classic LA, outdoor seating, etc. Not only do they have fish tacos two ways (both fried), but they have fried calamari tacos, how's that for brill. The Silver Lake location is a bit of a stretch from Century City, but if you wanna drive thru "classic" Hollywood, it's a fun drive.

Rob

Thanks for the leads...my trip is split between business in Century City and pleasure, likely in the vicinity of Pamona, Calif. I guess that can make me a candidate for most areas around L.A. I'll take my wish list and see what happens. I have to find a good fish taco as I've heard so much on this board and others about them.

Also, don't forget to visit Langer's for arguabley the best pastrami in the world. And Renu Nakorn for Thai. Both of these are not near Century City, but are "freeway close" as they say in So. Cal.

P.S. I second the recommendation for DuPars French Toast along with spending some time in the Farmer's Market when you are done.

Langer's Deli
704 S. Alvarado Street
Los Angeles, Ca
Open for breakfast & lunch only

Renu Nakorn
13041 E. Rosecrans Ave
Norwalk, CA 90650
310 921-2124

Bacchus wrote:Thanks for the leads...my trip is split between business in Century City and pleasure, likely in the vicinity of Pamona, Calif. I guess that can make me a candidate for most areas around L.A. I'll take my wish list and see what happens. I have to find a good fish taco as I've heard so much on this board and others about them.

I do not know anything in Ponoma per se (I think that is what you meant), but in nearby Pasadena is my favorite burger place, Pie n' Burger, which I mentioned about a week ago. Pie n' Burger is a sit down, counter kinda place, not an outdoor place like Tommy's or Jay's. 913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA

Also in the Ponoma area is the whole Chinese food explosion, centered around Monterry Park. I do not have a specific place that I know, but if you look at the LA Weekly web site, I am sure you'll find something.

Rob

Thanks, I will check the other source as well.

that's "Pomona"

ditto on the rec for Langer's. I still think the sandwiches are better than Katz's.

Renu Nakorn will be a bit of a trek for you as you'll be between Century City and Pomona (mostly along the i10 and 60 freeways). Sawtelle/Westwood would be much closer to you. on Sawtelle, just north of Pico, there is indeed the Japanese row:

hit up Sushi Sasabune for one the most venerable omakases in LA.

Sushi Sasabune
11300 Nebraska Ave
Los Angeles CA

there is also a very popular/fun yakitori house called Furaibo on Sawtelle:
2068 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles CA

nearby in Westwood, there is the killer lunch omakase ($30? IIRC) at:
Echigo
12217 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 820-9787

don't forget the Tommy's burgers on the way to Pomona off the 60freeway in Rowland Hts, exit Fullerton, 1 block south of the freeway on the west side of the street

Thanks for the additional guidance...I actually only recently discovered yakitori in N.Y. one week ago and enjoyed it very much. Maybe I'll get to the one you suggested to compare. The sushi recs sound good as well!