Philippe The Original, French Dippe, Los Angeles, CA

Philippes
1001 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 628-3781
6a-10p
Breakfast 6a-10:30a

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The LA Original, established in 1908 that created the French Dip in 1918, and has been owned b y the same people since 1927, and in this location since 1957, and home of the 9¢ cup of coffee, is an LA classic that everyone needs to try! This time I took Kelly because she likes French Dippe sandwiches, and had never been, and we had a wonderful time! The sandwiches are always good, and we tried some sides. There is also 2 ample parking lots on Ord, though if you are going on a week day at lunch, expect a long wait (and you will always wait in line along the sawdust strewn floor. Philippes is always good, and always tasty, and quite inexpensive as well.

Charcoal, Hamburger and Steak, Hollywood, CA

Charcoal
6372 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323)-465-8500
Sun-Thu 11am-Midnight
Fri-Sat 11am-1:30am
Brunch Saturdary and Sunday 10:30am-3:30pm

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••••THE HORROR!! IT SEEMS CHARCOAL IS GONE! CLOSED FOR GOOD! SO SAD, THE BEST BURGER IN LOS ANGELES GONE AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME!!!!!••••

Located at the South East Corner of Sunset and Ivar, with parking in the Arclight parking garage (remember to validate) for some reason I had a much different impression of this place than what it was really like. And with the quality of the food, I am so surprised that there weren't more people there at 7:30 on a friday night, because the food is damn good, like maybe better than Houston's good. And the menu is very reminiscent of Houstons. This burger and steak place is well worth checking out. ••• Not only that but right now they have a 1/2 price deal, Monday through Saturday, 3 PM to 6 PM, and it is about half the menu. What a great deal! •••

Babalu, Latin American Cafe, Santa Monica, CA

1002 Montana Ave,
Santa Monica, CA 90403

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My dad and I went here for lunch when he was in town off the recommendation of my uncle (something about cute waitresses is what I think he told my dad), and I have to say I am glad we went because the food is actually quite good, and has quite an eclectic menu. They also have some interesting looking drink concoctions, but we stayed away from those as it was lunch time. This is a delicious Montana eatery, just watch for parking enforcement.

Village Coffee Shop, Breakfast and Lunch, Hollywood, CA

2695 N. Beachwood Drive,
Los Angeles, CA 90068-2339
(323) 467-5398
Mon-Sat 8am-5pm
Sun 8am-3pm

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For some reason I always thought this place was called the Beachwood Cafe, but I guess not. This is what I would call a very rustic coffee shop with breakfast and lunch. The decor is early 20th century America, and the wooden tables and chairs all wobble, and the register is about as old as can be. I actually think the place has better atmosphere than food, but it is alright to visit once in a while.

Lucy's El Adobe Cafe, Mexican, Hollywood, CA

5536 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 462-9421

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Located right across from Paramount, with ample parking. This place looks kind of cool outside, and has what looks like a very nice bar, but inside is pretty dark, and the wall is covered in head shots that look like they ended in the 1980's. The service was good, and the prices actually a bit expensive for standard mexican fare. At least they have lunch specials, but the food seems very Americanized, and while it was decent, it was not very impressive.

Fromin's Deli, Delicatessin, Diner, Encino, CA

17615 Ventura Blvd,
Encinco, CA
(818) 990-6346

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Sue Clark and I were looking for someplace for lunch, and drove around, and couldn't find the place we were looking for, but ended up here. The place is pretty damn good, and inexpensive for a deli, $10.50 for a sandwich instead of the usual $15 at most Jewish Delis. The service was OK, they seemed tired, but it wasn't bad, and there is adequate parking.

101 Cafe Coffee Shop, Diner, Hollywood, CA

6145 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028-5220
(323) 467-1175
Daily 7am-3am

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This is kind of a hip version of a diner, at least food wise, that plays some decent music, though the place is as dark as could be in there. There is a parking lot just east on Franklin, but it is usually full, so Kelly and I walked over there. The service is decent enough, and the food is decent as well.

Mel's Drive In Hollywood, Hamburgers, Diner, Hollywood, CA

Mel's Drive In

1650 N. Highland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 465-2111
Sun-Thur 6:30 AM- 3AM
Fri-Sat 24 Hours

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I actually didn't realize this was a chain until I looked at the web site, I had just passed this 50's style diner so many times, that Kelly and I finally decided to go. The service was decent, and so was the food. The place is kind of fun, and their is a little museum attached even, and there are jukeboxes at each table, but they are 25¢ instead of the 5¢ at Johnny Rockets. Still this place was not bad.

The Waffle, Breakfast, Hollywood, CA

The Waffle

6255 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 465-6901

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Located in the high rise at Sunset and Argylle, you park in the structure on Argyle, and be prepared for a wait. This place is new, and excellent and quite popular, so we had to wait for a seat. The place looks as hip as can be, and there is seating inside and out, and they spent time on design. And the food is great as well. We just had waffles, but I might even have to try a burger sometime, and they have a very large breakfast menu, sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, vegetarians dishes, sweets, shakes, beers. Damn this place has a lot to offer, and the service is top notch. They filled my ice tea at least 7 times!

Canter's Delicatessen and Bakery, Los Angeles, CA

Canter's

419 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 651-2030

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This amazing New York Jewish Delicatessen that is open 24 hours a day has been a cornerstone of food in Los Angeles since it opened in 1931, and is always a good meal. There is some parking just south on Fairfax with 2 hours of validation, and the wait staff is always efficient, and some of them seem like they have been there forever. And the menu goes on, and on and on. I mean there is so much choice here that making a decision may be the hardest thing of all.

Yunchuan Garden, Sichuan Food, Monterey Park, California

301 N. Garfield Ave,
Monterey Park, CA 91754

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You those of you who think you know true Sichuan food, you probably don't, not unless you know the joys of the Chinese Peppercorn . A strange little dried plant that when eaten makes your whole mouth tingle and go numb, and when cooked correctly with spicy, and oily food makes for an amazing tingling combination that is addicting and can't be beat. And Yunchuan Garden is a master of this Sichuan cuisine. If you like spicy food you owe yourself a trip to this little restaurant, though communication won't be too easy, but it is worth the adventure, but be prepared to point to things at the menu, and be ready to drink tea, because getting water isn't always easy.

Mon Land Hot Pot, Sichuan Hot Pot, San Gabriel, CA

251 W. Bencamp Street #C,
San Gabriel,
CA 91776

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After trying out Lug Gi a couple of weeks back, me and two of my friends went out to try Mon Land, which I have seen highly rated over at Chowhound. This place is right across from the big grocery store and mall (The Great Mall of China) with the big Sam Woo in it on Valley, and while it doesn't have many parking places, you could always park in the mall (if you are willing to fight for your parking spots). Initial impressions were very good, as the place is quite large, and has indoor and outdoor seating, and the hot pot is put into an electric heater that is rescessed into the table, instead of being on top. Also for the Yin and Yang Pot, which has hot and spicy on one side and a tasty not spicy broth on the other, is actually bent in the middle so it looks like an actual Yin and Yang symbol, it is just too bad the food is not as good as at Lu Gi, and especially the hot pot is not nearly as spicy. (Sorry I forgot my camera, so no pics this time, but you can see some over at My Culinary Adventures).

Parker's Lighthouse, Seafood, Long Beach, CA

Parker's Lighthouse

435 Shoreline Village Drive #1
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 432-6500
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-3PM Sat-Sun 11am-3:30PM
Dinner: Mon-Thur 5PM-10PM Sat 4PM-11PM Sun 4PM-10PM

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I found this place right down on the peer in Long Beach when looking online because Kelly and I were going down to see the Star Trek Tour at the Queen Mary. It is a large restaurant right at the end of the boardwalk (which seems a plastic fantastic version of Oaks Bluffs on Marthas Vineyard). It is quite large and has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a sushi bar. The service is good, and the food was quite tasty. I would certainly try this place again if I was in Long Beach.

Palermo Ristorante Italiano, Italian Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

1858 N. Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 663-1178
Sun-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-1AM

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An excellent family style Italian restaurant with decent food and incredibly good service. After 7 PM you get free slices of their excellent Italian style pizza, and if you have to wait in line you can get cups of house wine for $1.50. They know how to make waiting kind, and they have a little store with Wine and Italian Sundries. The decor is homy, with a great painting on the wall, though the neon does make it not quite like home.

Lu Gi, Sichuan Hot Pot, San Gabriel, CA

529 W. Valley Blvd.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 457-5111
11am-12pm
MC/VISA

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Located in a strip mall at the North East Corner of Valley and New, though you must enter off of Valley. And this place is popular, so the parking lot will fill up, and you may need to try and find street parking. I have wanted to try Sichuan Hot Pot for some time, since I heard about it from my crazy ex girlfriend, and even more so once Kelly and I saw Anthony Bordain go when he was in Sichuan China. And then I read about some places to go in Los Angles at ChowHound and wanted to try one, but it wasn't until I read about LU Gi at LA Food Crazy that Kelly and I called our friends and decided to make a night out of it. This place is rather small, and we had a large party of 9, which barely fit at a long table (really barely), though they do have one big round table, but you must make a reservation for this (and they do speak english here, so you should call if you are going to have a large party). The place is small, but the waiters are very helpful, and will fill out the order from (which is completely in Chinese). They give you water, and have beer and wine and will serve you quickly and efficiently. And the place is pretty cheap. With tip it came out to $16 each slip between 8 people. Well worth it, and I will certainly try it again.

Went again with 3 of us total this time, and ordered too much food, though it was damn tasty, and we did make a major dent. And Kelly really was impressive with how much hot pot we ate. This place is amazing.

Pie N' Burger, Hamburger and Pie Restaurant, Pasadena, CA

913 E. California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 795-1123
Mon-Fri 6am-10pm
Sat 7am-10pm
Sun 7am-9pm

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I really wanted a burger today so I googled best burger's in Los Angeles and came up with the Citysearch Best Hamburgers 2007. The Audience winner was Father's Office which I hated, but the Editorial winner was Pie n' Burger, and Kelly was interested in the pie, so we took Chelsea and went. The place is a little East of Lake Avenue in Pasadena on the North side and has a few parking spots in back, but you will probably have to find street parking. It is a tiny, funky little place with a long counter and a few tables in the back, and a menu on the wall that has only had the prices change since this place opened.

Pie

Pho 79, Vietnamese Pho Restaurant, Alhambra, CA

29 S. Garfield Ave.
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 289-0239
Mon-Thu: 9AM-9PM
Fri-Sun: 9AM-10 PM

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Kelly and I went to go to Noodle City, and it is closed for renovations, so we went to my number 2 Pho restaurant. This one is on the West side of the street and there is an alley just south which leads to a parking structure (or there is parking behind, but not very much). And expect a wait, because there are always people waiting.