La Parrilla, Mexican Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

La Parrilla

3129 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 661-8055

GOOGLE MAP

There are 3 of these restaurants, but I have only been to this one on Sunset, and it has amazing food and inexpensive and huge margaritas. This place is a must, as it is very inexpensive and has top notch food. The decor looks like Tijuana chic, but it fits, as does the traditional Mexican music. Often there is also a mariachi that comes around. I want to try this place with a bigger party, because the food portions are huge, and delicious. I highly recommend it. And it always fun to see someone making tortillas fresh in front of you.

StoneFire Grill, Chicken and Steak, West Hills, CA

StoneFire Grill

6405 Fallbrook Ave
West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 887-4145

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At a shopping plaza at the corner of Victory and Fallbrook, this is a chain restaurant with incredibly good food, fast service and is well worth checking out. In fact the chicken is to die for! Well worth checking out.

Salad

Philly's Best, Philly Cheese Steak, Burbank, CA

Philly's Best

1419 W. Olive Street
Burbank, CA

GOOGLE MAP

My friend Jeff Briggs and I had lunch this week in Burbank, and we went to this new Cheesesteak chain that has recently opened in Burbank. And it was delicious. This is in a little strip mall with not much parking, and around 1 PM on a weekday, the place was absolutely packed, I mean the line went out the door. Not only that, but 2 motorcycles pulled up, and it was Jay Leno going to have lunch! Ha, must be good cheesesteak.

Sandwich

The Dip, French Dip Sandwiches, Hollywood, CA

6801 Hollywood Blvd. #67

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 871-0888

Sun-Thurs 11A-9P, Fri-Say 11A-12PM

GOOGLE MAP

Located in the Hollywood and Highland mall, this is actually a quit tasty french dip place. The food is high quality and good, and fast and they have a huge variety of condiments including lots of hot peppers and even habanero mustard, ketchup and hot sauce.

Taqueria El Tapatio, Mexican Restaurant, Woodland Hills, CA

22806 Victory Blvd.

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

(818) 883-6142

GOOGLE MAPS

In a strip mall on the south west corner of Victory at Fallbrook Ave, this is a little whole in the wall Mexican place that is mostly mexican (they barely speak English, though the menu is in English) and quite tasty and delicious. They have some great inexpensive food, and also have the bottles of Mexican soda, which is always tastier.

Prizzi's Piazza, Italian Restaurant, Hollywood, CA

Prizzi's Piazza

5923 Franklin Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 467-0168

GOOGLE MAPS

Located in Hollywood, in fact right on my block next to Birds, the parking can be a bitch, though they have valet. This is a good medium prices Italian restaurant. The food tends to be heavy and covered in oil, but the food is tasty (too much oil on the pizza for my taste, but it tastes good) and the bread sticks are absolutely amazing, and a must try, though you must know that you will taste only garlic for the rest of the night, and even into the morning. This is some serious garlic.

Fatburger The Last Great Hamburger Stand, Hamburgers, CA

Fatburger

Well, unfortunately I won't be having any Fatburgers again any time soon, or anything but salads and veggies, as I am now almost 50 pounds overweight, youch, but this was a pretty damn good way to kick start me into a diet. I have always enjoyed Fatburger, sure they aren't juicy burgers, as they are on the griddle, but with all the toppings, they still seam juicy, and I love the addition of the choice of thin or fat fries. These are damn good fast burgers, and the Kingburger is just plain impressive. Still it cost over 10 for a Kingburger, fat fries and a large soda.

Edendale Grill, American Restaurant, Los Feliz, CA

2838 Rowena Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

(323) 666-2000
Mon-Thurs 5:30 PM-10PM Sun 10A-3PM, 5:30 PM - 10pm, Bar Sun-Wed 5 PM-12am, Thu-Sat 5pm-2AM

Google Map

Kelly and I wouldn't even have known this place if we didn't go with Tara and Rick. It is a cool looking place, built in the old 1920's firehouse for the era, with hardwood floors, and craftsman light fixtures, and covered in photos celebrating the old history of Hollywood. Parking is non-existant, so pay for the parking, which is just North of it on Rowena. Their is a cool outside patio with heaters, and a huge bar, which is where the firetruck used to park, and is quite loud. And their is a smoking patio in the back, where the restrooms are. The main entrance is huge, and has a couple of chairs to wait, and check out all the old photos, they are very cool. The food and service was decent, but not great for the price. I have certainly had better, though the atmosphere was nice.

Market City Caffe, Italian and Seafood Restaurant, Burbank, CA

Market City Caffe
164 E. Palm Avenue
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 840-7036

Sun-thurs 11:30AM-10 PM, Friday and Saturday till Midnight

GOOGLE MAP

Right in the heart of downtown Burbank, and right by the AMC theaters, Kelly and I have eaten here before and kind of enjoyed it, but this experience I must say was pretty terrible, and I do not think we will be returning. The service was fine, but the food was pretty mediocre, and the breadsticks were tastless and awful, even with the oil at ever table, and even once we got a bottle of balsamic vinegar. I do like that they give you a pitcher of iced tea though. That is nice, but the food was only OK.

North End Pizzeria , Pizza, Burbank, CA

North End Pizzeria

212 East Orange Grove

Burbank, CA 91502

(818) 557-8325

GOOGLE MAP

Located in the heart of downtown Burbank, Kelly and I have passed this place many times, but it was on our friend Francisco's recommendation that we went and had dinner here. It took a little well, but the food was quite good and delicious. Not only good New York style Pizza, but also quite delicious salads. There is public parking quite close, and this place is pretty tasty.

THey also have pasta and catering is available.

Tallyrand, American Diner, Breakfast, Burbank, CA

1700 W. Olive

Burbank, CA 91506

(818) 846-9904

GOOGLE MAP

We had breakfast here, and were quite impressed, though it's tagline is "Famous for Roast Turkey" so I assuming it has a different lunch and dinner menu, but they have a huge selection for breakfast. From a ton of different types of omelets, pancakes and even cinnamon bread english muffins! Wow, never seen that before.

The service was fast and the food was pretty good. I would certainly eat here again.

French 75, French Restaurant and Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

French 75
3400 W. Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA
(818) 955-5100

GOOGLE MAPS

Kelly and I decided to get a nice meal in Burbank, which isn't always an easy task, as Burbank seems to have more fast food than it does good food, but right near her house are 2 places that are both expensive and good, both Morton's and right next door to it French 75. You have to park valet, for $5.50 (youch), but the place is really amazing. It looks straight out of Moulon Rouge. The bar is amazing, and the whole place is dark with red velvet and old French posters around the place. Our waiter was a bit strange, but the food was pretty great, and the people next to us got a chocolate soufflé which we quickly ordered, so we could get it after the meal. Wow.

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Amazingly we went back not a month later. I signed up for their mailing list and got a $25 gift certificate, so we went back. I had the same, but Kelly didn't.

Harper's Express, American Deli and Food, Century City, CA

Harper's Express

Westfield Century City

10250 Santa Monica Blvd.

Century City, CA

(310) 553-1300

GOOGLE MAP

Located in the amazing new food court at the South End of Century City, located next to the new AMC Theater. This is easily the nicest food court I have ever seen. This is an excellent little restaurant, which isn't cheap, but has some damn tasty salads. I would certainly have a bite here again, and try the normal version of this restaurant which is also located in Century City. They have breakfast, salads, sandwiches, panninis, pastas and entrees as well as soup and flatbread.

In-N-Out, Hamburgers, Burbank, CA

In-N-Out
All over California
761 N, First St.
Burbank, CA 91502

GOOGLE MAP

The famous only on the West Coast fast food Hamburgers, has the shortest menu you will ever see in a burger joint, and they do make damn good burgers, though still fast food (IE thin and dry). Still they are pretty dan good, though don't come with ketchup on them (you must add it), but do have Coke and Dr. Pepper on fountain. And if you like milk shakes, there's are amazing with real ice cream. If you are an east coaster you must check this place out, though this one is not my favorite as different from the others the fries (which I always thought took some getting used to) are exceptionally dry and overcooked here, giving even more of a stale Cape Cod Potato Chips flavor. Decent burgers though.

LightHouse Royal Seafood Buffet, Japanese All You Can Eat, Santa Monica, CA

LightHouse Buffet

201 Arizone Ave

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 451-2076

GOOGLE MAP

Listed as a top 5 buffets by the Food Network, this place is pretty decent, but the food is of course buffet quality, but pretty damn decent for $11.95 lunch and $20.95 per person dinner. It is located one block away from the promenade, and remember not to fill up on too many drinks, which they will refill quickly to try to fill you up. A decent meal that will fill you, but of course nothing amazing.