Tapas and Wine Bar C, Japanese Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

Tapas and Wine Bar C
428 East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-8877
Hours: 6:00 PM-2:00AM

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A little place that I never would have heard of, but would certainly have been interested in seeing at least once, but luckily two of my friends took me there one night. This strange little wine bar is located on the southeast of 2nd, in a little mall with parking, though it will likely be full up, but there are various places to park in Little Tokyo.

Now for what makes this place special. It does have food, though we didn't try it, but it is mostly a wine bar (though they have mixed drinks and beer) with a huge selection, including most that can be had by the glass, but what makes it really special, is that the Japanese waitresses all dress in French Maid outfits. Yes you heard that right, FRENCH MAID OUTFITS!

Orochon Raman, Japanese Noodles, Little Tokyo, CA

Orochon Ramen
123 S Onizuka St, 3rd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766
Mon-Sun: 11:30AM-10:15PM (though there was a wait, and we didn't get seated until about then)

I can't believe I had not heard of this place before, especially since it is on the floor above the Curry House in Little Tokyo (and so it has the same parking underneath with validation). I didn't hear about this place until it was on MAN VS. FOOD, where I learned of the spiciest Ramen in Los Angeles, and I had to go. Then my friends took me out to Little Tokyo, and since every place was packed we decided to go to Orochon since I wanted to go, and one of my friends wanted the spicy ramen (my other friend wanted another ramen place he thinks is better, and I must try).  

Taste Chicago, Pizza, Sausage Ribs and Beef, Burbank, CA

Taste Chicago
603 N Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 563-2800  

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Kelly and I were really hungry one day, and this was close to her house, so we decided to try it, and we were quickly sorry we did. Now we did not try the ribs or pizza, but the sandwiches were atrocious!

This place is on the Northwest corner of Hollywood Way and Verdugo, and has ample parking, and is basically a covered stand with no bathroom (so go before you go, or you will be sorry).

Smoke House, Steak House, Burbank, CA

Smoke House
4420 W. Lakeside Drive
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 845-3731
Mon-Thu : 11:30AM-4:00PM Lunch 4:00PM-10:30PM Dinner
Friday : 11:30AM-4:00PM Lunch 4:00PM-11:00PM Dinner
Saturday : 11:30AM-3:00PM Lunch 3:00PM-11:00PM Dinner
Sunday : 10:00AM-2:30PM Lunch 2:30PM- 9:00PM Dinner   

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We went here with Chelsea, Kelly's sister, and it was Kelly's treat. She had been there, and thought it was an Italian restaurant, and while there were some Italian Dishes, in fact this is really a steak house, and a not too expensive one. The three of us were able to eat and have a bottle of wine for under $125 with another $5 for the mandatory valet parking. A pretty good deal. And the decor is great, it looks like it has not changed an iota since it opened in 1946! You can picture Frank Sinatra eating there, and he does have a dish named after him, so I am sure he did go at some point.

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.