Briggs's Profile
Mexican in Highland Park?
Chico's is great, My Taco on York near Fig is even better. Also nearby is Via Mar at Fig & Ave 51 - in some ways even better than Señor FIsh.
FWIW, add me to the list of those less than thrilled with Arco Iris. Think El Torito on a bad day.
Sabretts, Nathans or Hoffy with Casings
Unless something has changed, the Ralph's natural casing dogs are/were a mixture of beef and pork.
ISO Asian in Highland Park, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock
Good Girl Dinette's pretty okay, great home made sodas, but we also like Lemon Grass in Eagle Rock for Vietnamese. Blue Hen has always been a little meh for me (FWIW, GGD is from the original owner of Blue Hen).
Panang SHOULD be terrible, but it's not. More than surprisingly decent Thai-Chinese-Sushi fusion. You can certainly do worse. Sicha Siam can also be pretty good, but they've become a little bit hit or miss lately. Some folks really like Thai Eagle Rox, and I remember the space was pretty nice, but it didn't do it for us. OK Chinese on Colorado (w/ a sister branch in the Figueroa Produce center), can also be pretty decent for limited take out - not a lot of options, but some of it is not bad. But yes, it's hard to compete for Chinese when Chinatown is 7 minutes away.
As for "when I lived there 10 years ago", it sounds kinda silly. The same can be said about other areas - Culver City, Downtown. etc. Things change...
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Blue Hen
1743 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Good Girl Dinette
110 North Avenue 56, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Sicha Siam Restaurant
4403 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Panang Restaurant
1801 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Thai Eagle Rox
4601 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Lemon Grass Vietnamese Restaurant
1952 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Fiddler's Bistro--always crowded but no one goes there.....
The Chicken Couscous soup is fantastic - one of the best.
Fiddler's Bistro--always crowded but no one goes there.....
Do a search here for a thread from the last month or so and you'll see why it's well-liked...
BEST RED VELVET BIRTHDAY CAKE???
I've never met a Red Velvet Cake I didn't like (well, maybe Ralph's). OTOH, my wife is quite the opposite: VERY finicky and not wild about most Red Velvet cakes. However we both agree that Costco's is one of the best tasting we've had. Plus (as I've just found out), they WILL personalize their Red Velvet cakes. Otherwise I think Auntie Em's in Eagle Rock is the other way to go.
Although hopefully you're still not looking for a cake after 4 years.
Capri Eagle Rock-post Kitchen Nightmares
Yeah, we watched with mixed feelings of sadness and laughter. It was sort of like watching a bad car wreck - but with clown cars... We were certainly glad we weren't watching it at Capri that night.
That being said... my wife and I went a month or so ago, and while I wasn't wild about my eggplant dish (the prep and ingredients were fine, it just was too bland). OTOH, my wife's lasagna was quite tasty, and the garlic knots were also good. My wife subsequently went back and had their chopped salad which she said was delicious;
So yes, we'll definitely check it out again shortly.
Soft Opening for NY Deli in Old Town Pasadena
Was there on an early Saturday evening a couple months ago, and it was a little strange.
First, it was empty, Second it had the smell of ammonia - fine at 3 in the morning, but not at dinner time. Finally, it appears (not positive) that they're trying to also add a "market" vibe. However the cryovac packaging of large briskets and hams lying around the fridge willy-nilly takes away any cachet.
I ordered the pastrami which arrived stacked high on large slices of rye, but it was nothing to write home about. Not terrible, but certainly not in Billy's or Canter's league, let alone Langer's. Service was prompt and efficient at the bar. But then an empty restaurant will do that. All in all it seemed like someone's idea of a hip deli concept, and not of a deli.
Might go back to try breakfast, but not in any rush. Funny thing is that we did try to go there for breakfast in early January, but they weren't open on Sundays at the time.
As for the "bad" location - it's on the same street as Yujean Kang & Cafe Bizou, and even closer to Colorado. I imagine if the food were more inviting, the location wouldn't matter.
Fiddler's Bistro: Just Consistent Solid
They also have a killer Chicken Cous Cous soup that's a frequent daily special. The lamb burger is also top notch.
As for the lack of hip people, my friends and I beg to differ...
Bell Poultry Seasoning availability?
Thus far I've been unsuccessful in my quest.
Northeast L.A. preferable, but am also open to the westside and in between (so no South Bay recs please).
So far I've tried:
Albertson's (Los Feliz)
Vons (Eagle Rock)
Whole Foods (Glendale)
Super King (Glassell Park)
Gelson's (Silverlake)
Surfas (available at Thanksgiving time/supplier can't get it either)
The manufacturer's customer service suggested Vons or Albertsons, but that was a no go, and I really don't need 4 boxes via mail order.
Thanks!
Great steak in LA - but not quite Cut, etc
"Pretty much everything else at Tana's is pretty boring. But the ambience in that tiny joint is better than three trendy joints put together."
Yeah, into one bigger trendy joint. Perhaps I'm not being fair since it's been many years since I've tried Dan Tana's. Or actually tried to get in. Don't know if it's still a hot ticket, but it certainly had its days of behaving like one. Also add me to the underwhelmed column about Ruth's Chris.
And to the OP - you certainly have the right to go anywhere, but why choose a franchise, and one that's available to your brother in Ohio? As much as I like Morton's and Fogo de Chao, the same also holds true, although Fogo is a little less ubiquitous.
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Dan Tana's Restaurant
9071 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Corner Pizza in Eagle Rock
When you have Folliero's, you don't need more joints. Not only one of the best in the Northeast Area, but also in L.A.
Corner Pizza in Eagle Rock
My middle school student son and his friends like it, and I thought it was okay the couple times I tried it, although I'd only had reheated slices, never from a pie right out of the oven. (Off topic, but that's what makes Costco pizza slices superior to just about any by-the-slice joints like Richie Palmer's or Mulberry - you're almost always getting a fresh slice at Costco).
Back to the topic: As a kids' party veteran, it will help if Corner Pizza makes one of those huge 40"+ pizzas that are cut in squares. Fewer boxes to toss and more manageable portions. This larger size also makes for a thinner crust. If they Corner Pizza doesn't (and I think they do), Italiano's on York & Ave 50 would be another option.
Of course the best advice would be to simply just stop by Corner Pizza and try it, by the slice or a whole pie.
Speaking of Hot Dogs (yet again) - NELA division
For those in the Northeast area, there's a little stand at California Car Wash (Los Feliz & Central) that serves chargrilled corn on the cob as well jumbo 1/4" lb Hebrew National dogs. Checked it out today.
The dog is $3.00 (plus .30 tax). While not the bargain from Costco down the street, and certainly not natural casing, it was still very tasty, the bun was perfectly toasted, and the owner amiable in an old world sort of way. I didn't have anything to drink, and condiments (of which I don't usually partake) seemed minimal, but YMMV.
Worth the extra buck or so over the Costco bargain for those who prefer a grilled or chargrilled dog. Not sure about details like hours, but when I was previously there on a cloudy day, the car wash was open but the stand appeared closed.
Slaw dogs, just tried it again.
"Tommy's $2.75
Pink's $3.30"
Is Tommy's all-beef? In any case, neither of these two are in the league of Slaw Dogs or Haus Dogs. If not quite gourmet, they're certainly more upscale in terms of quality (and yes, price).
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The Slaw Dogs
720 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
DogHaus in Pasadena, just visited too, three dogs in two days...
Only been once, and will try again, but I thought there was a kind of gaminess to their natural casing dog. While it could simply be the type of spices used, it still didn't taste quite right.
Anyone know where they get their dogs?
Slaw dogs, just tried it again.
"the same thing at the old wiener factory would've costed me all of 9 to 10 bucks."
Well, you've got to admit that it's not fair to compare 3 year old pricing - right?. My own opinion is that unless it's Costco, I think hot dog prices at most places seem a bit out of line. And I'm a fan of Slaw Dogs.
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The Slaw Dogs
720 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
Dog Haus in Pasadena
I was also there today for a late lunch, but with mixed feelings.
The pluses:
Great space, great vibe, friendly staff, refillable soft drinks, good menu choices, reasonable prices.
The not so good minus:
Ordered 2 snap dogs plain (what can I say...). Not terrible, and it definitely was natural casing, but it tasted... different. Maybe I'm simply too used to a Nathan's-Sabrett's-Hebrew National dog, but this just tasted... kinda weird. Adding mustard to the 2nd dog helped, but it was almost gamey tasting. I don't know it simply needed to be cooked longer, or if it's the nature of that particular beast. At this point I'd give the natural casing edge to Slaw Dogs - just a tastier dog.
I'm definitely open to trying Dog Haus again. Could have been an off day. FWIW - I liked the music - sorta like an iPod of a 40 something...
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The Slaw Dogs
720 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
Dog Haus
105 N Hill Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
COOL PLACES IN HIGHLAND PARK
But while we're at it...
Neither Verdugo Bar nor Eagle Rock Brewery are in Highland Park. BOTH are in Glassell Park, and both are about 10 minutes from H.P. proper. Still NELA, but NOT Highland Park.
Are you specifically looking for gen-x/trendie (of which 2 of the 3 above qualify)? While Good Girl Dinette is decent, I wouldn't call it a triumph of design. It's bare, spare and loud - even when not crowded. The York is more than okay, especially if you're looking for a Westside vibe on the Eastside. Finally, The Verdugo Bar is... a bar. A good beer selection, but... it's a bar. Which happens to be located on a somewhat dicey street. I think Mr. T's can be more of a trip. Or fun. It depends on your point of view.
There are certainly more and better options for good food than suggested above:
Folliero's (Pizza - One of the best in L.A. And the room's not bad)
Chico's (wonderful Mexican in a quaint small atmosphere)
Huarache Azteca (destination Mexican for many)
Marty's Bar (upscale from the owner of Mia Sushi)
Metro Banderas (on weekends for exotic carnitas)
La Abeja (Mexican standby - new ownership)
Via Mar (Mexican seafood patio. Quite good - maybe even surpassing Senior Fish)
La Estrella (Mexican taco & burrito patio stand)
Cinnamon Vegeterian
Las Cazuelas (Salvadorean)
My Taco - (a strong second on great barbacoa)
Arroyo Seco Golf Course (esp. weekends - fun brunch, great burgers)
Not to mention a slew of other great Mexican restaurants on York and Figueroa.
So much for the only choices in Highland Park.
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La Abeja
3700 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90065
The Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Good Girl Dinette
110 North Avenue 56, Los Angeles, CA 90042
La Estrella Restaurant
940 S Lorena St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Mia Sushi
4741 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Senior Fish Inc.
910 Hamilton Rd, Duarte, CA 91010
Eagle Rock Brewery
3056 Roswell St, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Buff Wings - Eagle Rock
Von's on Fig & Colorado also has excellent donuts. In fact the bakery in general is very good.
Buff Wings - Eagle Rock
Donuts are better than Winchell's (not saying much), but not as good at the Donut Factory on San Fernando & Cazador. We think DF is the best in the area for that style of donut.
I drive by every single day, and the wings place should get an award for lamest business model. With the almost non-existant lame signage and obscure corner location, it was begging to fail. Meanwhile all the other shops in the mini-mall have been there for years (Sicha Siam, the donut store, Little Ceasars (yech).
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Little Ceasars
2183 E South St, Long Beach, CA 90805
please help this new yorker during her first trip to LA
No. 1 - http://tinyurl.com/28plfkq
No. 2 - You'd probably want to visit The Milky Way, the dairy restaurant owned by Steven Spielberg's mom
No. 3 - You're not far from Rodeo Drive, one of the premier shopping streets in the world.
No. 4 - You'll be near the following delis: Factor's, Label's Table, Pico-Kosher, Nate & Al's...if that's your thing.
No. 5 - I personally think you should avoid Frida's, but that's my opinion. So you should know that there are probably as many people here who love Frida's as those who don't. Whether you enjoy it or not, one thing is certain: it is in no way representative of the Mexican food that most out-of-towners would be interested in sampling - whether street food, conventional tourist or gourmet. The best bet for Mexican in your area would be to take a quick bus (or 2) to the Farmer's Market and visit Loteria Grill.
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Loteria Grill
6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Milky Way
9108 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Best Pizza in Los Angeles (& surrounding)????!!
Folliero's (ask for thin or extra thin crust).
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Folliero Pizza & Italian Food
5566 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Dog Haus in Pasadena
I completely agree. I may still swing by, but unless it's Nathan's or Hebrew National, I'll probably pass on the dog and just get a brat.
As for your question on the third dog joint, it's the Big City Dogs on Arroyo near Old Town.
WurstKuche
I've gone a few times over the last year or so. Not bad by any means, but not life fulfilling either. Think of it as a Gen-X version of Pink's only MUCH MUCH louder - and I'm taking into account the noise on La Brea.
As has been mentioned, don't go if you expect to linger - that happens while you're on line waiting to order.
Dog Haus in Pasadena
Although I'm a Slaw Dogs fan, I'll be in the area tomorrow. Open or close, I'll check it out.
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The Slaw Dogs
720 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
Nothing New on LA Hot Dog Scene?
I believe Dog House closed this past year. There's a thread somewhere here about his current whereabouts.
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The Dog House
2238 Foothill Blvd, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
TX. BBQ coming to Van Nuys:
There is a good bbq place in the area: Ranch House on Van Nuys & Calvert. Maybe not the most "authentic" in Chow terms, but it tastes like 'cue & it's still pretty darn tasty, as other reviews on the web will attest.
