What's your point, that it is ok so long as you don't get caught?

No way! Indifferent service is part of the charm. If you want to hear, "Talk to me Honey!", you will have to go to a Jewish deli. If you want to hear, "Mucho dinero", go to a Beverly Hills steak restaurant, of course then it would have to be bottled water.

The classic dish is Tlayudas, which is sometimes loosely referred to as "Mexican pizza."--it is not really. Of course, if you want it with the traditional roasted grasshoppers, I am afraid you will have to go to Oaxaca!

If you are looking for genuine Oaxaca food run by folks from that part of Mexico, try Tacos Manzano in North Hollywood. Small and not at all fancy, but absolutely authentic and delicious. Not your standard California "Mexican" stuff.

Going to be in Culver City this weekend and need a place for dinner for 4. Someplace nice--not burgers & pizza. Can be in adjacent area too.

Wow! I thought that only Langer's was untouchable on this site. Criticize its pastrami and be attacked big time by those with hurt feelings! I agree that both compliments and criticisms, even harsh ones, about restaurants are the essence of this site.

1. Langers. Peculiar pastrami.

2. Brents. Whitefish tastes like a salt mine. Mushroom barley soup tastes like canned vegetable soup. Other dishes ok, but no better than many other delis.

Kentucky Boys. Much like Apple Pan.

Kyushu Ramen on Sherman Way west of Sepulvida in Van Nuys has very decent Mabo Ramen.

Zelo's is great for the variety they offer, although my favorite is still the good old pepperoni to which they add tomatoes and onions, also chopped or sautéed garlic if you want (I get it on the side since my wife doesn't care for it). We don't live near Arcadia, so the 1/2 baked feature is very nice to give us oven fresh pizza at home. The corn meal crust is unique and excellent.

Neither of the recommendations you have gotten is what you are looking for--they are good,but very informal "stand up" eating. You would be best off at one of the many fine downtown LA restaurants which are a short drive from the Coliseum--however leave about 1 hour to get there because of traffic and parking--maybe a lot earlier because I assume a big crowd is expected. A word of caution to an out of towner--the Coliseum is not in the safest area, especially at night--spend the extra $ and park on the on site lot, not off site!

The owner of Hunan Style told me that his cousin owned Hunan Seafood.

The seasoning is throughout the meat, get ti? Just look at an appropriate picture.

I will tell you what: instead of this picture which shows a flat slice of Magee's, which is not at all Jewish corned beef, and just the edge of a Katz sandwich, go online and find pictures of a flat slice of Katz's pastrami and a flat slice of Langer's "pastrami" and you will see that other than the edge of Langer's there is no seasoning on its flat slice, but there is on Katz's. Do your own photo research. As for who is a "birther", methinks that those who elevate Langer's to an unsupported standard better fit that description.

I will repeat what I said before here despite being laughed at and trashed by the "Langer's Police" on this site---Langer's pastrami is more like corned beef. Katz, Carnegie and even other LA deli's have a more spiced/seasoned version of the meat typical of pastrami. Nothing wrong with corned beef, but it is different from pastrami.

Another old style Italian restaurant that has been around for years and in my opinion is better than Vito's (including their table side made Caesar salad which is excellent) is Guido's on Santa Monica Blvd. slightly east of Bundy.

The picture doesn't prove anything. A char can appear on a slice of prime rib, steak, etc. In my opinion, the so called pastrami at Langer's is under-spiced and closer to corned beef than pastrami, which after all is the same basic meat product, except for the spicing.

Went there a couple of days ago and had the Bazole soup. It was great! Kind of like ramen, but better than most I have had. The beef and pork carnitas were excellent in the Bazole. It is mildly spicy, but since I like very spicy they gave me some green sauce to add to it and that brought it up to my spice level. I was there for lunch. I sat at the bar, since it was very busy. Service was very prompt and attentive, so I do not agree with those who criticize service; at least, that was my experience. Of course, I am not their typical "hip" customer, being a 75 year old male, and maybe they felt sorry for me :)

I agree with you about Label's Table. As far as Langer's is concerned, what they call pastrami is really corned beef. As far as Jeff's Sausages is concerned, I went there once and thought the sausage I ordered was tasteless and the place was not clean.

Saying that the Sammy like food doesn't count is like asking whether there is anyplace like Hawaii, except that the water and weather don't count. The short answer is that there is nothing at all in the Los Angeles area that comes close to Sammy's Romanian, love it or loathe it. If all you are looking for is Klezmer music with audience participation, you can find that (you may have to bring your own vodka).

No, your best bet is to fly to Paris and choose from many excellent French restaurants of all types and prices. "California French" is a different animal. NY French is mostly overpriced and pretentious as if catering to the investment banking crowd who want to pay $1000 per meal. Las Vegas French fits right in with LA and NY.

Sorry, left out the address--172 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel--one block or so east of Del Mar.

We tried Taste of Chongquing yesterday. Had the house special fish in pepper sauce and cumin lamb. Both were very tasty--better seasoning (tantalizing!) than most we have had. The restaurant is large and clean. The service is very attentive. The woman who owns the place was helpful and friendly. If you have not been there, give it a try. We were the only non-Asians there at the time, but the entire staff speaks excellent English.

Hollywood Pies makes what I would call authentic deep dish Chicago Pizza, whereas both Maza's and Oak Fire are lousy and not even close to deep dish Chicago Pizza, despite what the call it.

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Hollywood Pies
385 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048

Art's is like a pastrami sandwich might be in Wyoming; in other words bland at best.

Very mediocre.

Believe it or not, all Ralphs stores carry Limburger cheese--I know, since I am a fan of it, although I have to treat it as I would if I smoked---never in the house and never in the vicinity of my wife. The fancier stores and cheese shops don't seem to carry it--I know, I know, that should tell me something, but I am hooked on it!

Awful, simply awful!

Their Saturday night special, the leg of pork, is one of the best meat dishes I have had anywhere!

Ate at FO (Culver City) for the first time today. The staff was very friendly. The beer was great. The olives were very good. The fries were very good. But, did not like the hamburger for one reason--the compote was too sweet and overwhelming. Much prefer the burger at Unami.