Discokill's Profile
Fraiche in Culver City closing?
Do they still have that stupid "get the days password from twitter" thing? I never went purely on principle for that.
Fraiche in Culver City closing?
Yes closing. http://la.eater.com/archives/2012/04/10/confirmed_public_school_to_replace_fraiche_in_culver_city.php
Blue Bird Cafe, on National, in Culver City? What happened to it?
Lack of parking during construction, not enough of a destination to support anything more than a lunch crowd, etc (all conjecture). same went for The Point down the block
Theres a sign on it saying a new cafe is opening in May. No idea if totally new ownership or not.
Straight dish on the food truck scene?
I think there was a general excitement at the handful of trucks that were doing something new and unique that has given way to the rough equivalent of your mall food court - there may be a very good option, there's likely a few decent options but there's a whole lotta bad choices.
My personal feeling is that food trucks make a good option for lunch when they are close by or late night but there's nothing that they offer that you couldn't get better at a brick and mortar location (unless you try some of the great old school mexican ones).
That said, they tend to congregate in the same places so if you let us know where you'll be I'm sure people on this board can direct you to some places to try. Also check out these previous conversations on the topic:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/790749
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/782930
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/693099
FOODIE'S 30th Birthday Dinner Suggestions, PLEASE!
Delightful meal and attentive service. To each their own I guess.
Short Order, Long Price
My $0.02 - I went the other day to try it out. Probably ordered too much for one - Burger, Spuds, Dipping Sauce, no drink - bill came out to $20, I was shocked. Was it my fault for not paying attention to the price? Yes. Was the meal good and probably worth that or within market value given quality/location/etc? Yes. Will I think twice before going to get a $20 meal there in the future? Yes as well.
Its the problem with upscaling any downscale food. I'd never compare a Cut steak to a Sizzler one but you better make a damn good $3 taco if I'm going to pick it over the ones the truck on my corner makes for $1, I'm perfectly happy with those.
Any MEZCAL LOVERS? Where can I find good Mezcal in L.A.?
I sure hope the OP found it in the last 5 years
First time in LA- List in post: Which restaurants would you recommend?
Just chiming in to say that while a couple of people have mentioned it on the side, no one seems to highlight that the list is missing the thing LA does best - Mexican.
A couple of near Culver City picks I'd recommend. Much more chowish folks than me can chime in with others:
- Mariscos Chente is a major Chowhound fave and a quick drive from Culver. Check the 100+ or so posts on it but make sure you hit the right one. Westsidegal will be chiming in to point out the right one in about 5,4,3,2....
- I love Taco's Leo for late night eats. It's a truck on the corner of La Brea and Venice, there about 8pm on on Fri, Sat and Sun.
- Loteria at the Farmer's Market is a good standby as well.
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Mariscos Chente
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
??? regarding La Descarga - good for groups?
Went to a birthday party there. No food that I remember. Good cocktails but much more of a have a booth in a loud, crowded bar type vibe. Plus expensive bottle service required for the booth so cocktails were above and beyond that. Group size would depend on number of booths you'd reserve. I'd estimate about 6-8 per booth but you'd need to make reservations so I'd ask them.
baby friendly places in LA?
Yeah same here, I try to do outside and have never had a problem. Of all the places I've dragged my 2 yr old to, A-frame has honestly been the easiest, the staff there is so ridiculously kid friendly I've contemplated asking them to babysit.
Kabab Grill in Palms?
I went once when it first opened and had an unremarkable kebab. Figured that was a safe bet given the name. Looking at the article though, it appears I ordered wrong. I do remember it having really great pita bread though.
Tiato - Market Garden Cafe in Santa Monica
I've done it for lunch a few times. The garden is great and a nice way to sneak a long lunch break from work. The food is fairly average. I think I've mainly done the villager's favorite (or something like that) and its one of those, didn't love it, didn't hate it kind of places. If you're looking for authentic or particularly flavorful Vietnamese, this isn't it but if you need a good, easy lunch option this works.
Vegetarian Buffalo Wings
You are my hero. I now never have to put up with newsroom again.
West Coast Bias (WCB)
Blah, overpriced, awful service, just a bunch of hipsters with expense accounts. I prefer the California rolls at Ralphs.
(just to be safe, that was a joke)
My favorite nachos in Los Angeles are at (wait for it) ... Tinga! And yours?
Yeah, was gonna reply Loteria but Servorg beat me to it so seconded.
Taste of the Nation LA
Posted this in an older thread but never got a response. Can anyone comment on what the VIP tickets get you and if it's worth it (extra $50 each)? Trying to decide which tickets to get.
Where is the center of the LA food universe?
I've always held that the stretch of Venice a few blocks east and west of Best Buy is the best above average, ethnic variety of locations for food in the city. Not one name chef or fancy restaurant but a chow hound could walk that stretch blindfolded and do pretty well.
Classic Car & Food Truck Fest Sunday: Rundown On These Trucks?
Go to Mercedes Benz, Ludo is also worth trying if you haven't.
best al pastor tacos on the west side?
No, but was there last Sat and the guy manning the grill definitely had some skills.
best al pastor tacos on the west side?
Tacos Leo - in the gas station on the corner of La Brean and Venice is the best/closest to west side you'll get. Note the spit is only out weekends after 8pm I believe.
Food Truck Frenzy...No More?...
I'm at the same corner for work. Probably Bollywood Bites. Dosa hasn't come by in months until they showed up this week, India Jones also hasn't been in forever and No Tomatoes practically lives there so you would have seen it again. Personally I'm an India Jones fan of the bunch.
On the food truck topic I think of it this way: There's a chinese restaurant near my house that I order in from at least once a month. Do you think it's any good? No. Would I recommend it on Chowhound? I'm not sure I'd recommend it to my next door neighbor. But every now and then, when I'm driving home from work, I have a desire to quickly pick up some Moo Shu, and this place is easy and mostly edible. The whole food truck thing is great in that when I don't have time to get in my car or bring my own lunch instead of having a couple of options nearby, I now have three times as many. I've tried a whole lot of them, some I'd go out of my way for, some I enjoy having around my office but thats it and some I'll never try again. At the end of the day, at least I've gotten to try lots of new things for relatively cheap.
Downtown Culver City Recommendation
Alibi room just a bar that serves Kogi tacos. W&C is a great suggestion but note it's a few miles from downtown, over near Costco. A frame would be a very long wait for a large group.
Weird Akasha hasn't been mentioned once. I would go there personally.
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Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Downtown Culver City Recommendation
New place is MOKO (MOdern KOrean). Think it's basically the same place, same owners just more focus on the small plates. Menu looked good but I think it offically opens this week.
Swanky b'day dinner spot needed: a vegetarian, a pescetarian, and a gaggle of meat-eaters....
I've had the same search a lot (carnivore married to pescetarian). We've done Drago a couple of times and think it's a great choice. Top quality food, nice space and excellent cocktails. Mozza is also our go-to for that kind of dinner. Tavern is another option to look at as well.
Some other ideas that are on my list of must trys for the future (note I haven't done these so can't vouch - I just keep a list for future birthday dinners): Josie, Fig, Tasting Kitchen, Gjelina, Hatfields, Eva.
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Drago Restaurant
2628 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Saturday night Food Trucks
El Chato is a good call, also hit Leo for the Al Pastor a few blocks south at La Brea and Venice.
Heading west you start going more fancy truck than classic truck, if that's what you're looking for then Saturday night you're likely to find a few on Sawtelle and also at the Brig on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Best bet would be hit http://www.foodtrucksmap.com/la/ and hit the "coming soon" option before you start the night.
Probably a lot better options in the more traditional vein if you go East (like Mexicali already mentioned) but I'll let someone more knowledgeable than me chime in there.
Taste of the Nation LA
Just to completely resurrect an old post. Can anyone comment on what the VIP tickets get you and if it's worth it (extra $50 each)? Trying to decide which tickets to get for 2011.
baby friendly places in LA?
For what it's worth, if you can get in the habit of dining at 5-7 you'll find an entire world of parents eating at nice restaurants with kids in tow. I think I saw more strollers at Izakaya at Kaysu-ya than I've seen anywhere else.
Personally, I've done Akasha, A-Frame, Fraiche and Waterloo & City many times with child in tow (three guesses where I live). Hungry Cat seems like a fine one to me, I've also heard Rustic Canyon is kid-friendly though haven't done it with child personally.
Honestly in all of my dragging child out to eat I've never had an issue. Just be aware of your fellow diners, make honest assesments of what you think is appropriate or not, be prepared to chomp down the rest of your dinner and leave quickly if needed and go early and grab a corner/patio table. And when all else fails, a couple of episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba on the iPhone works wonders for me.
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The Hungry Cat
1535 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Akasha
9543 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Izakaya
8420 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Fraiche
9411 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
A-Frame
12565 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Seafood on the Westside
Servorg beat me to it, so seconded on the options. I vote BP personally.
Food on the move
Your list is pretty much mine as with two exceptions:
1. I wouldn't go anywhere near the south Philly exp if you were from Philly unless you were homesick.
2. LA truck culture begins and will end with good old Mexican tacos. A lot of great options there so it would be more dependent on your current location than specific truck. Personally I'm a Rickys Fish, El chato, Leo's guy but i don't make it very east much these days.
