Buy some lychee. Peel them and eat them.

Yeah, I love Nippon Ramen.

Keep in mind it's cash only.

Thanks for the great recs. I'm headed over there in a few weeks.

I haven't been there but there's Hilo Coffee Mill in Mountain View.

I have had some good coffee at Aloha Outpost in Pahoa.

For good beans, the T Kaneshiro market in Honokaa carries some locally grown and roasted "Souza's Hamakua Anchor Brand" coffee. I love this stuff.

-----
Aloha Outpost
15-2660 Pahoa Village Rd, Pahoa, HI 96778

Koraku Ramen at the corner of Van Nuys and Ventura has good ramen. They also have stuff like meatballs, liver, and teriyaki dishes.

-----
Koraku
314 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Second on Compartes. Excellent chocolates!

There are a lot of great recommendations here. I'll add one more - Koraku Ramen at the corner of Ventura and Van Nuys (in the same hellacious parking lot as the El Torito).

I agree with Puro Sabor and Simon's. The service at Puro Sabor can be slow when they're busy so keep that in mind. I love Simon's!

-----
Puro Sabor
6366 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Custard cups!

I love that Sam Woo BBQ. It's the best Chinese in the Valley.

I think Bua Siam delivers. I've seen the employees leave with bags of food.

Cameron's Seafood in Pasadena makes a nice Crab salad.

I recommend a drive to Hilo for some good eats. For Japanese food, try Miyo's.
400 Hualani St
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-2273

Nori's Saimin and Snacks serves good Japanese and local food.
688 Kinoole St Ste 124
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 935-9133

And the seafood buffet at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel is unbeatable.

It's a drive, but try La Maria Restaurant at Victory and Clybourn for good Colombian eats.

-----
La Maria
10516 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606

Try Cafe Fiore in Ventura

Yes, I've been there several times. I like it. Good tapas and wines.

I don't think there's anything as good as DTF in the SFV but you can give the Mandarin Deli in Northridge a try. They have good noodle soups.

I ate there last week. Had the Xiao Long Bao and the Cat's Ears Noodles. Sorry to say I was disappointed by the food. Everything tasted the same and it took 45 minutes to get the food.

XLB was heavy. Cat's ears noodles were nice and light but the flavor was just not there. Also had the belt fish.

Every once in a while the Riverside Cafe on Riverside Drive in Burbank (by the LA Equestrian Center) makes it. It's an unpretentious version of the dish and is one of the best in town. If you give him a call you might be able to talk him into serving it.

1221 West Riverside Drive Burbank, CA 91506-3111 - (818) 563-3567

I've been to the Noriega. It was about 15 or 20 years ago. You sit at long communal tables and lunch is served at noon, straight up. It was delicious.

Try Ahi Sushi at Ventura and Coldwater. They have excellent sushi.

Sorry folks, I went to Marche LA for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and was disappointed. Marche is cursed with ill conceived recipes and fussy service. And IMO it was over priced. When you are served dished small plate dishes they had better be good.

I've been to the Pine Tree. It's quite good. I also go to the Evergreen (Cho Eum) in the shopping center at White Oak and Sherman Way.

I went by there about a month or two ago. They were closed there was sign on their door in regards to a liquor license violation. I can't imaging that they'd be closed for this long tho.

Simon's Cafe On Sepulveda across the street from the Whole Foods for Parisian style couscous. http://www.simonscafe.com/

Sassi Mediterranean Restaurant for Israeli food. http://www.sassirestaurant.com/sassi.htm

-----
Sassi Restaurant
15622 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436

Guantanamera (Cuban restaurant) on Burbank Blvd across the street from the Burbank Costco.

-----
Guantanamera Restaurant Inc.
916 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA

The English breakfast at the Robin Hood Pub in Van Nuys

Huevos rancheros or chilaquilles at Poco's Mexican Restaurant in Canoga Park

Breakfast burrito at the Corner Cottage in Burbank

Sal's Mexican Inn on Hwy 1 in Oxnard is a great family run old time L.A. style Mexican restaurant. IMO it is miles and miles better than Super Rica in SB.

The Bua Siam in North Hollywood serves northern Thai cuisine.

Poco's Mexican Restaurant in Canoga Park.