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Los Angeles Travel Guide. Los Angeles, CA.

Travel to Los Angeles Los Angeles Vacations
Los Angeles Hotels

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LOS ANGELES, CA Previous Page Next Page
   Restaurants
There are literally thousands of restaurants in Los Angeles and compared to some large cities, the food here is generally of a pretty good standard. The one thing about restaurants in relation to hotel rooms, is that you can have a top dining experience for much cheaper than a top hotel stay. Pick any type of food you can think of. Los Angeles will have it. Any type of food. Chances are you will find a number of restaurants serving that type of food. Then, the only question is which one to go to. The following are only a small selection of restaurants that Dave has eaten at in the Los Angeles area. He will continue to explore the culinary treasures of Los Angeles' restaurants and will update this page as time permits. Restaurants are alphabetized by name - because Los Angeles is so big, these restaurants may be up to an hour from each other in any direction. Consult Google maps for directions. http://maps.google.com

If you have never eaten at a high-end restaurant before, I highly recommend splurging and trying either the Belvedere or Spago (both in Beverly Hills) as listed below.

We like to list good restaurants here (ranging from cheap to expensive) - if you have your own suggestion for your favorite LA area restaurant, please email dave@pon.net & reference this page in your email.
 
Beverly Hills Hollywood Los Angeles
Orange County Santa Monica Other

Beverly Hills
The Belvedere is one of the top restaurants in Los Angeles and is located in the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. This hotel/restaurant is located near at the sharp intersection where Santa Monica Blvd meets Wilshire at 9882 South Santa Monica Boulevard.

As with all the other fine International Peninsula hotels you will be treated in style. You will pull up in the parking circle in front of the hotel and a well-dressed valet parking attendant will take your car for you.

Consider a drink at the bar before your meal. While the bar drinks are extremely pricey the food is only very pricey; however for this type of quality of food and atmosphere, the price is really quite reasonable. Formal attire required although when Dave was eating there several staff members of a former US President were there on vacation; they were dressed in shorts and jeans at dinner. Dave highly recommends the lobster for dinner. Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Tea and dinner menus are available on their website here: http://beverlyhills.peninsula.com/pbh/dining_01.html

The kosher Milky Way Restaurant is located at 9108 W. Pico Blvd almost on the corner. (Cross street is Doheny Dr.) This restaurant has been here for many years and is owned by Steven Spielberg's mom, Leah Adler. She is in her mid 80's and has been working at this restaurant for a long time. She is the main hostess and is often here. She runs to answer the phone when it rings and makes sure everything is going well during your meal. She may even come to your booth and sit down with you for a few minutes. She is very proud of her son, as she has every right to be - his movie posters grace the hallways in the back of the restaurant on the way to the restroom. Dining is to the right of where you walk in - nice maroon leather lounges are available for each dining party. Many little old ladies were dining at this restaurant when author visited. PHONE NUMBER (310) 859-0004

Spago, of Beverly Hills
is located at 176 N. Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, just up from Rodeo Drive. What can you say about Spago except it is a unique and exceptional dining experience. The Spago name has been made famous by its founder, celebrated chef Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang's restaurants are frequented by many well-known celebrities, politicians including US presidents and other well to-doers. This restaurant is Wolfgang's flagship restaurant. The service is impeccable here and the food excellent. Excellent lunch salads, the main lunch courses tend to be pricey. The hostess will be standing on your left as you enter the restaurant. Valet parking is available - as well dressed valets will be hovering around the front of this restaurant (which makes it easy to spot this restaurant). If you don't mind walking a few blocks I recommend parking in one of the nearby neighborhoods located behind the Spago restaurant.

For menus, pricing, reservations & more for Spago of Beverly Hills, visit: www.wolfgangpuck.com/rest/fine/spago/bh/index.php or call PHONE (310) 385-0880

The W Hotel is located in Westwood near UCLA. Breakfast is served at "The Cafe" in the morning. This is a very eclectically decorated hotel and restaurant. Very modern & chic. It is located almost directly across from the Hilgard House Hotel at 930 Hilgard Ave - just down the street from one of the entrances to UCLA. When Dave ate here he ran into a well known classical pianist. As the saying goes in Los Angeles, you never know who you will run into! This is a member of the Starwood Hotels - Direct link & more information here: www.starwoodhotels.com


Hollywood
The Palms Thai Restaurant without a doubt is one of the top Thai restaurants in the entire state of California. This is a bold statement, but I feel qualified to say this after having eaten at at least a hundred Thai restaurants in Thailand, many Thai restaurants in other countries around the world, and over 50 Thai restaurants in the state of California alone.

  The food here for both lunch and dinner is very reasonably priced, i.e., its not going to cost you an arm and a leg!

There is a certain subset of Thai food that has been terribly altered to the "American taste"... much less spicy, quite sweet and really not tasting like authentic Thai food at all. There is a proliferation of Thai restaurants like these in the USA and in California. Some dishes that Dave has personally tried and recommends at The Palms Thai are: Morning Glory - well prepared and

quite tasty - this is a vegetable dish, a bit spicy but not too bad, the Thai BBQ, not spicy at all, Crying Tiger (delicious BBQ beef with dipping sauce) & Tom Yum Tale - the Seafood Soup.

Unlike many Thai USA restaurants, yes they actually fill up the soup bowl with seafood. In addition the Mussel With Chili And Holy Basil Leaves are very good as well as the spicy raw shrimp (Kung Chea Nam Pla) covered with garlic & other toppings - this dish is **extremely** spicy even for most Thai people but you can request different levels of spiciness!

Besides the food and people watching, (one of the hostesses is an actress who is rather well known in Thailand), the Thai Elvis performs in the evenings Thursday through Sunday. When he is not performing there is a large metal statue of him standing near the stage. Good photo op there.

Location: This restaurant is located at 5900 Hollywood Blvd. Phone Number (323) 462-5073 - if you are driving in from the 101 freeway, you get off at Hollywood Blvd and be sure to stay on the West side of Hollywood Blvd. The Palms is just a block West of the 101, on the south side of the street. Parking is along Hollywood Blvd, or better yet, in the back of the restaurant towards Sunset Ave as there is a parking lot guard always on duty. The Red Line Metro has a stop on the East side of the 101 along Hollywood Blvd - its about 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk from this metro stop to the Palms. For more information, visit their Website which includes all menus at www.palmsthai.com

Los
Angeles
AOC Wine Bar is located at 8022 West Third Ave in Los Angeles and is an extremely popular dining stop. Upstairs and downstairs dining is available. Parking on the city streets near this restaurant is a nightmare as almost all the parking is homeowner permit based with the exception of a few streets right next to 3rd Street. However AOC has valet parking and this is the smartest way to go! Seating can be very intimate as you maybe perched next to other patrons. The food here is served as Tapas, or small plates only. You order a few small plates which are shared among your group. On a recent visit we ordered 6 of these small plates for two people (the waiter will tell you 2 to 2.5 plates is enough for most people and that is true). These small plates are extremely rich and will fill you up quickly. Our recommendation for something tasty yet out of the ordinary are their bacon wrapped cheese dates. The salads are quite nice and not as rich as some of the other dishes. Phone: (323) 653-6359. Visit: www.aocwinebar.com

Don Felix - specializes in Peruvian and seafood cuisine. Corner location with valet parking, 4435 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles. Great selection of entrees - beef, poultry, fish, shrimp and spaghetti. Also a separate section of the menu offering "hot" dishes. Nice Leche Asada for dessert. (323) 669-7575

Orange County
Huong Giang Restaurant
is located in the heart of Orange County's "Little Saigon" at 14564 Brookhurst Street just up from Bolsa Ave in the town of Garden Grove/Westmister. This restaurant is in a one-story Vietnamese shopping mall on the east side of the street. This restaurant is very typical of the rice and noodle shops throughout Little Saigon. Most of the menu is in Vietnamese and the food is excellent and extremely cheap. Be sure to try the Soup labeled as "Number 1". For more information call: (714) 531-2464

Next time you are in Southern Orange County, CA be sure to stop in for some excellent Sushi at Kotobuki located at 24351 Avenida De La Carlota in a shopping center in Laguna Hills. The "Sushi Master Chef Hiro" will probably tell you that his food is "awesome" - his praise of his own cooking isn't really needed. The food is awesome! While your eating, Hiro may even offer to entertain you with some of his "humorous" toys or he may even sing a solo!! For more information please call PHONE NUMBER (949) 587-0290

Pho 79 is a good little authentic Vietnamese noodle shop located on the first floor of the Asian Gardens Mall (9200 Bolsa Ave #117). They five locations scattered around the greater LA area. Pho 79 has an excellent beef Pho which we have tried. They are open 7 days a week from 8 to 8. Phone: (714) 893-1883

Also check out the Little Saigon Cookbook which describes Vietnamese cuisine and culture in the Little Saigon area of Orange County: www.littlesaigoncookbook.com

If you are ever on Balboa Island in California be sure to stop by Wilma's Patio for casual family dining. They are family owned and operated. They are located at 203 Marine Ave, in Balboa - Phone: 949.675.5542. Be sure to try their delicious breakfasts - this is probably their most popular meal. I highly recommend sampling their excellent Crabby Benedict located under their "Benedict Gallery" on their breakfast menu. Their main dinner salads are worth trying. Visit their Web Site at: www.wilmaspatio.com

Santa Monica
Broadway Deli is located at 1457 3rd St Promenade. We ate here but cannot really recommend this restaurant. The service was slow (apparently they have high turnover of waiters) and the prices were a bit high for the quality of food which was just average. They have a large spacious interior with a nice bar. This restaurant seems a little bit touristy and the food suffers as a result. However, they have a great location right on 3rd Street corner in the middle of the Promenade. Phone (310) 451-0616.

For an interesting and expensive dining experience regardless of whether you are Vegetarian or not, visit Juliano's Raw Planet Restaurant located at 609 Broadway in Santa Monica. You won't find dishes like these in most restaurants - all food is completely served raw and the owner Juliano has not eaten cooked food since he was 19. His restaurant is often visited by major Hollywood Stars looking for a different kind of diet. Some good salads, very interesting drinks and unique appetizers. Indoor and outdoor dining - service was very slow when we ate here. Visit: www.planetraw.com or Phone (310) 587-1552.

Other 
Bangkok Blue
is located in La Verne in the La Verne Shopping center at 2300-B Foothill Blvd off of the 210 Freeway. Great Thai food. Also check out their "celebrity photos" and their own photo gallery. Restaurant is owned by famed concert promoter Blue Johnson (who also happens to be a Jazz musician), his wife Joyce and their son. Phone: (909) 392-3235. Visit: www.bangkokblue.com

Hill Street Cafe is located in La Canada Flintridge right off the 210 Freeway at 1004 Foothill Blvd where Highway 2 makes a T by running into Foothill Blvd. This is as old fashioned traditional as you will find for American breakfast and lunch. The menu is large and so are the portions! On a recent weekday around 130pm this cafe was packed with people. We ordered the Greek Salad with chicken as an extra; it is huge as was the omelet also ordered from our party. Phone: (818) 952-1019

Park Pantry was founded in 1959 and is located in Long Beach on 2104 East Broadway (corner location). This is as an American breakfast as you will find - a throw back to the "old days". Breakfast is served all day and includes a variety of entree choices included the nice Eggs Benedict as well as some nice omelets (our recommendation is the El Gringo Omelet) which includes their special sauce. Additionally pick from a variety of Burgers, Sandwiches and general entrees. They are clear about not having cell phones turned on in the restaurant - so if you have a mobile, put it on vibrate and dash outside to take that important call. Visit: www.parkpantry.com


For reference, the following are celebrity owned restaurants in the Los Angeles area. You can look these up on the Internet in Google (www.google.com) for more information. We will try to sample a few of these during upcoming trips and will write reviews here.

Dolce  |  The Continental  |  The Clubhouse  |  Madre's  |  The House of Blues  |  AGO
Mulberry Street Pizza - the actress owner actually works in the kitchen at times!
Twin Palms  |  Hamptons  |  Maple Drive  |  The Viper Room  |  Schatzi on Main  | Blowfish Sushi
Ciudad  | Cut, Beverly Wilshire Hotel  |  Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante  |  Madre's  |  Patina

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 Last Updated:  07/22/08 12:39:16

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