L.A. Restaurants Recommended by Readers

I haven't visited these places myself, so I can't vouch for them. But here's a list of restaurants recommended by people who visited this site.

Cafe Brasil is wonderful, I love it. There's a nice bakery/sandwich place, very reasonable, called Ble d'Or on Washington near Sepulveda. Also, don't forget Tito's Tacos on Washington Place - open till 11, and of course Johnnie's Pastrami on Sepulveda.
Thanks.
-- Liz

I'm writing to thank you. My wife and I spent 4 nights in LA last week and had the good fortune to find your restaurant lists before we left. Aside from an obligatory chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm (which was actually pretty good), we dined per Frank each of the other nights: J. R. Seafood, Uzbekistan, Soot Bull Jeep. Absolutely outstanding and great fun as well...especially Soot Bull Jeep (where we arrived late-ish and found the place completely alive with flushed and happy diners).
Many thanks and very best wishes.
--Jim

I was just wondering if you have ever visited a Peruvian restaurant called El Pollo Inka on the corner of Wilshire and Barrington. The prices are great and food is even greater. Try the lomo saltado (#5) it is really great.
This would be a great restaurant to add to your page.
--Hector

I had been thinking about going to Soot Bull Jeep based on word of mouth. Then I did a net search and came across your review, which clinched it. Good call -- that place is fantastic.
Thanks!
--Dennis

Thanks for your restaurant reviws in W. LA. Six of the places are also my favorites. I'm going to try the Korean ones now since my old favorites for BBQ became outrageously expensive ($18 for lunch!).

Maybe you'd like to try a couple of other places I really like... don't know the exact addresses because I "just go there".
* King and I (Thai) - on La Cieniga just south of Wilshire (past the Great Western Bldg), east side of the street. Different style of cooking from Emerald. I recommend the Wing of Angels (best in LA I think). Also, if you like soup noodles, ask if Jeannie is in the kitchen and if she can make them. It's not on the menu and it it great!! Tasty soup with rice noodles, bean sprouts, chopped p-nuts with chicken or pork or both. Can order 1,2 or 3 spicy...3 is a real blow away...better start with #2. Tell her Janis recommended it...about $6 for soup noodles. Free parking in back.
* Mago's Marina on Centinela, south of Washington, north of Culver. Great reasonable Japanese family style food. Wonderful tempura, best spicy tuna roll. The only sashimi they have is tuna...always good. Meals even come with ice cream for about $10-15 (combination dinners). Free parking in own lot next to a quick food stand which they also own.
Thanks for taking the time for sharing your restraunt favorites.
--Janis

I liked your restaurant site. Some input:
I lived in Westwood for five years, and I'm sorry, but Thai House is far from being the best restaurant there. I liked it, but I thought the wait staff were snooty. The garlic and pepper shrimp was great, though.
Meanwhile, BJ's pizza has opened up, and it's REALLY GOOD and not too expensive.
Are you too high brow to recommend Mongol's? I know, it's kind of gross, but sometimes it hits the spot, and for less than $7!
If you have a car, I urge you to take a drive out to Woodland Hills and try a little Argentine-Italian place called El Obelisko on Ventura west of Topanga. It's really good food, dirt cheap.
That's all! Thanks for the fun site!
--Karen

[Frank's response: I should modify my statement, and say that Thai House is the best cheap restaurant in Westwood Village. There are places with tastier food but they're expensive. Mongol's BBQ is a filthy hole, one of the few restaurants I actively warn people against even trying. Want to hear my cockroach story?]

[In Westwood] Sprazzo is my vote for the best overall. It would qualify as moderate, depending on what you order. I've eaten there a lot (every couple weeks for about 3 or 4 years) and never been disappointed. It's below Wilshire, on Westwood across from Borders. Presently, I'd have to say that the best place (re: food quality) in [Westwood] village proper (above Wilshire) is the Moustache Cafe, though it isn't cheap. First Szechuan Wok on Lindbrook is excellent Chinese food, and really cheap at lunch. Sandbags has good sandwiches but I don't think they're open for dinner (they're next to Don Antonio's).

For a long walk or quick drive: There's an authentic Philly cheesesteak bar ["Philly West"] on Westwood Blvd. just below Santa Monica that's great. It makes me forget I'm in L.A. A falafel place called Aladdin's at Olympic and Westwood is very good, even though it looks like any other neon-soaked mini-mall falafel place. More expensive is Houston's, Wilshire and Barrington, which has an industry atmosphere (not a good thing) but the food is exceptional.

For a longer drive, Pier View Cafe is on PCH way out in Malibu. It has an extensive menu and reasonable prices (moderate), especially considering the ocean front view.

Thanks again for mastering the cool site, and for letting me throw in my two cents worth.
--Karen

[Frank's response: indeed, Moustache Cafe in Westwood Village is quite delicious, nice place, but expensive. Sandbags has terrific sandwiches, but only for lunch, and they're a bit pricey by lunch standards. First Szechuan Wok is a typical Americanized Chinese restaurant, not authentic Chinese food. Philly West has decent Philly steak sandwiches, but nowhere in L.A. can you get a truly authentic steak sandwich, I've looked.]

One more suggestion: Bamboo, caribbean food, on Venice just west of Overland. DELICIOUS! Dinner for two, food only, $30.
Thanks!
--Karen

[Frank's comments: Bamboo (Caribbean) is next door to Cafe Brasil (Brazilian) and just down Venice Blvd. from Cafe Versailles (Cuban). In the mood for Caribbean? Stick your head in all three places, and pick the one you like.]

Thanks for your resturant reviews... I'll check em out.
Have you tried Ocha's Thai on Vermont between 8th and 9th? They have an excellent steam table lunch for under $4 that is very generous. The Beef Panang Curry is great. Also nice mixed veggies and other interesting items that aren't on most steam tables.
Large, pleasant place tho it gets very busy and crowded at lunch time.
--Bruce
I live in Sonoma County and work at Sonoma State University but grew up in West Hollywood. You are forgetting the best, cheapest place to eat in Los Angeles. As a native, I am offended it isn't on your list. It is El Coyote Restaurant--a Hollywood institution-on Beverly just east of Fuller. Cheap, greasy food but outrageously cheap and strong drinks. Great people watching! A little sick trivia about the place--Sharon Tate ate there the night she was killed by the Manson clan. Try it, add it to your list, and make us natives proud!!!!
Cheers,
--Crissy

[Frank's response: I have since tried El Coyote. L.A. natives go on and on about this place. I am not native so I have no emotional connection. The place is quite inexpensive. The margaritas are indeed cheap and tasty. But the food is trashy. People watching? Uh, yeah...]

There's one more restaurant you should add onto your list. It's in Beverly Hills, but you'd never know it by the prices. It's called the Garden Hideaway Room and it's in the Beverly Hills Inn at 125 S. Spalding Drive (by Wilshire and Little Santa Monica - ph 310.278.0303). The place is small, indoor seats and outside seats (by the pool). The food is great, the atmosphere is comfortable and private, the prices are great, entrees start at $7.25. They're open for lunch, happy hour and Dinner. And they're new, so no one really knows about them yet. Every person I've told about it absolutely loves it, and you should take the time to go there. A ten minute drive from Westwood, and complimentary parking.
Thanks.
--David

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