@Chowseeker1999 the problem is I’m really open. I’d love recs for some really great Mexican street food.
I’m coming from New York, so Chinese and Thai food I can generally get here. But Japanese is often pretty expensive here, so that could be good. I’m also open to whatever you guys this is great (see it’s an issue). I eat most things and am pretty adventurous.
Al Pastor Tacos: Leo’s Tacos (only in the evenings when you see the Trompo (the vertical BBQ spit) out and cooking. (During slow hours, they just cook meat on the flattop grill so it’s not as good.).
1515 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Amazing Carnitas (10 different types!): Villa Moreliana (at Grand Central Market).
317 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Creative / Gourmet (Delicious) Tacos Elevated: Guerilla Tacos Truck (varies by day see their website): www.guerrillatacos.com
The best Lamb and Goat Tacos we’ve had are in a very casual setting (think, pop-up kitchen inside of an auto shop only on Sat and Sun) which might be too hard to find, so maybe next time.
Lots of other places for great tacos in the Taco Thread:
For Japanese, you might consider:
Aburiya Raku: Our favorite Izakaya in the city. Top quality ingredients and execution, fantastic Sake list as well. So good! Pics and thoughts here.
Mori Sushi: Arguably the best Sushi in the city, ask to sit in front of Chef-Owner Maru-san for omakase and enjoy. Pics and thoughts here.
Shunji: Perhaps more variety and also quite enjoyable for Sushi, ask to sit in front of Shunji-san for a great omakase experience. Pics and thoughts.
Inaba: Affordable, excellent Tempura specialist. There is a Tempura Bar (like a Sushi Bar) and you can sit and order by the piece and they will fresh fry it for you per order! Don’t miss out on the Handmade Soba Noodles as well. Pics and thoughts.
Kagura: If you love Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlets) and Chicken Katsu (Cutlets), Kagura might be for you. Specialist in all things Katsu. Pics and thoughts.
I think you do yourself a disservice by focusing your food choices on what you cannot get back at home. Focus, instead, on what the place you are visiting does well (regardless of whether you can find the same kind of dish or cuisine back at home).
Taking your example, Chinese food is such an expansive and broad category that there are things that NYC does well, that LA does not, and vice versa. Same with Thai. The cuisine is so diverse, even before you get into the nuances between Northern and Southern Thai, that there will inevitably be dishes in LA that are not only more unique than those in NYC, but arguably worth seeking out even if the same type of dish is extant in NYC.
I’m going to agree with this. When I visit New York or San Francisco, I always eat Chinese and Italian, even though there is plenty of it here inLos Angeles.
That being said, if I was coming from a land where the Japanese food is expensive, to a land of plenty like Los Angeles, I would eat a lot of Japanese food. A lot. And Mexican food.
@ipsedixit Yeah… Not gonna lie with 2.5 days of time to spend eating in LA, I’m definitely more likely to want affordable Japanese and Mexican food than Chinese food. I’m also balancing the desires of my travel mates (thus Connie and Ted’s, Bestia). I get what you’re saying but that makes more sense for a long trip to LA from NYC rather than a quick one.
@Chowseeker1999 this is super helpful! I’m going to share with my travel mates and see what they think. Thank you!!
Get the BBQ Chicken (Gai Yang), a papaya salad, and some sticky rice to mop up the chicken juices and papaya salad juices.
If you still have it in you hit up Pollo Ala Brasa for the best Peruvian wood fire roasted chicken.
If you want a true unique LA dish hit up Dino’s and get the chicken and fries, extra sauce.
My top places for tacos?
-Guerilla Tacos
-Ricky’s Fish Tacos
-Tire Shop Taqueria
-Leo’s on the weekends only
-Tacos Quetzalcoatl
-Mariscos Jalisco
-Carnitas El Momo
Those are the specialists…
Some good generalists…
-Avenue 26
-El Chato Truck
-Since you will be in Ktown. El Flamin is a popular truck, I would stick to the fresh quesdillas/other masa stand to the side.
And then you got a lot of these nameless taco stands all over from Highland Park in the Northeast to the Westside to all over South Central. There is a few of these in KTown but the location escapes me at this time. These are usually solid. If you see a copper pot, you want that stuff in there
Yah. Sorry. You are right, not the point.
But I’m a former NY-er who has a hard time resisting the urge to point out West Coast superiority in certain areas.
Bagging on NY is not actually in our Mission Statement, per se (hahahahaha).
(Not all the vendors in that article are still there btw)
Probably some of the best quesadillas around. And hot churros from the fryer.
If you don’t like crowds it will be uncomfortable. It is a unique experience.