…to visit schools for singing daughter. Looking for delicious things that we can’t get in NYC, or that are much better in LA. Mexican and Vietnamese food, I’m lookin’ at you!
We’ll be arriving mid-afternoon Mon. 4/2. We’ll likely be staying in or around Silver Lake, if that makes a difference. On Tues we’re visiting UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music; CalArts on Weds [Santa Clarita]; Thurs is open; USC on Fri.
GF and daughter are mostly vegetarian, but will eat meat [beef and chicken] if they’re ethically raised. I’ll eat frickin’ anything delicious. I know it’s a kind of vague request, but any help would be greatly appreciated, links to other threads, etc. Also any recommendations for fun things in general.
Thanks!
Night + Market song
Broken Spanish
Ricky’s fish tacos
Guerrilla tacos (silverlake thurs 5pm - 9pm)
Destroyer
Aoc
The Getty
I got nothin. The most exciting thing to have happened in Santa Clarita was the recent opening of saddle ranch chop house and the cheesecake factory at the mall.
Kismet - California + Israeli that’s vegetable centric and with great sourcing.
UCLA or nearby
Shamshiri Grill - Persian deliciousness - Get their Stewed Lamb Shank (and they have vegetarian and vegan options as well).
Since you’re on the Westside already for UCLA, you could try some of the places @PorkyBelly listed on your Thursday section on this day, depending on when you start / finish your visit. But either way, some links:
Gjusta - Just awesome. Look at the link for lots of pics and descriptions of dishes.
Gjelina - More of a sit-down sister restaurant to Gjusta, totally different menu, great California-driven produce, farm-to-table, etc.
Disclaimer: I’m not familiar with NYC’s food landscape. To add to the above Silver Lake recommendations:
Don Yee Myanmar Corner (Burmese) http://www.dawyeesilverlake.com/
If you click “Order Delivery,” you can see the menu. They have a good amount of vegetarian offerings.
In the same strip mall is a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Cafe. There’s no sign, but look for the brightly lit windowed storefront and modern decor. Basic offerings, but vegetarian options and close to your home base. Definitely a spot for taking in the Silver Lake hipster vibe. https://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-cafe-los-angeles
Another fun hipster restaurant and bar that has a ton of vegan and vegetarian offerings is Mohawk Bend down the street (Sunset) in Echo Park. There could very well be plenty of places like this in NYC. http://mohawk.la/
Almost next door to Mohowk Bend is Elf Cafe, a more refined and intimate vegetarian restaurant. http://elfcafe.com/
For Silver Lake-adjacent Mexican food, there’s Guisados in Echo Park. They offer an array of fillings for their tacos served on handmade tortillas, including vegetarian options. https://www.yelp.com/biz/guisados-los-angeles-3
Night + Market Song
Pine & Crane
Wat Dong Moon Lek
Kismet
Places that I don’t think have any counterpart in NYC and are vegetarian-friendly:
Baco Mercat
Baroo
Broken Spanish
Odys & Penelope
Gjusta is the worst. Parking’s a pain, lines can be long, and there might be nowhere to sit. The food’s good, but the design and organization were about as customer-hostile as I’ve ever seen. As Jonathan Gold said, “Of course you hate Gjusta—everybody hates Gjusta.” And if you’re coming from New York, their smoked fish is a fucking joke.
I’d do Rustic Canyon over Gjelina for market-driven California food.
That’s south of downtown and a little bit of a schlep from Silver Lake.
I highly recommend it, but if there are events at the convention center, Staples Center, or LA Live, traffic will be bad and parking expensive or difficult. Reservations strongly recommended.
I think Holbox is a must for you. There’s nothing even sorta equivalent to it in NYC. And it’s wonderfully close to USC.
I also find the NYC Thai scene to be terribly lacking, so I’d do some of that. Night Market imo is a better version of Uncle Boon’s…
Other than that, authentic Korean seems very logical given how mediocre that little corridor in NYC is, though I’m unsure the wife and daughter will find what they need.
I live on the Westside, so for very good Oaxacan food, I recommend Monte Alban. My veggie sister likes, also. It’s not far from UCLA and they serve breakfast and are open non-stop until close at 10pm.
Also on the westside is some of the best sushi in Los Angeles!
My husband worked at UCLA for around 11 years and we used to enjoy occasional lunches in convenient Westwood at Skylight Gardens - at least one good craft beer on tap, good handrolled pastas and they would make me an off menu item - Caesar salad with deep fried squid. Their steaks and fries are good, also!
Also in Westwood in the pizza chain that can satisfy for most palates and diets, if you want something faster.
I’ve taken an Australian friend here who loved it, and my veggie sister. It’s not traditional Mexican, but it is incredible food and a great spot for lunch downtown.
I agree that the best things about LA is our ethnic cuisine, so I would seek out places that serve amazing regional cuisine.
I would make a beeline for dim sim at Longo Seafood in Rosemead. There are vegetarian options.
But either way, some links: