Over the years, I’ve spent a fair amount of time in LA, though less so recently. Here are some of the places I love to eat, organized geographically. It is incredibly incomplete.

Central

  • El Compadre is a classic California Mexican restaurant with enormous margaritas and a lot of ambiance.
  • Bhan Khanom Thai is a really great Thai dessert shop. Great mango sticky rice, but a lot more than that! It’s in Thai Town, so definitely grab a meal somewhere near by too.
  • Guelaguetza Restaurant is so cool! An enormous Oaxacan restaurant in K-Town with a huge menu, and sometimes live music.
  • Park’s BBQ is a good choice for Korean BBQ in K-Town!
  • daybird has dreamy Szechuan hot chicken sandwiches, and at the time I’m writing this they’ve got a fish sandwich on the menu, too. Maybe verify on their instagram.
  • Pine and Crane is a great counter-service Taiwanese restaurant in Silverlake on the Sunset Triangle Plaza on Sunset Boulevard. It’s wonderful to order a few small plates at the counter and enjoy them outside! Don’t sleep on the vegetable dishes. Afterward, maybe wander a few blocks over to the beautiful Intelligentsia Coffee location.
Tacos and horchata at Guisados
  • Guisados in Echo Park is one of my favorite taco spots anywhere. The name means “stews” and their stewed meats/seafoods are what they’re famous for, but everything is so good (including the Dodgers-blue horchata). It’s just a bit off the main stretch of Echo Park on Sunset Boulevard, which I love. Some of the more central restaurants I really liked have closed, but there are others I haven’t been to yet that I’ve got my eye on. Button Mash is a unique spot for food, drinks/beers, and vintage arcade games.

Downtown and East Side

  • Tacos 1986 has truly incredible Tijuana-style tacos. When I had a choice for one stop for lunch while passing through LA a couple years ago, this is what I chose.
  • Sonoratown is repping Sonora, famous for its flour tortillas and beef, both well represented on the menu. They’re also vegetarian-friendly (though that will have to be corn tortillas).
  • Grand Central Market is a lot of fun to wander around, with its dozens of food vendors. Sarita’s Pupuseria is one of my favorites. A huge food hall in a historic building, and a nice corner of old downtown to appreciate the neighborhood’s architectural beauty.
  • Tacos y Birria La Unica and Mariscos Jalisco are two amazing taco/seafood trucks on East Olympic Boulevard in East LA. Both no frills and top notch.

The Valley

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