La Taquiza + + $

Who? Jenn, Siao, Chris+Michellios, Andrew, A.Lok, Howie

Bryan's Pit Barbeque (Farmer's Market) + + + $

Who? Jarika, Howie, Andrew
Where? Farmer's Market @ The Grove

Buca di Beppo * * * * * / + + + + + $$

Who? Fabien, Siao, Andrew, A. Lok, MichelleP, Shusan, Howz, Erika, Michellios
Where? Citywalk
Who? Themos, Stayros, CostasZ
Where? Santa Monica
How much? $20
Zagat: 15, $22

This place is awesome. Everything we got was far beyond your average italian restaurant, the decorations are awesome, and also this place allows for a lot of people. I think it is better than C&O Trattoria, because it is not semi-authentic: they are a chain that kept their quality of recipes high and they admit it. The small portion of pasta challenged my capabilities, but at the end was happy:-)

Cafe Spot + + + + $

Located at Valley and 5th in Alhambra, this is now my favourite place for good cheap eats in New Chinatown. I knew it would be good when I saw the "gai dann jay" (little egg shaped pancakes) on the menu - it was just like being on the streets of Hong Kong. I had the beef brisket curry which was extremely filling and very tasty. The fried tofu appetizer was likewise excellent. Howz noodle dish was, quote, "pretty decent". The restaurant is very clean, with modern, simple decor

Who? TimShen, Siao, Howie, Jenn Jenn, Erika, Chris, Michellios, Sarah, Andrew

Pho Kym + + + $

Who? Jenn Jenn, Michellios, Howie, Andrew

Louise's Trattoria * * * * $$

Who? Demetri, Themos
Where? Studio City
How much? $17
Zagat: * * *, $23
Again, I would grade this place with 3.5 stars rather than 3. I think that was the first restaurant that I've been here that is not at ground level! The food is excellent, the service is flawless (they kept refilling our drinks automatically), and the enviroment is quiet and very relaxing, with a view at the Studio City plaza. In studio city the people were not students or youngsters: there were families, colleagues, couples. Plus a realistically cute waitress.

29th Street Cafe + + + $

Who? Ying-Hao, Andrew, Hidehisa

La Barca * * *

This is more likely a 3.5 star place, but we haven't invented decimal grades yet. And imagine that I don't really like Mexican food. The value for money ratio is excellent in this hidden small gem right on Vermont near usc. Happy hours give away drinks for $1.95, while the setting resembles nothing like what's going on outside.

Who? Themo, Sotiris, Savvy, CostasX, ...
Where? Vermont and usc

Hooters * */ + + + $

Who? Themos, Costas Z, Demetri... Andrew, Annie, Chris, Yao, Darren... Chief Steve
Where? Santa Monica
How much? $18

Themo's Take: Yeah, ok... Not impressed at all. The only reason the prices are down is that the food is fast food, so technically I wouldn't call it a restaurant. The environment was nice, the people mostly mexicans, and the waitresses just fine since Coyote Ugly in Las Vegas has set extremely high standards for my taste in "hot service".

Andrew's Take: It's a family restaurant! Good wings and beer is enough for me... They always carry the big fights so we don't have to PPV. That's all I go to Hooters for!

Pho 2000 + + + $

Who? Shusan, Jared, Howz, Andrew

Diddy Riese Cookies * * */+ + + $

Themo's Take: 3 cookies for $1. And they are heavenly good. Need I say anything else?

Andrew's Take: Nice waffle ice cream cones and awesome cookies for very cheap. But there are always, always lines... and never, never parking...

Who? Andrew, Shusan, Howie, Themo

Cuban Food + + $ $

Who? Andrew, A. Lok, Siao, Brian, Howie, Shusan

McCormick and Schmick's * * / + + + + $

Who? Don, Aly, Rajiv, Steve, Andrew, many, many times
Where? Downtown, US Bank Plaza 3rd St.
Zagat: * * *, $32

Themo's take: As downtown gets more and more popular, places like this will get more and more people there. The cheap cheeseburger is one of the best steals around.

Andrew's take: I only go there for Happy Hour (after 9 on Mon-Thu, all evening on Fri, I think). But like Themos' says: the $2 burger is the best steal around - juicy thick 1/2 pounder (or more) with fries. Also for $2: chicken drummettes (get the sauce on the side if you can't handle hotness - it's an option), quesidilla, zucchini sticks, and portabello mushroom. 1 drink mandatory ($3-5). The restaurant has a busy atmosphere but is relaxed enough for private conversation. Fantastic place to relax and unwind after a long day or a Kung Fu workout. Has large TV's for sports. Parking fully validated.

Mako + + + $

Who? Krystal, Andrew, Siao, A. Lok
Where? Silverlake close to Dresden (may be closed now [Jul 2007])

Hole in the wall with cheap Japanese food. Coolest thing is that it's BYOB!

Trattoria Farfalla + + + $$

Who? Wan, Andrew, Steve, Adam

Hortobagy * * * * */ + + + + $$

Themo's take: Hungarian restaurant with hungarian customers and hungarian dishes. I discovered that countries without access to water resources include a lot of meats at their cuisines, which made my decision of entree even harder. The dishes are traditional and the materials are first class, tasty and honest. Named after a beautiful national park of Hungary, it's an excellent choice for under $15 entrees.

Andrew's take: Yes, I enjoyed the homely nature of this restaurant.

Who? Rajay, Andrew, MichelleB, Themo
Where? Studio City

Olympians * * */ + + + $

Themo's Take: There are only a few places in the town that offer great grilled chicken, steaks, pork chops and similar stuff in huge quantities for around $10. That is because you usually pay for the environment, the service and the tips on top of the food. Figueroa and Adams, downtown.

Andrew's Take: Greasy food, so good. Get full fast. And it's at Vermont and Adams, not Fig.