East Yakatori + + + $

Who? Don, Aly, Rajiv, Andrew
Where? First and Alameda

Cozy and dimly lit, traditional feel. Good sushi and presentation.

Curry House + + + $

Who? Amy, Fesh, Deb, Andrew
Where? 2nd and Los Angeles

Very nice, savoury and filling Japanese Curry on the outskirts of J-town. Affordable.

Sushi Go 55 + + + + $

Who? Andrew, Sushu, Howsah
Where? 3rd and Alameda

Fantastic sushi, difficult to find but worth the effort. Prompt, fast service - perfect if you're in a rush to the Disney Hall.

Crown City Brewery + + + + $

Who? Andrew and Steve
Where? Pas

Best sports pub I've been to in L.A. Roomy, great pub grub and an excellent place to drink away the pain of a Rose Bowl loss.

All India Cafe * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Melania
Where? Pasadena
How much? $27
Zagat: 22, $21

Although small and not very eye-catching, this little restaurant in downtown Pasadena (which reminds me of East India Grill) offers excellent food at great prices. The meats are of very good quality and the dishes a touch on the spicy side. The rice is good and the entrees are unique and original. We went for lunch on a Saturday and it doesn't seem to get very crowded, so it looks like a good option.

BJ's Restaurant/Brewery * * / + + + + $$

Where? Westwood Village
Who? CASA
How much? $22
Zagat: 17, $19

Andrew's take: Pizza, pizza, pizza! Thick succulent Chicago style deep-dish slices fill you up quickly. The "Great White" was fantastic. The "Buffalo Chicken" was likewise enjoyable, but somehow there was too much spicy meat adorning the pizza (this was the pizza I really wanted to try when I first walked in). Excellent homebrew beers really complement the pizza - the Pale Ale was refreshing and went down easily. Spinach and Artichoke dip was good. Of course, get the Pizookie. I know it's a crime to say this, but the best brownie-type dessert comes from Yard House, a la mode. Sorry! Parking sucks in Westwood but either you know the "secret location" or you park in the structure opposite the theater. Thumbs up.


Themos's take: They call it Deep dish pizza but it's really not. An original deep dish pizza (which can be seen here) would have more ingredients, not more bread in the third dimension! It was tasty and fresh but I would still rank Village Pizzeria as #1 in LA. The good thing is they are always crowded and they are open relatively late , offering a large selection of items for every stomach. I would definitely reccomended if you are around Westwood, but don't travel from the other side of the town just for the food!

Daikokuya + + + + $

Who? Joyce, Eric, Caroline, Andrew
Where? J-Town

Japanese ramen in minute, steamy quarters - authentic, as far as I can tell - cheap, good and always packed.

New Capital + + + + + $

Who? Fesh, Howie, Andrew, Vivian
Where? Rowland Heights, exit Fullerton

Best dim sum around. $1.98 per plate, $0.80 seating charge. $1.68 off peak. So cheap and damn good. Excellent view of the mountains. Definitely worth the 35 minute drive.

Savoy + + + $

Who? Howie, Andrew, Mengning
Where? Atlantic and Valley

Quaint small space with good homely Chinese food.

ZipFusion + + + + $

Who? Fesh, Shushu, Howie, Andrew
Where? 3rd and Alameda

Very nice grotto. Beautiful artistic presentation of food that tastes equal to its appearance. True fusion. Small portions.

Sohoju + + $

Who? CASA

Decent Japanese food in a modern looking locale. Nothing special.

Bandar * * * * $$$$

Who? Themos, Dora, Stavros, Rania
Where? Downtown San Diego
How much? $42
Zagat: -

San Diego boasts dozens of restaurants in the downtown area, with people actually going there when it gets dark rather than leaving! Bandar is a Persian gem with emphasis on quality and quantity food. We had beef, chicken and lamb kebab and they were all taste-perfect. Then include the street-seating and the excellent appetizers and you have a recipe for success. The important thing is that we padi $40 and we would pay it again for this food.

Ciao Trattoria + + + + $ $

Who? Steier Group
Where? Fig and 7th

Light, refreshing Italian food in the heart of downtown. Nice, high interiors.

Taverna Tony * * * * $$$$

Who? Themos, Stavros, Fotini, Lestas, ...
Where? Malibu
How much? $45
Zagat: 22, $35

Yes! A supreme greek restaurant with supreme greek food and supreme crowds (and that is a comment from a greek, remember). It is noisy (as it should be) yet a bit upscale. Celebrities choose it almost daily ( we saw Jessica Alba eating quietly in a dark corner). It is kind of expensive but hey, as in most cases, what you pay is what you get. Have fun!

Santorini Cafe * * * $$$

Who? Georgia's birthday group
Where? Pasadena
How much? $35
Zagat: 22, $30

The restaurant is convienently close to Old Town. It has tables both inside as well as at the roof (remember: very few restaurants in LA are not only in the ground floor...). They serve excellent meats, the tenderloin was magnificently cooked to perfection. The service was crap, but that is not the case usually. Everyone left with a full stomach!

The Gumbo Pot + + $

Who? Andrew and Louise
Where? Farmer's Market (Grove)

Southern style fare, not a fan of the gumbo, but very cheap.

Azeen's Afghani Restaurant + + + + $ $

Who? Andrew and Joyce
Where? Union and Raymond, Pas

Very quiet, high-ceilinged, middle-eastern restaurant hidden in Old Town Pas. Aushak appetizer is excellent and tastes like a yoghurty version of ravioli (I really like leeks for some reason). Combination kebab is barbecued perfectly and is very tasty served with Pallaw rice. The Sabsi Challaw is fantastic and reminds me of Saag Lamb in an Indian restaurant. Thumbs up. Service is sometimes unattentive. Park in lot between Holly and Union on Raymond. Gelato in Tutti Gelati (Old Town Square) afterwards - perfect cap, hazlenut chocolate.

Soot Bull Jeep + + + $ $

Who? Don, Aly, Vanessa, Rajiv, Zvi, Jason, Andrew, Nate
Where? 8th and Catalina

Great tasting Korean BBQ cooked not with gas but with charcoal. As a result, the heat is crazy (especially on a 100°F day) and the clothes that you wear will smell of smoke pretty much forever. The beef, chicken and shrimp are very tasty and of great quality. I definitely believe BBQ tastes better through the use of coals. For some reason, the watery Hite beer washes everything down perfectly. Side platters are decent. The place is a bit too dark and a bit too cramped for my liking. Parking in a lot next to the restaurant, else fight for street parking.

Raffi's Place + + + + $$

Who? IFG (Nate, Svi, Rajiv, Don, Aly, Andrew)
Where? Broadway and Brand, Glendale

Nestled in the heart of Glendale, this Armenian restaurant is a real middle-eastern gem. Dining is possible outside in the beautiful courtyard or inside the plain-walled restaurant. The portions are very large and extremely good. I love the plain style of the food, the lightly spiced ground beef, and the juicy kebab pieces. The vegetables are blackened on the outside but tasty. Tabouli is good. Park on adjoining streets. Decent service. Beautiful area to take a post-dinner stroll. Thumbs up.

Shau May + + + $

Who? Krystal and Andrew
Where? Garfield just north of Garvey

Hands down the cheapeast boba place I've ever been to. For $10, you can get two gigantic boba milk teas, a hot tapioca milk pudding (needs 4 people to finish) and a gigantic shaved ice with condensed milk and four "items". The taro is excellent and just the right sweetness. The white looking stuff that looked like coconut was actually almond. Longan was OK. Place is pretty busy and filled with a non-homogenous crowd. Again, feels very traditional (Taiwanese). Watch out for crazy old men who don't get their order and then push you out of the way to start a big argument with the servers.

Dragon Mark + + + $

Who? Krystal and Andrew
Where? Valley, between New and Del Mar

Lots and lots of food for very cheap. "Five fragrances Beef" is a nice snack side dish. Beef Stew noodle is decent but for some reason left a strange aftertaste. Dumplings, pan fried and steamed, are very filling and tasty. When mixing your dipping sauce, be careful to differentiate the dark vinegar from the soy sauce. The best part was easily the vegetables (bor choi) - very fresh and prepared in light garlic sauce. Be prepared to speak lots of mandarin or go hungry. Dining enviroment reminds me of a true Chinese dumpling house.

Bistango + + $

Who? Steve and Andrew
Where? Vermont and 29th

Cheap, good Italian food. Bread is decent, average portions. Cozy dining environment complete with a 42" plasma for sports. Penne Pollo is quite driedtomatoey and filling. A welcome changeup from Pasta Roma.

Manas + + + + $

Who? Howie, Andrew
Where? Vermont and 29th

This is now my favourite place that's closeby USC for a cheap tasty meal. I had to admit to being a bit skeptical of an Indian restaurant serving only a vegetarian menu. But I was not disappointed. The side sauces are excellent - mint, pickled and sweet. The "fried spinach and onion" starter was decent but nothing special. The "paper thin potato" was the biggest thing I've ever seen served at a restuarant - it was seriously two feet long - but tasted very good. The "cottage cheese in cashew/tomato sauce" I had was very fragrant and wonderful on rice. Sweet lassi is thick and youghurty. If anyone knows the Indian words for these dishes, please offer them up. The dining environment is comfortable and simple. And the service is pleasant but sometimes confused.

Opus Bar and Grill + + + + $$$

Who? Debbie, Jenn Jenn, Howie, VDam and a lot of Debbie's friends
Where? Vermont and Willshire

I didn't eat at this place but heard that the rack of lamb is very good. This evaluation is for the restaurant ambience and the bar - which is extremely upscale. Dimmed lights provide romantic setting and there are even some tables with gigantic plush chairs for couples. The bar is expensive ($9 mixed), as is the food. The restaurant was sparsely populated. Street parking is hard to find, valet available.

California Chicken Cafe + + + $

Who? Howie, Jared, Andrew (Jenn Jenn, VDam and Debbie - whoops!)
Where? Multiple, 1)Westwood Blvd between Olympic and Santa Monica

A nice place to grab some fast rotisserie Chicken that reminds me a lot of Swiss Chalet. I enjoyed the steamed butternut squash and the spinach and feta cheese pasta salad very much. The chicken was tasty but a touch dry. All in all, everything was pretty healthy and left me quite pleased. Simple, "food court" dining ambience. Located very close to the movie theater in Century City.

DiVino + + + + $$

Who? Siao, Tim, Allan, Kristy, Kenny, Marc, Andrew, Jo, Jenn x2, Nam, Howie, Sushu
Where? Brentwood, Barrington Court

Really nice looking Italian restaurant, romantic ambience and with high ceilings. Excellent wine selection - the Ripassa Valpolicella 2003 was recommended and it didn't disappoint. Bread is average. The little cheese ball appetizer was nice. Very well run establishment - waters topped off, wine glasses filled, meals all arrive at the same time. I had the gnocchi with chicken ragu which was extrememely good. Portions are a bit on the smaller side but ample. Reservations required.

Pasta Roma ** / + + $

Who? All kinds of USC people, mostly Steve and Andrew
Where? Fig and 30

Cheap food for USC students! Show your USC card and get 20%(?) off your entree. Portions are a great size and quite tasty (except the Ravioli which is small, and you only get two (2) meatballs with the spaghetti and meatballs). Throw on some chilli flakes and some grated Parmesan and eat to your heart's content! Add to your meal an unlimited supply of garlic rolls and olive oil/balsamic vinegar. And you can understand why Pasta Roma is now officially the dining location of choice for the "Andrew and Steve Workout Team". The "best" cheap place around USC.

Palms Thai + + + $

Who? Don, Aly, Vanessa, Rajiv, Andrew
Where? Hollywood and the 101

New location looks very good. They still have the Thai Elvis who croons through many a song as you eat the delicious food here. The restaurant is very busy and you may have to wait. Wonton wrappers are tasty, coconut soup is mild and is more sour than spicy. I do not recommend the beef with vegetables - the beef is dry and tasteless. The Penang Chicken curry is not that spicy and quite good when doused into the rice. The fish with mango sauce is pretty decent also. Order a round of Thai coffees and you're set! Parking is valet and is $2.75.

City Thai + + + + $

Who? UofT people, Andrew, Joyce, Steve
Where? Pasadena, Fair Oaks just south of Colorado

Excellent Thai food in a nice dining environment.

Fred's Burgers + + $

Where? La Jolla Beach, San Diego
Who? Han Soon, Tim, Shane, Andrew

Very good burger + fries combo for cheap. Small place.

PB Bar and Grill + + $

Where? Pacific Beach, San Diego
Who? Tim, Shane, Andrew

Ultra cheap beers ($2?), cheap bar food (wings are great, nachos are good) and plenty of eye candy. Good place to watch the game and throw one back. Extremely loud and busy - a typical college hangout. Bartenders are really fast and polite.

Island's Burgers * * / + + $

Where? Long Beach Village
Who? CLEO people, still

Pretty good burger chain. I like the Hula - sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, swiss - and add bacon. Onion rings need to be split between a few people - and the Ranch dressing is good. Decor is very... festive.

Tokyo Wako + $ $

Where? Shoreline Village, Long Beach
Who? Chris V, Shane, Iannick, Deba, Haibin

Unattentive service and overpriced. I had the sashimi bowl, which was not too bad. But everyone else had complaints about the temperature of the food, its order of arrival, and the plain manner in which it was prepared. Thumbs down. But location is nice.

Yard House (II) + + + $ $

Where? Shoreline Village, Long Beach
Who? Various unnamed drunk people, Chris V, Shane, Andrew, Yannick

The location of this Yard House is somewhat nicer than the Pasadena one since it is on the water but the interior is not as inviting. Nacho platter is very good and feeds many. Well known claim to fame is the bevy of beers on tap. Hence, a good place to throw one back but not really to "dine".

GameWorks + + + $

Where? Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Who? Andrew, Chris V, Shane, Haibin, various University of Southampton people aka. the Newport Researcher Party

Lots of arcade games + restaurant/bar = fun place for a really nerdy date. Or as the case is, a really nerdy "party" of optical engineers from the Conference on Lasers and Electro-optics. Shoot-em ups, beat em-ups, drive em ups - whatever your fancy, they got it. Props to Newport for throwing this annual party featuring free food and drinks. Wings are pretty decent and were the only food I really ate. They are even better served with the many beers on tap. Find the bartender named Fabby, she was awesome and took care of us all night - extra + for her.

A Taste of Japan + + + + $$

Where? Markham, Woodbine and Esna Park, Ontario, Canada (I know, it's not in L.A.)
Who? Andrew and Brian and Yuh Mey's Wedding Party and Family

Convenient parking. Fun atmosphere due to the Teppan chefs who are a little eclectic and don't speak English too well. Salmon and Strip Loin (Dinner D) off the grill is top notch especially when washed down with some sake. There is more than ample food for $21.95CDN. Chefs will let you play and will fire pieces of food at young unsuspecting children.

ABC Seafood + + + + $

Where? Ord and New High, Chinatown
Who? Gary, Howsah, Andrew and Kenny

Dim Sum! Yum Cha! Great food, har gau, siu mai, cheung fun, ngaw ghap, duww fu fa, dann tat... the whole gamut. Small, not as nice as NBC but a decent price. Park in the lot between Spring and New High ($3. Apparently there's a free lot behind ABC?)

Angeli Caffe + + + + $$

Where? Melrose and Poinsetta
Who? Steve, Andrew and Adam aka. Los Tres Amigos

Nice looking place, very modern, and compact. Bread is very good (and compact too, incidentally). Penne special with sausage and baby spinach was excellent. Cool looking gnocchi. How was it Adam? Large choice of wines and desserts. Waiter was sometimes unintelligible. Parking is a major problem - expensive valet.

Papa Christos + + + $

Who? Andrew, Satsuki... and previously Joyce, Themo, Steve
Where? Normandie and Olympic

(I'm not sure how this isn't in the blog already, Themo?) Greek Food, fast! Unless of course you come at 12pm when there are 20 people standing in line at the counter. I really like the lamb chop plate. Souvlaki is likewise excellent. Themo got me started on the Tomato and Feta and I've been eating it ever since. Dining area has a very patio, high-ceiling feel that makes you want to sing Greek songs and smash plates. Buy Baklava and a bottle of olive oil when you leave.

Puran's + + + $ $ $

Who? Steve, Adam, Andrew
Where? Hillhurst, just south of Ambrose

Great place for a threesome guy date - nice ambience, quiet and candlelit. All the food is organic. Very good service and nice wine. Peppercorn lamb is tasty but expensive. Caprese is good starter. I like the little toasty appetizer breads. Creme brulee is trop brulee but, as Steve says, it's sweet, creamy and white - who can resist?

Pataya + + $

Who? CASA
Where? Vermont in Los Feliz

Not busy. Tasty food. Honey glazed duck OK. Huge calamari pieces. Waitresses are unattentive and clueless.

Akbar + + + $ $

THIS IS THE 100TH ENTRY...
... LAFOODPLACES REACHES A MILESTONE!
WE LOVE YOU ALL...
... BUT MOST OF ALL THE FOOD WE EAT
- THEMO & ANDREW

Who? Thomas, Joyce, Andrew
Where? Fair Oaks and Union

Great dipping sauces. Excellent Mango Lassi. Portions are decent but meats are a bit dried out. Spicy is a good kind of spicy that leaves you sweating but without fire in your mouth. Nice atmosphere, small cozy. Shrimp Pakora not worth it. Channa Masala very good. Chicken Tikka Masala and Dhaba Lamb OK.

El Cholo + + + + $

Who? CASA, and Steve
Where? Western and 11th

Great Mexican place, lively atmosphere, excellent food, big portions. Fajitas are very tasty. Carne Asada is excellent. Margharitas are strong and very good. Show USC ID for half-price entrees Mon-Thu. Parking a problem during peak times - park on adjoining side street.

Sunnin * * * $

Who? Themos, Dora
Where? Westwood
How much? $20
Zagat: 26, $13

The first Libanese place I've been around here... they focus mainly on quality meats, so you'll find kebabs, keftahs, and similar east-type dishes. They have only 4-5 small tables that you can sit, but don't expect much:-) They are very cheap because the plates are plastic, the glasses are plastic, and it's not a very "luxurious" environment. However the food is pretty good, I loved the rice and the must-have rice pudding.

Duke's Malibu * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora
Where? Malibu (duh)
How much? $22
Zagat: 18, $30

Hail to the Duke! Originally opened in Hawaii for the surfers to enjoy an after-practice drink, Duke's Malibu offers excellent views of the ocean and its waves, and sometimes its surfers. Sunday Brunch was crowded, in a loud environment where chatter and laugthers fill the background. Oh, there is food, too, which includes various tasty burgers, hawaiian specialties, lots of seafood, or you can also try the buffet.

La Paelia * * * * $$$$

Who? Themos, Dora, Frankie, Melanie, Dimitri
Where? West Hollywood
How much? $50
Zagat: 22, $36

This became instantly the 3rd most expensive restaurant I've been in my life, after the $85 steak at Ruth Chris steakhouse and the $60 7 course meal at the maroccian palace. The paelias are fulfiling and super-tasty, the sangria is perfect, and the tapas are to die for. You should try out the meats because they are great and unlike american style: it reminded me of the good old mediterrenean meats you can have in Europe. The environment is anti-LA since the rooms are small and the ceilings low - which is always a plus for me since it gives a more cozy feeling.

Robin's Woodfire BBQ & Grill * * * * $$

Who? Themos, Dora, Stayros, Dimitri
Where? Sierra Madre
How much? $28
Zagat: 19, $19

Ribs ribs ribs... A half rack of beef ribs should be anyone's goal as you enter this very nicely decorated restaurant. They have meats even for appetizers! And it is great quality,too.

The Warehouse + + + + $$

Who? CASA in honour of Howie
Where? Admiralty, Marina Del Rey

Very nice atmosphere with a great view. Comfy seats. Super-strong drinks. Nice oyster appetizer. Atlantic salmon stuffed with crabmeat is excellent. Delicious portabellos. Steak is mediocre - cooked right, but burnt crust. Must valet.

Gelato Paradiso * * * * $

Who? Themos, Dora
Where? Hollywood
How much? $5

Simply put, the best ice-cream I had in a very very long time... I was just amazed to find such a place existed in LA. The flavors are stunningly real, they are even better than the real fruits orwhatever they make them out of. Well done!

Uncle Bill's pancake house * * * * $

Who? Frankie, Melania, Fotini, Dora, Themos
Where? Manhattan Beach
How much? $18
Zagat: 24

This is a very popular destination near the beach. They close at 3pm since they only offer breakfast and lunch, but even close to that time they are crowded. They have some of the best pancakes and omelletes around, plus you can always enjoy a walk at the beach and admire the houses there before, during (the wait!) or after the meal.

Red Corner Asia + + + + $

Who? Andrew, Michellios, Howie, Koji
Where? Hollywood and Hobart

Excellent Thai food in a new, clean restaurant in the heart of Thai town. The crispy duck with Penang curry is wonderful. Fried wontons, satay chicken. The spicy rice is really spicy! Valet parking is silly. Pick up traditional Thai snacks from the adjoining shop in the plaza.

El Rincon Criollo + + + $

Who? Howie, Koji, Fesh, Andrew
Where? Sepulveda and Culver

Good Cuban Food at a decent price. Excellent portions. Small restaurant that's a lot less busy than Versailles.

Dar Maghreb * * * $$$$

How? Themos, Dora, Omar, Alma, Joan, Stayros
Where? Hollywood
How much? $50
Zagat: 20, $42

A little taste of Morocco at the heart of Hollywood. The decor is stunning since they have recreated a 15th century palace. The menu is fixed and consists of a seven(!) course meal, belly dancers and excellent service. This place is great for groups, great for impressive first dates, and also features great quality meats. What you pay is what you get! At least a star less since it's the most expensive restaurant I've been, but hey, you won't be going there every day.

Tibet Nepal House + $

Who? Joyce, Andrew, Steve
Where? Holly and Fair Oaks, Pasadena

Decent dishes for a decent price. The "Tandoor" (clay oven) lamb and chicken are very good but I say NoNo to the MoMo and the Creamy Shrimp.