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A List of Restaurants from MLA Members
Recommendations from MLA members Ian Barnard and Aneil Rallin.
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short walk from the Los Angeles Convention Center |
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longer walk from the Los Angeles Convention Center |
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short cab ride away |
American
Casual Dining
- Angelique Café (840 S. Spring St.)—Belgian; great setting; open lunchtime; sandwiches and salads. (213 623-8698)
- Blossom (426 S. Main St.)—Bank District restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine, including tasty vegetarian pho. http://www.blossomrestaurant.com/
- D-Town Burger Bar (216 W. 6th St.)—good burgers, including surprisingly tasty veggie burgers; open late. (213 228-0022). Second location closer to the convention center slated to open in fall 2010.
- Gram and Papas (277 E. 9th St.)—fresh salads and sandwiches in the Fashion District; lunch only; closed on weekends. http://www.gramandpapas.com/
- Mac and Cheeza (223 W. 8th St.)—mac and cheese with various toppings and fillings (including vegan cheese); not much seating inside. http://macandcheeza.com/
- Original Pantry Cafe (877 S. Figueroa St.)—great for breakfast, close to the convention center; long lines on weekends; cash only. http://www.pantrycafe.com/
- Orochon Ramen (123 S. Onizuka St., inside Weller Court)—Little Tokyo ramen restaurant; you choose the broth, toppings, and level of spiciness. (213 617-1766)
- Pie Boy Pizzeria (456 S. Hill St.)—gourmet pizzas; eat in, take out, and delivery. http://pieboypizza.com/
- Señor Fish (422 E. 1st St.)—Mexican food near the Japanese-American Museum; fish tacos consistently voted the best in LA. http://www.senorfishla.com/
- St. Vincent Court (in the alley on the north side of 7th St., between Broadway and Hill)—multiple cafés and restaurants in the Jewelry District, most serving Armenian or Persian food. All are open for lunch; a few are also open at night.
Chinese
- JR Bistro (750 N. Hill St.)—Good quality, inexpensive, creative. Casual atmosphere. (213 620-0838)
- Yang Chow (819 N. Broadway St.)—a favorite among visitors to Chinatown; famous for its “slippery shrimp.” http://www.yangchow.com/
Coffeehouses
- Bottega Louie (700 S. Grand Ave.)—bustling and wildly popular new downtown restaurant, café, and patisserie; no reservations; long lines at lunch and dinner, so be prepared to wait for a table. http://www.bottegalouie.com/
- Frances Bakery (404 E. 2nd St.)—divine French-style pastries in Little Tokyo. (213 680-4899).
- Groundwork Coffee (108 W. 2nd St.)—excellent cappuccinos; free Wi-Fi. http://lacoffee.com/cafes.html
- Hygge Danish Bakery (1106 S. Hope St.)—tasty freshly baked goods and lunch offerings. http://www.hyggebakery.com/
- Syrup Desserts (611 S. Spring St.)—open until midnight; free Wi-Fi. (213 488-5136).
Fine Dining
Fusion
- The Gorbals (501 S. Spring St.)—hipster hangout in the historic Alexandria Hotel; celebrity chef Ilan Hall. http://thegorbals.squarespace.com/
- Lazy Ox Canteen (241 S. San Pedro)—our new favorite downtown LA restaurant; innovative and delicious small plates from the chef Josef Centeno (inventor of the “baco”); plenty of vegetarian and seafood options. http://www.lazyoxcanteen.com/
- Starry Kitchen (350 S. Grand Ave.)—Asian fusion; open for lunch and some evenings; vegetarian options; menu changes weekly. http://www.starrykitchen.com/
For Insomniacs
- Full House Seafood (963 N. Hill St.)—excellent, inexpensive Chinese food in Chinatown; open until 3:00 a.m.; outstanding crab and lobster; be sure to ask for the “pea shoot leaves” (not on the menu). (213 617-8382)
- LA Café (639 S. Spring St.)—coffee, salads, and sandwiches in the Historic Core; open 24 hours. http://www.thelacafe.com/
- Restaurant at the Standard Hotel (550 S. Flower St.)—New American cuisine; open 24 hours. http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/24-7-restaurant/
- Suehiro (337 E. 1st St.)—inexpensive Japanese diner in Little Tokyo; open until 3:00 a.m. on weekends. (213 626-9132)
- Tacos Mexico (corner of 9th and Broadway)—taco stand; open 24 hours.
Italian
Japanese
- Arashi Sushi (1111 S. Hope St., Suite 100)—inventive sushi, beautifully presented, within walking distance of LA Live. (213 749-1900).
- Curry House (123 S. Onizuka St., inside Weller Court)—Japanese-style curry and spaghetti; also serves delicious tofu cheesecake. http://www.house-foods.com/CurryHouse/storeinfo_little_tokyo.aspx
- Mikawaya (118 Japanese Village Mall)—Japanese pastries; inventor of mochi ice cream (no one should visit LA without trying the mochi ice cream!). http://mikawayausa.com/www/Jvp.shtml
- Shojin (333 S. Alameda St., Suite 310)—delicious vegan, macrobiotic, organic Japanese food in a rather dismal mall setting. http://www.theshojin.com/
- Sushi Gen (422 E. 2nd St.)—considered by many to serve the best sushi in the very competitive Little Tokyo sushi scene. http://www.sushigenla.com/
Korean
- BCD Tofu House (3575 Wilshire Blvd.)—outstanding, inexpensive Korean soon tofu in Koreatown; open 24 hours. Close to purple-line subway stops (take the purple line subway from the 7th Street / Metro Center station to Wilshire/Normandie or Wilshire/Western; purple line runs until 11:30 p.m.). http://www.bcdtofu.com/bcd_eng.php
- Tofu Village (123 S. Onizuka St., inside Weller Court)—soon tofu and Korean BBQ restaurant. http://tofuvillagelittletokyo.com/
Latin American
- Ciudad (445 S. Figueroa St.)—stunning décor; “tapas Sundays” highly recommended; the chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. http://www.ciudad-la.com/
- Rivera (1050 S. Flower St.)—pricey but innovative and memorable Latin cuisine. http://www.riverarestaurant.com/
- Wood Spoon (107 W. 9th St.)—cozy Brazilian restaurant with fabulous Brazilian sausage served with plantains and collard greens. http://woodspoonla.com/
Persian
Small Plates
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