Let’s Eat (and Eat Some More)! My Favorite Restaurants in Los Angeles
From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom
We were asked to write about our favorite restaurants this week, and the only difficult part will be writing a post that doesn’t go on for five pages. My list is long and varied, and I’m always up for trying new things – including half a Pink Pearl eraser that I once ate on a dare when I was working at an ad agency. It definitely didn’t taste like chicken.
I’m going to keep this list to my top four, and also limit it to restaurants that I haven’t mentioned in this blog before. That still leaves around 50,000 possibilities, and I’ll have a hard time whittling it down. But I promise there won’t be an eraser in sight.
First on my list would have to be Kyushu Ramen in Van Nuys. My two daughters and I are huge ramen fanatics (not the packaged, brick-of-noodles version from the grocery store) and I was excited to find this little oasis of authenticity in a non-descript mini-mall in the east Valley. They serve around thirty versions of ramen, everything from your basic shoyu (soy sauce based) version to their specialty, Kyushu ramen, which is in a rich, cloudy broth made with pork. They also offer other dishes like Japanese-style curry and sushi on their huge menu, but the noodles are what we will drive through rain and traffic for at least a few times a month.
My husband and I are longtime fans of Border Grill in Santa Monica. This restaurant has been here for awhile, and is owned by Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feigner, who you might remember from the Too Hot Tamales series on the Food Network. Border Grill features “authentic home cooking and street foods of Mexico” not to mention the tastiest margaritas in town. I highly recommend their Green Corn Tamales and their Potato Rajas Tacos. Did I mention the margaritas?
Next I have to mention a new favorite. The urge for a hot dog hit me, and we decided to finally try The Stand, a restaurant located only ten minutes from our house but one we’d never ventured into. I describe it as an upscale hot dog joint, serving traditional hot dogs (many versions) but also sausages and burgers. We ate outside on their beautiful tree-canopied patio and listened to a live jazz band. After my kids stopped freaking out over the ‘neon relish’ on my Chicago dog they had a great time. Definitely not your average hot dog and fries experience.
Last but not least would be Farfalla Trattoria, a small Italian restaurant located in the Los Feliz area. My husband and I have been going there since we were first dating, and the quality has never faltered. It’s a traditional menu, with homemade pasta and a great wine list. I seem to order the same dish every time: tagliolini cozze e vongole, homemade thin pasta with mussels, clams and tomato sauce and an order of bruschetta to start. Fortunately, after eating a weeks worth of carbs in one sitting, you can walk it off by strolling the streets of the hip Los Feliz district.
What are your favorite restaurants in your city? Who serves the best margarita?
Photo: BorderGrill.com
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9 Responses
Ok, I’m in awe you ate an eraser on a dare. ewwww. I’m not sure you should advertise that when sharing your favorite restaurants. lol Just kidding.
This post made me hungry, actually.
I used to live in Austin, Texas and have now moved to a suburb north of Dallas, and I hate to admit it, but we haven’t eat out much here. But, we did go to a fabulous tex-mex restaurant called Christina’s that was amazing. And, judging by the lines there….everyone else loved it too!
Do you actually even digest an eraser? I don’t really want to know!
I ate dog food on a dare once…tasted like dog food. Blehhh.
Thanks for sharing your list- the multitude of L.A. restaurants are hard to navigate!
if you’re in West LA and in the mood for sushi, hit Bar Hayama (on Sawtelle at Nebraska). The restaurant is modest, but the sushi is amazing. Super fresh and prepared perfectly in the Kozara tradition. The sushi chefs happily take requests, too, so maybe they’ll make you a nice Pink Pearl eraser sashimi.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Eva Longoria’s new restaurant Beso on Hollywood Blvd, and the tortilla soup they serve. Is it any good? And any chances of bunping into some stars?
Reah – Writing about food made me hungry, too. Thank goodness I had a stash of erasers in my desk.
All-O – I don’t recall what the digestion process was like, although I’m sure my insides wiped clean (a little eraser humor there.) The closest I came to eating dog food was taking a small bite of a MilkBone once, also on a dare. I’m going to get a horrible reputation after this post.
RadioRay – I will definitely put Bar Hayama on my to do list! Sawtelle also has another favorite of mine – Asahi Ramen. They have the best fried rice in town. Also down the street is my favorite guilty pleasure, Giant Robot. For some reason I can’t get out of there without buying a bagfull of t-shirts and small stuffed dolls.
P Ling – I’ve heard about her restaurant, but haven’t tried it. It may be worth a visit just to try the tortilla soup, which I love. So far my favorite is at Border Grill.
I still love the margaritas at Border Grill, I don’t care how “discovered” that place is. Good call Marsha! But when in New York I’m all about Rosa Mexicano, the original on 1st Ave. The margaritas are traditional and perfect. In fact to ask for the frozen would be nearly blasphemous.
Liz – We’re thinking of coming to New York this summer. Meet you at Rosa Mexicano for a margarita? Or five.
Why do I have a lump in my throat after reading your eraser story?
Ah, the Border Grill! They have an outpost on the Strip in Vegas. I’ll have to give it a try one of these trips. I love tamales. So many restaurants, so little time….
The Tortilla Inn in Northridge near CSUN ties with El Coyote (I know, I know.) for best margarita. I dare you to come up to Northridge and try to find it.