[quote name='geminas01']Kogi - the korean bbq/mexican cart should not be on your list. It's pretty expensive considering you can get some decent tacos around LA for way less. Also, what people don't tell you is that, unless you stand around in the streets and wait in line in the truck stop spot before-hand, you will probably have to wait 1-2 hours to get your food. Unless you really like Korean BBQ and really want to see how it taste in a taco/burrito, but if you eat Mexican food for what it is, this is something you can skip.
If you have money to throw down, you could try Pizzeria Mozza -- which might be hard to get a table depending on the date you're going. But that's on the expensive side if you're used to Domino's prices, though its supposedly one of the bets pizzerias in the country. If you like finer dining there are a few other places that are popular, but pricey and hard to get in as well. There are a few steakhouses in Beverly Hills -- I think Lawry's is the cheapest, kinda like House of Prime Rib in SF. I would not recommend eating at the Chinatown -- most of the restaurants there are crap, if you're aiming for authentic chinese food. I would go to Alhambara or Monterey Park instead for something like that, but then, the food in Chinatown might fit your appetite if you're used to american chinese food. (if you don't know the difference, you probably prefer the latter). Diddy Riese is cool for an ice cream sandwich if you're by Westwood, but its not a must visit place in a one day tour.
LA is not like other cities -- everything are pretty spread out and it's pretty difficult to find a good place to eat unelss you're wiliing to throw down some $$. It is pretty hard to make recommendations because of that. Cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, are great places to walk around to visit some place cool place and eat some good food, cheap or expensive. Los Angeles is not one of those cities.
For places to visit, if you like art or architecture, check out the Getty. There is actually two locations for the museum -- the Getty Center and the Getty Villa, which is arguably the best museums here in LA, if you're into art. The two differs though -- I believe the Villa is more into ancient statues/art, where as the Getty Center is more about art that are in the renaissance period on -- but look it up to be sure. You might also want to visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theater, which are right next to each other. You can also try the Santa Monica Pier. Other than these places, I don't know what else to tell you, unless you want to check out a studio, and perhaps watch a taping? Conan?[/QUOTE]
As someone who has lived in Los Angeles for the last decade and who actually works part-time as a line cook in the Hollywood area, I would agree strongly with the above. Mozza is one of the few places people who actually work as chefs go when they want a good meal.
Kogi is way overrated. It's a neat gimmick, but not worth waiting in the long lines to get. Lawry's is cool for the old school flair. I also like the Smokehouse in Burbank, right across the street from Warner Bros. Bossa Nova on Sunset and La Brea is good for Brazilian style chicken and steaks. I also agree with Father's Office for a really unique and delicious burger.
I would stay away from the touristy crap like Pink's or Sprinkles or even Pinkberry. All of them are way overrated and not worth your time.
-- Dumbleavy don't screw it up.
; Sure hotdogs is huge, real big but expensive. =P
ing amazing. Number 2 scoe's with the gravy on the side
