one meal in LA, less than 1 hour from LAX

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

I have not been in ten years so maybe it sucks now.
I was there a few years ago sans family. Still good. Still the same food.

The guy who owns Father's Office (famous for their burgers) opened up an asian fusion joint recently in Culver City. Dunno how waits are here, its pretty new and hot. http://www.kevineats.com/2011/02/luk...r-city-ca.html This is kind of in the hood and hard to find. Technically less than an hour but its a trek, some of the better mexican food in town, close to what you would find in Mexico City. http://www.kevineats.com/2009/10/la-...na-bell-ca.htm this guy has amazing photo reports of his eats. http://www.kevineats.com/

personally, i would definitely give chinois a pass. it has not aged at all well (in my opinion, of course). the food is too often heavy and over seasoned, without the delicacy that comes with good asian cooking (or, really good cooking of any type).
i would probably go in a totally different direction (literally), depending on exactly what you're looking for. If you head south on the 405, about 15 minutes you come to Gardena, which has a long-standing and thriving Japanese community (and now Korean). lots of places to eat, some of my faves: shin-sen-gumi for yakitori, otafuku for house-made soba, tofu house for korean tofu, santouka for ramen ... and that's just one gaijin's list ... check out chowhound for the area and there will be lots more.
if you want something that's a little more stylish, i have been hearing really good things about Lukshon in Culver City, which is the new project of Sang Yoon (Father's Office).

Originally Posted by foodguy

Click to expand...

personally, i would definitely give chinois a pass. it has not aged at all well (in my opinion, of course). the food is too often heavy and over seasoned, without the delicacy that comes with good asian cooking (or, really good cooking of any type).
i would probably go in a totally different direction (literally), depending on exactly what you're looking for. If you head south on the 405, about 15 minutes you come to Gardena, which has a long-standing and thriving Japanese community (and now Korean). lots of places to eat, some of my faves: shin-sen-gumi for yakitori, otafuku for house-made soba, tofu house for korean tofu, santouka for ramen ... and that's just one gaijin's list ... check out chowhound for the area and there will be lots more.
if you want something that's a little more stylish, i have been hearing really good things about Lukshon in Culver City, which is the new project of Sang Yoon (Father's Office).

cool, thanks - this is actually more of what I was thinking, but not specifically Japanese - I was just in japan and will be back in a few weeks.

any specific recomendations for shanghai style food or thai food?

thanks

IMO, there is no good Thai food near LAX. Most of it are typical thai restaurants they have upscale ones like Chan Dara in Venice/Culver City or Natalee Thai...but its not really mindblowing...more upscale versions of your typical thai restaurants, you have to go to hollywood. Actually one right by LAX (like 5 minutes) that is pretty good is http://www.ayarathaicuisine.com/ Its not really unique though, its in the area and is pretty "solid" but not outstanding. not a destination type of place, just if you're in the mood.

Originally Posted by Xericx

Click to expand...

IMO, there is no good Thai food near LAX. Most of it are typical thai restaurants they have upscale ones like Chan Dara in Venice/Culver City or Natalee Thai...but its not really mindblowing...more upscale versions of your typical thai restaurants, you have to go to hollywood.

Actually one right by LAX (like 5 minutes) that is pretty good is http://www.ayarathaicuisine.com/ Its not really unique though, its in the area and is pretty "solid" but not outstanding. not a destination type of place, just if you're in the mood.

ok, thanks, let's scrape the thai off the list, then. I can good thai in chicago, I was looking for outstanding.

anything else really typical LA that I can't get at home?

Originally Posted by globetrotter

Click to expand...

ok, thanks, let's scrape the thai off the list, then. I can good thai in chicago, I was looking for outstanding.

anything else really typical LA that I can't get at home?

I think you should forget chinese too. The good stuff is all in the SGV which is too far.

I think LA does really good farmer's market driven menus. Lots of places in Santa Monica, Culver City and Venice in particular since they have great farmer's markets right there. Wilshire restaurant, Joe's, Ford's Filling Station, Rustic Canyon, Tavern, etc.

Oaxacan food is quite good in LA too. I'm a fan of Monte Alban in West LA (it is divey though, not sure what vibe you're looking for).

Originally Posted by Xericx

Click to expand...

I think you should forget chinese too. The good stuff is all in the SGV which is too far.

I think LA does really good farmer's market driven menus. Lots of places in Santa Monica, Culver City and Venice in particular since they have great farmer's markets right there. Wilshire restaurant, Joe's, Ford's Filling Station, Rustic Canyon, Tavern, etc.

Oaxacan food is quite good in LA too. I'm a fan of Monte Alban in West LA (it is divey though, not sure what vibe you're looking for).

cool - the last time I did this I went to Ford's filling station.

ok, I can skip ethnic, I don't care if its divey, as long as I can have a conversation and I feel comfortable in a suit - I am flying in for a meeting and will fly out again, no changing.

one last-minute thought: you can go straight out the 105 to Lynwood there's a big shopping center called Plaza Mexicana and there's a restaurant there called La Huasteca, that is very, very good (for locals, the chef is the guy who used to have Moles la Tia). i believe they serve lunch, but i'm not certain.

Originally Posted by globetrotter

Click to expand...

cool - the last time I did this I went to Ford's filling station.

ok, I can skip ethnic, I don't care if its divey, as long as I can have a conversation and I feel comfortable in a suit - I am flying in for a meeting and will fly out again, no changing.
I remember Ben from when I was young. He was best friends with a guy I worked with. Crazy ******. Nice though.

Originally Posted by foodguy

Click to expand...

one last-minute thought: you can go straight out the 105 to Lynwood there's a big shopping center called Plaza Mexicana and there's a restaurant there called La Huasteca, that is very, very good (for locals, the chef is the guy who used to have Moles la Tia). i believe they serve lunch, but i'm not certain.

What's up with Moles La Tia now? I ate there last summer and was hoping to make many trips back - is it still the same? Or maybe he's already left by the time I went there.

Originally Posted by Baron

Click to expand...

What's up with Moles La Tia now? I ate there last summer and was hoping to make many trips back - is it still the same? Or maybe he's already left by the time I went there.
i have to admit, i haven't been back. huasteca is really, really good. some of his stuff can be a little out there ... creativity is not the be-all/end-all when it comes to mexican cooking. but there are usually only a couple of those type things on the menu.
also: correction: it's plaza mexico.

Originally Posted by mordecai

Click to expand...

Hollywood is not even close to being reliably 1 hour from LAX anytime near rush hour.



Nice. Santa Monica and Venice have some good food.

+1. And jitlada really northeast hollywood, almost los feliz. Definitely pushing the hour limit. Chinois is a good suggestion. There's also Joe's in Venice, although I haven't been there in years. Chosun Galbi in K-town might be a good choice. Lots of decent places in Culver City, but nothing I'd call great. I understand there are some excellent noodle houses in the South Bay, but I donLt really know any of them.

Yeah, I really liked some of what I had at Moles and wanted to try more, but the menu was too big. Too many moles and too many proteins for them all to be reliably good.

Tito's Tacos.

Best restaurant in the history of humanity. Assuming you're not a fancy-pants beta ***** who can't handle cheap and amazing Mexican.