Going to be in the LA area, any excellent places to eat?

[weirdichi]

More specifically int he Ontario area, but if it's worth it, I guess my friend and I can make the trip wherever in LA.

I'll be there Friday and Saturday so I just want some good food, any cuisine, on a budget. I'm not expecting high end dining, just that place that you would drive to because you have a craving for something they excel at.

I was hoping to go to Dragon Loco for some Mexinese, but apparently it's closed for now.

Thanks!

 

[JulesMaximus]

You're visiting Ontario? Sorry to hear that...

 

[slayer202]

nope

 

[Joe1987]

http://www.thrillist.com/best-of/los-angeles

A start, LA has some awesome food.

If you like Asian food at all, you have to try soup dumplings here: http://www.dintaifungusa.com/

One of the 10 best rated places in the US according to Yelp, try the ramen or shredded pork bowl (I love the shredded pork bowl, it's the crack of food) http://www.daikoku-ten.com/

 

[Ns1]

LOL ontario area

http://la.eater.com/
Eater's 38 Top Restaurants MAP
Heatmap: Where to Eat Now MAP
Heatmap: Where to Drink Now MAP
Heatmap: Where to Eat Brunch MAP
LA's Best Chinese Outside of the SGV MAP
LA's Best Sushi Spots MAP
LA's Best Korean Cuisine MAP
LA's Best Ramen Shops MAP
LA's Best Pastry Shops MAP
LA's Best Coffee Shops MAP
A Guide to LA's Best Late Night Dining MAP

that'll get you started

if you want something specific, let me know what it is + what your budget is and i'll spit out some recs. I'm a walking LA chowhound-pedia.

 

[Zeze]

LOL ontario area

http://la.eater.com/
Eater's 38 Top Restaurants MAP
Heatmap: Where to Eat Now MAP
Heatmap: Where to Drink Now MAP
Heatmap: Where to Eat Brunch MAP
LA's Best Chinese Outside of the SGV MAP
LA's Best Sushi Spots MAP
LA's Best Korean Cuisine MAP
LA's Best Ramen Shops MAP
LA's Best Pastry Shops MAP
LA's Best Coffee Shops MAP
A Guide to LA's Best Late Night Dining MAP

that'll get you started

if you want something specific, let me know what it is + what your budget is and i'll spit out some recs. I'm a walking LA chowhound-pedia.

1. If you had to pick 5 places to eat in LA, what would you pick? (any cuisine, same cuisine can be repeated if that good)

2. Best KBBQ currently in town? (both pay or AYCE)

I have several friends in LA, but you certainly seem to be a better foodie. I'll keep your response in mind for the next visit.

 

[Joe1987]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/soowon-galbi-kbbq-restaurant-los-angeles-2#query:korean bbq

 

[Ns1]

1. If you had to pick 5 places to eat in LA, what would you pick? (any cuisine, same cuisine can be repeated if that good)

2. Best KBBQ currently in town? (both pay or AYCE)

I have several friends in LA, but you certainly seem to be a better foodie. I'll keep your response in mind for the next visit.

LA rules for low-brow ethnic dining.

money is no object

1) Urasawa (japanese)
2) Shunji (japanese)
3) CUT (steakhouse)
4) Providence (seafood)
5) Elite (chinese)

a more reasonable list...
1) Elite/Sea Harbour (dim sum + chinese dinner). LA has the best chinese restaurants in the US, NOT INCLUDING Koi Palace SF. That said, TO/Vancouver chinese > LA chinese > NY chinese
2) Langers (cuz Langers > Katz by a mile)
3) A taco truck crawl (which should at least hit up Ricky's Fish Tacos + Tacos Leo or Tacos Chiquis or Tacos Tamix or all 3)
4) An SGV food crawl
5) A little saigon food crawl

- Park's BBQ usually regarded as the best, but some people are reporting it's been beloved patriot-nized due to lots of popularity. I dunno, still excellent to me. They do gas with charcoal on top. If you're a purist, Soot Bull Jeep is the old standby (charcoal only). Don't let anyone hustle you into going to Manna. Tahoe Galbi is another popular one, but I hear their AYCE sucks balls (quality wise) compared to their a la carte. I only like Tahoe because they offer pineapple, and grilled pineapple is fucking awesome.
- Kang Hodong Baekjeong is pretty much on fire right now, but I haven't been able to go due to 2-3 hour waits all the fucking time.
- koreatown in general is hot right now, so you will probably be able to find everything around here.

 

[Zeze]

Marked.

Hmmm.

I thought Koi Palace (Daly City/SF) was mediocre for dim sum. The ones in Boston and NYC beat easily.

Koi better have some spectacular dinner if you were to imply that place is #1 Chinese is US... disregarding the entire nation of Chinese in NYC/Flushing, also DC, Greater Vegas, SF, and Chitown. Oh and Boston/Quincy.

 

[moonbogg]

Go catch you some street bass from the LA river.

 

[Ns1]

Marked.

Hmmm.

I thought Koi Palace (Daly City/SF) was mediocre for dim sum. The ones in Boston and NYC beat easily.

Koi better have some spectacular dinner if you were to imply that place is #1 Chinese is US... disregarding the entire nation of Chinese in NYC/Flushing, also DC, Greater Vegas, SF, and Chitown. Oh and Boston/Quincy.

Yes, KP is generally regarded as #1 in the US.

For instance, I've never seen this anywhere else:

Flushing usually isn't regarded as top tier cuz all Flushing really has is Shaanxi style food. This is largely due to the type of immigrants each city receives - TO/BC receive(d) a lot of HK expats so their food is awesome, NY receives a lot of the poorer folk so you get a lot of Shaanxi stuff and dumplings. LA receives a LOT of taiwanese expats, so our TW cuisine is pretty much the best you'll find outside of Taiwan, in addition to the other chinese stuff; I'm pretty sure the SGV is the largest concentration of Chinese people in the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_enclaves_in_the_San_Gabriel_Valley

Yes I'm biased, but I consider SoCal to be the home of the best Chinese + Vietnamese food in the united states largely due to the massive population and easy access to quality produce/product.

 

[Zeze]

What is that? Shumai with... hmmm.

 

[Ns1]

What is that? Shumai with... hmmm.

black truffles.

black fucking truffle shumai.

 

[Zeze]

I'm pretty sure the SGV is the largest concentration of Chinese people in the US.

Is this really true? I thought I had US figured out.

Flushing is INSANE- it's like massive should-to-shoulder of people in the streets and they're ALL authentic Chinese crowd (90%+).

Compare that to Manhattan Chinatown which isn't so much authentic or as full of Chinese people (50-70%~) in the streets.

I have a hard time believing in SGV beating Flushing for Chinese population and density.

 

[fralexandr]

Is this really true? I thought I had US figured out.

Flushing is INSANE- it's like massive should-to-shoulder of people in the streets and they're ALL authentic Chinese crowd (90%+).

http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20100906-nastybits-street.jpg

Compare that to Manhattan Chinatown which isn't so much authentic or as full of Chinese people (50-70%~) in the streets.

I have a hard time believing in SGV beating Flushing for Chinese population and density.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gabriel_Valley#Demographics_and_ethnic_diversity
as per wikipedia, highest concentration of Chinese Americans in the US.
A lot of them go there for the schools. I think San Marino and La Canada are pretty consistently rated one of the top high schools in CA, and there are a few other good ones too.

 

[Ns1]

Is this really true? I thought I had US figured out.

Flushing is INSANE- it's like massive should-to-shoulder of people in the streets and they're ALL authentic Chinese crowd (90%+).

Compare that to Manhattan Chinatown which isn't so much authentic or as full of Chinese people (50-70%~) in the streets.

I have a hard time believing in SGV beating Flushing for Chinese population and density.

SGV is like 9 flushings right next to each other, with more disposable income. It's definitely not as dense, but that's LA for ya.

 

[Cruisin1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gabriel_Valley#Demographics_and_ethnic_diversity
as per wikipedia, highest concentration of Chinese Americans in the US.
A lot of them go there for the schools. I think San Marino and La Canada are pretty consistently rated one of the top high schools in CA, and there are a few other good ones too.

Dayam... I used to joke that I grew up in China (Arcadia) but didn't realize it was that concentrated!

 

[Imported]

black truffles.

black fucking truffle shumai.

I don't remember seeing that one the menu and I've been there a dozen or so times. I probably just always overlook it..

 

[mikeford]

Lesson one, Ontario isn't LA, its an hour or so east of LA. The only place I drive to Ontario to eat at is Vinces Spaghetti.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Marked.

Hmmm.

I thought Koi Palace (Daly City/SF) was mediocre for dim sum. The ones in Boston and NYC beat easily.

Koi better have some spectacular dinner if you were to imply that place is #1 Chinese is US... disregarding the entire nation of Chinese in NYC/Flushing, also DC, Greater Vegas, SF, and Chitown. Oh and Boston/Quincy.

i love kp.. they opened up a small one in dublin too

 

[Broburger]

In-n-Out Burger

 

[KeithP]

Slaters 50/50 (8009 Day Creek Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739). 50% ground beef, 50% ground bacon burger. Highly recommended.

-KeithP

 

[AgentUnknown]

Farmer boys. In out. The hat. That's all Ontario is. But seriously go to din tai fung. Boiling crab too. Where are you from?

 

[Ns1]

Slaters 50/50 (8009 Day Creek Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739). 50% ground beef, 50% ground bacon burger. Highly recommended.

-KeithP

It's a chain now so locations everywhere

 

[Fenixgoon]

this is a good thread for new LA residents as well