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LA dinner recs

Visiting LA for the first time and looking for a dinner recommendation. Love steak, sushi, seafood, any kind of food really, just looking for a world-class meal experience. Packing light so will have jeans and button down shirts, so preferably someplace without a formal dress code. Thank you!

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  1. LA is a big town. Where will you be staying and what is your price range per meal? Will you have a car? Welcome to LA.

    4 Replies
    1. re: wienermobile

      Staying near USC and will have a car. Probably up to around $50 a person. We're college students but looking to do LA right!

      1. re: fsuguy92

        Koreatown. Soot bull jeep. Delish and affordable Korean BBQ.

        1. re: jessejames

          A little more expensive is Park's BBQ, Wonderful cuts of meats like their great Gal-Bi (Prime Beef Short Rib) 생갈비

          1. re: wienermobile

            I've lived in Ktown on and off for the last 10 years and I have to say that Soot Bull Jeep is far past its prime. Park's is good but very expensive. 2 slabs of Kalbi = $42; seriously, dinner for 2 with only 2 orders of meat and no alcohol was over $80. If you want to try KBBQ (which I think you should consider because Korean food is a huge part of LA food culture and KBBQ is the first thing everyone thinks of):

            All of the Koreans I've talked to swear by:
            Kang Hodong Baekchon
            Chapman Plaza (a one stop shop for all of your nightlife needs in Ktown)
            3465 W 6th St Ste 20
            Los Angeles, CA 90020

            If you want to try an all-you-can-eat place, consider:
            Moodaepo II
            3014 W 7th St
            Los Angeles, CA 90005
            There are several levels of pricing starting at $16.99pp

            Or if you want all-you-can-eat at the best quality, try:
            3385 W 8th St
            Los Angeles, CA 90005
            The $24.99pp all you can eat menu has some premium cuts of meat.

            Ktown is easily accessible by public transportation from USC

    2. "Packing light so will have jeans and button down shirts, so preferably someplace without a formal dress code."

      That's LA dressy.

      1. If you can get reservations......

        Cole's/Varnish (more of a bar)
        Orsa & Winston

        West Hollywood-Beverly Hills:
        Night +Market
        Red Medicine
        Trois Mec

        Others will chime in shortly....

        19 Replies
        1. re: Dirtywextraolives

          budget = $50/head...

          OP, college students but are you of drinking age/do you want to drink?

          1. re: ns1

            $50pp....shit has changed since i went to college!

            1. re: jessejames

              haha i'm a senior heading out to watch my Noles play for the national championship, with the amount I've already spent on this trip I might as well do it right!

              ...it's back to ramen noodles when I get back!

              1. re: fsuguy92

                whiskey comes in bottles brotha! have fun.

                1. re: fsuguy92

                  Speaking of ramen, pretty sure there is nothing like the LA ramen places in Tallahassee. Delicious and (relatively) cheap! Completely unrelated to Cup o Noodles.

                  My favorite that is (relatively) close to SC is Men Oh http://www.menohusa.com/home/ but a cursory search of this board should give you a TON of options.

                  Also, if you don't already have parking passes, highly recommend taking public transit to the stadium on gameday. Take the train to Union Station, then take the Gold Line to Pasadena, then take the free bus from the Parsons Lot. Will save you $$$ and headache.

                  1. re: Tyus4pt8

                    cannot recommend this reply enough.

                    1. re: Tyus4pt8

                      I will look in to Men Oh!

                      I found someone who lives right near the rose bowl and bought parking in their front yard. They're in a residential area on Seco Street and gave me their resident passes to get through barricades. So we're gonna go that route!

                      1. re: fsuguy92

                        Awesome! You are very psyched! I used to live around there and traffic after a bowl game is horrendous! Usually about half the cars are celebrating, tho.....

                        Best of luck to your 'Noles!

                2. re: ns1

                  we are of drinking age. I'm a big whiskey fan myself... fully expecting drinks to be pricy

                  1. re: fsuguy92

                    Get a Metro pass. Take the line from USC to DTLA, Little Tokyo, or Hollywood. Eat at some places.

                    Go get your whiskey on @ Seven Grand.


                    @50pp my suggestions would be (not necessarily in this order)...

                    - Littlefork
                    - Bestia
                    - Parks

                    @50/head you cannot get a world class sushi experience in LA. Best you could do would probably be the $40 lunch special @ Shunji or the $30 dinner combo plate @ Sushi Gen.

                    You should definitely find time to go to Langer's for lunch though.

                    Where are you coming from anyway?

                    1. re: ns1

                      Langer's is definitely on my list. I'm in LA from midnight on the 4th until 8am on the 7th so my time is limited. The 6th will be fully taken up by the football game in Pasadena, so the 5th is really my only day to get out and experience LA.

                      I'm coming in from Tallahassee, FL but I've traveled a lot and have had some great dining experiences... heard great things about LA restaurants so am very excited!

                        1. re: wienermobile

                          might have to stop there when they open at 8am on the way to the game haha

                        2. re: fsuguy92

                          obvious solution is obvious: bring Langer's to the tailgate.

                          (half joking half srs)

                            1. re: fsuguy92

                              Langer's does curb side pick up to go…. so call first if you are bringing pastrami & rye to the game and they'll bring it right to your car,

                    1. re: wienermobile

                      love the look of this place, seems like you can go all out and spend a ton or still have a nice meal and spend more like $20/$30

                      1. re: fsuguy92

                        +1 on Baco Mercat for good, innovative food in a fun, casual atmosphere without breaking the bank.

                        Just north of downtown and Chinatown, not inconvenient on your way to or from Pasadena, is a taqueria, Carnitas Michaocan, on the N/W corner of North Broadway at 19th, just before Lincoln Heights. Tacos are tiny, but burritos are big and inexpensive and their special nachos or cheese-covered fries are huge and come with your choose of meat. Carne asada is good, al pastor from the rotisserie spit is better. Their salsa roja (or negra) is complex, spicy, and my favorite in SoCal. Open 24/7.

                  2. For Lunch you don't want to miss Langer's Deli. Best pastrami and rye on earth. Open till 4pm Closed Sundays.

                    1. Thanks everyone! I feel like I've gotten some awesome recommendations, I'll update on where we ended up and how we liked it.

                      A #19 for breakfast at Langer's on game day is definitely happening, I can assure you of that!