Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [148]
Dong Il Jang (off Map; 213-383-5757; 3455 W 8th St; mains $9-24; 11am-10pm; ) This is a wonderfully old-school Korean restaurant with chocolate-brown booths, waitresses in starched dresses and lots of traditional fare. If you go for the barbecue, be sure to order the ros gui (thin beef slices); if you have leftovers, they make kim chee fried rice for you to take home. Other tempting dishes: duk mandoo (dumpling soup) and chap chae (noodles with vegetables). Alas, service can be lackluster and English appears to be a foreign language here.
Manna (off Map; 323-733-8516; 3377 Olympic Blvd; lunch $7; 11am-11pm Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight Fri & Sat; ) This huge, bustling place is always packed with carnivores in the mood for a total pig out. The meat quality may not be off the charts, but the price is right and the ambience is raucous. The all-you-can-eat barbecue ($17) is great for large parties and families.
Chosun Galbee (off Map; 323-734-3330; 3300 Olympic Blvd; mains $20-35; 11am-11pm; ) If you’re a Korean-food virgin, this is not a bad place to lose your innocence. Barbecue is why you’re here, cooked at your table, which is preferably on the trendy-looking bamboo-accented concrete and metal patio. The chosun galbee (short rib cubes) and bulgogi (beef slices), both marinated in a tangy soy-based sauce, and served with delicious panchan (side dishes) are excellent.
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FROZEN TREAT MANIA
Ever since the first storefront opened in Hollywood, Angelenos have been caught up in Pinkberry (Map; 310-659-8285; 868 Huntley Dr, West Hollywood) mania. People brave rock-star-worthy lines to get their ‘crackberry fix’, a tangy, stiff frozen treat that comes only in two flavors: ‘original’ or ‘green tea’. Although touted as low in calories (125 per 5oz serving), it can quickly become a full meal if you get a bigger size and top it off with nuts, berries or fruit. Neither is it especially healthy since it’s not made with live yoghurt cultures. But that doesn’t seem to bother the league of ‘addicts’. Try it and see for yourself, then see how the competition measures up:
Scoops (Map; 323-906-2649; 712 N Heliotrope Dr, Hollywood; noon-10pm Mon-Sat) This teensy ice-cream parlor scores one for location and 10 for originality. Owner Tai Kim is a flavor magician who keeps coming up with new, adventurous combos, which he’s happy to let you sample. Pistachio orange, Guinness tiramisu and saffron date are all worth a mouthwatering detour.
Mashti Malone’s (Map; 323-874-6168; 1525 N La Brea Ave, Hollywood; 11am-11pm) When Pinkberry’s inventor was still in diapers, Mashti Malone was already feeding exotic ice creams and sorbet to the slobbering hordes. Saffron, pistachio, rosewater and pomegranate are typical ingredients.
Ce Fiore (Map; 213-626-0806; 134 Japanese Village Plaza, Downtown; 11am-10:30pm) Ce Fiore’s mouthwatering nonfat frozen Italian yoghurt has the same calories as Pinkberry and is based on live cultures. Its green-tea flavor is made with real matcha and the raspberry and pomegranate is a powerful antioxidant fix.
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Blue Velvet (Map; 213-239-0061; 750 S Garland Ave; mains lunch $9-19, dinner $24-32; 11:30am-2:30pm & 5:30-10:30pm; ) David Lynch would likely approve of Blue Velvet’s magical views, sleek poolside lounge, edgy yet ecofriendly decor and especially ex-Patina chef Kris Morningstar’s market-driven menu. Compelling dinner options include slow-poached ocean trout and venison loin with bacon-onion puree. Wicked unisex bathrooms.
Highland Park & East LA
Tamales Liliana’s (off Map; 323-780-0829; 3448 E 1st St, East LA; dishes $1.35-10.50; 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 7am-9pm Sat & Sun; ) Across from El Mercado and a tortilla factory, Liliana’s makes tamales the way they ought to be: light, yet tight and generously stuffed with spicy pork, chicken or beef. We also like the