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Polo Lounge (Map; 310-276-2251; 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills; 7am-1:30am) With its mix of tennis whites, business suits, and chichi dresses, this swanky, wood-paneled watering hole has the feel of a Hollywood country club. Isaac Mizrahi to George Hamilton to David Arquette, you never know who you’ll see murmuring in the perpetually reserved, dark booths. It’s part of the Beverly Hills Hotel (Click here).

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TO DIM OR NOT TO DIM SOME

Sinophiles tired of the kung pao school of Chinese cooking know that for the best Asian food they must travel to the far east – of LA that is. If you’ve ever driven through the suburbs of Monterey Park, Alhambra, Rosemead and San Gabriel, you won’t find it hard to believe that LA County is home to the largest Asian population in the USA. Exotic signage abounds, supermarkets are more likely to sell bok choy than iceberg, and Eastside hipsters hang out in tea and boba shops. And then, of course, there are the restaurants, hundreds of them, from innocuous (and often excellent) strip-mall joints to bustling dim sum parlors and lavish banquet temples. Chefs are often recent immigrants, making the cooking as authentic as you’d find in the homeland. Here are some of our favorites:

Mission 261 (Map; 626-588-1666; 261 S Mission Dr, San Gabriel; dim sum $2-8, dishes $11-40; dim sum 10:30am-3pm Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm Sat & Sun, dinner daily; ) Inside a century-old adobe near the San Gabriel Mission, this is the holy grail of dim sum, many of them fashioned into artistic shapes. Order by filling out a form rather than selecting from passing carts. Dinner is for adventurers – think braised goose and sea-cucumber stew or obscene-looking geoduck clam.

101 Noodle Express (Map; 626-300-8654; 1408 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra; dishes $3-8; 11am-3pm & 5-10pm Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm Sat & Sun; ) Prosaic name, strip-mall setting, plain decor – why bother? Because of the divine dumplings – plump, handmade and bursting with such creative fillings as spinach shrimp and pumpkin pork. Another must is the beef or chicken roll: a thick Chinese pancake cradling hoisin-sweetened meat. You’ll rarely see a table here without one.

New Concept (Map; 626-282-6800; 700 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park; mains $9-20; 11am-10pm Mon-Fri, 8am-10pm Sat & Sun; ) At this buzzy eatery – the only US branch of a chain based in Beijing – the dim sum is to-die-for and the chef whips up boundary-pushing Cantonese feasts, usually with delicious results, even if some sound like a Survivor challenge (snow-frog-fat soup anyone?).

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TOP FIVE HAPPY HOURS

Sometimes, after a long day on the tourist track, all you want to do is wind down the day without eviscerating your wallet. Thank goodness someone invented Happy Hour. You find them everywhere in LA, but not all are created equal, so we’ve sussed out the finest lairs for bargain nibbles and drinks to get you happy in no time.

Ciudad (Map; 213-486-5171; 445 S Figueroa St, Downtown; 3-7pm Mon-Fri; ) Knock back $4 mojitos or piscoritas (made with potent Peruvian schnapps) while staying stable with quesadillas and fish tacos at this spunky Latin restaurant.

Chaya Venice (Map; 310-396-1179; 110 Navy St, Venice; 5-7pm; ) This neighborhood haven is always packed, especially in the early evening when sushi rolls, fried calamari, miso soup, spicy tuna tartar and other delicious tastes cost just $3 or $4.

Luna Park (Map; 323-934-2110; 672 S La Brea Ave, Mid-City; 5:30-7pm Mon-Fri; ) Rub shoulders with investment bankers, n’er-do-wells and cultured types (it’s just around the corner from Museum Row) while enjoying tasty $4.50 bites and $6 drinks at this comfy-chic local favorite.

McCormick & Schmick’s (Map; 213-629-1929; 633 W 5th St, Downtown; 3:30-7pm & 9-11pm Mon-Thu, 3-11pm Fri) This serial fish house keeps you happy not once but twice daily. Drinks are full price but such belly-fillers as fish tacos, teriyaki-beef skewers and the incredible cheeseburger are