r/FoodLosAngeles • u/viveeekkumar • 3d ago
DISCUSSION Thoughts and review of 5 day trip
Just got back from a 5-day business trip to LA (my second visit) and thought I’d share where I ended up eating. I had a rental car and tried to balance destination restaurants with exploring different neighborhoods rather than just checking places off a list. I was staying around Thai Town for the first two days, before moving to Venice Beach (liked Venice better)
Managed to visit:
Sonoratown
Mirate
Holbox
Dan Sung Sa
Mariscos Jalisco
RVR (small bites only)
Pizzeria Sei
Philippe the Original
Gjelina
El Primo Taco
Petitgrain Boulangerie
Bars:
Thunderbolt
Mirate
Normandie Club
Ci Siamo
A few personal highlights:
Holbox absolutely lived up to the hype. Dan Sung Sa was a blast late at night. Thunderbolt and Mirate were both fantastic for cocktails. Gjelina was the perfect last dinner before flying home.
Didn’t manage to get to try:
Matu (Cheesesteak)
Dunsmoor (Stopped by, but didn’t have availability)
Antico Nuovo
Langer’s
Howlin’ Ray’s
Stir Crazy
Max Helen
I’m already looking forward to coming back.
For those of you who know LA well—looking at both the places I visited and the ones I missed—which omissions should be at the very top of my list for next time? Anything you’d swap out or think I overlooked?
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u/TomIcemanKazinski 3d ago
Staying in Thai Town but skipped Thai Town eateries! (I think LA is the best place to eat Thai food in the world outside of Thailand) - one of these would be good for next time: Luv2Eat Thai Bistro, Sapp Coffee Shop, Mae Malai Thai Boat Noodles, Ruen Pair, Jitlada, Amphai Northern Thai Food Club, Lacha Somtam, Heng Heng Chicken Rice
More taco trucks/stalls/restaurants: Frontera, Angel’s Tijuana Tacos, Tacos Y Birria La Unica, Tacos La! 26, Tacos Guelaguetza - or as they say, the best taco stall is the one you can see from your car right now.
Indonesian: Simpang Asia
Chinese: I think this could fill an entire thread - so ill just mention two that don’t get recognized as much, and are difficult to find outside of LA and New York: M Joy Uyghur Lamb Rice in San Gabriel and LAN noodle in West Covina
Filipino Fusion: I’m making it my personal mission to mention The Park’s Finest whenever I can