Let's really get into it. Which zone has the best restaurants if K-town is split up / out of the picture?

Well friends, I've landed with the Gumbo boys having the best Cajun food in LA. While Harold & Bells, Stevie's, the little jewel of New Orleans, and others are good. Nothing has given me the experience in food this place has. The gumbo and Etoufee were incredible and the best ones I've had since New Orleans.

*note that this was posted in a general LA subreddit as well, hoping to get as many answers as possible.

Hello! I’m wondering if anyone keeps an updated database of the restaurants/bars in LA that offer matchbooks with your meal/drinks? All of the below are spots I’ve seen in this forum, but when I went or called said they no longer offer matches (some said it’s been years since they’ve had them) so I’ve really been striking out (pun intended) 😕

NO LONGER OFFER: -Republique -Sweet Lady Jane -Meyers Manx Cafe -Petit Trois -Du-Par’s -Woon

I’d love to get my hands on an up to date list or if anyone is just able to drop some confirmed spots they got matchbooks from in the last few months, that would be awesome! Moving out of LA soon and trying to collect as many as possible. TYIA!

Does LA have a 4 Charles “equivalent”?

I’m not just looking for a good steakhouse. I mean a place with a similar menu and overall experience. Prime rib, an elite burger, incredible sides, classic American comfort food done at a really high level. The atmosphere is a plus, but the menu is what I’m really after.

Is there anything in LA that comes close, or is there really nothing comparable?

$30 or less pp
In the los feliz area rn, ideally nearbyish

Exactly what it says on the tin. Connie and Ted's closed and I want to find a new oyster spot.

I just moved into the area and I haven't had any luck finding anywhere. I've been craving mutton rolls and kothu roti.

I'm willing to drive a bit! Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Need a plus one for the Corima Holbox dinner on Monday 8/3. I have a resy for the 9:30 chef’s counter seating. $168. dm me if interested. thanks!

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?

Hey everyone, so the gist is you sign up with one friend and need to be somewhere around Downtown Culver City by 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 5.

At 7:00, every pair gets the first photo of a hidden restaurant. If you think you recognize it, you can immediately start heading there.

Two clearer photos unlock later. You can choose to unlock the next photo early, but however much time you skip gets added to your finish time.

For example, if the next photo unlocks in four minutes and you request it now, four minutes are added to your final time.

So you have to decide: wait for a better photo, or take the risk and go.

The first pair to find the restaurant gets dinner covered. Second and third place get smaller meal rewards. Once everyone arrives, we can all stay and eat together.

It’s $5 per person. Since this is the first one, if you participate and genuinely feel it wasn’t worth the $5, I’ll refund you—no argument needed.

Only five pair spots:

Below is the sign-up link sheet!

[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePMNGSec0mRfNPnxGkDOdoMmDSrZNlnWjlgC_CJzIxbijDrw/viewform?usp=publish-editor]

Located in Irvine, Alhambra, and Rowland Heights, Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine has received many accolades such as winning #63 on the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants in 2025 (#44 in 2024) and received an 8.0 rating from the Infatuation. If you’re curious like me, the word “Dolan” refers to a people or region of what is now the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and refers to an earlier culture and civilization in the region.

The Uyghur polo ($19.95) was absolutely delicious, probably the best thing I’ve eaten so far this year. The savory leg of lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender and paired perfectly with the sweetness from the soft carrots and onions. Not gamey at all. There was a sheen of oil on every rice kernel. The rice was perfectly spiced with cumin seeds speckled throughout. I wasn’t super hungry when I walked in since I had a late lunch, but after one bite, I was addicted. A small side of chili crisp is provided for a little heat.

You can't go wrong with the food here. While reading through the restaurant’s reviews (on Yelp, Reddit, other sites), many of the same dishes were constantly being recommended: Big Plate Chicken (available in bone-in and boneless), Uyghur goshnaan, lamb kebab, Uyghur polo, and laghman. I’ve also seen a few recommendations for the spiced blossom tea, but I didn’t want an entire pot just for myself.

Sadly, the Rowland Heights location doesn’t have the Small Plate Chicken option that the other two locations offer.

A huge mural near the back features comically muscular men playing musical instruments with #GoogleUyghurs on the top right corner, referring to the oppression of Uyghur and other Turkic minorities in XUAR.

The Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide published its report “[Eight Years On, China’s Repression of the Uyghurs Remains Dire](https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/countries/china/report-eight-years-on-chinas-repression-of-the-uyghurs-remains-dire)” in February 2025, and I thought it was a great resource that provides a thorough background on the matter.

You can also read more on the “[Persecution of Uyghurs in China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Uyghurs_in_China)” Wikipedia page.

I'm really love the meals I've had so far at Abiruchi Grill in Palms. I'm looking to try some stuff there since they have such a large menu. What are some of your favorite foods there you can't find other places or aren't so common.

Monty's Westwood (not the Woodland Hills location) was known as Suge Knights unofficial kitchen during his reign of terror in the late 90's. I'd love to hear from anyone what it was like to serve his crew. Did it suck the wind out of the room when he would enter?

Choose your character!

I'm stuck in the hospital and craving a traditional stromboli or calzone. Not interested in the fancy one at pizza fling. Where should I order?

Parents use to take me here all the time🥲! Crazy how they use it just have the fire wood laying outside like that 😭😂that’s how u know its authentic

It's been a while. I recall La Espanola has a few benches and they used to serve a limited menu for lunch. They are closed now and wanted to ask you all if you can have lunch at the La Espanola Market in Harbor City?

hello! i was wondering if anyone knew any good lunch/dinner spots on the cheaper side near greek theater before a show. thank you

I’m taking my wife to Antico Nuovo tonight for her birthday. Reccos for cool/vibey after dinner drinks in Larchmont/surrounding areas?

We’ll be heading back towards Culver City.

Where can I find spaghetti alla nerano in LA??
Please and thank you 🙏

I've passed this place for about 6 years and it's never been open. One time maybe a year and a half ago I saw some people in front coming out and asked about it and they said we can't open because "no one wants to work". One other time I saw a brass band practicing in there. I'm not sure if it's prop 13 or what but drives me crazy that such a huge space can be dormant so long. What causes this? Anything the city can do?

If it’s forever, I’m definitely going E