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When it comes to bites and drinks at discounted prices in Los Angeles, you might have to skip the clock. But you certainly don't have to compromise on quality, thanks to the wide range of top-notch restaurants with happy hour bargains. Here are the best places in L.A. to score some delicious fare at great values.
The community of Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles (aka NELA) is home to an ideal mix of both old-school Latin American resident traditions and the contemporary dining trends that cater to the area’s growing new wave of younger residents. This means that within a one-mile radius you can find boldly seasoned Yucatan-style Cochinita Pibil tacos and a perfectly frothy cappuccino made with hemp milk. Many of the new business owners opening up in Highland Park have strong ties to the community, so the sense of pride is particularly strong. Add to all of this, the attractive five-minute driving distances to Pasadena, Downtown, Silver Lake and Glendale; the tree-lined rolling hills; and the Metro Rail Gold Line stop located in the middle of town, and you can see why Highland Park is a serious contender for the best neighborhood in Los Angeles. Here are the top ten places to eat, drink and experience Highland Park's local flavor.
Considering the climate in L.A., the idea of seeing snow and ice in our lifetime is laughable. Thankfully, some culinary entrepreneurs have drawn on international traditions (and trends) to deliver a spate of shaved ice and show desserts to our metropolis. Learn about 14 of the best shaveries in time for summer.
Some of L.A.’s most popular restaurants and cafes are also marketplaces where you can pick up a wedge of perfect blue cheese, some dried beans or an artisan chocolate bar. Some places carry items primarily from their own kitchen. Others spotlight their favorite purveyors. Either way, shopping these spots is a fun way to stock your fridge and pantry, not to mention score some great gifts.
Beef noodle soup, known as niu rou mian, is the epitome of Chinese comfort food. Found all throughout China and Taiwan, it’s a beloved dish that takes hours to make. Beef shanks must be slow-cooked for hours before they achieve their creamy texture. Noodles must be chewy, and most importantly, the broth must be rich and sustainable. Traditionally, the noodles are paired with a heaping of pickled mustard greens, which offers a crisp, sour contrast. Spicy is customizable and in some joints, used extremely liberally. It makes for a sustainable lunch or dinner and thankfully, there are plenty of places in Los Angeles to get your fix. Here are our picks.
No matter what anybody claims, grilled meat is not barbecue. Other restaurants call items BBQ when the meat has clearly been roasted. Barbecue requires slow-cooking meat with wood smoke until the protein becomes infused with flavor. L.A. is gaining smoky momentum. Austin legend La Barbecue will open a second location in Los Angeles, and Adam Perry Lang recently opened a 143-seat barbecue palace, APL Restaurant at Hollywood and Vine. Learn about 11 of the best smoke-buffeted stops across Los Angeles County.
The L.A. sushi trend started in the San Fernando Valley during the ’80s, and for decades Los Angeles has continued to dominate this arena, attracting the best sushi talent in America. It also doesn’t hurt that we have access to some of the best fish markets in the country. Surprisingly, you don’t have to spend top dollar for the best sushi in L.A. - you just need to know where to go. Here are 12 of our top sushi picks for value.
Bricia Lopez is a quintessential modern Angeleno: she’s a first generation immigrant who grew up in Los Angeles, a business owner, and a cultural ambassador who explores and experiences L.A. with the enthusiasm of a first-time visitor.
Los Angeles is now lined with oyster bars like they were palm trees, and restaurants are shipping in oysters from sea to shining sea. Angelenos have an oyster bar or restaurant serving oysters in nearly every neighborhood, with condiments, beverages, and menus catering to the local flavor. Aside from the sensation of privilege that an oyster happy hour bestows, it’s a titillating first taste - the ultimate culinary foreplay when getting to know a restaurant. Here are ten of the best oyster happy hours in the greater Los Angeles area.
There are no rules when frying. Just get a vat of oil bubbling, gather delectable ingredients that are either savory or sweet, and let the oil work its magic. At the L.A. County Fair, vendors have been known to bomb deep fryers with items as disparate as candy bars and artichokes. Thankfully, L.A. chefs have more sense and restraint, and we’ve been graced with some truly inspiring fritters.
