Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Sqirl
720 N Virgil Ave Amazing sandwiches and broiche toasts!
Lark Cake Shop
3337 Sunset BlvdDelicious icebox cakes and cupcakes and Intelligentsia coffee!
LOVE their creme brulee latte and chill setting to relax and hang.
219 locals recommend
LAMILL COFFEE Boutique
1636 Silver Lake BlvdLOVE their creme brulee latte and chill setting to relax and hang.
Milk
7290 Beverly BlvdDelicious ice cream and fabulous macaron ice cream sandwich!
Ostrich Farm
1525 Sunset BlvdCreative, yummy food and perfect ambience for date night.
Family-run restaurant with generous portions and great food. Mostly American but we got some amazing Jewish comfort food during Hanukkah!
103 locals recommend
The Park Restaurant
Family-run restaurant with generous portions and great food. Mostly American but we got some amazing Jewish comfort food during Hanukkah!
Pine and Crane
1521 Griffith Park BlvdAuthentic Taiwanese food and drink. Everything tastes great!
Authentic soup and dip ramen with amazing flavors. Combos with poke are a great deal!
278 locals recommend
Silverlake Ramen
2927 Sunset BlvdAuthentic soup and dip ramen with amazing flavors. Combos with poke are a great deal!
Wood-fired, airy pizza and delectable pasta and salad! Outdoor seating is nice with the heaters and succulents.
41 locals recommend
WOOD
2861 Sunset BlvdWood-fired, airy pizza and delectable pasta and salad! Outdoor seating is nice with the heaters and succulents.
Peruvian/Ecuadorian/Italian food with a great bar, generous portion, excellent patio seating, and soft, warm bread. Bottomless mimosas on weekends!
10 locals recommend
El Caserio Restaurant
401 Silver Lake BlvdPeruvian/Ecuadorian/Italian food with a great bar, generous portion, excellent patio seating, and soft, warm bread. Bottomless mimosas on weekends!
CASH ONLY taco truck with friendly owner and some limited seating. Delicious tacos and burritos!
Catering Truck
3201-3209 Bellevue AveCASH ONLY taco truck with friendly owner and some limited seating. Delicious tacos and burritos!
Great coffee with indoor/outdoor seating. Well located and perfect for people watching.
510 locals recommend
Intelligentsia Coffee Silver Lake Coffeebar
3922 Sunset BlvdGreat coffee with indoor/outdoor seating. Well located and perfect for people watching.
Amazing olive oil and bread and decent cheese selection (great burrata!). We love their ciabatta rolls, which they use to make their delish sandwiches and are also available for purchase.
42 locals recommend
Cheese Store of Silver Lake
3926 Sunset BoulevardAmazing olive oil and bread and decent cheese selection (great burrata!). We love their ciabatta rolls, which they use to make their delish sandwiches and are also available for purchase.
No frill mom and pop Thai place with authentic, cheap Thai food. The Vietnamese spring rolls and pho are pretty good too!
Pho Thai Town
5136 Hollywood BlvdNo frill mom and pop Thai place with authentic, cheap Thai food. The Vietnamese spring rolls and pho are pretty good too!
Great Thai curry! Fast delivery and cute patio with string lights.
31 locals recommend
Leela Thai Restaurant
1737 Silver Lake BlvdGreat Thai curry! Fast delivery and cute patio with string lights.
Delicious Cuban food and baked goods! Get some potato puffs and head up to Griffith Observatory for an affordable date night!
128 locals recommend
Porto's Bakery and Cafe
315 N Brand BlvdDelicious Cuban food and baked goods! Get some potato puffs and head up to Griffith Observatory for an affordable date night!
Amazing, creative ice cream flavors with fresh waffle cones that keep you going back for more!
31 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
829 E 3rd StAmazing, creative ice cream flavors with fresh waffle cones that keep you going back for more!
Yummy German sausages! This place is great to go whether you're sober or tipsy. It's so popular the line is often all around the block.
194 locals recommend
Wurstküche
800 East 3rd StreetYummy German sausages! This place is great to go whether you're sober or tipsy. It's so popular the line is often all around the block.
All kinds of food! Pizza, pasta, burgers, pupusas, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, and more! Highly recommend for a group of indecisive eaters! LOVE Eggslut and McConnell's Ice Cream. They have a parking garage for easy parking for only $3 for 90 minutes!
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwayAll kinds of food! Pizza, pasta, burgers, pupusas, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, and more! Highly recommend for a group of indecisive eaters! LOVE Eggslut and McConnell's Ice Cream. They have a parking garage for easy parking for only $3 for 90 minutes!
Mikawaya
118 Japanese Village Plaza MallGet ALL the mochi ice cream here! Just do it! You won't regret it!
Food-truck style restaurant with unbelievably delightful bulgogi xiaolongbaos in the heart of K-Town. I never knew I was missing out until I had these.
Golden Pouch
3324 W 6th StFood-truck style restaurant with unbelievably delightful bulgogi xiaolongbaos in the heart of K-Town. I never knew I was missing out until I had these.
Super cheap and delicious Vietnamese food. LOVE their spring rolls, banh mis, and rice plates!
8 locals recommend
Banh Mi Che Cali
7968 Garvey AveSuper cheap and delicious Vietnamese food. LOVE their spring rolls, banh mis, and rice plates!
One of the oldest restaurants in LA with good food and splendid service. Unlike most restaurants in Silver Lake and Echo Park, this one offers valet parking and is actually recently priced!
125 locals recommend
Taix French Restaurant
1911 Sunset BlvdOne of the oldest restaurants in LA with good food and splendid service. Unlike most restaurants in Silver Lake and Echo Park, this one offers valet parking and is actually recently priced!
Ohana Superette
2852 Sunset BlvdGood poke bar with a decent variety! Slightly on the pricy side.
Great pancakes, french toast, and egg benedicts with generous portions!
144 locals recommend
Millie's Cafe
3524 Sunset BlvdGreat pancakes, french toast, and egg benedicts with generous portions!
Upscale yet cozy Mediterranean restaurant with fabulous food. Beautiful setting for a date night!
47 locals recommend
Bowery Bungalow
4156 Santa Monica BlvdUpscale yet cozy Mediterranean restaurant with fabulous food. Beautiful setting for a date night!
V Valerio Family Bake Shop
4627 Santa Monica BlvdLittle Filipino bakery with amazing, fresh ube bread and ube hopias!
Point Point Joint Restaurants
4627 Santa Monica BlvdCafeteria-style Filipino food. Fast, affordable, and delicious!
Cafeteria-style Chinese food. Fast, affordable, and delicious! Highly recommend their combo plate (tomatoes and eggs and eggplants are must-gets!), Shanghai fried baos, and shave ice!
Shau May Restaurant
104 N Garfield AveCafeteria-style Chinese food. Fast, affordable, and delicious! Highly recommend their combo plate (tomatoes and eggs and eggplants are must-gets!), Shanghai fried baos, and shave ice!
Best Taiwanese beef noodle soup in the area! Generous portion of popcorn fried chicken. Amazing dumplings and xiaolongbaos!
P P Pop
127 N Garfield AveBest Taiwanese beef noodle soup in the area! Generous portion of popcorn fried chicken. Amazing dumplings and xiaolongbaos!
THE Go-To Taiwanese breakfast dig. Get some fantuan, zhajiang mien, turnip cake, dan bing, green onion pancake, or shao bing with some freshly made soy milk or peanut milk!
9 locals recommend
Huge Tree Pastry
423 N Atlantic BlvdTHE Go-To Taiwanese breakfast dig. Get some fantuan, zhajiang mien, turnip cake, dan bing, green onion pancake, or shao bing with some freshly made soy milk or peanut milk!
Entertainment & Activities
Great variety of concerts in open-air amphitheater. Bring some food and get there early for a lovely picnic before the show! Don't drive there and Uber/Lyft instead!
1407 locals recommend
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdGreat variety of concerts in open-air amphitheater. Bring some food and get there early for a lovely picnic before the show! Don't drive there and Uber/Lyft instead!
The Universal City Walk is free and nice to visit for those on a tight budget. There's a movie theatre and often time live music by street artists. The park itself is great, especially Harry Potter's Wizarding World!
3326 locals recommend
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaThe Universal City Walk is free and nice to visit for those on a tight budget. There's a movie theatre and often time live music by street artists. The park itself is great, especially Harry Potter's Wizarding World!
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain PkwyBest theme park nearby! A must-go for thrill seekers!
Drinks & Nightlife
HUGE selection of wine and hard liquor and occasional wine tasting. :)
138 locals recommend
Silverlake Wine
2395 Glendale BlvdHUGE selection of wine and hard liquor and occasional wine tasting. :)
A real gem in the Art District right next to Little Tokyo! They have live music, games, food trucks, great beer, and good vibe. Go check it out!
179 locals recommend
Angel City Brewery
216 S Alameda StA real gem in the Art District right next to Little Tokyo! They have live music, games, food trucks, great beer, and good vibe. Go check it out!
Great little dig with live music! Amazing (though slightly pricy) cocktails!
83 locals recommend
Villains Tavern
1356 Palmetto StreetGreat little dig with live music! Amazing (though slightly pricy) cocktails!
The Semi-Tropic
1412 Glendale BlvdChill place to hang out with the best churro waffles!
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park with a Japanese tea garden (only open on M-Th until 3pm) and a strenuous hiking trail up the Verdugo mountain leading to some spectacular views of LA.
31 locals recommend
Brand Park
1601 W Mountain StBeautiful park with a Japanese tea garden (only open on M-Th until 3pm) and a strenuous hiking trail up the Verdugo mountain leading to some spectacular views of LA.
Huge park nearby with the iconic Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. Great spot for jogging, cycling, hanging out, and night views.
898 locals recommend
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs DriveHuge park nearby with the iconic Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory. Great spot for jogging, cycling, hanging out, and night views.
Great for jogging/strolling early morning or near dusk. There's also a dog park nearby for animal lovers!
396 locals recommend
Silver Lake Reservoir
Great for jogging/strolling early morning or near dusk. There's also a dog park nearby for animal lovers!
Great, clean beach with good surf breaks and lots of chill local vibe surrounded by many eateries, an amazing ice creamery, and an aquarium on the pier.
334 locals recommend
Manhattan Beach Pier
2 Manhattan Beach BlvdGreat, clean beach with good surf breaks and lots of chill local vibe surrounded by many eateries, an amazing ice creamery, and an aquarium on the pier.
Long stretch of walkway/bike path right on the beach between Playa del Rey and Torrance Beach. Grab a bike and ride up to Santa Monica or down to Redondo Beach!
39 locals recommend
The Strand
500 Ocean DrLong stretch of walkway/bike path right on the beach between Playa del Rey and Torrance Beach. Grab a bike and ride up to Santa Monica or down to Redondo Beach!
Great, clean beach with fresh seafood on the pier and boardwalk.
189 locals recommend
Redondo Beach Pier station
Great, clean beach with fresh seafood on the pier and boardwalk.
Huge, amazing gardens with an impressive art collection.
999 locals recommend
Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford RdHuge, amazing gardens with an impressive art collection.
Shopping
Huge outlet with many popular brands at killer price. You can easily spend a whole day here.
281 locals recommend
Citadel Outlets
100 Citadel DrHuge outlet with many popular brands at killer price. You can easily spend a whole day here.
Everything Else
Stop by Riviera Village when you're near Redondo/Torrance Beach. There are some really nice restaurants and cute boutique shops to give you some idea of local living.
18 locals recommend
Riviera Village Way
Riviera Village WayStop by Riviera Village when you're near Redondo/Torrance Beach. There are some really nice restaurants and cute boutique shops to give you some idea of local living.
There are some decent Japanese restaurants around here with amazing mochi ice cream in the village at Mikawaya. There are also a lot of little fun Japanese shops and grocery stores to wander around in. Sometimes there's live music in the village and festivals around town!
435 locals recommend
Little Tokyo
There are some decent Japanese restaurants around here with amazing mochi ice cream in the village at Mikawaya. There are also a lot of little fun Japanese shops and grocery stores to wander around in. Sometimes there's live music in the village and festivals around town!
Beautiful old town with restaurants and shops galore. Great spot to wander and hang out.
480 locals recommend
Old Pasadena
23 E Colorado BlvdBeautiful old town with restaurants and shops galore. Great spot to wander and hang out.
An upscale shopping center with many well-known restaurants nearby. A really nice place to hang out with fun trolleys, water fountain, and lots of good vibe. There's a theater there as well which makes this a popular date night spot!
The Brand
120 W Wilson AveAn upscale shopping center with many well-known restaurants nearby. A really nice place to hang out with fun trolleys, water fountain, and lots of good vibe. There's a theater there as well which makes this a popular date night spot!
Essentials
Trader Joe's
2738 Hyperion AveWhole Foods Market 365
2520 Glendale BlvdSuper King Market 02
2716 N San Fernando RdCheap produce/meat with great Mediterranean groceries
Cheap produce/meat with great Asian, especially Chinese, groceries
37 locals recommend
99 Ranch Market
771 W Garvey AveCheap produce/meat with great Asian, especially Chinese, groceries
CVS
4414 York Blvd24/7 pharmacy is super convenient!
Costco Wholesale
2207 W Commonwealth Ave