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Amy L's , Los Angeles Recession Specials:
1. Gloria's Cafe
(310) 838-0963
Category: Latin American
5 star rating
03/12/2008
it's a good thing that i don't live close to gloria's cafe because i'm pretty sure i'd be over there weekly. i have a real soft spot for beans, cheese, and rice and BOY do you find all of that and then some over at gloria's!! the food really is tasty here and the prices are reasonable. i typically order the combo meal (because of the beans, cheese, and rice...hello? is there an echo in here?) and usually get my enchiladas or chili rellenos because these are some of my old favorites. i can't wait to try some of their other dishes though because everything looks pretty spectacular. more reasons to drive to that side of town!
one of the best things about gloria's is their sangria. holy crap this sangria deserves it's own paragraph. it's smooth and sweet...but packs a punch because the alcohol hits you slowly. you typically want to order more than one cup, but i suggest you pace yourself because the alcohol slowly creeps up on you and you're going to find yourself to be a sleepy drunk.
i love the fact that there's good food, good service, reasonable prices, consistency, and you get seated immediately. if you've never been here before, i suggest you try. little gems like gloria's are hard to find. you will definitely get your grub on!
2. Dumpling Master Restaurant
(626) 458-8689
Category: Chinese
5 star rating
01/20/2008
i'm not afraid of hole-in-the-wall exteriors or lack of coolness interiors when it comes to restaurants. all that matters to me is good food and good company...and it would be a perk if it looks relatively clean. when i was introduced to "da masta," it was love at first bite. there is something super yummy about their pan fried dumplings...the crispy exterior and the flavorful interior of each dumpling really makes me hanker for more even though the next bite might lead to an early death because i've inhaled so much already. i usually order pork pan fried dumplings, but i can imagine that the other animal groups and vegetarian ones are just as tasty. but the trick is, and HARK my words, you must mix the perfect sauce for your dumplings. at your table are some condiments. start with a base of soy sauce, a dribble of vinegar, and a tiny spoonful of that oily chili. you should modify the amounts base on your preferences. of course, mine is always perfect just for me...and it is the perfect sauce to go with that perfect little pan fried dumpling.
do supplement your meal with their scallion pancakes and hand made soup noodles with beef. not only will you leave this joint feeling pleasantly stuffed, you will also leave with enough dollars in your wallet to go get some dessert if there's still space in your belly. the food is HELLA CHEAP! what isn't there to love about this place?
and oh, they have this special delicacy: pig ears. they are thinly sliced and when eaten, the texture is rubbery and crunchy. i really like it even though it's not everybody's cup of tea. i usually order an ear, and sometimes two. this bit of information should in NO way make you question my taste buds...hahahahaha. my tastes are pretty diverse.
3. Rodeo Mexican Grill
1721 W Sunset Blvd(213) 483-8311
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
04/14/2008
#27 please.
that means a tasty enchilada burrito with red sauce, a side of well seasoned rice, and refried beans with a cheese topping.... yum! this typical meal costs me $7.57 and i'm never disappointed with it. their other menu items are just as tasty...in fact, i get pretty consistent rodeo grill cravings.
the restaurant itself doesn't have the best decor so if you EVEN think about bringing a date to this place, then it will be obvious to her after your meal that it's best just to be "friends." it's not bad, it's just not a place to impress. the restaurant is relatively clean, there's parking on the streets or in their tiny parking lot in the back, or, you can do what i do and park across the street where masa is located. there's metered parking in a lot back there.
4. Scoops
(323) 906-2649
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
03/26/2008
i went there at 9pm last night and their inventory was almost 1/2 gone. i've never seen that before at ANY gellato/ice cream shop so it speaks volumes about the place...or the fact that too many sugar junkies go there. sugar is our country's crack...but i digress.
i sampled four different flavors and thought the peanut butter and celery was nasty. conceptually it shouldn't though. recall those peanut butter celery sticks you had in elementary school...they were good right? yeah, not so good in ice cream form. i had to make a face after tasting that. the strawberry-lychee was damn delectable though. but the last scoop of that stuff was ordered and i only got a taste. i need to go back for somma that! i finally settled on the cappuccino flavor which started off being a bit boring, but it started to grow on me. by the time i got to my last spoonful, i became a scoops fan and cappuccino is an official favorite.
their ice cream texture is a bit on the icy side so i had to get use to that, but once i did, i became a scoops convert. love their adventuresome take on flavors! overall, this little shop is worth a visit. come on now! you know you are a sugar junkie too!
5. Gilbert's El Indio Restaurant
(310) 450-8057
Categories: Ethnic Food, Mexican, Sandwiches
Neighborhood:
5 star rating
01/19/2008
forget about the food! let's talk about their margaritas! i prefer their original flavor margarita blended with a nice salt rim on the cup...also preferably served in one of their large carafes to insure constant flow. sure, you can order some food to go with your drink (i prefer the combo meal where i can mix and match my own entree), but if all you have left is your dignity, a few dollars in your pockets, and a bad day resting on your shoulders, go in and get that tasty margarita treat. it won't do miracles, but it sure will make you feel better...or at least it will help dull the pain in a super delish kind of way. :) bottoms up!
6. Vim Thai-Chinese Restaurant
(323) 662-1017
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood:
5 star rating
02/25/2008
this place is the quintessential "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant. the decor is tacky-chic (maybe i'm being too generous with that observation), the booths are lumpy, and the utensils you get are sometimes questionable...but that's why you survey your booth before you sit down and exchange your utensils if there's crust on it. done deal.
there is something seriously tasty about this place. i really can't pinpoint why it makes my taste buds dance, but it does. my usual orders would be their shrimp fried rice (THIS IS THE BEST DISH EVER), tomatoes and beef, beef and chinese broccoli, and their seafood soup. their thai tea is a bit on the sweet side, but it's tasty too. you can't go wrong with an order like that. their portions are huge and it's hella cheap...so why aren't you there already might i ask?
you definitely won't be disappointed with the food, but if the decor is too fugz for you, then order take out. they only take cash and parking is a bitch. but there's this nice man in a cowboy hat that will gladly direct you into the right parking spot.
7. Sahara Middle Eastern Cuisine
(626) 795-6900
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
03/08/2008
the best kind of eateries are the ones that makes both your mouth and your wallet happy. sahara is such a place. what a great find! i went here today with friends for lunch and found the food to be spectacular. it was a double plus plus that the food was reasonably priced too. i got the beef kebab plate which meant the following gustatory goodness:
-the beef kebab was tender and nicely charred in the right places
-the hummus side was oh so smooth and tart
-the tabouli (which i mistakenly called the ta-booty) was limey and refreshing
-the rice was yummy and fluffy
i like the laid back atmosphere because you order at the counter and they bring you your food. the dining area is large enough to accomodate large parties so a great choice for big gatherings. there's also parking in the back, too. so let me see...good food, great prices, has own parking...i am sold. when i find myself in
8. Pho 87 Restaurants
1019 N Broadway(323) 227-0758
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Elysian Park
4 star rating
02/15/2008
this is the best place to go to when you are HUNGRY and need to eat something quick. in a blink of an eye, whatever you order will magically appear in front of you. that's awesome when you're seriously starving and only seconds away from ripping off your friend's arm and taking a bite out of it (j/k. too many zombie movies).
when i'm there, i order their pho dac biet (the one with all the fixins). their phos have a terrific soup base and the quantity is just right. i've also had their eggrolls, spring rolls, and the rolls with the flavorful sausage inside which i forget the name of. the drinks are also tasty and i really like pairing up my pho with their limeade. the young coconut drink is also good when you need something refreshing to drink on a hot day. no doubt the food is pretty spectacular for the price you pay.
i like the fact that one of the servers there remembers my order. talk about making a quick order even quicker...and yeah, i come here for the food and not the decor. it is definitely a hole in the wall establishment.
9. Happy Family Restaurant 3
(626) 282-8986
Categories: Chinese, Vegetarian
5 star rating
02/24/2008
my friend wanted to celebrate her belated birthday with a hearty vegetarian meal at this restaurant. cool for me because i LOVE their food and am always down for a meal here. not only is it tasty, it also allows me to save one chicken from losing its breast to me one meal at a time. good deed, good deed.
you won't miss the meat here because the variety of dishes they offer and the different tastes and textures you'll discover will blow your mind away. we typically order a few dishes because they have a great all you can eat menu under $12 (do check for the time which this applies):
-squab (the lettuce leaf with the crunchy filling )
-fish dish (the texture is a bit bizarre, but quite addicting)
-house chicken (deep fried mushrooms. one of my favorites.)
-fried tofu squares
-string beans (pretty yummy. another favorite.)
-spicy egg plant
the squab really is the star of the show. when you order this during their all you can eat time slots, they will only allow you one order which will give you two servings. we had to order it again off their regular menu (for about $8) because it was just THAT GOOD. the server thought we were silly and said "too expensive." so what, we were silly, full, and happy peoples. good eats.
10. California Chicken Cafe
(310) 446-1933
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood:
5 star rating
01/26/2008
my friend brought me here for lunch today and boy was the food super tasty!!! so yummy!! i got the three piece dark meat rotisserie chicken with a side of broccoli pasta and vegetarian rice primavera. everything was well seasoned and every mouthful packed a punch. i liked the bbq sauce to dip with my chicken...it made a good dipping sauce for the pita too.
the only drawbacks might be the the long lines and the crowded dining area. we were able to find seating right away, but i can imagine it being impossible to find space during a really busy day. if i'm in the area again, it is a definite "must eat." can't believe it's only a recent discovery....i could have been a fan a LONG time ago.
11. El Siete Mares
3131 W Sunset Blvd(323) 665-0865
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
01/26/2008
one of the best places for tacos in the silverlake neighborhood. i've been going here for years. when i hanker me some tacos, i usually order a combo of carne asada and al pastor. if it's a take out order, i ask for the sauce on the side to minimize sog action (i'm talking about the taco stand and not the restaurant).
i've also ordered their salmon burrito, ceviche, tamales, and their fried platter (fried fish, fried shrimp, and fries). all REALLY good too. i've never been disappointed with their food and the service is quick.
i typically don't sit there and eat unless i need my daily dose of ehaust fix. it is right on sunset and if you've lived here long enough, you know traffic has gone way out of control these past few years.
12. Sushiwest
(562) 424-5004
Category: Sushi Bars
3 star rating
03/25/2008
when i use to work in
we always got the combo meal. that seemed like the best deal there. my typical order usually included spicy tuna, salmon teriyaki, or their sesame chicken. it also comes with rice, salad, and miso soup so you totally feel like you had a well rounded dinner. actually, come to think of it, the food and the combo concept reminds me of ichiban in
fyi, sushi west is located in the same mini mall lot as a trader joes and there's a coldstone creamery down the block...just in case you want more food.
13. Ichiban
(818) 242-9966
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
Neighborhood:
3 star rating
02/17/2008
my coworkers and i come here often after work when we need quasi japanese food quickly. i usually order their 3 item dinner combo meal...salmon teriyaki, gyozas, and tempura. over the past year and a half, this is what i noticed about their menu items:
-their salmon teriyaki piece keeps shrinking. the last time i checked, i'm NOT a smurf, so please give me the correct portion size. thank you.
-they like to make tempura onion rings...which is such a good way to cheap you out.
-their baked green mussels with the mayo on top is GROSS. yuck. barf.
-they give you a lot of rice so you can fill up.
-their sesame chicken are oily bits of meat nuggets.
-i like their filtered tap water.
so my conclusion? you get exactly what you pay for. it's a cheap meal and you get ok tasting food. you usually get seated right away and parking is fine because there's a garage right across the street (i really love that). i guess at the end of a long, tiring day at work, finding the most delicious meal ever is not always the first thing on my mind.
14. Mishima Restaurant
(323) 782-0181
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
4 star rating
02/10/2008
mishima was my college hangout for many years. the prices are fair and the best deals are their combo options. you get a massive heaping of food that you can eat there and/or take home. i always ordered their tempura with rice and udon. that was more than enough grub for many sittings...a survival tactic for poor starving students everywhere.
though i'm out of college now and have enough money in my pockets to eat at places based on taste AND NOT portion size, i still enjoy coming back here every once in a while when i find myself shopping at the beverly center. good nostalgia value, tasty eats, and also, to buy their bottle of "nori komi furikake." it's the seaweed and sesame seed concoction that they have available on their tables for your rice. SO GOOD!
they also have these really delicious condiments...the petite green bean and seaweed sides that you get with your meal. service is awesome and there's usually no wait for dinner or when you eat there during the weekends. parking sucks though....good luck with that.
15. House of Pies Restaurant & Bakery
(323) 666-9961
Category: Diners
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
3 star rating
07/17/2008
how to conceive a food baby:
1) order a tuna melt sandwich and consume every bit of it
2) select a side order of fries to dip with ranch dressing
3) finish off with a slice of banana cream pie. shared of course because you want to keep your figure...relatively
i had a food baby today at the house of pies. thank you for the gastronomical conception.
16. Dong Nguyen Restaurant
(626) 300-8618
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
06/21/2008
went here for dinner today and the food was yummy. i read about their hainam chicken and made a point to order it since returning to dong nguyen seems unlikely due to the distance from my hood. trust me, if it was nearer, i would totally be all over it. come on now, you can't beat the price ($7 on average for most dishes) and the taste!
the hainam chicken is pretty delicious. it's basically boiled chicken (dark and white meat) served on a bed of chicken broth rice. the secret is in the sweet ginger dipping sauce. yummm. definitely reminds me of good home cooking and the simplicity of the dish should not be underestimated. it makes me think that i'm having a healthy meal, just like how my momma would have made it.
don't forget, they only take cash so head out to the nearest atm before you go there.
17. Chinatown Bakery & Deli
(213) 680-3888
4 star rating
03/14/2008
this bakery is a watering hole for a lot of chinese senior citizens. when you go there on any given day, there will be a crowd of them with their styrofoam coffee/tea cups yapping away. i think that's cute. anyways, it's not an "attractive" place to eat unless you like plastic or old looking, worn furniture. i usually buy my baked goods to go.
i've bought various pastries and things here for the past 5 years and they are super cheap and delicious. my favorite are their cream buns (sounds funny) because the butter cream and the bread is so deliciously made! they usually run out of those first so i try to go earlier in the day if i want to get some. they also have yummy baked or steam cha siu bows, sponge cakes, and sesame balls with mung bean filling inside. everything is within view so you can just point and purchase.
you will be amazed by the number of goodies you will get by just spending a few dollars here. oh, and they are called "L.A. Chinatown Bakery & Deli."
18. Billingsley's
(310) 477-1426
Category: Steakhouses
4 star rating
01/27/2008
early bird special.
enough said right? lots of senior citizens, the decor is outdated with lots of wood paneling, but the food is suprisingly tasty. this is not a place to people watch unless you like checking out the 60 and over crowd. it IS a place for you to hunker down and chow though. start off with a slice of their cheese bread and their nicely chilled salad with green goddess dressing. ordering ribs is usally a good bet and so is their salmon dish with rice. it is a good place to go eat when you just want to feel warm and comfortable. ahhh billingsley...a taste of geriatric life.
19. Curry House
(213) 620-0855
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Downtown
3 star rating
02/04/2008
there's some pretty incredible smells coming out of this place. the kind that makes you inhale deeply which then produces immediate salivation. it's totally pavlovian. then you get lulled in because you hunger now so you order an entree only to discover that these incredible smells are emitted from "ok" tasting food....a three stars kind of "ok" food. are you somewhat disappointed? i usually am, only because the smells and the taste don't match. how can something smell so delicious taste so average? don't get me wrong, it's fine, ok, alright, so-so tasting...what more can i say to describe OK FOOD?! i'm stretching here....
their curries aren't spicy at all even though they make it sound like it might be. that explains the bottles of tobasco sauce you see on each table. though i sound disillusioned, i'll still eat here like i do every once in a while when i forget that it serves just alright food. it's the incredible smells that gets me throught the front door...what a vicious cycle.
20. Boudin Bakery in South Coast Plaza
(714) 689-2253
Category: Bakeries
5 star rating
01/22/2008
coming back to
when you come to boudin, you MUST order the clam chowder...even if you're allergic to clams or chowder. hahaha. kidding. the chowder is creamy and tasty. if you get it in their sourdough bread bowl, the bread just soaks up the chowder making it the BEST chowder sponge ever. typically, i order the italian sandwich with the chowder in a small CERAMIC bowl...the bread can be a bit too chewy for me sometimes...i blame it on my soft teeth.
awww...i want some right now! so yummy!
21. Shau May Restaurant
(626) 571-2727
Category: Chinese
4 star rating
01/23/2008
these stars pertain ONLY to their taiwanese slush. i say ONLY because i wouldn't eat their fast food unless i decided to declare war on my body. although the food is extremely cheap and good to your wallet, the negative health effects by far will shorten your life, giving you less time to enjoy those saved dollars. my advice: buy the slush and ignore the food. it's way too greasy and fatty for the temple that is your body...haha.
anyways, their slush is yummy and i've been going for YEARS. i always order the 4 item slush (red beans, lychee, almond jello, and fruit cocktail). of course i MUST get the condensed milk which gives it that extra sweetness that takes it over the top. the slush is definitely craveable. i shall be going back soon.
their drinks are pretty fab too. might i recommend the watermelon juice when it's in season? sooooo good on a hot day. so, so good.
22. Crepe In the Grip
(626) 284-1237
Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Japanese, Breakfast & Brunch, Creperies
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
01/29/2008
i've been coming here for the past two years. you might miss it if you don't know what you're looking for, but it's on valley next to a starbucks. so look for starbucks and look to the right of it. got it? yeah, that's me waving! hi!
i really dig this place because their dessert crepes are great. can't really go wrong with a dessert that you build right? i typically pick nutella, strawberries, sometimes banana, the mandatory whip cream, and of course CHOCOLATE ice cream. though i haven't perfected the art of eating it genteel style, i don't mind the dribbly chocolate rivers coursing down my fingers...it just means i have to eat faster. the BEST part has got to be the last bite, when the nutella mixes in with the melted chocolate ice cream. this last bite is pretty important too because it sows the seed for your next crepe craving.
they have $1 off crepe skins on tuesday. they also have fries here too. might i recommend fries and a dessert crepe? i don't know about you, but i like eating salty fries with ice cream...in my world, salt and sweet always mixes.
23. Cafe Tropical
2900 W Sunset Blvd(323) 661-8391
Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Desserts
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
02/13/2008
knowing full well i have a dentist appointment tomorrow, i threw caution to the wind and bought an unjustifiable amount of sweets at cafe tropical today...it must be my sweet tooth taking over my dinner choices again...the one that's going to get me into trouble tomorrow with my dental hygienist.
i brought home an apple turnover, guava empenandas, a chocolate eclair, and these flaky pastries that i have no idea the name of. they are all pretty scrumptious and just sweet enough for my tastes. i DID NOT eat them all on my own..oink, oink...i had to enlist the help of my sister so we both had a taste of everything. thank gawd because that left some room in my tummy for some "real-ish" dinner, a ceasar salad also bought from the cafe. the salad itself was a disappointment. it was mostly croutons and parmesean cheese, with a few sparse lettuce leaves added so it can pass as a salad.
i'm pretty excited about their pastry selection and will definitely return for their savory menu. but before that, i need to go brush my teeth like 10 times to get rid of all that sugar evidence. bad sweet tooth, bad.
24. Gulen's Greek
Category: Greek and Mediterranean
3 star rating
02/10/2008 First to Review
gulen's is located in the century city mall...so if you can bypass the oh so enticing panda express, you'd probably meander through the food court and find this place. they also display all their food in saran wrap so you can get an idea of your order. that's really helpful to me because i'm a visual creature.
i ordered the chicken kebab pita today....the taste is alright, though my arteries are probably a bit clogged from it. how do i know? because i discovered that while i was fisting my pita in it's foil cover, a pool of orangey oil collected at the palm of my hand. i had to use plenty of napkins to wipe up this oil spill.
gulen's does not feel like a healthy choice, but if i hunger and find myself yearning for some pita-like meal after arduous shopping, then this is a good place to go.
25. Chipotle
(818) 842-0622
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood:
3 star rating
06/05/2008
i don't know why people keep saying chipotle is owned by mcdonald's corp when it hasn't been since 2006:
http://en.wikipedia.or...
now that you know it's not mcdonald's owned, does it taste better? heck, it's always BEEN pretty tasty. i like their "build your own burrito" concept. the guocamole has a good kick to it and the burrito is flavorful and filling. i also like the salad option if you want to decrease your carb load. besides, it's not gourmet so for the price you pay, the food is pretty decent.
there isn't a chipotle near me. too bad for moi. it is a good option when you want something quick but not too oily.
26. Ugly Roll Sushi
(310) 837-8500
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
Neighborhood: Palms
2 star rating
08/18/2008
(2.5) i was excited about ugly roll sushi because in the same breath of being told that it was a sushi place, my friend also used the word "cheap." hey, count me in! we are heading towards a recession after all!
ugly roll is NOT a looker i tell yah. the decor is totally craptastic and the owner placed white butcher paper on the walls for you to draw on as you wait...or as a destractor from your present company. whatever you want. anyways, it reminds me of a public toilet stall where you can draw whatever you want on it....so i did.
i ordered a lot so i can puff out my empty belly. i got their ugly roll combo, tempura roll, spicy tuna, philly roll, and this sushi dish called "over 18" which turned out to be an albacore tuna/avacado roll with ponzu sauce.
the food was MEH. so MEH. i can really appreciate a good price point, but time and time again, i've been reminded that you can't do good sushi for cheaps. like dirt cheap i mean (komasa still rules in the department of good and cheap but it's still not dirt cheap). the fish were thinly sliced and not the best quality at that. the rolls are also cut pretty thin (look at my uploaded pic) which tricks you into thinking there are a lot of pieces when in fact, it's just thinner and smaller. suckas! i do think they have a good tempura batter, but that's about it.
other than the hot looking owner and the tasty tempura, there's really no reason to come back. so i'm not.
27. Patra Burgers On Sunset
1524 W Sunset Blvd(213) 250-0301
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood:
3 star rating
03/26/2008
this place is a whole in the wall. no joke. it serves the greasiest cheeseburgers ever, but suprisingly, it's acceptably tasty to the taste buds, albeit you'd probably be in the midst of a heart attack while eating it. the indoor eating area is ghetto-fabulous...so is their outdoor portion if you are willing to inhale some sunset exhaust as you sit there and eat. my friend likes ordering their tacos. i stick to the cheesburgers. it's worked for me so far and i've been there twice. i'm still alive and kicking....
they have a somewhat diverse menu: fast, easy, and greasy. it is what it is. it's not gourmet or a zagat rated joint. it is just straight up fast food for cheaps.
28. Astro Family Restaurant
(323) 663-9241
Categories: Diners, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood:
4 star rating
01/28/2008
i remember astro being in the hood for at least 20+ years...it serves typical diner food, but i think a lot of people come here not because it tastes the best, but because the menu is diverse, because of convienence, and of course because of nostalgia value...if you've lived here long enough to build memories around this place that is.
i usually come here for their breakfast. they serve good omelettes. they also have a pretty extensive menu which will satiate any cravings you may have at all hours of the day and night. but for me, i eat at astro because of nostalgia. because i remember going there as a kid, the hearty after-hike lunches, and the heartbreaks...when the boys or the eggs just don't seem quite right.
