Five Days In Los Angeles
From burgers to salads, pretty much everything we ate in LA was so good, one dish was one of the best things we’ve ever eaten. Add to that the impeccable service and sun and it’s pretty hard to beat. I didn’t expect to love LA quite as much as I did, but I fell in love hook line and sinker. I don’t think I’ve been as happy as I was there since I returned. If I could uproot all I love to California, I’d do it in a heartbeat. We were only there for five days and crammed in as many restaurants as we could, thank you to all that gave us recommendations.
SHORT ORDER
WHAT: Classic comfort food – burgers, melts, custard shakes, fries and salads. A concept incorporating the two owners shared desire to support local farmers.Short Order was a recommendation given to us by The Diner back here in London, so we knew it’d be good. Housed in the car park on the edge of the Farmers Market, but don’t let that put you off. The outside seating is perfect for a balmy Californian evening.
WHERE: Farmer’s Market, 6333 W. 3rd st. Stall #110 Los Angeles, CA 90036
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK : Spicy hot wings with spicy caramalised pineapple sauce $9, Old School Fries $3, Short Order burger – grass-fed beef, griddled mushrooms, bibb lettuce, reading raclette, mustardy mayo $12, Coffee custard malt shake $6, Mama’s Lil Yella Pills $6
BOOK IT: www.opentable.com/short-order-reservations-los-angeles
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ShortOrderLA
TWITTER: twitter.com/shortorderla
WEB: shortorderla.com
OPENING HOURS: Monday – Sunday 11am – 10pm
$$$$$
You won’t feel short changed at Short Order
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URTH CAFFE
WHAT: Urth Caffé is America’s first exclusively organic coffee company. Over 100 teas and coffees A must visit for amazing breakfasts, celeb spotting and the best coffee we had in LA. We have been unable to stop thinking about it ever since.
WHERE: West Hollywood: 8565 Melrose Avenue, (310) 659-0628
Beverly Hills: 267 S. Beverly Drive, (310) 205-9311
Santa Monica: 2327 Main Street, (310) 314-7040
Downtown: 451 South Hewitt Street, (213) 797-4534
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Eggs Verde Two soft poached organic eggs over a bed of arugula, roasted corn, baby tomatoes & poached asparagus spears tossed with peppercorn dressing garnished with cracked pepper & chive oil served with toasted whole wheat bread $11.50.
Natural Beef Hash Heirloom potatoes, bell peppers, onions, parsley and slow roasted short rib topped with two soft poached organic eggs. Served with whole wheat toast $14.95.
The Scramble Three organic eggs served with mixed greens salad dressed with Urth vinaigrette and served with salsa & fresh bread $7.50.
Assorted Bread Pudding brioche baked in custard with a choice of plain or cinnamon raisin $3.25.
BOOK IT: N/A
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Urth-Caffe
TWITTER: twitter.com/UrthCaffeLA
WEB: www.urthcaffe.com
OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday 6.30am – 11.30pm
$$$$$
Get down to Urth for blue skies and perfect breakfasts…
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MEL’S DRIVE-IN
WHAT: One of the 1950’s original style diners, burgers, shakes, sliders, ribs, dogs, you name it, they’ve got it. Open 24 hours, with low prices and great service. We were served by a waitress named Angel, yes really.
WHERE: 8585 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069. Other locations all over California, click here for info
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Ground chuck slider topped with caramelized onions on a brioche bun and Mel’s special sauce $3.25, Short Rib Slider braised short ribs served on a brioche bun, relish and horseradish aioli $4.25. Wet fries (with gravy) $3.95, Short Ribs served with lumpy mashed potatoes, vegetables, roll, and butter $14.95, Strawberry malt £5.25
BOOK IT: +1 310-854-7201
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/melswesthollywood
TWITTER: twitter.com/MelsDriveIn
WEB: www.melsdrive-in.com
OPENING HOURS: 24 hours
$$$$$
Happy days at Mel’s Drive-In
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PHILIPPE THE ORIGINAL
WHAT: Home of the original French dipped sandwich – a crusty French roll dipped in juice from freshly roasted meats. A great experience, like stepping back in time and rock bottom prices, but the sandwich didn’t beat The Hawksmoor’s version. Read up on the history of how the French dip came about here. And make sure you buy some Philippe Mustard ($5) and a t-shirt (from $14) on the way out.
WHERE: 1001 N. Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Beef Dip sandwich $6.75, Lamb Dip Sandwich $8.25, Potato salad $1.30, Coleslaw $1.30, Lemonade 80c, Iced tea 70c, Banana pie $3.65, Cherry pie $3.65
BOOK IT: Not necessary, but be prepared to queue at peak times. You can also order online
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/PhilippetheOG
TWITTER: www.facebook.com/PhilippetheOG
WEB: www.philippes.com
OPENING HOURS: 6am.-10pm. daily
$$$$$
The original and (nearly) the best… Ade gets knowing nods from those in the know when he wears his Philippe’s T-shirt
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HOME
WHAT: A really lovely family and pet oriented restaurant, you’ll be sure to spot many cute pooches. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a homely atmosphere. A lovely outside terrace area with great food, don’t miss their signature fried chicken and waffles for breakfast!
WHERE: 1760 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz, CA 90027. They also have a branch in Silverlake.
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Breakfast ribeye steak and eggs flat iron steak, cooked to order, served with three large eggs cooked to your liking, our seasoned home fries and choice of toast $13.95. Fried Chicken and waffles – honey breaded fried chicken on a golden brown Belgian waffle. Served with maple syrup $13.95. Latte $3.25. Bottomless regular house coffee $2.50.
BOOK IT: (323)665-0211
FACEBOOK: Coming…
TWITTER: twitter.com/losfelizhome
WEB: www.homelosfeliz.com
OPENING HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am to close and weekends 8am to Close. Closing hours are seasonal, please call in colder months.
$$$$$
Click your heels together three times and repeat after me…
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JACK N’ JILLS
WHAT: An unassuming bakery and cafe, great for breakfast. The Beckhams were spotted recently at the Beverley Hills branch.
WHERE: 510 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401. Also branches in Beverley Hills and 3rd Street.
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Breakfast Bowl – sauteed onions, bell peppers, asparagus and mushrooms served over brown rice and topped with a poached egg. choice of ground turkey, chicken or veggie chorizo, with a side of salsa $7.95. Protein Scramble egg whites, fresh pulled chicken, turkey bacon, spinach, tomato, onion, jack, cheddar & mozzarella cheese $12. Large latte $3.50
BOOK IT: You can order online here
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-n-Jills-Too
TWITTER: twitter.com/JacknJillsBH
OPENING HOURS: Everyday 8am – 4pm & 5pm – 9pm
$$$$$
Follow Jack and Jill up that hill to fetch an amazing breakfast
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CURIOUS PALATE
WHAT: A market, kitchen and cafe set up by two friends with a passion for farm-to-table cooking. We stumbled across the branch at The Market within the Santa Monica Place mall and ate one of the best things we’ve ever had in our lives.
WHERE: The Market at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place and there’s a branch at Mar Vista
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Double Pork Chili cup/bowl – slow roasted pork shoulder and applewood-smoked bacon w/ale, pinquito beans, apricot purée & an assortment of dried chilies $8/$14, Smog City L.A. Saison 5.8% Smog City Brewery, Tustin, CA $7, Strand 24th Street Pale Ale 6.1% Strand Brewing, Torrance, CA $7
BOOK IT: 310-395-2901 or order online here
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Curious-Palate
TWITTER: twitter.com/curious_palate
OPENING HOURS: Open daily from 10am to 10pm (9pm on Sundays)
$$$$$
Stay Curious…
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GJELINA
WHAT: An achingly ‘hip’ restaurant on the equally cool Abbott Kinney Blvd, just off Venice beach. For a second we thought we were back in London. Dark, moody, filament bulb overload, blaring music. The food was good but it didn’t match the raving reviews we’d heard of.
WHERE: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd Venice, CA 90291,
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: The Long Walk Home cocktail – Bordeaux, bitters, citrus $8, Stone IPA (22oz) $14, Roasted beets and tops with sherry yoghurt and horseradish $8, Roasted fennel with orange, chilli and fennel pollen $8, Mushroom, goats cheese and fontina and truffle oil pizza $15, Crispy Niman ranch pork belly with anson mills corn grits and apple glaze $15, Affogatto with vanilla gelato caramel and cookies $10
BOOK IT: Book here
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/GjelinaFood
TWITTER: twitter.com/Gjelina
WEB: www.gjelina.com
OPENING HOURS:
Open all day M-F 11:30 – Midnight. Weekends 9:00am – Midnight – Brunch until 3pm.
$$$$$
Too cool for school and too dark to get a decent photo!
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PETIT ERMITAGE
WHAT: A very kooky and eccentric boutique hotel nestled in a residential area in West Hollywood where we spent a wonderful few nights. A charming private rooftop bar with a pool, fire pit, lanterns and flickering candles. The garden has an outdoor restaurant also doubles as a butterfly and hummingbird sanctuary. Every Monday they screen films on the Firedeck, snuggle up and watch a film under the stars with a cocktail in hand.
WHERE: 8822 Cynthia Street, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California 90069
WHAT WE ATE & DRANK: Due to an overwhelming itinerary, we ran out of time to dine here. However the cocktails were beautiful, and unusual. One drink – The Buzz Button, involved chewing on a Szechuan bud before sipping, it makes your mouth tingle and go numb, great for toothache…
BOOK IT: Book here
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/petitermitage
OPENING HOURS: Breakfast is from 7am to noon; lunch is served until 5pm and dinner is from 5pm to 11pm Sunday to Thursday (midnight at weekends). Cocktails are mixed until midnight at the Butterfly Bar.
$$$$$
Hotel Petit Ermitage, you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave. (Sorry I couldn’t resist)
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INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE
WHAT: Back on the cool Abbot Kinney Boulevard lies a coffee lovers dream, they use the Clover brewing system, which means each cup is brewed individually. This place is for proper coffee connoisseurs, and anyone who’s after wi-fi judging by all the guys we saw with MacBooks. A great pit-stop for some people watching after wandering the great junk yards and stationary shops along this street.
WHERE: 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd.Venice, California 90291
BOOK IT: N/A
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Intelligentsia
TWITTER: twitter.com/intellivenice
WEB: www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
OPENING HOURS: 6am – 8pm Monday – Wednesday, 6am – 11pm Thursday – Friday 7am – 11pm Saturday, 7am – 8pm Sunday
$$$$$
Does this coffee actually make you intelligent? Who knows, but you’ll feel a right idiot if you miss it!
I really feel you about being able to uproot everything you love and moving it to Los Angeles; I adore this city and I feel so lucky to have been able to live here the past 9 months, but I can’t wait to get back to London because that is where all my friends and family are, and while I have met so many great people out here in California, it is just not the same here without my ‘people’.
Short Order is somewhere so many people have recommended to me, and somewhere I really hope to eat at before I leave; it has just been my luck every single person I have been to The Grove with and needed to get lunch has fancied something else from The Farmers Market. The food you had at Urth looks incredible, maybe I should have gone there for brunch and not dinner? I ate at the one in Beverly Hills back in January and it was just an ‘average’ meal for me. Absolutely incredible smoothie though. Thanks for the recommendation for The Curious Palette; I’m at Santa Monica Place a couple of times a month (I love the Bloomingdales there!) but I’ve never thought of grabbing a bite to eat at The Market. I had lunch at GJELINA on my birthday (sitting outside, I don’t think I’d want to sit inside) and while the food lived up to the hype, I was so-so on their dessert, so I think I know what you mean. I got some great recipe ideas from the meal though, and I wish I’d tried one of their pizzas; I might get one take-away from their hole in the wall (did you see it, it is pretty awesome!) I know my friends who like hanging around Abbot Kinney love Intelligentsia and the interior is pretty awesome, but did you stop in at the TOMS flagship practically opposite? I go there as I like pressed juice (they have a fridge of offering from The Pressed Juicery) rather than coffee, and they have an awesome outdoor indie seating area, with all the prerequisite LA Mac Books!
I’m glad you had such a great trip, and I’m looking forward to trying some of your restaurant recommendations in London when I move back net month x
Thank you for reading Rachel, and for taking the time to comment.Make the most of the rest of your time there and enjoy all London has to offer when you return!Now get down to Short Order and Curious Palate!
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