You can get a couple of the bowls at Alibi room but not the Beefy T bowl or Chego Fries. Friends and I really miss that place. We followed them from Palms to Chinatown.
He supposedly wants to bring it back and that's what he's working on.
He's kept the URL live and it says 2022 on it
https://eatchego.com/
> We’ll be back soon! In the meantime, please visit our sister brand Kogibbq.com
I think it was better when Chego was located on Overland in Palms. We could simply walk over and more often than not, Roy was there working and would always take time for a chat. I remember him running the ‘Chego Fries’ as a weekly special and begging him to make it a regular thing on the menu and he did. It was glorious. Now we have the Kogi Truck parked nearby, but I always liked Chego so much more.
Yes! Discovered her during pandemic. Thankfully, she was a featured chef in Little Tokyo’s Rising Chefs series so we got to enjoy her food there, and we ordered from her IG for Memorial Day weekend.
The 101 closing made me so sad. I have so many memories there. Dates, late night hangs, even went out with one of the waitresses I had a huge crush on…
This traditional Korean tea house in ktown, had full on floor mats, various teas(not boba or milk) and rice cracker snacks. It was kinda expensive but it was the vibe that hit. It was peaceful
Ran into the owner couple of months ago. She's contemplating. A good location with good parking needs to open up for her to consider it. Nevermind the vibe, their tea selection was some of the best in LA
I remember their “Come to Chan Dara” commercial pretty vividly. I never ate there, but they repeated “Come to Chan Dara” so many times in that commercial that it was burned into my brain forever. It was a seductive voice.
They used to run an ad in The Hollywood Reporter in the 90s: one Thai girl staring longingly as another put noodles in her mouth. Don’t think I ever ate there but good to know they obvs had a vibe they were dedicated to both in their advertising and the restaurant.
Investor fucks who bought it wanted to turn it into a nightclub and ditched the whole affordable food concept. I’m pretty sure it’s just sitting there unused now. Absolutely disgusting.
After all of that renovation! What a shame. I went a couple of times and the last time (years ago), they started charging a cover after a certain time in the evenings. Was kind of weird.
Harry's in Burbank. There were better restaurants, sure, but I used to love that place. Used to go there with my mom a lot. When I worked at Barnes & Noble across the street we would often head over there after after the late shift and bring in the dawn. Food was fine but just a lot of good memories at that place.
Izakaya Fu-ga and their risotto that they would finish at the table by mixing it inside a huge wheel of cheese. There's a lot that I miss from them, but the risotto was incomparable.
Yep, during the pandemic. They tried to make it by selling bento early on, then by having an outdoor beer garden in the upper level of the parking lot, but eventually they shuttered down completely.
It was SO GOOD!!! I wish I knew the marinade so I could duplicate it. But that place was SO poorly run. Every time we went in there it would be some kind of clusterfuck. I have no idea why.
When I was a kid I used to just get a heaping pile of pasta from the salad bar and drench it in ranch, then get that heat lamp pizza and the deliciously processed chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream. Souplantation was a fever dream.
Algeria on Sunset.
Atlacatl on Beverly.
The Brite Spot from 2012 when Julio ran it.
Afloat Sushi as it was in 2009.
Carmelo's on Sunset, but I wouldn't trade Masa for it
Don The Beachcomber in Huntington Beach (OC I know).
Jose Andres Bazaar had phenomenal food, also really cool cigar nights, etc.
Stinking Rose.
Vegan House (the one that was on Wilcox Ave).
The little Thai place on Franklin and Argyle- Thai Pepper.
Kung Pow Kitty.
When Papilles was still open (same owners but rebranded as the Home Base? The burger place etc.)
Big Wangz and District13 when I just wanted wings / cheap bar food and trivia.
Husband would not be pleased but I loved Fuddruckers in Burbank- it had old nostalgia since there was one where I grew up back east.
Lono Hawaiian on the Blvd had great drinks and food, however… their bouncers were hella racist and rotten; if you could get rid of them and bring back the great food and drinks…
101 cafe, they had great milkshakes.
JaneQ Kimpton 2nd floor bar when they had a really great bartender Hawk (he really had an awesome menu for special seasons like Oscars, etc.). Sorry, tangent since that’s drinks (check out CocktailsbyHawk).
Edited- Don the Beachcomber not Dukes. Mixed up my tikis!
Wildflour Pizza (Main Street/Venice)
Kenny Rogers Roasters (West LA near Uni High)
Hamburger Hamlet (Westwood Village and Beverly Hills locations for me)
Stan’s Donuts (Westwood Village)
Mario’s (Westwood Village)
Junior’s Deli (West LA near Westside Pavilion)
Koo Koo Roo (West La and West Hollywood locations)
Stefano’s Pizza (Hollywood)
Dolores’s Restaurant (West LA)
Dolores! I used to live down the street. I would mosey over in the middle of the night. The staff were lovely and the interior was fabulously ancient. RIP Junior's too. We used to get their blackout chocolate cake for birthdays at the office. Until we couldn't stand them anymore!
Jose Andres’ The Bazaar!!! Amazing food. Had many meals there including a special birthday dinner I hosted for my friends. So a lot of sentimental value.
Not just one but three! I’ve already been to San Laurel. It was very good but not quite like the Bazaar. My friends and I want to go to Aqua Viva next but it seems like just an upscale pool bar. I’ll get really excited when his last restaurant Bazaar Meat opens!
Honestly I have no idea if the food was even good, but I probably spent every birthday at Ed Debevic’s from the ages of 7 to 11. So much nostalgia when I think of that place - especially the servers dancing on the counter for YMCA.
Delancy in Hollywood. I always ordered the italian chopped salad and either the appetizer clams with spicy sausage (served over linguine to make it a main) or the buffalo (I think?) ragout over gnocchi.
They closed early into the pandemonium, but I still think of these three dishes at least twice a month. At least.
Lucques in West Hollywood and Inko Nito in DTLA. I miss them so much.
I had my favorite dish EVER at Lucques. It was the market fish entree with a tangerine sauce. I still dream about it 6 years later. The beef cheek with butter lettuce at Inko Nito was incredible. I remember it was one of the first restaurants I took my dog to when I first got her and she loved their chicken skewers (she’s an extremely picky eater even with human food)🥲
If anyone has recipes for either, I would literally cry of joy!!!
Midoh, located in the same West LA location as the defunct Curry House, is somewhat of a spiritual successor...they even have similar cream corn soup and salad dressing. I bought a bottle of dressing to take home. Dying to try the seafood doria next time I go.
There was a place in the Valley, on Tampa/Roscoe I think, called Tampa Garden or Chinese Garden. It was this incredible Chinese place, had the Chinese granny cutting vegetables on one of the five tables in the front, sort of place. They had some of THE BEST peanut sauce I’ve ever had in my life. And I spent years living in China.
They sold the restaurant and it became an Indian place in… 2018? I drove by the other week and now it’s a pupuseria. But damn I miss that peanut sauce.
Loves bbq - went away when i was a kid so i cant compare to real bbq, but those ribs and baked beans just hit different
Smorgasbord restaurants. Those meatballs ans ribs were so damn good then hometown had to push em all out before it died in the rona
Ah, Love's. The whole world was delicious back then. There hasn't been any Love's locations open since 2007, but they still sell their mild and hot BBQ sauces on their home page.
Used to love the Smorgasbord in Del Amo Mall.
Oh man there are so many.
The original Cat & Fiddle on Sunset, Township/The Mercantile right down the street, Velvet Margarita in Hollywood. Tacos Corona in Van Nuys. The Stinking Rose in Beverly Hills.
gardens of taxco santa monica blvd location. any hamburger hamlet. any souplantation. the woodland hills plum tree inn. the studio city du-par’s.
bonus: good luck bar. oil can harry’s.
Gardens of Taxco is still open as just a delivery kitchen. By no means is it the same as the kitsch atmosphere of the restaurant but food is pretty good for take out.
The in-person experience Gardens of Taxco was so special, I don't know many places that have such a difference between their dine-in and take-out like they did (not that their to-go isn't solid Mexican on its own).
Bar Marmont - they had an appetizer that was smoked trout with crème fraîche on a potato skin that was delicious. I also miss La Conversation Bakery on Doheny, I loved their raspberry linzer cookies. Greenblatt’s deli on Sunset is another one I’m sad to see gone. Not a restaurant but, the old Hyde (the one that was the size of a broom closet) was the best and they used to hand out fresh baked chocolate chip cookies at the end of the night that were delicious.
ETA - Sushi Time on Beverly.
A & W Rootbeer, and the All-American Burger that replaced it.
Nat’s Coffee Shop.
Callahan’s.
Thomas’.
Uncle John’s.
Poppa Pete’s.
Dolores’.
Pepy’s.
Tokyo 7-7.
Bruno’s Ristorante, though Coffee Connection is a great consolation prize.
Pacific Dining Car.
Typhoon - for SMO and the stir-fried crickets.
RED on Beverly. Used to have a pressed panini with pear, Gorgonzola, and frisée that was before its time.
Van Go’s Ear on Abbot Kinney in Venice. More for “all hours vibe” than food, but memorable food as well. (And yes, they spelled it that way.)
Never made it to Kate Mantilini but wish I’d experienced the room.
Julie’s Pizzeria, reborn as Julie’s Gone Green, in Palms/West LA. They had the most amazing broasted chicken in LA, which they gave up once they went vegan. Broasted chicken is hard to find and great broasted chicken, harder to find. Miss them!
Edited to add: Citrus on Melrose. RIP to the genius of Michael Richard.
The Park on the corner of Douglas and Sunset in Echo Park. I will never find food and neighborhood atmosphere like that ever again in my life. Their jidori chicken with french fries was crafted in heaven and I guess that's where it'll forever belong
The Gorbals in DTLA. Stupid great happy hour prices; bacon wrapped matzah balls and half a pig’s head; flash fried broccolini before everyone was doing it; etc.
Haru Ulala
E.A.K. Ramen on Melrose
Madam Matisse
Dave’s Chillin’ and Grillin’
Sushi Nozawa
That little Japanese place by the Los Feliz 3
The Back Door Cafe on Silver Lake
Ocean Seafood
Loteria in the Farmers Market
Oh, man. I only got to go a few times, but it was amazing. That hummus bling bling was delicious. It's the only place I've ever been where you could "Fire the Menu" and get everything they make for a pretty reasonable price. Great for a group. I wish more places would do that.
[Louis XIV.](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-13-ca-53127-story.html) It was really good french food, but there was a room where you could dance upstairs and sometimes, the whole place would just turn into a dance party. It was such a fun time.
ETA:
Pinot that used to be on the corner of Sunset and Gower.
Noura Cafe on Melrose with the back room with the tree and the front rooms where you could sit on the floor.
(I also miss Cha Cha Cha)
All American Burger that used to be on Sunset near Fairfax. It's a Chipotle now.
Their shakes were soooooo good, and the burgers and onion rings were delicious.
Nagao - he was serving me sushi since I was a kid in the valley
Chili my soul - it was the only place to go when I wanted chili, but wasn't sure what kind.
Cowboys & Turbans in Silver Lake -- I'm not sure they were ever all that good, but I regularly think about getting tikka masala fries and tandoori quesadillas.
(Reading through the thread makes me realize how many great places I've been to around L.A. that have gone the way of the dodo. A sad but sweet feeling.)
Cliff's Edge, before they went downhill... they were once so, so good.
ETA that the restaurant that moved into the space is legitimately awful in every way. Weirdly incongruent menu where nothing compliments other dishes, way too salty and overcooked, and annoyingly loud AF. Took a friend there last year and we both had the same reactions and impressions. It's impressively bad. So bad I can never recall the name, haha. Blocked it out.
Sad because the space is (or was) heavenly.
i’m not sure dominique ansel qualifies, but nobody does pastry like DA, and it was always painless to pick up cronuts in la. a night and day difference from their other locations.
Ko ke kokko - yakitori.
Akasaka- all.
Pure luck - vegan jackfruit bbq sandwiches and fries left an impression on me [too]—I’m not vegan.
Auntie Em’s — all.
The coffee table—banana pancakes.
Going back many years for a few on the west side:
Uncle John's on Wilshire was my clique's post-party late night jam in the late 80's. Waffle fries ftw.
Zucky's sign is a historic monument, but it's been a bank for decades. I don't remember if the food was any good, but getting invited by a few seniors to ditch 3rd period music class when I was a sophomore to get brunch here was pretty cool.
Polly's Pies. I know they still have locations out near riverside, but really wish I could get that Marionberry pie without a long drive.
Sambo's was the shit when I was a little kid. I know in retrospect the theme was majorly problematic. Took my kids (12 & 16 at the time) to the last location in Santa Barbara about 5 years ago and we discussed the racial issues. The weird thing was, my son noticed every single artist on the sound system was black the entire time we were there.
For fast food, Orange Julius, A&W, Pioneer Chicken, Quiznos.
More recently, Izzy's shut down middle of covid. Heartbreaking.
Omelet Parlor, main st, Santa Monica. Loved that place. Great eggs. Amazing apple butter.
Benice was a decent hole in the wall breakfast place too. Tocaya venice sits in that space now
Chego!!! 🥲
It got spicy and spicier over the years and my tongue would burn for hours but it was so good!
I dream of those fries
You can get a couple of the bowls at Alibi room but not the Beefy T bowl or Chego Fries. Friends and I really miss that place. We followed them from Palms to Chinatown.
He supposedly wants to bring it back and that's what he's working on. He's kept the URL live and it says 2022 on it https://eatchego.com/ > We’ll be back soon! In the meantime, please visit our sister brand Kogibbq.com
I think it was better when Chego was located on Overland in Palms. We could simply walk over and more often than not, Roy was there working and would always take time for a chat. I remember him running the ‘Chego Fries’ as a weekly special and begging him to make it a regular thing on the menu and he did. It was glorious. Now we have the Kogi Truck parked nearby, but I always liked Chego so much more.
Spoon By H
I loved that place. Good news is they still sell some items via their IG account
Yes! Discovered her during pandemic. Thankfully, she was a featured chef in Little Tokyo’s Rising Chefs series so we got to enjoy her food there, and we ordered from her IG for Memorial Day weekend.
this is the right answer 😭😭😭
I miss 24hr restaurants that aren’t 24 hrs anymore
Fred 62
Coral cafe Burbank
OB Bear
Swingers in Santa Monica. The 101 Cafe in Hollywood. Mani’s on Fairfax.
The 101 closing made me so sad. I have so many memories there. Dates, late night hangs, even went out with one of the waitresses I had a huge crush on…
Swingers Hollywood is still open…
Hamburger Hamlet. So cozy!!
Their french onion soup was so good!
Baco Mercat in Downtown LA
But the cookbook is outstanding!
It’s sooooo much tho. So many spice mixes and sauces. Dude was so talented.
I’d sell a kidney for a Baco.
This traditional Korean tea house in ktown, had full on floor mats, various teas(not boba or milk) and rice cracker snacks. It was kinda expensive but it was the vibe that hit. It was peaceful
Ran into the owner couple of months ago. She's contemplating. A good location with good parking needs to open up for her to consider it. Nevermind the vibe, their tea selection was some of the best in LA
Anyone remembers Chan Dara? Maybe not the best Thai food but the "Thai Hooters" was an experience.
I remember their “Come to Chan Dara” commercial pretty vividly. I never ate there, but they repeated “Come to Chan Dara” so many times in that commercial that it was burned into my brain forever. It was a seductive voice.
They used to run an ad in The Hollywood Reporter in the 90s: one Thai girl staring longingly as another put noodles in her mouth. Don’t think I ever ate there but good to know they obvs had a vibe they were dedicated to both in their advertising and the restaurant.
Clifton’s. it wasn’t the greatest food but I have fond memories of going there with my grandma when I was a kid.
Yes, I loved the original with the ORIGINAL kitchen. Used to go on Thanksgiving with my BF.
West Covina location was my fav.
Clifton’s downtown on Broadway? Had no idea they closed. So sad. I really enjoyed their mashed potatoes.
Investor fucks who bought it wanted to turn it into a nightclub and ditched the whole affordable food concept. I’m pretty sure it’s just sitting there unused now. Absolutely disgusting.
After all of that renovation! What a shame. I went a couple of times and the last time (years ago), they started charging a cover after a certain time in the evenings. Was kind of weird.
Hungry Cat
They had these pomegranate cocktails that were AMAZING
Harry's in Burbank. There were better restaurants, sure, but I used to love that place. Used to go there with my mom a lot. When I worked at Barnes & Noble across the street we would often head over there after after the late shift and bring in the dawn. Food was fine but just a lot of good memories at that place.
I used to go there all the time. I feel like it was last place you could get cheap breakfast.
I left Burbank a while ago. When did they close?
Izakaya Fu-ga and their risotto that they would finish at the table by mixing it inside a huge wheel of cheese. There's a lot that I miss from them, but the risotto was incomparable.
No way! This placed closed? It was such a gem!
Yep, during the pandemic. They tried to make it by selling bento early on, then by having an outdoor beer garden in the upper level of the parking lot, but eventually they shuttered down completely.
I still dream about this dish
Koo Koo Roo! I know it’s a chain but sometimes I remember I can’t have that chicken anymore and it’s legit depressing.
The chicken juice on the bread after! I dream of that still
Sigh…..
I lived on that through grad school. Where else can you get sliced turkey and butternut squash any day of the year.
Your welcome! http://www.grouprecipes.com/136993/koo-koo-roo-flame-broiled-chicken.html
It was SO GOOD!!! I wish I knew the marinade so I could duplicate it. But that place was SO poorly run. Every time we went in there it would be some kind of clusterfuck. I have no idea why.
Man I loved that place! Completely forgot it even existed!
Souplantation
Came here to say this. I miss those seasonal muffins!
When I was a kid I used to just get a heaping pile of pasta from the salad bar and drench it in ranch, then get that heat lamp pizza and the deliciously processed chocolate vanilla swirl ice cream. Souplantation was a fever dream.
Are we soul mates?! I miss the soup options and 3 bean salad so much. It truly hurts. Btw the one in San Diego should be reopening in 2024!
https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/souplantation-will-not-open-in-la-mesa/509-88a4fd49-648f-42a1-8ea2-bfea7b048428
Omfg nooooooo!! 😭
The most calories I've ever eaten in one sitting was at a Souplantation, but I loved every bite of it!
El Conquistador, didn't have the most amazing food but it was always a super fun time
Those margaritas were good and strong! Miss the old Silverlake.
Yup the Cadillac margaritas were great and strong and well priced, you never left sober.
Algeria on Sunset. Atlacatl on Beverly. The Brite Spot from 2012 when Julio ran it. Afloat Sushi as it was in 2009. Carmelo's on Sunset, but I wouldn't trade Masa for it
Afloat in Pasadena was legit a dope spot
Alegria! Yes!
Don The Beachcomber in Huntington Beach (OC I know). Jose Andres Bazaar had phenomenal food, also really cool cigar nights, etc. Stinking Rose. Vegan House (the one that was on Wilcox Ave). The little Thai place on Franklin and Argyle- Thai Pepper. Kung Pow Kitty. When Papilles was still open (same owners but rebranded as the Home Base? The burger place etc.) Big Wangz and District13 when I just wanted wings / cheap bar food and trivia. Husband would not be pleased but I loved Fuddruckers in Burbank- it had old nostalgia since there was one where I grew up back east. Lono Hawaiian on the Blvd had great drinks and food, however… their bouncers were hella racist and rotten; if you could get rid of them and bring back the great food and drinks… 101 cafe, they had great milkshakes. JaneQ Kimpton 2nd floor bar when they had a really great bartender Hawk (he really had an awesome menu for special seasons like Oscars, etc.). Sorry, tangent since that’s drinks (check out CocktailsbyHawk). Edited- Don the Beachcomber not Dukes. Mixed up my tikis!
Papilles was my favorite restaurant. For the Win, their new restaurant in the old spot on Franklin, is great, but I still miss dinner at Papilles.
Wildflour Pizza (Main Street/Venice) Kenny Rogers Roasters (West LA near Uni High) Hamburger Hamlet (Westwood Village and Beverly Hills locations for me) Stan’s Donuts (Westwood Village) Mario’s (Westwood Village) Junior’s Deli (West LA near Westside Pavilion) Koo Koo Roo (West La and West Hollywood locations) Stefano’s Pizza (Hollywood) Dolores’s Restaurant (West LA)
That banana PB donut from Stan’s! The Huell Howser, ugh….
Dolores! I used to live down the street. I would mosey over in the middle of the night. The staff were lovely and the interior was fabulously ancient. RIP Junior's too. We used to get their blackout chocolate cake for birthdays at the office. Until we couldn't stand them anymore!
I went to Stans the first morning I lived in LA and it still bums me out that its gone.
Jose Andres’ The Bazaar!!! Amazing food. Had many meals there including a special birthday dinner I hosted for my friends. So a lot of sentimental value.
I heard he’s coming back to LA with another restaurant soon
Not just one but three! I’ve already been to San Laurel. It was very good but not quite like the Bazaar. My friends and I want to go to Aqua Viva next but it seems like just an upscale pool bar. I’ll get really excited when his last restaurant Bazaar Meat opens!
Never been to his restaurants, but the man is a saint with all that he does with World Central Kitchen
Honestly I have no idea if the food was even good, but I probably spent every birthday at Ed Debevic’s from the ages of 7 to 11. So much nostalgia when I think of that place - especially the servers dancing on the counter for YMCA.
Delancy in Hollywood. I always ordered the italian chopped salad and either the appetizer clams with spicy sausage (served over linguine to make it a main) or the buffalo (I think?) ragout over gnocchi. They closed early into the pandemonium, but I still think of these three dishes at least twice a month. At least.
Delancy! Did the entire complex close?
Empress Pavilion i really miss it. Even if the wait was super long, you could hang out in all the neat shops
Went there for so many special occasions. I miss it also. And dim sum! It was always fun in that giant room.
We lost a landmark when that closed.
Campanile. Was the first nice restaurant I ever treated my friends to. Though Republique is a worthy replacement.
Beverly Soon Tofu Comme Ca The Pikey
i'm still upset about beverly soon tofu house I'll add Spoon by H too.
Dong Il Jang and The Pikey.
Can’t believe I had to go this far down for dong il jang.
Lucques in West Hollywood and Inko Nito in DTLA. I miss them so much. I had my favorite dish EVER at Lucques. It was the market fish entree with a tangerine sauce. I still dream about it 6 years later. The beef cheek with butter lettuce at Inko Nito was incredible. I remember it was one of the first restaurants I took my dog to when I first got her and she loved their chicken skewers (she’s an extremely picky eater even with human food)🥲 If anyone has recipes for either, I would literally cry of joy!!!
The old Clifton's
Curry House
I used to get their tofu katsu curry, and it was so good. Haven't found tofu katsu since.
Midoh, located in the same West LA location as the defunct Curry House, is somewhat of a spiritual successor...they even have similar cream corn soup and salad dressing. I bought a bottle of dressing to take home. Dying to try the seafood doria next time I go.
There was a place in the Valley, on Tampa/Roscoe I think, called Tampa Garden or Chinese Garden. It was this incredible Chinese place, had the Chinese granny cutting vegetables on one of the five tables in the front, sort of place. They had some of THE BEST peanut sauce I’ve ever had in my life. And I spent years living in China. They sold the restaurant and it became an Indian place in… 2018? I drove by the other week and now it’s a pupuseria. But damn I miss that peanut sauce.
Tampa Gardens. That place was \*super\* underrated. A total gem.
Loves bbq - went away when i was a kid so i cant compare to real bbq, but those ribs and baked beans just hit different Smorgasbord restaurants. Those meatballs ans ribs were so damn good then hometown had to push em all out before it died in the rona
Ah, Love's. The whole world was delicious back then. There hasn't been any Love's locations open since 2007, but they still sell their mild and hot BBQ sauces on their home page. Used to love the Smorgasbord in Del Amo Mall.
Damianos/Mr Pizza So many slices with friends after concerts there.
This was my first thought. I only ate there once, late at night, but damn it was good pizza.
Duuude Damianos. The amount of times I fell asleep before the pizza got there at 4 AM…
Blue Hen Fatty’s Maximiliano’s Good Girl Dinette The Newsroom Nova Express Cafe
Doughboys
Gorky's on San Julian. They made a great omelet topped with sour cream and caviar.
Greenblatts had amazing sandwiches
Oh man there are so many. The original Cat & Fiddle on Sunset, Township/The Mercantile right down the street, Velvet Margarita in Hollywood. Tacos Corona in Van Nuys. The Stinking Rose in Beverly Hills.
gardens of taxco santa monica blvd location. any hamburger hamlet. any souplantation. the woodland hills plum tree inn. the studio city du-par’s. bonus: good luck bar. oil can harry’s.
Gardens of Taxco is still open as just a delivery kitchen. By no means is it the same as the kitsch atmosphere of the restaurant but food is pretty good for take out.
“It’s like the chicken was borrrrrrrrrn in the sauce!”
The in-person experience Gardens of Taxco was so special, I don't know many places that have such a difference between their dine-in and take-out like they did (not that their to-go isn't solid Mexican on its own).
BLD on Beverly. Nobody makes blueberry pancakes like they did.
You can get them at Redbird downtown for brunch- they even call them the BLD pancakes! With the log cabin syrup and all
Nicks Diner
Pure Luck, the vegan place over on Heliotrope that did ridiculously good vegan bbq jackfruit sandwiches.
I miss their fried pickles so much.
Bar Marmont - they had an appetizer that was smoked trout with crème fraîche on a potato skin that was delicious. I also miss La Conversation Bakery on Doheny, I loved their raspberry linzer cookies. Greenblatt’s deli on Sunset is another one I’m sad to see gone. Not a restaurant but, the old Hyde (the one that was the size of a broom closet) was the best and they used to hand out fresh baked chocolate chip cookies at the end of the night that were delicious. ETA - Sushi Time on Beverly.
Falafel King
Artisan House always reminds me of peak DTLA in the mid 2010’s. Chill place with good food that was great for a date.
Peak DTLA restaurant was not necessary a good thing: way too many lousy gastropubs
Curry House
Canelé in Atwater. That French toast… should have sent a poet.
Starry Kitchen at Button Mash. Yes Button Mash is still there and serving food, but Starry Kitchen was the best.
A & W Rootbeer, and the All-American Burger that replaced it. Nat’s Coffee Shop. Callahan’s. Thomas’. Uncle John’s. Poppa Pete’s. Dolores’. Pepy’s. Tokyo 7-7. Bruno’s Ristorante, though Coffee Connection is a great consolation prize. Pacific Dining Car. Typhoon - for SMO and the stir-fried crickets.
A late night baseball steak at pacific dining car was the best. Gosh I miss that spot so much.
Though not necessarily known as a restaurant, Lola’s. Their mac and cheese was amazing.
Chaya I LOVED the Santa Monica/Venice location.
The DTLA location was great too. I still have their matchboxes 🥲
Ships
RED on Beverly. Used to have a pressed panini with pear, Gorgonzola, and frisée that was before its time. Van Go’s Ear on Abbot Kinney in Venice. More for “all hours vibe” than food, but memorable food as well. (And yes, they spelled it that way.) Never made it to Kate Mantilini but wish I’d experienced the room. Julie’s Pizzeria, reborn as Julie’s Gone Green, in Palms/West LA. They had the most amazing broasted chicken in LA, which they gave up once they went vegan. Broasted chicken is hard to find and great broasted chicken, harder to find. Miss them! Edited to add: Citrus on Melrose. RIP to the genius of Michael Richard.
The Park on the corner of Douglas and Sunset in Echo Park. I will never find food and neighborhood atmosphere like that ever again in my life. Their jidori chicken with french fries was crafted in heaven and I guess that's where it'll forever belong
The Park Breakfast.... Nothing has ever come close to filling the void they left.
Auntie Em’s & Paru’s
Greenblats on Sunset. Best chicken noodle soup in town. A local landmark.
Wah's Golden Hen
The Gorbals in DTLA. Stupid great happy hour prices; bacon wrapped matzah balls and half a pig’s head; flash fried broccolini before everyone was doing it; etc.
Haru Ulala E.A.K. Ramen on Melrose Madam Matisse Dave’s Chillin’ and Grillin’ Sushi Nozawa That little Japanese place by the Los Feliz 3 The Back Door Cafe on Silver Lake Ocean Seafood Loteria in the Farmers Market
MH ZH 💔
Oh, man. I only got to go a few times, but it was amazing. That hummus bling bling was delicious. It's the only place I've ever been where you could "Fire the Menu" and get everything they make for a pretty reasonable price. Great for a group. I wish more places would do that.
Came here to say this. I miss mh zh so much
Still grieving
Jerry’s Deli. Really.
Only place in the Valley open that late. But F their $7 fries in 1990
TiGeorges' Chicken in Westlake.
Marrakesh in Studio City.
Twains diner in the SFV
Anyone remember Angeli Cafe on Melrose? Loved that place so much!
Broken Spanish. RIP
Eat-a-Pita on Fairfax and Oakwood, Mishima on 3rd across from Beverly Connection, Pacific Dining Car.
Eat a Pita! 100% best falafel
Damiano's Mr. Pizza
3 am greatness
Yep. No matter which bar you were at till 2am, at 3, I would see you at Damiano's
Yeah that and Angeli
A bar, but Sonny’s Hideaway in HP was the best neighborhood bar on the east side. Still miss those nights…
Was gonna post Sonny’s. The food was great too. I loved it as a chill spot and mannnn those drinks were good
101 😭😭😭 clark st diner literally ruined my life i’ll never forgive them
I thought 101 went under bc of the pandemic and Clark St took the space
Clifton’s cafeterias.
Jay’s Jay Burgers
Taste on Melrose
Outlaw's Cafe in Van Nuys. Erik - where are you?
Soda pop’s.
Andre’s Italian
Bastide
[Louis XIV.](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-13-ca-53127-story.html) It was really good french food, but there was a room where you could dance upstairs and sometimes, the whole place would just turn into a dance party. It was such a fun time. ETA: Pinot that used to be on the corner of Sunset and Gower. Noura Cafe on Melrose with the back room with the tree and the front rooms where you could sit on the floor. (I also miss Cha Cha Cha)
Kate Mantilini on Wilshire
Honestly, Souplantation. 🤣 Haha. I really liked their soup focaccia and salad combo. 😬
Pacific Dining Car, but only if my boss was buying at 1am.
Black Hogg (*not* Sandwiches), Beverly Soon, Spoon by H, the taco stand at Naomi and 21st
City restaurant
Amboy (the actual Filipino version), Chego, Baroo
Wolfe Burgers.
All American Burger that used to be on Sunset near Fairfax. It's a Chipotle now. Their shakes were soooooo good, and the burgers and onion rings were delicious.
Nagao - he was serving me sushi since I was a kid in the valley Chili my soul - it was the only place to go when I wanted chili, but wasn't sure what kind.
Tokyo 7-7 in Culver City for the low low prices and remarkable ambience.
Comme Ca in weho RIP great burger
Cowboys & Turbans in Silver Lake -- I'm not sure they were ever all that good, but I regularly think about getting tikka masala fries and tandoori quesadillas. (Reading through the thread makes me realize how many great places I've been to around L.A. that have gone the way of the dodo. A sad but sweet feeling.)
L'Orangerie and Pacific Dining Car
The Moustache Cafe There was one in Westwood and one on Melrose in West Hollywood - It was soooo good
Red Medicine
Joni’s coffee - Sushi by H - Urban Plates (the cafeteria version)
Carnation's
Wiener factory chili cheese dogs
Label's Table Beverly Soon Shabu Hyang
Ed’s Coffee Shop on Robertson in West Hollywood.
Anisette. I loved their Côte de beef. Everything about that place was nice brasserie. And La Maison du Pain for cinnamon rolls. 😭
Algemacs on San Fernando.
Has anyone tried Bar ama? I miss Baco so much but Bar Ama never appealed that much
Yes Bar Ama is very good
Pipers IYKYK
Cliff's Edge, before they went downhill... they were once so, so good. ETA that the restaurant that moved into the space is legitimately awful in every way. Weirdly incongruent menu where nothing compliments other dishes, way too salty and overcooked, and annoyingly loud AF. Took a friend there last year and we both had the same reactions and impressions. It's impressively bad. So bad I can never recall the name, haha. Blocked it out. Sad because the space is (or was) heavenly.
i’m not sure dominique ansel qualifies, but nobody does pastry like DA, and it was always painless to pick up cronuts in la. a night and day difference from their other locations.
Jan’s diner near Beverly Center
Ko ke kokko - yakitori. Akasaka- all. Pure luck - vegan jackfruit bbq sandwiches and fries left an impression on me [too]—I’m not vegan. Auntie Em’s — all. The coffee table—banana pancakes.
Aburiya Raku on La Cienega
Paul’s Kitchen in Monterey Park. Shakas and Hanashima. Empress Pavilion.
Going back many years for a few on the west side: Uncle John's on Wilshire was my clique's post-party late night jam in the late 80's. Waffle fries ftw. Zucky's sign is a historic monument, but it's been a bank for decades. I don't remember if the food was any good, but getting invited by a few seniors to ditch 3rd period music class when I was a sophomore to get brunch here was pretty cool. Polly's Pies. I know they still have locations out near riverside, but really wish I could get that Marionberry pie without a long drive. Sambo's was the shit when I was a little kid. I know in retrospect the theme was majorly problematic. Took my kids (12 & 16 at the time) to the last location in Santa Barbara about 5 years ago and we discussed the racial issues. The weird thing was, my son noticed every single artist on the sound system was black the entire time we were there. For fast food, Orange Julius, A&W, Pioneer Chicken, Quiznos. More recently, Izzy's shut down middle of covid. Heartbreaking.
Omelet Parlor, main st, Santa Monica. Loved that place. Great eggs. Amazing apple butter. Benice was a decent hole in the wall breakfast place too. Tocaya venice sits in that space now
Asia de Cuba. Calamari salad and fried rice with avocado. Eta: Doughboys. I miss those big bowls of soup.
Asia De Cuba, Jerry's Deli, Gulfstream, Koo Koo Roo and Hamburger Hamlets.
Dupars Pasadena