Just Sweet Love

Good Eats: Little Next Door

I might be a bit biased because I own a similar looking expresso-beaned creature myself, but I am so in love with Little Next Door. The moment I stepped inside the restaurant, I felt transported to a charming Parisian bistro with lush green plants and fantastic lighting.  

 

I had the tasiest Moules Frites and my handsome friend over here, Derrick, ordered the whitefish. They have an impressive wine section and a very sweet bakery to match. I just wish we had room at the end of our meal for dessert. I couldn't handle it :) 

Good Eats: Loteria Grill

In the hustle bustle of Farmers Market, there is one particular food stand that sticks out above the rest. All my friends rave about Loteria Grill and I was so excited to finally try it. 

 

The food exceeded my expections! My burrito was jammed pack with flavor and their salsa had the perfect amount of kick. I was left in an overwhelming state of food coma. Yum. 

Good eats: Mama's Lu

So I found my newest obsession: soup dumplings. 

I pass by Mama's Lu a lot when I'm visiting my mom. I see the lines. I see the big families. That must be a good sign, no? 

Indeed. 

 

 

Good Eats: Blue Marlin & Beard Papa

On Sawtelle Blvd in West LA, there's a tiny stretch of land that reminds me of a miniature version of J-Town. Whenever I crave Asian food but refuse to drive, I'll always pop by here for some Hurry Curry or Curry House. This time around, I went and tried Blue Marlin with a perfect dessert stop at Beard Papa. 

The restaurant was simple and our waitress was so sweet. They're known for omurice, a combination of omelet and rice, which is what I ordered. I'm glad I tried it, but I'm not sure if I'd eat it again. Different strokes for different folks. 

 

After dinner, Jennifer and I walked over to Beard Papa to cross another spot off GFN.

 

Beard Papa, I would have you for dessert every single day if I could. You're just so yummy.

Good Eats: Millie's Cafe

On a Sunday morning, hungover and in dire need something yummy and breakfast-y, my girlriend + I took a short drive over the reservoir to an enchanted land called Silverlake. 

I apologize firsthand for displaying a half eaten breakfast filled with ketchup. I didn't realize I hadn't taken a picture yet until I did. Blame It on the Alcohol. 

I loved having breakfast on the sidewalk under the shady green umbrellas. It felt so nice having the breeze on my face whilst enjoying a cup of joe and catching up with Chris. I took to Yelp while waiting to be seated and practically everyone raved about the biscuits.. they weren't magical in my book. A little dry, but it's all good. You win some, lose some. 

 

Good Eats: Tender Greens

I stumbled upon Culver City's farmer's market when I came to meet girlfriends for dinner at Tender Greens. In all its sparkly twinkly light[s] glory, I knew it was going to be a hit.

 

I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures of the cute restaurant. Within good reason because the food is amazing. I had the yummiest bolognese rigatoni. And their salads are so fresh and crunchy. I'm so thankful for good food, wonderful friends and funny conversations. xo

  

Good Eats: Plancha Tacos

I am a huge creature of habit. Once I find something I like, I can ride the wave over and over until the end of time. Like my favorite obsessive haunts back home, Plancha Tacos has easily become a new creature of habit. 

 

  Owner Pete White of Poquito Mas fame is the brainchild of this wonderful operation. The Tex-Mex fare is incredibly fresh with an amazing staff. Since trying Plancha, I've been back three times in the same week (!). 

True story: for a good couple months, my office would order in Poquito Mas every single Friday - Poquito Mas Fridays! Needless to say, everyone got sick and tired of it. I, on the other hand, could have continued on with Poquito Mas Fridays until forever :) 

Good Eats: Mendocino Farms

To launch my Good Food Neighborhoods tour, Janet and Danny took me to Mendocino Farms to start things off right. It did not disappoint :)

The restaurant is light and airy with a huge open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your sandwich in front of you. We ordered the Kurobata Pork Belly Banh Mi and Italian Deli. It's a perfect spot for a Sunday brunch on a warm, sunny morning. Dee-lish!

  

Good Food Neighborhoods

I consider myself a foodie. I love trying new restaurants. I appreciate the aspects of fine dining - the exquisite decor, the minute details, the quality ingredients, dressing up :) On the same token, I am down with the hole in the walls, food carts and ghetto dog stands. Like my Yelp, I am all. about. food.  

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a colleague about the book EAT: Los Angeles 2012 and he mentioned I should eat at every one of the restaurants and blog about it. Well, while I don't think I can handle eating at 1,300 restaurants, there's a chapter I do want to try - Good Food Neighborhoods! It's a section of the book that profiles 12 different neighborhoods in Los Angeles with "a strong sense of place and a vibrant food community. Once you explore them all, you'll be a true Angeleno." 

Having lived in Los Angeles all my life, I think I want to try this. To my superb coworker, Daniel Miller, this food tour is dedicated to you. I hope you and your wifey will join me in one of the restaurants.

Wish me luck! 

[3rd Street]

Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts

Huntington Meats

Littlejohn's Candies

Loteria Grill

Marconda's Meats

Monsieur Marcel Gourmet Market

AOC

Burger Kitchen

Joan's on Third

The Little Door

Little Next Door

Plancha, A Taco Joint

Son of a Gun

Tasca

 

[Abbot Kinney, Venice]

Abbot's Habit

Abbot's Pizza

The Brig

Gjelina

Clencrest Bar-B-Que

Hal's Bar and Grill

Joe's Restaurant

Lilly's

Market Gourmet

N'Ice Cream

Primitivo Wine Bistro

Wabi-Sabi

 

[Boyle Heights]

Eastside Luv Wine Bar

El Mercado de Los Angeles

El Rinconcito Del Mar Restaurant

El Tepeyac Café

Guisados

La Mascota Bakery

La Parrilla Restaurant

La Serenata De Garibaldi

Los Cinco Puntos Mexican Foods

Tamales Liliana

Teresita's Restaurant

 

[Culver City]

Akasha

BottleRock

Father's Office

Ford's Filling Station

Fraiche

Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken

La Dijonaise

L'Epicerie

Le Saint Amour

Let's Be Frank Dogs

Rush Street

Sublime Food Lounge

Surfas

Tender Greens

 

[Koreatown]

Koreatown Galleria

Koreatown Plaza

BCD Tofu House

Chosun Galbee

Dong Il Jang

Feng Mao 2

Hodori

Honey Pig

Myung Dong Kyoja

Road to Seoul

Wien Konditorei und Café

Young Susan

 

[Little India]

Ambala Dhaba

Ambala Sweets

Farm Fresh

Little India Grill

Pioneer Sweets & Snacks

Saffron Spot

Shan

Surati Farsan Mart

Tirupathi Bhimas

Udupi Palace

Woodlands

 

[Little Tokyo]

Daikokuya

Far Bar

Haru Ulala

Lazy Ox Canteen

Little Tokyo Galleria

Mikawaya

Mitsuru Café

Nijiya Market

Novel Café 

Orochon Ramen

Spitz

Suehiro Café

Sushi Gen

Sushi Go 55

Thousand Cranes

Wurstkuche

 

[San Gabriel Valley]

101 Noodle Express

China Islamic Restaurant

Chung King

Dong Ting Spring

Duck House

Elite Restaurant

Gourmet Vegetarian

King Hua

Little Sheep

Mama Lu's Dumpling House

Newport Seafood

Ocean Star

Seafood Village

 

[Sawtelle]

2117 Restaurant

Bar Hayama

Beard Papa

Blue Marlin

Furaibo

Hide Sushi

Kiriko Sushi

Manpuku

Maizu 212

Mousse Fantasy

Nijiya Market

Orris

Robata Ya

Yakitori-Ya

 

[Silver Lake]

Alegria on Sunset

Berlin Currywurst

Café Stella

Café Tropical

Cheese Store on Silverlake

Dusty's Bistro

El Siete Mares

Food + Lab

Forage LA

Intelligentista

LA Mill

Lark Café Shop

Malo

Millie's

Pazzo Gelato

Pho Café

Silverlake Wine

 

[South Pasadena]

Bistro de la Gare

Briganti

Buster's Ice Cream & Coffee Shop

Fair Oaks Pharmacy

Firefly Bistro

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Heirloom Bakery & Café

Kaldi

Mike & Annie's

Mission Wine

Mix n' Munch

My Sweet Cupcake

Nicole's Gourmet Foods

Nicole's Maison et Objet

Radhika

Shiro

South Pas Farmers' Market

 

[Ventura Boulevard, Studio City]

Artisan Cheese Gallery

Asanebo

Big Sugar Bakeshop

Daichan

Flask Fine Wines

Kiwami

Loteria Grill Studio City

Mantee

Ramen Jinya

Raphael

Studio City Farmer's Market

Sushi Nozawa

Sushi Katsu-Ya