Ethnic Foodie Stops?
Friday, August 12, 2005 7:44Posted By Jonah in category LA.foodblogging
From the comments on Los Angeles not being a top dining city, Renee asks:
New to foodblogger but I’m hoping y’all can guide me to some great ethnic foodie stops when I’m in town, which is pretty frequently.
What are some ethnic places around town that are unique to LA? I’m thinking along the lines of the Ethiopian corridor on Fairfax, or the Persian restaurants sprinkled across the Westside. I am less familiar with the details of Dim Sum in the SGV, but I know it’s out there. It’s Friday, how about a little reader input? Comment below…
By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.
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SoCalorie says:
August 12th, 2005 at 8:07 am
If you don’t want to make the long drive to Artesia (LA’s “Little India”), for Indian food basics, the India Sweets and Spices markets in town are well-stocked and usually share space with a restaurant.
I like the ISS supermarket in Atwater. It’s the newest of the branches, the store is spacious, bright, very tidy. I like the array of packaged goods, fresh spices, dairy products, rices, produce, bangles and Ganesh statues.
When I’m done shopping I usually walk into the restaurant for a $4 cafeteria platter of rice, poori or papadam, daal, raita and two curried veg choices. Sometimes I also get a sweet lassi. ISS offers lots of combo plate deals and they also do very good masala dosa and idli.
India Sweets and Spices (Atwater)
3126 Los Feliz Blvd
(just east of Griffith Park)
sarah says:
August 12th, 2005 at 9:25 am
WESTSIDE
ethiopian - FASSICA. little bit off the eaten trail, but very very good. it was my first time, but even after subsequent comparison meals along fairfax, i liked this the best.
oaxacan - GUELAGUETZA. it is supposed to be good, but i can’t give a good opinion, as i think i just don’t favor the particular flavors of this cuisine
indian - there are now lots along westwood blvd. north to south from wilshire, there’s MADRAS MASALA, NEW INDIA GRILL, AMBALA DHABA, and INDIA’S OVEN. have not yet tried madras masala, but new india grill is “nice” with vlet parking out front, white table cloths, etc. AMBALA DHABA is homestyle, a little more ethnic decor. INDIA’S OVEN is small, but okay.
persian - like said above, all along westwood blvd. SHAMSHIRI is my favorite. there’s darya (santa monica blvd) also, off the eaten path.
korean - INTERNATIONAL TOFU HOUSE in westwood is decent for soon dooboo if you don’t want to go as far as k-town.
cuban - VERSAILLES on venice blvd is okay.
brazilian - CAFE BRASIL was great for lunch - dark meat chicken was soooo good! order at counter, then sit outside on a covered patio. ZABUMBA (dinner only) is nearby, but haven’t been there yet.
el salvadorean - just ate at CON SABOR in culver city. wow. the pupusas are incredible! i can never eat a regular ol’ quesadilla again.
okay, that’s it for now. more later after coffee. lol!
sarah says:
August 12th, 2005 at 9:42 am
more on the WESTSIDE:
nepalese - KATMANDU KITCHEN on venice. small, dark, cuisine is similar to indian, but earthier, and less spicy. very good.
BestofLA says:
August 12th, 2005 at 12:54 pm
Sarah: I loved Cafe Brazil when I went and had to drop my post about my experience. Thanks for the reminder! :)
I love going to Little India, but have picked up some Indian spices at a local market by my work - JH Bazaar on 29th Street and Vermont. Doesn’t have a lot of fresh produce and I wish they had a deli, but I won’t complain with the freindly service I’ve received and the convenient location.
I also like EL POLLO INKA - Peruvian (I go to the one in Gardena on Artesia) and often check out the Hawaiian places out in the South Bay as well - L & L, BACK IN LAHAINA, KING’S HAWAIIAN (the desserts - Chocolate Dobash and Hawaiian Paradise cakes - are heavenly!), and BRUDDAH’S (it’s an old school, hole-in-the-wall small kine place in Old Town Gardena).
Dreubay2 says:
August 12th, 2005 at 12:54 pm
Hi Jonah,
Here’s a list of my old favs (for food, not ambience):
Palms Thai
5273 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027-4912
(323) 462-5073
Dim Sum:
(Downtown)
Empress Pavilion
988 N Hill St Ste 201
Los Angeles, CA 90012-1750
(213) 617-9898
(SGV)
NBC Seafood
404 S Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754-3279
(626) 282-2323
Sushi:
Oomasa Restaurant
100 Japanese Village Plz Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3909
(213) 972-9640
Vietnamese:
Golden Deli Vietnamese
815 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776-1071
(626) 308-0803
Ethopian:
Messob Ethiopian Restaurant
1041 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90019-4402
(323) 938-8827
Persian:
(all the way in OC, but if you’re ever in the area)
Caspian Restaurant
14100 Culver Dr
Irvine, CA 92604-0301
(949) 651-8454
Indian:
Electric Lotus
4656 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 953-0040
Chosun Galbee Restaurant
3330 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 734-3330
Cross Street: S Manhattan Place
Dylan says:
August 15th, 2005 at 1:58 am
Dreubay2, nice pick on the vietnamese. I ranked them number one on my review on ‘pho’.
http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/07/23/a-bowl-of-heaven-2/
Melchoir says:
August 15th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
Rare and explusive to LA is Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung is a chain retaurant from Taiwan that has only 5 stores in the world, NY, Tokyo, LA, and 2 in Taipei. Their specialties are shanghai style soup dumplings. These small dumplings are filled with a soup broth and baked. They exploded when u bite into them and require some skills before the chopsticks upon them. Due to its wordly reputation, Ding tai Fung does get quite a lot of tourists and can pack quite a wait line. Specially on weekends, when the special weekend soup dumplings are made. Amongst my personal are the crab dumpling and the red bean dumpling, which are on the heavy side, but each bite is a little sweet delight.
Another dim sum store of some fame is Mission 261. Following in the current trend in Hong Kong, fusion Dim Sum, and the success of Koi Palace (which I absolutely recommand)in San Francisco, we get Mission 261. Located in the mission district of San Gabriel, this dim sum restaurant brings us just a few new twists on old dim sum favorites. There mochi wrapped stuff are my favorites. This includes the shrimp dumplings and many of the desert-type dumplings.
Jigar says:
February 4th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Samosa house / Bharat Bazar is a great place for good north/west Indian food in the westside. Like good homemade food their food is not too spiceladen or oily. After living in LA for 2-3 years I finally found a place for everyday lunch.
Also their service is courteous (for a change!), the food is fresh, the place is clean (grade A consistently) and the place features an Indian grocery shop too. Their chai is pretty good too, but the chat is only a little above average. Take it from an Indian who grew up back east, this is the real deal in west LA.
Located on 11510 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
http://www.google.com/maps?q=11510+W+Washington+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90066&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title