Palms


Tara's Himalayan:  Himalayan style of food is pretty unique!  You don't see too many Himalayan restaurants, so this is a great place to try something authentic and different!  For example they have a Yak dish- yes Yak!  And its delicious!  Its called Yak chili, but it more like Yak fajitas, and if you like spicy this is for you!  If you want a little more mild make sure you tell them, because if you don't, you may end up sweating off a few pounds!  


Bamboo Restaurant:  Looking for possibly the best mojito in LA?  Well this Latin- Caribbean fusion restaurant may just have the best!  They actually take a stalk of sugar cane and run through a machine right in front of you to add to your drink!  Soooo goooood!


Glorias Cafe:  This place has authentic Mexican and Latin American food!  Come in for the delicious tacos, sangria, and some great Salvadorian Pupusas. 

Killer Cafe/ Killer Shrimp:  Located right on the Marina Harbor this is a great place for breakfast lunch and dinner.  Its actually 2 restaurants- Killer Cafe for breakfast and lunch and Killer Shrimp for lunch and dinner, but are located in the same building.  They have a private lot and even a boat ramp!  Pull right in with your dinghy for a bite!  If that was not cool enough, Killer Cafe is also very dog friendly on the patio. 

Culver City


Johnnie's Pastrami:  Our personal favorite 50's style diner in LA!  Talk about a delicious pastrami sandwich!!!  It is a thin cut, juicy sandwich that is ready in minutes because they cook it all day long and can be eaten in or carried out!  The pastrami rivalry in LA has many opinions but Johnnie's pastrami is very popular!  It has a private lot.


Tito's Tacos:  This place is a local favorite for tacos.  You can almost always find multiple lines at there outdoor walk up counters and inside but they move quickly.  It has a private lot next to Johnnies, but it can get crowded, so street parking is a good choice as well.


Sorrento Italian Market:  This is a hidden gem!!!  Although it has been around for decades not a lot of new people seem to know about it, but it has lasted so long I think because once you do find it you keep coming back!  When you walk in you will find the wonderful smell of authentic sauce being cooked!  You can get delicious large hot and cold subs for cheap!  Also, you can get other hot dishes, wonderful baked goods including wonderful cannoli's!  You will also find a wide array of Italian items on their stocked shelves.  The is a small private parking area with a couple picnic tables in back of the store in the alley.


Bella Vista Gourmet Brazilian Pizza:  If your in the mood for for some good, and exotic pizza, you have to try this place!  The topping choices are unlike anything you have seen, and they may seem crazy until you try them- Delicious!  You can just get a pizza or you can sit down and try their rodizio all you can eat pizza, where they keep coming around with different pizzas you can try until your stuffed!  They even have dessert pizzas!  They have some parking in the back.













Copenhagen Pastry:  Is this the best pastry shop in LA?  That's up for you to decide!  It has delicious and authentic danish pastries that are so light and fluffy they will make your mouth water!  The pastries are made onsite, and you can watch them through a window being prepared.


Grand Casino Bakery and Cafe:  Located on Main St. in Downtown Culver City this place has withstood all the change in Downtown because of its loyal customers and great foods!  Come in here and enjoy authentic South American foods and baked goods, including a selection of great full sized cakes you can buy.  If you like dulce de leche products you will love this place!


Backstage Bar and Grill:  Located next to Sony Studios a few blocks away from Downtown, this is a local favorite place to get a drink and bite to eat. Known for its happy hour with great prices on drinks and food!

Venice











Wurstkuche:  If your in the mood for exotic sausages and authentic beers this is your spot!  You can be adventurous and try a rattle snake, rabbit and jalapeno sausage, or keep it simple with a brat and wash it down with one of their many different beers.


Baby Blues BBQ:  This BBQ joint has a slew of awards and is really good.  Sit down, or carry out your meal to the beach which is not far away.


Abbot's Pizza:  Located on the always fun Abbot Kinney Blvd. this pizza hop serves up some great bagel crusted pizza by the slice or whole pie.  Dont forget to get the dipping sauce! 


Chop Daddy's BBQ:  This is a good place to stop in for a quick BBQ sandwich or our favorite- the fried pickles... yum!  There is no seating out front but a small area has opened in the back.  What you can do is take your BBQ across the street to the bar.



Santa Monica













Bay Cities Italian Deli and Bakery:  This is a very popular lunch spot.  It can be busy, but it will be good!  The Godmother sandwich is a local favorite! 

Great Places to Get a Bite to Eat or Drink


The variety of foods that you can get in Los Angeles is part of what makes this city so great!  In WLA you can find just about any kind of food you want, and some you have never heard of!  Here you can find anything including Brazilian, English, Oaxacan, Japanese, German, American, Mexican, Indian, Himalayan and the list keeps going...  Maybe your looking for a great place for a happy hour?  There are plenty of cool bars and restaurants that have great deals on food and drinks, everything from endless mimosas to authentic mojitos!  This list is a great place to start, but some other resources you can use include Yelp, Groupon and Living Social.  


We are constantly on the lookout to try something new!  If we find something we feel is unique, delicious or interesting in some way we will post it!  When we update the new finds we will add those finds to the permanent list. 



New Finds!!!

Hostaria del Piccolo, Venice:  Located on Rose between Lincoln and Main St. you can find this place, and a few other nice restaurants!  Hostaria del Piccolo brings you that modern Italian cafe feel.  It is delicious and the food really makes you feel like your in a cafe in the original Venice. 

Louies of Mar Vista:  I am kicking myself for never trying this place before!  We have been to the Mar Vista Farmers Market too many times to count... but never noticed what was behind the delicious stands of sample fruits and veggies.  Finally we tried this place and it was very unique and tasty!  It has a interesting menu that mixes Asian and New Orleans foods!  It also has a nice happy hour with food and drinks!

Cool Areas to Shop


West LA, and Los Angeles in general, have many cool areas to shop.  A lot of times, these are local shops and boutiques where you can find that really cool, one of a kind item.


Abbot Kinney, Venice:  This neighborhood is a great place to shop and eat.  Spend some time wandering around the eclectic shops where you can find anything from art to custom jeans.  When you need a break, there are plenty of great places to eat or get a drink. 


Main St., Santa Monica:  South of the more touristy area of Santa Monica you can find Main St..  This section is filled with great shops, restaurants and bars.  You can also find some great restaurants if you head east a couple blocks on Rose St.  

Larger Malls


We all have to go to a mall every now and then.  Whether we are there to buy a lot of things, or looking for that one high end item, malls can make shopping convenient.  In West LA there are your traditional large malls, but there are also a couple great outdoor malls that allow you to shop store to store in the fresh ocean air and sunshine.


3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica:  Located just a couple blocks from ocean and the famous Santa Monica Pier, this open air "mall" is a great place to stroll through and shop.  It is 3 blocks long and is blocked off from cars except on crossing streets which makes quite enjoyable.  Usually there are random music acts that can be pretty good, and make the shopping experience a little more fun.  At one end of the the Promenade is Santa Monica Place, which is the more traditional open air mall and is a few floors of shops, restaurants and a artisan market.  There is plenty of free parking for a couple hours in one of the many city structures. 


Westfield Century City Mall, Century City:  This is a upscale outdoor mall located in Century City that offers some traditional mall type stores mixed in with some upper scale stores like Rolex.  This mall also has a great movie theater that offers IMAX and other movie formats.  Parking here is not free unless you get validation from the movie theater or Gelson's, then you get 3 free hours.


Westfield Culver City Mall, Culver City:  This is a newer mall that offers your standard mall type stores but also a Target and Best Buy.  There are also a variety of good places to grab a bite to eat such as 5 Guys Burgers.  Parking here is free.


Westside Pavillion, Los Angeles:  Located at Pico/ Westwood this is another traditional mall with the usual mall stores but it also includes a movie theater.  Parking is free for the first 3 hours.



Whether your looking for that big mall with big brand stores, or that great small boutique, we have it!  Stroll beautiful open air malls and fun neighborhoods to find that perfect gift for yourself or someone special. 


If your in the mood for something delicious, your sure to find something that makes your mouth water here!  From Japanese, to Oaxacan, to Brazilian, to fall off the bone BBQ, we have it!  Whether you want that 5 star experience, just want to grab a quick bite, or looking to kick back after work with friends at a fun happy hour, you can do it while enjoying the cool ocean air here!


Many more restaurants will be coming up on this list, so check back soon for even more great choices! 

Where to Shop and Eat

Where you can play in the ocean breeze
On the Waterfront Cafe:  Located along the boardwalk this the perfect spot to enjoy a meal or grab a beer in the beer garden and people watch!  Great place to hang out and relax.  They also have a small private lot in the back.

Marina Del Rey


Monte Alban Restaurant:  Just like the US has different regional food so does Mexico- ever had try Oaxacan?  Come here if you want to try some that is authentic.  Located on Santa Monica Blvd a few blocks east of Bundy.  A Oaxacan friend of ours took us here and I tried one of the crazier looking things on the menu and loved it- it was called "Volcan Oaxaqueno" and had meat, cheese, vegetables and even cactus in a boiling cauldron thing that sounds crazy, but was really good!

A-Frame:  One of our favorite, local celebrity chef, Roy Choi's places, A-Frame is great place to go have a nice dinner that seems fancy but without the attitude.   If you have seen Choi's other menus you know you will find something unique and delicious here!  Try their all you can eat pancakes, fried chicken or bottomless drinks...  and if you have room a personal favorite is the "Chu-dont-Know-Mang" cake like churro's with malted chocolate dip and ice cream... sooooo good!

Perry's Cafe:  There are multiple locations set right on the beach path next to the ocean.  You can stop and get a burger or other typical beach foods but also smoothies, which can be nice on a hot day.

West LA












Hotcakes Bakes:  This place has some of the best, moist, tasty, cup cakes in all of LA!  Don't take my word for it- take the Food Networks!  They one the Food Networks 2009 Cupcakes Wars show with a Tres Leches Spicy Mango cupcake... that is really tasty- and spicy!  Don't stop there though, because they have a lot of flavors and they are all very good. 


Steingarten LA:  This is a cool spot located on Pico right less than a block away from the Rancho golf course, you can come hit some balls on the driving range, then walk across the street for happy hour!  Although this place is German, and has great German food and beer- try one of the cheeseburgers!  Seriously- they are really, REALLY, good!


Mitsuwa Marketplace:  This is group of small Asian restaurants set up like a food court in a building with a market as well.  This is a great place to go and get a variety of Asian foods all in one place.  It has lots of seating and a lot of choices to eat.