L.A restaurants

[sakeen7]

Hi, I have friend (a cook and fellow knife nut) who's traveling to L.A next month and was looking for some good
fine dining restaurants to go eat at - any recommendations? (I know very little about the L.A restaurant scene)
All cuisines welcome
Thanks

[kcma]

providence. ask ferge about it :) http://providencela.com

[iilcreep]

if money isn't a factor. Melisse, Spago, Sona, Urasawa.. if youre headed to the orange county area dont miss out on Studio, then swing by Sushi Wasabi in Tustin and have the omakase.

[boar_d_laze]

By fine dining, but various cuisines, I assume you mean presentation and dress codes. If your friend is open to more casual dining, I have a number of recommendations for some truly hard-core food. Los Angeles has a wonderful fine-dining scene, just maybe a little week on the Itailan. But where the greater "Megalapolis" really shines is its ability to transmit you 7,500 miles away by simply walking through a strip-mall's restaurant door.

Our strengths are concentrated in Asia and Latin America. When it comes to breadth, diversity and quality of the cuisines of those areas, I don't believe any other city in the United States can compare. Also, Armenians. We got. Not to mention a great hamburger by the beach. That we got too. Also the no-kidding, world's best pastrami sandwich (Langer's Delicatessen (order double meat).

I'd love to send your friend someplace he can get a memorable bowl of yentafo and a live show from "Kevin, the Thai Elvis," or forget the Thai Elvis (how could you?) and get the best yentafo anywhere (Sunset Thai) or to the mariachi anarchy that is El Mercado de East Los on a Sunday, not to mention "Philippe's (pronounced Felipe's -- Home of the Original French Dip" (and it is, too) for a lamb dip and a 15 cent cup of coffee. For the time being though, I'll keep it to "fine dining."

It might also be of interest to know where your friend will be staying, and how he plans to get about. Los Angeles is a big city. Cabs? We don' got to ehchow you no stinkin' cabs.

I'm going to recommend a few Asian places, outside of LA proper but well within the city. It's hard to explain unless you've been here. The San Gabriel Valley, a part of the Megalapolis, has a huge concentration of Asians and Asian restaurants. Where other cities have "Chinatowns," we have "China Valley," with about 1,000,000 (yes, that's a million) ethnic Chinese living there. Unsurprisingly the food be good. It be very good.

I'm also going to try and keep my recommendations limited to places (a) which a tourist can find; and (b) where a tourist can park. I suggest avoiding dim sum places on weekend mornings, and driving anywhere which involves freeways, or navigating through Hollywood or K-Town ("Koreatown"), from 4:30 to 7 on a weekday.

Lu Din Gee -- considered the best duck restaurant in the United States by many, including me. If two people only, don't think of anything other than Duck Three Ways. If more, when you're getting creative and asking for help don't be shy about asking. They do things with konyaki that are unbelievable. Not a bad bar, either. 1039 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel. Call ahead (626) 288-0588.

For Dim Sum, of just plain ol' HK style seafood there are many excellent places. I'd avoid the over-popular Empress downtown, as well as any place where the waitresses push the dim sum around in trolleys. We've evolved to menus in SoCal. I'm willing to stick my neck out and say that at this higher end, it's a metaphor for the quality of the place as well. That said, if someone wants to take your friend to NBC Seafood, the chaos is worth the trip. But for elegant food in pleasant surroundings, try:

Seafood Harbor -- one of the first to present elegant, fanciful dim sum, and a particular favorite of mine for the eggplant. However, take a look at the next place down before jetting to 3939 Rosemead Blvd., Rosemead ; and (the next place down)

Mission 261 -- As good as Seafood Harbor, 88 Valley, Triumphal Palace and the other super-duper HK places for dim sum, and dinner as well. BUT, better for tourists. Lovely restaurant right next to the San Gabriel Mission. Nice place for a walk unlike almost anywhere else in the San Gabriel Valley.

Sushi is an interesting topic. We love sushi here. And we do it as well or better as any city outside of Japan. There are several styles of Japanese Sushi. One was pioneered by the owner/chef of Sasabune is zerasuhi on warm, not-particularly-sticky-rice -- not easy to eat, but incredible quality control over the fish. Sushi-ya often let standards slide once they discover their patrons don't know enough to know the difference.

Sasabune -- Omikase at the bar only. One drawback of Sasabune is that while the food is of the highest quality, it doesn't get interesting for sophisticated gaijin until the chef has run through his standard gaijin choices. Less of a drawback for a first timer. Don't bother going there if you're with someone who thinks "Rainbow rolls", "Volcanoes," "spicy scallop roll" and similar blecch are sushi. If they serve you, which is problematic, you won't be happy, she won't be happy, and neither will Sasabune. 12400 Wilshire Blvd Ste 150 LA (Westside)

Echigo -- Westside sushi-ya owned by a chef who trained at Sasabune for years. The quality is the same, the spirit more creative, the prices are lower, the atmosphere slightly less formal. Or, as is said in Japan, "Same buttery goodness without all the ego and far less stick up the ass." 12217 Santa Monica Blvd , LA (Westside)

Another style of "sushi" that's very popular in SoCal is Korean "Japanese Restaurant" sashimi. It would take me longer than I'm willing to spend right now to explain the history and subtleties of this fusion. One of the major differences is that where high-end Japanese sushi is a cathedral, Korean sashimi is a par-tay. Where there are rules for eatingJapanese sushi, in Korean Japanese restaurants the only rule is "enjoy." Tell your friend he can eat the finest sashimi, including styles and presentations he never dreamed of -- think semi-frozen hamachi wrapped in nori served with honey-sesame; spicy where spicy is appreciated, not to mention actually spicy; sea urchin in its shell; live, as in still walking, shrimp (you have to be specific, they won't serve it live to westerners unless you tell them what you want when you order -- along with a huge variety of banchan and drink "soju-cucumber cocktail" 'til it all makes sense, for less than $120 per happy happy omikase customer. Also, they'll fall all over themselves making whatever your roll-eating friend wants, that is as long as you can get it across the language barrier and they have the ingredients; which you can't and they don't. Still, they try which is enough to keep everyone happy. Warning -- they won't stop pushing food on you til you beg for mercy. Bring a white flag. If you've never been to a big Korean Japanese sashimi spread, LA is the place to lose your cherry.

A-Won -- This is a place I've eaten at for years and through many ownership changes. The quality has varied with ownership, it's currently on the top of an upswing. Always the best hwe dup bap outside of Korea (sashimi salad -- the perfect lunch). Superior sashimi, omikase of the gods. 913 S. Vermont, Los Angeles (Koreatown, between Olympic and Wilshire).

Arado -- Similar to A-Won, but without the up and down and usually with a bit less variety and creativity. Always solid quality. You can usually get live lobster. Remember when I say "live," I mean walking around after the tail's been sliced into sashimi and replaced in the shell. If you're squeamish you may not want to sit at the bar. 4001 Wilshire (at Wilton), LA (Koreatown) 213-387-1199 .

If someone suggests Korean Barbecue and the destination is Woo Lae Oak, which is the usual suggestion to white people, tell your friend to say "No. Hell no." Not that it's bad, but it ain't good either. Korean barbecue is a good thing which Woo Lae Oak manages not screw the pooch on completely, but the restaurant is so tweaked and adjusted for American tastes a lot is lost. Go someplace where you look exotic. Be "the only white guy," and try:

Tahoe Galbi -- One of the characteristics of real Korean Barbecue restaurants is lots of set meal choices with lots of extras. The more expensive combinations are not only build around ultimate cuts, they have more side dishes and complimentary drinks. Order expensive, you'll be poorer but happier. Another aspect is the split between those who believe you can actually have a good experience (you can) with great meat and gas grills, or those who insist a charcoal grill is more important even than the meat (damn near!). Why settle? At Tahoe Galbi you can get both. You have to ask for a charcoal grill though. 3986 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles (Koreatown, near Vermont). There are a few places that are actually a little bitter, but the thing I like most about it for your friend is that he has a good chance of finding it without getting lost, and they have an adequate parking lot.

Okay -- the Asian places I recommended can cross-over from "fine-dining" to casual. Not to put too fine a point on it, I'm pretty sure I've worn shorts to dinner at all of them. But they're pretty inside, presentation counts, and neither you nor (more importantly) your date will feel out of place dressed nicely. .

BDL

[esvoboda]

Urasawa and Providence.

I'm a regular at Urasawa (I travel to LA often) and also a fan of Providence (I'd take it over Le Bernardin). Add in Manresa and The French Laundry up my way and you've got the top tier here in California from my experience. I haven't yet made it to Melisse, however, but have heard good things from those I know. I miss Ludo Lefebvre's incarnation of Bastide for his Gagnaire-influenced madness (and erraticness :)).

[kcma]

urasawa is one of the best japanese chef in the world. but reservation can be hard on some days. only 10 seats.

and yes, langer's pastrami is as good as any from the ec :) if you're going to providence. pm me and i'll call them up for you. michael will not disappoint you.

[Arturo]

Hi, I have friend (a cook and fellow knife nut) who's traveling to L.A next month and was looking for some good
fine dining restaurants to go eat at - any recommendations? (I know very little about the L.A restaurant scene)
All cuisines welcome
Thanks

Check out the LA restaurant boards on Chowhound. They are very active.

There are lots of great restaurants in LA depending on what you're into. Especially good ethnic food.. Korean, Japanese, Mexican (oaxacan on the westside) Some good persian, a few good African places.

[jwpark]

Arturo, kcma, if you guys don't mind sharing, where do you guys work??

Jay

[VHo]

katana, on sunset.

I've not been there, but been watching rachel ray and ryan seacrest eat there on food tv, looks like it qualifies.

[Arturo]

Arturo, kcma, if you guys don't mind sharing, where do you guys work??

Jay

I teach culinary school and do some catering on the side.

[sakeen7]

Thanks guys! I'll pass this along. now I wish I was going myself, I've moved to Arizona from NY and there's so much food I miss.
BDL - thanks, those sound like my kind of restaurants.