10 Amazing Food to Try in Los Angeles (LA)

I love food. You love food too. And because we鈥檙e foodies, we want every meal to be as good as if it were our last. So for those few times us foodies sit at a table and unexpectedly strike gold, we must remember, honor and share that memorable meal. Here is a list of affordable LA area culinary creations that forever linger on this palate.

(To visit the venues mentioned in this article, check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Los Angeles)

1. Sprinkles Cupcakes

Cupcakes are definitely the new food fad as new stores seem to pop up out of nowhere with their take on the illustrious red velvet cupcake. Everyone values different stores for different reasons, but for me, Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills still shines above the rest when it comes to quality, ingredients and an endless variety of flavors, not to mention their strong cups of drip coffee for the best sugar/caffeine induced high you鈥檒l get anywhere! Holidays are even more anticipated with their limited edition holiday selections including sinful Salted Caramel Cupcakes and Orange Cranberry for Fall, Pumpkin and Caramel Apple for Halloween, Eggnog Spice for Christmas, Mexican Choco Loco for Cinco de Mayo and Key Lime and Summer Cherry until August. Never has cupcake frosting been richer and more delectable, complaints of too much frosting on these moist little cakes are unfounded.

Where to find it:

9635 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA

Phone: 310 2748765

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat: 09:00am-09:00pm
Sun: 10:00am-08:00pm
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas
Closed at 05:00pm on Christmas Eve

http://www.sprinkles.com

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2. Masa of Echo Park

Located in Echo Park, Masa is a wait-worthy little Italian bistro offering coma-inducing Chicago-style deep dish pizzas made from scratch. The cornmeal crust is light and flakey with Chicago imported toppings cooked to cheesy perfection. If you鈥檙e short on time, remember to order your deep dish early in the night as it takes 30 minutes to prepare. Guests can also enjoy a full menu of rich pastas, salads, crepes and Panini鈥檚. There鈥檚 not a single menu item I鈥檝e tried that wasn鈥檛 delicious, the food is always consistent with attentive service. Also, endearing dog and kitty paintings adorn all four walls adding to the warm ambience of the main dining area.

Where to find it:

1800 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA

Phone: 213 9891558

Working Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11:00am-11:00pm
Fri: 11:00am-12:00pm
Sat: 11:00am-12:00pm
Sun: 11:00am-11:00pm

http://www.masaofechopark.com

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3. Pinks Hot Dogs

If it鈥檚 2am and you鈥檙e trying to sober up with cravings of greasy hangover food, Pinks is the first place you look. Open until 3am on the weekends, patrons can glut well into the wee hours with chili dogs topped with bacon, Pastrami dogs and bacon burrito dogs (flour tortilla wrapped around 2 hot dogs, 2 slices of cheese, 3 slices of bacon, chili and onions). Special menu items make the selection process particularly fun as the biggest and most shameful dogs are usually named after celebrities and LA notables. The Ozzy Dog (named after Ozzy Osbourne, of course) is a huge spicy Polish sausage topped with nacho cheese, grilled onions, guacamole, tomatoes and jalapenos. Eat in and ogle the interior walls, plastered with signed headshots of everyone from Ellen DeGeneres and Nicole Kidman to Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Fonz. Anticipate long lines at night, but the steady flow of orders makes the line move fast and the wait a bit more tolerable.

Where to find it:

709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA

Phone: 323 9314223

Working Hours:
Sun-Thu: 09:30am-02:00am
Fri-Sat: 09:30am-03:00am

http://www.pinkshollywood.com

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4. Fonuts

Fonuts is not your normal donut shop. It goes to the extreme with flavors like Maple Bacon, Peanut Butter & Jelly and Chorizo Cheddar. It you鈥檙e at all deterred by the richness of these inventive gems, bear in mind that the product is true of the shop鈥檚 name. These donuts are baked not fried, and you couldn鈥檛 even tell the difference. The star of the display case is the Maple Bacon fonut. If you鈥檙e not a fan of maple donuts as a rule, you will surprise yourself. The crispy fatty bacon bits literally melt into the sweet maple icing making this salty and sweet combo utterly addictive and impossible to share. Fonuts also feature gluten free versions of most donuts, as well as a full coffee bar to cut the sweetness.

Where to find it:

8104 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA

Phone: 323 5923075

Working Hours:
Mon-Thu: 07:30am-08:00pm
Fri: 07:30am-10:00pm
Sat: 08:00am-10:00pm
Sun: 08:00am-08:00pm

http://www.fonuts.com

5. El Carmen

El Carmen is a favorite bar by many. It鈥檚 a tiny, dark little bunker festooned with Mexican wrestler masks and Christmas lights. They鈥檙e famous for their extensive tequila selection and the strongest, yet tastiest, margaritas you鈥檒l get anywhere. Two will have you on the floor. Get the Perfecto, Jalapeno or the Cactus Fruit Margarita. If that wasn鈥檛 enough, they have amazing food. Try anything (tacos, nachos) with Hongo, saut茅ed mushrooms, or the street Elotes, roasted corn slathered with butter, parmesan, mayo, chili powder and lime juice. The menu also has combination plates if you鈥檇 prefer a full dinner before tying one on.

Where to find it:

8138 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA

Phone: 323 8521552

Working Hours:
Mon-Fri: 05:00pm-02:00am
Sat-Sun: 05:00pm-02:00am

http://www.elcarmenrestaurant.com

6. Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

Savory salty fried chicken served with sweet buttery waffles and syrup has to be the best tastebud combination ever. So thank you, Roscoe鈥檚, the West Coast鈥檚 answer to that tasty fusion as well as all the comforts southern soul food has to offer. If it鈥檚 your first time to Roscoe鈥檚, the Carol C. Special is a good start. A buttermilk waffle served with a 鈥渟ucculent鈥� fried chicken breast. It鈥檚 my belief that butter is laced with honey and sugar, making the syrup, butter and salty combo truly out of this world! On your second and third visit, broaden your horizons with a Sir Michael, two pieces of Chicken, smothered in gravy with grits and a biscuit. Be sure to add a side of fried chicken livers and cornbread for the table.

Where to find it:

1514 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA

Phone: 323 4667453

Working Hours:
Sun: 08:00am-12:00am
Mon-Thu: 08:30am-12:00am
Fri: 08:30am-04:00am
Sat: 08:00am-04:00am

http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com

7. Blue Palms Brewhouse

If you鈥檙e headed to a show at the Music Box in Hollywood, pop in at the Blue Palms Brewhouse, situated next door. Blues Palms is a tiny beer bar featuring over 24 craft beers listed either on the chalkboard or the giant digital display much like a flight board, planted high above the bar. Featured on many local top beer and food lists, Blue Palms is a surprising diamond in the roughs of Hollywood. The menu is tasty, inspired and well seasoned. Come in Thursday night and enjoy 35 cent wing night. I always order the Garlic Wings and Rings, garlic buffalo wings served with beer battered onion rings. Also try their rare sausages like Duck w/ foie Gras & Sauterne Wine or their Alligator & Pork Andouille, in addition to their house special, Lobster Mac and Cheese.

Where to find it:

6124 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA

Phone: 323 4642337

Working Hours:
Mon: 04:00pm-12:00am
Tue-Thu: 12:00pm-01:00am
Fri-Sat: 12:00pm-02:00am
Sun: 12:00pm-12:00am

http://www.bluepalmsbrewhouse.com

8. Philippe The Original

Considered by many to be the birthplace of the French Dipped Sandwich, Philippes is a treasured LA institution, established in 1908 it is one of LA鈥檚 oldest running restaurants. Los Angelinos take pride in Philippes and fill its tables to capacity nightly. Line up at the counter and order the specialty of the house, The French Dipped Sandwich, prepared with either roast beef, pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham on fresh baked french rolls and be sure to get it double dipped in the savory au jus . All the sides are homemade in addition to their famous hot mustard available on each table. Be sure to bring cash, if not there is an ATM located in the main dining area.

Where to find it:

1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

Phone: 213 6283781

Working Hours:
Mon-Sun: 06:00am-10:00pm

http://www.philippes.com

9. Bottega Louie

Bottega Louis is a food blogger鈥檚 paradise. A luxurious gourmet restaurant, market and patisserie located in Downtown LA on the ground floor of an old 1920s loft building. Therefore you can expect an inviting overture of white marble, impressive high ceilings and brass millwork. There are no reservations so expect a wait as well. Show up, put down your name, order a few glasses of wine and take in the rumbling noises of the patrons and aromas from the brick pizza oven. Waiting doesn鈥檛 really feel like waiting, it feels like you鈥檙e about to dine in a hot Manhattan bistro.

In other words, you feel like you鈥檙e in an episode of Sex in the City. The menu is full of sophisticated Italian fare with gourmet pizzas and pastas along with dozens of small plates for sharing. Try the Portobello Mushroom Fries, Tuna Nicoise Crostini and the Prosciutto served with seasonal fruit. Bottega also has a beautiful display case of pastries and desserts straight from the pages of Bon App茅tit Magazine. With elegant ambience and beautiful food, Bottega Louis just makes you feel special.

Where to find it:

700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017, USA

Phone: 213 8021470

Working Hours:
Mon鈥揊ri: 09:00am鈥�05:30pm

http://www.bottegalouie.com

10. Soda Pop's

Only steps from the Beverly Center Mall and run by Boston culinary school transplants, stands Soda Pops. This modern deli offers east coast subs, and deli standards as well as unique sandwich offerings like Steak Bombs and Chicken Pesto and B.E.L.T.A (bacon, fried egg, lettuce, tomato and avocado). Most impressive are the salads, made to order with fresh ingredients and presentation you wouldn鈥檛 get from most restaurants. The Nicoise Salad (pictured) and the Cobb are some of the best I鈥檝e tasted and served with garlic ciabatta toast. Homemade chips, your choice bacon and cheddar or dill, come with each order, also choose from a broad selection of obscure bottled sodas from around the country. The menu changes constantly with Sicilian pizza by the slice on selected days.

Where to find it:

349 N La Cienega, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA

Phone: 310 9670119

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11:00am-07:00am
Sun: Closed

http://www.sodapopsla.com

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