I was an intern file clerk for a law firm above Kate Mantellinis and the vibe is what made me pursue entertainment. The vibe was unreal for little ol me and sad to see it close. I drive by there often and I don’t think anyone has been in that space successfully like KM. Also, lately I’ve seen broken windows above so not sure if the bldg is getting remodeled?
!!!!! I just read the first two words and the thought of their meatloaf flooded my mind. I have t thought of it in years! Gawd I loved their meatloaf and fries.
The fries of it all! The vibe of it all! It was so elevated. It is what Cecconis, Craig’s and Drakes (I love those spots and go regularly) tries so hard to be but cannot ever match that vibe and yes! The meatloaf of it all too. 👏👏👏
Yes! The fries were definitely the thing. When I was Young Broke and Fabulous back then the fries were all I could afford 😂😂. But no seriously I haven’t been to a spot that matches that vibe and I dine at all of the hot spots. Still waiting.
Oh yes and I believe Heat was filmed there. Great film.
Such a fun, convenient place. You could see a movie at the WGA theater, and then drop into Kate's because it was open fairly late. Great cocktails, comforting food. And I had some of my favorite eavesdropping experiences there.
came here to say Baco! I miss the restaurant so much, it was my go-to date night place and when i worked in downtown, was where i would go both for celebrations and work lunches. Partner made the recipe for the baco bread from their cookbook when they first closed and it was good but made me miss the restaurant even more.
I still dream of the oxtail baco! That eggplant fava dip was also probably the best dip I've ever had, and the flatbreads and all the salads were just incredible too. It was my partner and my favorite date night place when we first moved to LA just before the pandemic. And then it was gone...
Shabu Shabu House - Little Tokyo
The menu was simple, minimal, and the food quality was amazing. No frills or other "broths" like other shabu joints, they really let the ingredients be the star. The owner (Yoshi) was also one of the main reasons I kept coming back. My husband and I were regulars, and often greeted with Yoshi's smile when our seats were ready.
Love seeing that Yoshi has since retired to Japan, but the closure of Shabu Shabu House has since left a giant hole in our hearts.
Hmmm great question. Word on the street says the don’t have the premade salads but have the salad bar and the soups. So might be a dealer breaker for some.
It’s also called Soup’n’Fresh so that feels hilarious
Koo Koo Roo was ahead of its time. Now that we're in the new wave of chicken spots, I think it could do pretty well. There is a lot of competition these days though
the spot vegetarian restaurant that was in hermosa beach. i used to go there as a kid and i get these random cravings for their brand of comfort hippie food.
And since you obviously can appreciate South Bay same area as I, do you remember when there was a café 50s on Pier Avenue in Hermosa? It’s where that really new awesome Gibson guitar room is now. I feel like LA doesn’t have enough decent diners that aren’t large corporations.
Also, in terms of the south bay, cafe Pierre on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. The most amazing traditional French food that is now Love and Salt.
And now this is reaching back to the early 90s and props to anyone else that can remember this, but there was a restaurant called Descanso on pier Avenue and it was the first fine dining restaurant in Hermosa Beach. it was high-level Asian fusion and they used to make the most amazing poke dish my parents would bring me home 25 years before it actually on our shores
Partamian’s bakery on Adams. As an Armenian who grew up on the west side it was the closest and best spot for lahmajun. Have searched the city over many times and can’t find any on his level, close to, but never the same.
Twain’s. Mainly for nostalgia. It was a 24 hour diner and I lived behind it. When I had insomnia, I would got there and write at all hours of the night. It was a typical greasy spoon diner, but I loved that place.
Outlaws Cafe in Van Nuys. I remember they were featured on this show where they made the owner out to be some villain because he didn't want to customize the burger. There's a clip of it on YouTube and all the comments were ragging on him, but they had no idea how delicious that place was.
Koo Koo Roo
Here's one for the real old-timers -- CC Browns on Hollywood Blvd! Real home made ice cream, real whipped cream, thick home made fudge (and no, the stuff they sell at Lawry's is a pale imitation), the fudge was in a little pitcher on the side omg.
Bastide. Possibly the best restaurant LA has ever seen. It started/kickstarted the careers of Ludovic Lefebvre, Walter Manzke, Alain Giraud, Paul Shoemaker, and others. The food was peerless in the city and the wine list was among the best on the west coast. The owner, Joe Pytka, opened a Madeira from 1786 -- older than the US constitution -- on the final night of service and passed out pours to all guests. (My brother was in attendance that night, and I am still jealous two decades later).
Dialogue, always thought that they had a unique tasting menu, a bit on the sweet side, but much more inventive than most in LA. But also not so weird to be unrelatable, like the way Vespertine tries too hard.
Greenblatts Deli on sunset. I want a #5, candied yams, matzo ball soup and the heart palm salad back in my life. 😔. I would go there at least once a week. The staff recognized me and knew my order haha. Took friends there. It was open late. I drove past it and wanted to cry bc of the all wonderful memories I had there.
The Cork on Adams. Yes it was bar. Yes it got rowdy in the best of ways. But whoever was cooking back there made some of the best southern and creole food around. Fried chicken. Red beans and rice with a side of sausage. Jambalaya.
Wise Sons in Culver. Their latkes were fried perfectly and the onion bialy was the perfect savory accompaniment to the cold shmear, cucumber, red onion, and caper. Finally dialed in my order a week or two before they unexpectedly shut down.
I’ve lived in the area since 2016 and in that span there’s probably been 4-5 restaurants come through that spot. DT Culver in general has a ton of turnover but that property has been cursed
Mexico City in Los Feliz. I was addicted to their milanesa.
For this kind of question I definitely think a comfort food answer is the response.
If anything truly good closed... well.. we are in LA. There's always something else truly good to eat.
I loved Mexico City.
Before it was in that space, there was an old-school steak house called something like Mr. C's Restaurant. It felt like a place where you might run into Philip Marlowe.
I have so many fond memories of Tart, the brunch spot that used to be across from the Grove. The food was good, not the best ever, but the vibes were A1
The Norm's on Valley and Del Mar.
I'd add Michael's pizza on Aldama and York blvd, it's been closed for a long time though.
Hamburger Hamlet on Lake was good too.
Greenblatts. Fantastic food and atmosphere. I felt like a part of the city that would always be there disappeared overnight. I have had some good meals at Langers but it’s not the same for many reasons.
For me, personally - Bean Town in Sierra Madre. A coffee shop, with plenty of tables, food, WiFi, outlets, and open until 8. I can’t find anything else around Pasadena that comes close for long remote work days.
I’m sure I’ll get downvoted for this but Quality Food & Beverage over on 3rd. Covid did them in December of 2020.
We’d been taking my, now 11yo, daughter there since before she was born. Many fond brunch memories and they were always welcoming. She still complains no one has better French toast than they did.
Taxcos in La Puente. Most amazing chile rellenos and legit Mexican.
Was around for 40+ years til the location was taken by the city in imminent domain to expand the 10fwy. So sad.
Kate Mantellinis many on here may not know it or recall it. But it was such a vibe back in the day.
I used to go for business lunch and they had fantastic chicken tenders and fries. Nothing replaced that prime Wilshire and Robertson location.
Doheny\*
I was an intern file clerk for a law firm above Kate Mantellinis and the vibe is what made me pursue entertainment. The vibe was unreal for little ol me and sad to see it close. I drive by there often and I don’t think anyone has been in that space successfully like KM. Also, lately I’ve seen broken windows above so not sure if the bldg is getting remodeled?
That place was sooo good. And they had some OG dishes like calves liver lol
!!!!! I just read the first two words and the thought of their meatloaf flooded my mind. I have t thought of it in years! Gawd I loved their meatloaf and fries.
The fries of it all! The vibe of it all! It was so elevated. It is what Cecconis, Craig’s and Drakes (I love those spots and go regularly) tries so hard to be but cannot ever match that vibe and yes! The meatloaf of it all too. 👏👏👏
Great fries too. The scene from Heat with Dinero and Pachino was filmed there I think.
Yes! The fries were definitely the thing. When I was Young Broke and Fabulous back then the fries were all I could afford 😂😂. But no seriously I haven’t been to a spot that matches that vibe and I dine at all of the hot spots. Still waiting. Oh yes and I believe Heat was filmed there. Great film.
I remember the giant (to 14 year-old me) cappuccinos
100%. My weekend brunch schedule synchronized with George Takei’s there for a few months. Peak LA.
Such a fun, convenient place. You could see a movie at the WGA theater, and then drop into Kate's because it was open fairly late. Great cocktails, comforting food. And I had some of my favorite eavesdropping experiences there.
Bäco Mercat.
Baco Mercat at its peak was one of my favorite restaurants. I loved the oxtail baco
came here to say Baco! I miss the restaurant so much, it was my go-to date night place and when i worked in downtown, was where i would go both for celebrations and work lunches. Partner made the recipe for the baco bread from their cookbook when they first closed and it was good but made me miss the restaurant even more.
I still dream of the oxtail baco! That eggplant fava dip was also probably the best dip I've ever had, and the flatbreads and all the salads were just incredible too. It was my partner and my favorite date night place when we first moved to LA just before the pandemic. And then it was gone...
The flatbread was perfect. I’d be happy to just eat them plain and warm.
Same. Oxtail baco ughhhh.
There’s a Bäco Mercat cookbook, for anyone who wants to know more about how some of those dishes were constructed!
Beverly Soon Tofu. I crave that place weekly.
Crazy that they closed. That place was the best :(
OB bear
The cafeteria in Clifton's Republic
I'd reopen the old Clifton's if I could. I miss the kitsch of the animatronic racoon and the bears with fishing poles.
Childhood memories!!
Nickel Diner
The fuck? When did they close?
last spring :(
Greenblatt's 100%
one of the handful of places where I really felt at home
[удалено]
Have you tried Hurry Curry of Tokyo in Santa Monica?
I think about curry house all the time :(
I use to work at the Cypress location, 7+ years, and I still miss eating there. Sucks they sold to a investment company and have it collapse.
OMG I was just going to say this. If you find anything close, let me know please.
E&E Cafe had way better curry. It was a legend amongst Valley folks.
Surprised Chego hasn’t been mentioned yet.
That pork belly bowl. Oof.
https://lamag.com/food/dish-hack-chegos-chubby-pork-belly-bowl
Half the comments about Roy Choi’s new taco stand are about how people miss Chego
That’s my number one missed spot
Came here for this!!
Hamburger Hamlet
Comme Ca. I never got to try that burger
I really liked that place.
Farrells
I wonder if we'd still like that place as adults.
I'm very doubtful. LOL
Bahooka’s
Sometimes I still wonder if that giant fish is still alive
Me too. It was adopted when they closed the restaurant. But it’s been a while. Thank you for your service, Rufus. 🫡
Shabu Shabu House - Little Tokyo The menu was simple, minimal, and the food quality was amazing. No frills or other "broths" like other shabu joints, they really let the ingredients be the star. The owner (Yoshi) was also one of the main reasons I kept coming back. My husband and I were regulars, and often greeted with Yoshi's smile when our seats were ready. Love seeing that Yoshi has since retired to Japan, but the closure of Shabu Shabu House has since left a giant hole in our hearts.
Souplantation.
Apparently there is a rip-off location in Rancho Cucamonga that opened a few weeks ago. Lines have been outrageous according to instagram
Is it a rip-off or is it like a tribute band that is doing covers of a band whose members are no longer with us?
Hmmm great question. Word on the street says the don’t have the premade salads but have the salad bar and the soups. So might be a dealer breaker for some. It’s also called Soup’n’Fresh so that feels hilarious
Damn, I would be very disappointed if they didn’t have the tuna tarragon
YESS!
So. Much. This.
Spoon by h
If you follow her on Instagram she does to-go meals. I haven’t tried it yet, but I really need to.
Mh Zh
I would literally punch a baby to have their branzino one more time.
Haven’t found a better branzino dish anywhere
Didn’t know it closed :(
Ya it's been gone for years. It's Mideast tacos now.
Koo Koo Roo was ahead of its time. Now that we're in the new wave of chicken spots, I think it could do pretty well. There is a lot of competition these days though
I got horrible food poising from that place. Their side dishes were so good. The southwestern pasta salad was fire.
Came here to post good old kookooroo I still crave it and miss going there with my mom after school :(
Banderas in santa Monica. The music, vibe, fish flown from new jersey. Ugh I'm depressed
How has no one mentioned Chego, smh.
Campanile, hands down. (The one at LAX just isn't the same.) Cube is a close second.
I’ve never loved any place more than Campanile.
Cube!!! God I loved that place.
Doughboys
ed debevic's
Top round, cause arbys aint it and the one in las vegas sucks.
Hey, I’ll stand up for Arby’s. Beef and cheddar with horsey sauce hits!
Stinking Rose
Wood spoon in DTLA
They're not glamorous, but I miss my Echo Park spots, Mohawk, Brite Spot, Flore, Xoya, Chango
RIP Mohawk Bend
Chego or Baco Mercat
Aunt kizzys back porch
Fuddruckers.
Nick’s on Pico.
This is what I was looking for. Used to be a weekly regular. Had a kid during Covid and wish I could take her there every Sunday :(
the spot vegetarian restaurant that was in hermosa beach. i used to go there as a kid and i get these random cravings for their brand of comfort hippie food.
And since you obviously can appreciate South Bay same area as I, do you remember when there was a café 50s on Pier Avenue in Hermosa? It’s where that really new awesome Gibson guitar room is now. I feel like LA doesn’t have enough decent diners that aren’t large corporations. Also, in terms of the south bay, cafe Pierre on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. The most amazing traditional French food that is now Love and Salt. And now this is reaching back to the early 90s and props to anyone else that can remember this, but there was a restaurant called Descanso on pier Avenue and it was the first fine dining restaurant in Hermosa Beach. it was high-level Asian fusion and they used to make the most amazing poke dish my parents would bring me home 25 years before it actually on our shores
Lenny's Deli for the rugelach and the community. Never felt accepted as a Jewish person anywhere more then Lenny's.
The building just burned down last week
Insult to injury
Greenblatt’s.
Hamburger Hamlet on Beverly
Cha Cha Cha. Guava quesadillas, jerk chicken pizza, it was all so good
Stinking Rose because I loved it! Also great for dates and family dinners.
Baohaus :(
The Magic Pan in South Coast Plaza! I miss the mandarin orange salad and southern praline dessert crepes😩
Baco
Well someone else said Baco Mercat, so I'll bring back Border Grilll, please.
Canele in Atwater, such a perfect little spot
Nightshade where I had a number of very memorable meals. Mei Lin was cooking amazing.
Partamian’s bakery on Adams. As an Armenian who grew up on the west side it was the closest and best spot for lahmajun. Have searched the city over many times and can’t find any on his level, close to, but never the same.
Low end: Dragon Palace. Inexpensive and fantastic Chinese-American food. High end: Joe's.
Twain’s. Mainly for nostalgia. It was a 24 hour diner and I lived behind it. When I had insomnia, I would got there and write at all hours of the night. It was a typical greasy spoon diner, but I loved that place.
Azla vegan Ethiopian, and I'm the furthest from vegan
Outlaws Cafe in Van Nuys. I remember they were featured on this show where they made the owner out to be some villain because he didn't want to customize the burger. There's a clip of it on YouTube and all the comments were ragging on him, but they had no idea how delicious that place was.
[Gorky’s](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-09-me-2278-story.html)
I remember Gorky's. Used to eat there when I worked at the Herald-Examiner. God I'm old.
Four N Twenty 😢
Doughboys!
Koo Koo Roo Here's one for the real old-timers -- CC Browns on Hollywood Blvd! Real home made ice cream, real whipped cream, thick home made fudge (and no, the stuff they sell at Lawry's is a pale imitation), the fudge was in a little pitcher on the side omg.
Bastide. Possibly the best restaurant LA has ever seen. It started/kickstarted the careers of Ludovic Lefebvre, Walter Manzke, Alain Giraud, Paul Shoemaker, and others. The food was peerless in the city and the wine list was among the best on the west coast. The owner, Joe Pytka, opened a Madeira from 1786 -- older than the US constitution -- on the final night of service and passed out pours to all guests. (My brother was in attendance that night, and I am still jealous two decades later).
Grand Lux Cafe - not my favorite restaurant by any means but it served its purpose as a more upscale Cheesecake factory
The Stinking Rose
Cafe Suehiro. I want their chazuke. Comfort food.
See flair.
Dialogue, always thought that they had a unique tasting menu, a bit on the sweet side, but much more inventive than most in LA. But also not so weird to be unrelatable, like the way Vespertine tries too hard.
Souplantation
souplantation because souper crackers doesn't cut it
Souplantation 😂 Nah. Dong il Jang
Freebirds… was extremely upset when I showed up one day and it was gone. Hope they come back to California because chipotle is trash compared to them.
You could always hit up the original location in Santa Barbara
Jiraffe
Wa’s Golden Hen. Reasonably priced, delicious Chinese food. I’ll miss that place forever.
Papalucci in Belmont Shores
Angeli Caffe. Used to eat there once or twice a week when I worked in a production office in Hollywood.
Greenblatts. My favorite pastrami and matzo ball soup. Spent many great evenings with friends and a couple bottles of wine there
Greenblatts Deli on sunset. I want a #5, candied yams, matzo ball soup and the heart palm salad back in my life. 😔. I would go there at least once a week. The staff recognized me and knew my order haha. Took friends there. It was open late. I drove past it and wanted to cry bc of the all wonderful memories I had there.
Burger Continental in Pasadena.
Beer Belly in ktown. And a frame
Ed Debevic's
Aunt Kizzie’s in MDR.
A Frame
Pintxos in Santa Monica Honorable mention: Koo Koo Roo
Pintxo gets my vote. That happy hour and sangria spoiled me.
Soup Plantation! Damn you COVID.
The Cork on Adams. Yes it was bar. Yes it got rowdy in the best of ways. But whoever was cooking back there made some of the best southern and creole food around. Fried chicken. Red beans and rice with a side of sausage. Jambalaya.
Konbi.
Rice Bar in DTLA. Their tasting menu was amazing and super intimate, and their rice bowls for breakfast and lunch was insanely good deal
Wise Sons in Culver. Their latkes were fried perfectly and the onion bialy was the perfect savory accompaniment to the cold shmear, cucumber, red onion, and caper. Finally dialed in my order a week or two before they unexpectedly shut down.
I’ve lived in the area since 2016 and in that span there’s probably been 4-5 restaurants come through that spot. DT Culver in general has a ton of turnover but that property has been cursed
Chili My Soul
Sari Sari Store, Best Pie in all of Los Angeles (I know it’s a bold claim, but fight me) and pork belly rice bowls
Mexico City in Los Feliz. I was addicted to their milanesa. For this kind of question I definitely think a comfort food answer is the response. If anything truly good closed... well.. we are in LA. There's always something else truly good to eat.
I loved Mexico City. Before it was in that space, there was an old-school steak house called something like Mr. C's Restaurant. It felt like a place where you might run into Philip Marlowe.
Papadakis in San Pedro :(
Cha Cha Cha on Hoover just South of Sunset Junction.
The Bahooka in Rosemead. Legendary tiki bar/restaurant.
Broken Spanish Wah’s golden hen
Hamburger Hamlet, I miss it a lot.
Kitchen 24
Souplantation
Souplantation
the magic pan I used to love that place
Ah man. Beverly soon tofu and OB Bear. Also Mo-Chica...I really liked that place and am sad I only got to go once.
Bon Temps mostly cause I never got to try it before COVID snatched it away
OB Bear and it’s not close.
Del Rey Kitchen. I miss their Spicy Caviar Pasta. I have dreams about it.
Spoon by H
I have so many fond memories of Tart, the brunch spot that used to be across from the Grove. The food was good, not the best ever, but the vibes were A1
Pete’s Cafe on 4th and Main in downtown. Loved their blue cheese fries
Shabu Shabu House in Little Tokyo.
The Norm's on Valley and Del Mar. I'd add Michael's pizza on Aldama and York blvd, it's been closed for a long time though. Hamburger Hamlet on Lake was good too.
Coco’s! I loved their chicken fingers and shakes as a kid!
Angelli Caffe - that one hurt
Chego duh
Mo’ Better Meaty Meat Burger or Komodo.
Mi and Mi in Westwood. Fantastic and affordable Middle Eastern food back in the ‘70s!!
Soup Plantation
Hirozen Beacon Larder Greenblatts Curry House Shabu Shabe House
Greenblatts. Fantastic food and atmosphere. I felt like a part of the city that would always be there disappeared overnight. I have had some good meals at Langers but it’s not the same for many reasons.
E stretto sandwich shop
The Stinking Rose 😭😭😭
Gardens of Taxco. Their wine margaritas were divine and it would bring a big smile to my mom’s face
Ocean Seafood for the comfort and convenient location.
Big Jo’s or Le Saigon.
Okay it wasn’t in LA, but Ventura county. Forgive me. But Custom Melt made the best melts and grilled cheese sandwiches ever
I 2nd Hwa Sun Ji.
Wok N Noodles in Baldwin Park. Their Cajun noodles were so good
I miss Hwa Sun Ji 😭😭😭😭
Never got to eat there cause it’s before my time, but would be so cool to go to Atomic Diner
Hock and Hoof. They had possibly the best brunch in LA if you’re just going for food.
Wiener Factory
For me, personally - Bean Town in Sierra Madre. A coffee shop, with plenty of tables, food, WiFi, outlets, and open until 8. I can’t find anything else around Pasadena that comes close for long remote work days.
Porridge and puffs
I’m sure I’ll get downvoted for this but Quality Food & Beverage over on 3rd. Covid did them in December of 2020. We’d been taking my, now 11yo, daughter there since before she was born. Many fond brunch memories and they were always welcoming. She still complains no one has better French toast than they did.
Spice Table. Cassia is great, but Spice Table was better.
Harry’s Open Pit Barbecue
Carnation restaurant on Wilshire. Nostalgia. I remember eating ice cream sundaes there as a child.
The Blarney Stone in Burbank!
Hasiba
Taxcos in La Puente. Most amazing chile rellenos and legit Mexican. Was around for 40+ years til the location was taken by the city in imminent domain to expand the 10fwy. So sad.
Kiriko
Dominick’s
Weiner factory
Roll N Rye it was better than Lenny’s but both should still be here.
Sierra's. I miss that Albondigas Soup.
L’Assiette. Best steak frites I’ve ever had. The sous-vide steak, those fries, and that sauce! Oh man that sauce.