Guidebook for East Los Angeles
Food Scene
Korean BBQ! What else can we say?
We went here a few times and they have options on your food order. It's been a while but I think it's about $25 a person.
67 locals recommend
Genwa Korean BBQ
5115 Wilshire BlvdKorean BBQ! What else can we say?
We went here a few times and they have options on your food order. It's been a while but I think it's about $25 a person.
Well known fancy eatery in Downtown LA. It's first come first serve and the food is great. Try the fried portebello mushrooms first.
We came here on a few dates before we got engaged.
The back area is "waiting list" and the front cafe area is first come first serve bar sitting style. Just grab a seat. Both areas serve the same thing but it's just faster if you ask someone for their table if they look like they're leaving. That's usually the best way unless you prefer to wait for a bigger table.
Be warned, it can get packed...
584 locals recommend
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand AveWell known fancy eatery in Downtown LA. It's first come first serve and the food is great. Try the fried portebello mushrooms first.
We came here on a few dates before we got engaged.
The back area is "waiting list" and the front cafe area is first come first serve bar sitting style. Just grab a seat. Both areas serve the same thing but it's just faster if you ask someone for their table if they look like they're leaving. That's usually the best way unless you prefer to wait for a bigger table.
Be warned, it can get packed...
If you want GOOD Vietnamese food, here's the place. San Gabriel Valley is famous for all the Asian eateries and you can start here.
Order literally everything and share family style so you can get a taste of everything. If not, then I don't judge and just order the typical Pho or you can see pictures from their yelp site.
This restaurant is famous and is on a few "top places to eat" lists. We ate here quite a few times.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-deli-temple-city-3?osq=golden+deli
27 locals recommend
Golden Deli Restaurant
815 W Las Tunas DrIf you want GOOD Vietnamese food, here's the place. San Gabriel Valley is famous for all the Asian eateries and you can start here.
Order literally everything and share family style so you can get a taste of everything. If not, then I don't judge and just order the typical Pho or you can see pictures from their yelp site.
This restaurant is famous and is on a few "top places to eat" lists. We ate here quite a few times.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-deli-temple-city-3?osq=golden+deli
This is personally one of my favs. Open 24/7, any time!!!!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carnitas-michoacan-los-angeles-2
1901 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031
I go here for the nachos with carne asada or papa fritas. It's so good I don't care about anything else.
There are NO restrooms and you eat outside in their patio.
I highly recommend eating there because the food will be soggy if you takeout.
13 locals recommend
The Original Carnitas Michoacan
1901 N BroadwayThis is personally one of my favs. Open 24/7, any time!!!!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carnitas-michoacan-los-angeles-2
1901 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031
I go here for the nachos with carne asada or papa fritas. It's so good I don't care about anything else.
There are NO restrooms and you eat outside in their patio.
I highly recommend eating there because the food will be soggy if you takeout.
East Los Angeles Farmers Market
4801 E 3rd StFarmer's market.
Sightseeing
Little Tokyo is a small and fun area. It has a few good eateries and is a "must visit" spot.
435 locals recommend
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is a small and fun area. It has a few good eateries and is a "must visit" spot.
There's everything from shopping to movies to night life to eateries and even museums.
We used to live just a mile away from Old Town Pasadena and would occasionally walk to all the restaurants and bars.
480 locals recommend
Old Pasadena
23 E Colorado BlvdThere's everything from shopping to movies to night life to eateries and even museums.
We used to live just a mile away from Old Town Pasadena and would occasionally walk to all the restaurants and bars.
I've grown up visiting Chinatown throughout my life. It's just an interesting place to walk around. You can buy all kinds of gifts, trinkets, clothes, illegal products, and much more!
It's also great to see the culture there.
399 locals recommend
Chinatown
I've grown up visiting Chinatown throughout my life. It's just an interesting place to walk around. You can buy all kinds of gifts, trinkets, clothes, illegal products, and much more!
It's also great to see the culture there.
This is a neat little neighborhood next to the ocean. They built the area to resemble Italy's Venice Canals.
This is a great place to hang out, eat out, walk around and sight see.
Be warned, traffic is bad and street parking is tough but FREE. There is paid parking if you want a faster spot.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
This is a neat little neighborhood next to the ocean. They built the area to resemble Italy's Venice Canals.
This is a great place to hang out, eat out, walk around and sight see.
Be warned, traffic is bad and street parking is tough but FREE. There is paid parking if you want a faster spot.
Walk Of Fame
6901 Hollywood BlvdArts & Culture
A beautiful villa and museum. This is a must visit location. Lots of beautiful decoration and scenery and landscape.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyA beautiful villa and museum. This is a must visit location. Lots of beautiful decoration and scenery and landscape.
A great place to hang out for free. You can visit during the day or at night. The views are great, the hiking is fun and the Observatory is educational.
Please expect traffic.
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdA great place to hang out for free. You can visit during the day or at night. The views are great, the hiking is fun and the Observatory is educational.
Please expect traffic.
This is a very new museum that just opened about a year ago. We haven't gone here yet but reviews are great and the line is long. Maybe you can visit first and let us know how it is.
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand AveThis is a very new museum that just opened about a year ago. We haven't gone here yet but reviews are great and the line is long. Maybe you can visit first and let us know how it is.
Famous art gallery. We've been here a few times.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdFamous art gallery. We've been here a few times.
One of our first dates was at this museum. It's located in Old Town Pasadena and there's ample parking. Tickets are not too expensive and there are many galleries. It's a nice place to walk around in with a small and peaceful garden outside.
You can also visit Old Town Pasadena which is just down the street on Colorado Blvd.
485 locals recommend
Norton Simon Museum
411 W Colorado BlvdOne of our first dates was at this museum. It's located in Old Town Pasadena and there's ample parking. Tickets are not too expensive and there are many galleries. It's a nice place to walk around in with a small and peaceful garden outside.
You can also visit Old Town Pasadena which is just down the street on Colorado Blvd.
The Museum of Contemporary Art
250 S Grand AveHollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdParks & Nature
You can hike during the day or at night. This is an iconic trail that leads up to an old hotel that was destroyed by wind and fire and was eventually abandoned.
Lots of remnants still remain and expect lots of visitors.
We enjoyed hiking here at night when we lived in Pasadena.
8 locals recommend
Inspiration Point Interpretive Site
Echo Mountain (Mount Lowe Railroad Trail)You can hike during the day or at night. This is an iconic trail that leads up to an old hotel that was destroyed by wind and fire and was eventually abandoned.
Lots of remnants still remain and expect lots of visitors.
We enjoyed hiking here at night when we lived in Pasadena.
Beautiful canyons and waterfalls. Short hikes in these areas and night views are beautiful.
167 locals recommend
Eaton Canyon
1801-1945 Veranada AveBeautiful canyons and waterfalls. Short hikes in these areas and night views are beautiful.
Everybody in Hollywood goes "hiking" here. This is a famous hilly area in Hollywood where we used to hike when we were dating because Olga lived in Hollywood at the time.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller AveEverybody in Hollywood goes "hiking" here. This is a famous hilly area in Hollywood where we used to hike when we were dating because Olga lived in Hollywood at the time.
Shopping
This is a great LA mall in terms of sight seeing and hanging out. There's even a free trolly ride.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrThis is a great LA mall in terms of sight seeing and hanging out. There's even a free trolly ride.
A nice place to hang out. Lots of shopping and just fun to walk around.
642 locals recommend
The Americana at Brand
889 Americana WayA nice place to hang out. Lots of shopping and just fun to walk around.
Melrose Ave Shopping District
Melrose AvenueEssentials
CVS pharmacy. They have all your essentials.
Personal care, medicine, alcohol, some food, etc...
3601 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue
3601 East Cesar E Chavez AvenueCVS pharmacy. They have all your essentials.
Personal care, medicine, alcohol, some food, etc...
Entertainment & Activities
Great zoo with many animals. Be careful because it can be very hot especially in summer.
220 locals recommend
LA Zoo station
Great zoo with many animals. Be careful because it can be very hot especially in summer.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Dodger Stadium
1000 Vin Scully AveBaseball!
Pacific Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset BlvdFamous Hollywood Theatre.
There is a sky slide at Union Bank in Downtown. They built a glass slide outside of the building on the 70th floor and there are bars here.
We haven't gone here yet but plan to.
130 locals recommend
OUE Skyspace LA
633 W 5th StThere is a sky slide at Union Bank in Downtown. They built a glass slide outside of the building on the 70th floor and there are bars here.
We haven't gone here yet but plan to.
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar StWinery just a few miles away.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 W Exposition BlvdLa Brea Tar Pits and Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd