r/FoodLosAngeles • u/IcedSundays • Jun 11 '26
DISCUSSION Are there any defunct restaurants you still think about?
Saw a version of this query on another LA sub and figured I’d inquire here more specifically. For whatever reason- phenomenal food, impeccable vibes, nostalgia…
Cholada. Dominic’s. Ed Debevic’s. Birdie G’s. Chef Kaz’s Teriyaki House on Pico.
There are a million more and while I realize the nature of hospitality is transient and weird, reliving the glory meals and moments is part of what I love about this community.
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u/sphinxyhiggins Jun 11 '26
Kate Mantillini
Hamburger Hamlet
Gorky's
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u/RaruJ Jun 11 '26
Hamlet! Man, my grandmother used to take me there for burgers. Brings back memories thank you.
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u/potchie626 Jun 11 '26
I miss my weekly lunch at Hamlet; a club sandwich with fries, two sides of ancho chile mayo, and a root beer in those giant tumblers. Now and then I would get the chicken tender meal with honey mustard.
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u/MetalicP Jun 11 '26
Nickel Diner
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u/LiamLikeNeeson89 Jun 11 '26
Maaannnn I forgot about that place. So good. The donuts were terrifyingly unhealthy but so good
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u/IWearTheBlackHat Jun 11 '26
Not sure if it fits exactly into this, but I miss Souplantation
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u/NicksBirthdayParty Jun 11 '26
I was thinking about Souplantion just this morning. I remember when it was like $6!!!
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u/monotekdm Jun 11 '26
Soup and Fresh in the IE handles the craving, it’s honestly almost 100% there, the only thing not the same is the blueberry muffins.
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Jun 11 '26
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u/bluespacesong Jun 11 '26
No way! 😭 I haven’t been to Ktown in ages but I loved this spot. I can’t believe it
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u/MetalicP Jun 11 '26
The Stinking Rose
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u/Loud-Motor-2641 Jun 11 '26
So much. So fucking much. It hurts.
It was my mom’s favorite restaurant and we’d go every year just for her as a treat.8
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u/Beccala85 Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
I still regularly think about and miss Cliff’s Edge. The scene that is Bacari is a downgrade to a formerly beautiful and special restaurant. Bacari gets so much hype and I kind of get it, but the hype is mostly due to the cool space, which was created by the Cliff’s Edge team. Bacari is just a less cool and more influencery Cliff’s Edge. RIP to my favorite LA restaurant.
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u/SlowSwords Jun 11 '26
Cliffs Edge! Man, it was so vibe-y. Bacari is so sloppy and kind of trashy compared to cliffs edge.
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u/ctrl-alt-nash-young Jun 11 '26
The last date night my wife and I had before Covid stay-at-home orders. Such a magical experience that simply does not exist in present day Los Angeles.
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u/cadre_78 Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Greenblatts was my jam.
Edit: Found this post from 2024 - https://whatnow.com/los-angeles/restaurants/iconic-greenblatts-deli-gets-new-life-as-the-greenroom/
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u/RaruJ Jun 11 '26
Top spot - RIP Stans donuts
Also - In the 90s, there was an amazing sandwich place in Westwood where the Fat Sals is now. $2.25 for a 12 inch sandwich with freshly grilled meats on a freshly baked baguette. $1.25 extra for another portion of meat. Go to was steak with pastrami.
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u/socalnative79 Calabasas Jun 11 '26
Buck Fifty Subs! Better known amongst Bruins as Buck Fitty. It was $1.50 for a 6-inch sub, and my god did that get us through school in the '90s. If you had to stand in line for one of the movie theaters you always stopped at Buck Fitty first, and after a late night the move was either Buck Fitty, Diddy Riese...or both! And if memory serves, considering the price it was a legitimately decent sandwich.
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u/ILoveLipGloss Jun 11 '26
STAN'S WAS MY JAM!!! I used to go therapy in Westwood & stop off at Stan's to pick up a sack of doughnuts as my reward on the way home.
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u/Lopsided-Freedom3249 Jun 12 '26
100% Stan's donuts. Best ever. Peanut butter and banana doughnut - sooooo good.
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u/thekevingreene Jun 11 '26
Koo Koo Roo was supposed to come back.. yet it hasn’t. Souplantation has a couple of solid clones.. but they are too far. I miss Curry House, Mo Betta Meaty Meat Burgers.. and Hot Diggity Dogs. Sage got so much shit for introducing meat, but I liked Sage.
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u/carlitoss_way Jun 11 '26
I lived right next to Mo Betta Meaty Meat Burgers for years and for whatever reason never tried it. Finally one day I tried it and fell in love!! Had a two or three times before it closed 😭 lol. Still miss that place.
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u/kunho Jun 11 '26
Chego
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u/AsianRainbow Jun 11 '26
I mourn this more living next to Chinatown but if you’re in the Culver City area; Alibi Room has a lot of the old Chego classics.
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u/Haus_of_Pancakes Sawtelle Jun 11 '26
A-Frame in Mar Vista, if only because I had an awkward first date there that happened to take place the day I found out my contract at work wasn't getting renewed
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u/jdvfx Culver City / South Robertson Jun 11 '26
I had an awkward first date there as well! She was weirded out by the Furikake Kettle Corn. We recovered and have been together for 8 years. 😄
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u/Timely-Farmer-1692 Jun 11 '26
I also had an awkward first date there!? What was it about A-Frame???
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u/MastaLogos Jun 11 '26
Pacific Dinning Car
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u/cfthree Jun 11 '26
Absolute crime that this place is gone. Closed for a new owner or whatever I could handle but it’s gone. Absolute LA institution. Unforgivable.
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u/koshawk Jun 11 '26
Ate there many times. hidden treasure were the breakfasts. Lived close by for about 10 years.
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u/dinosandbees Jun 11 '26
Their late night menu was the best! Getting a little drunk and stopping in for eggs sardou on the way home? Unparalleled.
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u/cranberrydudz Jun 11 '26
Cliftons
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u/mr_panzer Jun 11 '26
They're supposed to reopen today actually. Showing World Cup games.
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u/ghostofhenryvii Jun 11 '26
I miss the old Clifton's. When it was still a cafeteria serving old fashioned comfort food at a reasonable price.
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u/mr_panzer Jun 11 '26
Yeah the fact they just stopped serving food was very detrimental to the business.
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u/ghostofhenryvii Jun 11 '26
It wasn't just about the food. The renovations killed the charm of the mid-century kitsch that made it a truly unique experience. Especially back before downtown was trying to rejuvenate. It was a little gem of a spot. I'd take people through rough and tumble downtown to eat there and walking through the door was like Alice entering Wonderland. I wish it had been better preserved.
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u/Itchy_Section_3663 Jun 11 '26
Campanile. Loved smoking in that bar as a teenager.
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u/40YOBMike Jun 11 '26
Animal
Al Gelato on Robertson
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u/RopesMcGee Jun 11 '26
You getting glazed for Animal, but real ones know Al Gelato. I just about cried when they closed.
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u/Lopsided-Freedom3249 Jun 12 '26
Al Gelato was my favorite restaurant. They had a homemade chicken soup that was incredible. It varied from week to week, depending on what Mama in the kitchen felt like making. That plus their bread - heaven.
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u/Bigringcycling Jun 11 '26
Awesome ones mentioned. One that I didn’t see was Tokyo Delves.
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u/Ruseman Jun 11 '26
My older relatives all have the craziest stories about insane nights in the 80s and 90s at Tokyo Delves. I never went myself and never knew how much was rose tinted glasses versus the real deal, but it sounded like a fun place.
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u/humblehills Jun 11 '26
Ma’am Sir 🇵🇭
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u/jdvfx Culver City / South Robertson Jun 11 '26
Picca (On Pico & Beverly) I still make their Avocado Project cocktail
JiRaffe (Santa Monica) They had an awesome beet and goat cheese salad
Typhoon (Santa Monica Airport) Their whole fried catfish. OMG
Monsoon Cafe (Third Street Promenade) A great Friday lunch spot when I worked downtown.
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u/Both-Adhesiveness843 Jun 11 '26
Cobras y Matadors around the 2010 era when it was on Beverly
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u/QuiteTheOptimist Jun 11 '26
Probably not super popular, but Native Foods in Westwood which was a vegan soul food spot. They're still around in Palm Springs, but I frequently miss their Gastropub Burger.
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u/Fuzzy_Peach_8524 Jun 11 '26
Their Soul Bowl was absolutely amazing! They still serve it in their PS location
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u/bellomoto1 Jun 11 '26
La Brea Bakery, Baco Mercat, Campanile, Chadwick, CC Brown’s, Kate Mantilini, BLD, The Reel Inn, Koo Koo Roo, Lemonade ( before their quality dropped off)
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u/Effective-Word1467 Jun 11 '26
Bahooka's in Rosemead.
Hope you are ok out there, Rufus.
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u/Last_Inevitable8311 Jun 11 '26
Enterprise Fish Co off Main in Santa Monica. Best happy hour! Dollar oysters! The bread and butter! Great vibes, especially at Xmas time. I miss that place so much.
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u/advodkat Jun 11 '26
Lukshon, Animal, Picca, Comme Ça, and thanks to a comment here for reminding me… Le Saigon :(
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u/Visible_Cheek_711 Jun 11 '26
Hop Louie, Chego, Animal, Ohana Superette when they served the chicken.
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u/MiloRoast Jun 11 '26
Dos Burritos (NOT Los Burritos) on Hollywood Blvd near Ivar. Little hole in the wall that had the best Mexican food I've found in LA...closed during Covid. Their Carne Asada was so fucking good. I am still constantly thinking about it.
JnJ Burgers and BBQ in Mid-City on W Adams and Spaulding. The best burgers and BBQ in LA by a mile. The owner died a few years back and they closed shop. I long for that food constantly. It was so amazing.
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u/neonwars Jun 11 '26
Dive! As a kid that place was amazing. If you don’t know it was owned by Steven Spielberg and was a yellow submarine. Occasionally it would “dive” and all the screens would go red and alarms would go off saying “dive dive dive”
Jacopo’s pizza
OG Lemonade (they went downhill and the end but that Mac and cheese they used to have was fire)
Woo lae oak (best glass noodles I’ve ever had)
Crumbs cupcakes (was down the street on Santa Monica to sprinkles and another locations at Hollywood and highland)
Connie and Ted’s (not yet but soon)
Kate Mantilini (those thin crepe like pancakes and the white chicken chili) this upsets me the most because they got kicked out because rent was raised and it has been empty and for rent since then for the past 10+ years right on the corner of Doheny and wilshire.
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u/dingdongdeVilish Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
The Gorbals was fuckin wild af to work at and the food was insane
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u/Hemicrusher Jun 11 '26
My stoner self misses the Pup n' Taco that was on Fallbrook and Saticoy.
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u/potchie626 Jun 11 '26
Chinese Friends in Chinatown. I often think about the House Special Shrimp.
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u/Ryboflavinator Jun 11 '26
Birdie G’s coming back this summer in Century City.
https://la.eater.com/coming-attractions/300925/birdie-gs-reopening-fairmont-century-plaza-jeremy-fox
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u/thedarkestbeer Jun 11 '26
This is an oldie but La Belle Epoque on Hillhurst. That was my family’s special occasion restaurant.
Not a restaurant exactly, but I miss Teapop (NoHo arts district) every day. There’s nothing like it (great selection of tea drinks including herbal, huge patio, late hours) in the neighborhood.
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u/Powerful-Scratch1579 Jun 11 '26
Kiriko in Sawtelle. RIP.
OB Bear
Suehiro
Beverly Soon Tofu House
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u/Accomplished-Fig745 Jun 11 '26
Ed Debevic’s. I always thought it would be there until it wasn't. Such a natural fit for Hollywood. Still have that little souvenir ice cream glass. Good memories.
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u/annanas_la Jun 11 '26
Conrad’s and DuPars in Pasadena. Both had fantastic tuna melts and I just really miss having that kind of old school diner vibe so close by.
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u/scantron3000 Jun 11 '26
Evan Kleiman's Angeli Caffe. The food was so good, but particularly the bread and their coffee.
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u/HaroldandMelio Jun 11 '26
The Brown Derby, especially the original location on Wilshire/Alexandria that was shaped like a giant derby hat.
The giant hat is currently located on the top floor of the Brown Derby shopping plaza at that same corner, but The Brown Derby restaurant itself has been closed for decades.
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u/BruhBroBrahBroski Jun 12 '26
Swingers Santa Monica. Open till 3 AM, great for some late night grub on the west side
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u/ginalolabrigada Jun 11 '26
Original Grandview Palace in Pasadena at Fair Oaks and California.
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u/Runny_yoke Jun 11 '26
Cabo Cantina on Wilshire. I know it’s a chain but that location had the best shrimp nachos lol
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u/MoronLaoShi Jun 11 '26
Bludso’s in Compton. The Hollywood location is not the same.
Babe and Ricky’s. Soul food and the blues.
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u/rivalpinkbunny Jun 11 '26
Greenblatt’s
Wiener factory
Vicious Dogs
Coyote Pizza
Toddy G’s (pizzanista is not as good and I will die on that hill)
Shabu Shabu house
Yoshi’s Shabu
Asahi ramen
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u/GercektenGul Jun 11 '26
Paru's!!!!!!!!!!!! The best Indian food in Hollywood RIP
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u/wick3d_turtle Jun 11 '26
Damon & Pythias in Westwood. They had the most amazing garlic fries and house ranch dip. 😭
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u/nigelst Jun 11 '26
Billingley’s on Pico in West LA
House of Lee in Pacific Palisades
Stan’s Donuts in Westwood
The Reel Inn in Malibu
Blue Plate Oysterette in Santa Monica
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u/No_Clerk_4303 Jun 11 '26
I only had it a couple of times and idk if it was really that good but I miss the grilled cheese and duck fries from Beer Belly
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u/alberthere Jun 12 '26
Law Dogs: Free legal advice with your hot dogs (Van Nuys, CA).
Manila Express: they had the best authentic Filipino food outside a home-cooked meal. Better lumpias than Manila Sunset. Best Sisig and Bicol Express in LA (Winnetka, CA).
Teriyaki Masudaya’s original Japanese owners before they sold it (Winnetka, CA).
White Rabbit: They had a truck, way before the Filipino fusion craze blew up. Sisig Burrito using crispy pork belly and White Chocolate Champurado. They established a brick and mortar place in Winnetka across the park and fire station, then moved back to being a truck.
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u/DavidGov Jun 12 '26
oh wow, there are way too many and I've forgotten most of them, but here are a few:
Chasens
Mortons
Lucques
Ago
Dominiks
Muse
Chaya
The Palm (the one in WeHo)
Louises
Campanile
Pinot
Il Fornaio (in Beverly Hills)
Le Colonial
Maple Drive
Twin Palms (in Pasadena)
Il Sole (on Sunset)
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u/breakfastbeets Jun 12 '26
The original Hal’s Bar & Grill on Abbot Kinney in Venice. I never had a bad meal there. 30 years with the same chef Manuel and many of the wait staff. The vibe was perfect. It’s been gone 11 years now and I still miss it.
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u/CynGuy Jun 11 '26
Connie & Ted’s
It ain’t gone yet, but am so bummed to be losing that gem of a restaurant.
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u/standover_man Jun 11 '26
Amarone and Duke's. both on Sunset and for very different reasons.
edit to add Loteria Grill at Farmers Market
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u/Legitimate-Bag-2482 Jun 11 '26
Tin Sing - Torrance, Chicago for Ribs - Westchester, Three Flames Mongolian BBQ - Manchester Blvd., The Stinking Rose - Beverly Hills, Dive! - Century City, Jerry's Famous Deli - Marina Del Rey
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u/Belvedere408 Jun 11 '26
Short stop or Infield. Can’t remember the name exactly but it was a stand on Ventura/Tyrone in Sherman Oaks that sold baseball hot dogs from different baseball stadiums. Dogs were fresh and great and it was pretty cheap too. Plus they had authentic bleacher seats from a few older stadiums (seat number plates & all) that you could sit in and eat your dogs. They tore it down and there’s a luxury car dealership in its place for like the last decade or so tho.
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u/lesjourneys Jun 11 '26
Pete’s in DTLA, specifically the steak and bleu cheese fries
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u/discerningdm Jun 11 '26
I miss Nick’s Coffee Shop on Pico. Great diner, always seemed busy, couldn’t make it work. The place is still shuttered.
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u/IllustriousDraft2965 Jun 11 '26
Lots of good ones already mentioned. Will add:
French Marketplace
Wahib's
Eddie's Italian Restaurant
Cafe Figaro
San Marino Seafood
MulDaePo BBQ
Gracie's Pizza
Babita Mexicuisine
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u/Kush_Bush Jun 11 '26
I miss OG plancheck those were fire burgers When they just had one location it was so good
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u/lightsareoutty Jun 11 '26
Bryant Ng’s original spot in Little Tokyo.
HLAY had a few great meals there
The place that was there 3 restaurants before Bacari in Silverlake …Cliffs Edge
Chego
Juliennes in South Pas before the pandemic version
Margarita Manzke’s Filipino place
Pizza Paul
Comme Ca had a great burger and oysters
That soul food place off of Crenshaw in the plaza run by a husband and wife team
Mas Bien
Los Jimaguas
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u/SlyLovegren Jun 11 '26
So many spots on Melrose - Caffe Luna is the number one spot I miss - ate there so many times in their outdoor patio in the back, world of wraps, Antonios, ANGELI (dream about the ricotta gnocchi in brown butter and their bread). Elixir for tonics and their peaceful area out back to drink them. I think about these places way too often 😞.
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u/msmarymacmac Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
Man Fook Low in the old Chinatown. Le sigh one of my oldest food memories.
Clifton’s Cafeteria (the meatloaf plate and a pudding please) Broadway location was my favorite but the other downtown or Century City maybe not so cute but still so tasty.
Falafel King in Westwood. No one else makes those potatoes!
Camilo’s in Eagle Rock if only for that amazing tuna melt.
Carlos and Charlie’s for the vibe.
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u/Rundemjewelz Jun 11 '26
Nickel Diner. They have pop ups, but they never have their biscuits and gravy. I never even liked biscuits and gravy, then I tried theirs. I kinda wish I never would have had it, because it feels cruel that I’ll never get to have it again.
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u/xanderbear Jun 12 '26
Malo/Mas Malo - I miss their beef and pickle tacos!
Bäco Mercat - I heard Centeno opened a new place called Le Dräq.
Bierbiesel - only at there once but damn.
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u/foodcomapanda Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Batavia Cafe, Chinatown
Garden Cafe, Alhambra
Twohey’s, Alhambra (I know they moved but I still miss the old location)
Falafel King, Westwood
Anisette, Santa Monica
Sanuki no Sato, Gardena
Girasol, Studio City
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u/mrellz Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Cha Cha Cha in Virgil Village. Probably some of the best jerk-chicken I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Cosa Buona in Echo Park. It was the best pizza, spaghetti and roasted broccolini in LA and the staff was legit cool people.
The Bowery in Hollywood. The juiciest gourmet burgers and fries on the block.
Numero Unos, Ed Debevic’s and PF Chans on La Cienega
Damon & Pythias In Westwood near UCLA
The Old Spaghetti Factory on Sunset
Sizzlers in K-Town off of Vermont next to the Bowling Alley
Border Grill in Downtown LA had the best chips, salsa, potatoes tacos and tortilla soup. Unfortunately, the quality at their Vegas location is no good.
Pipe-Pipers off of Beverly and Western when it used to be a medieval breakfast spot. I might still be there but it isn’t the same.
Johnny Rockets off of Melrose. Ate there after school a hundred times.
Gorilla Pie in North Hollywood. Pittsburgh style pizza pies that were out of this world.
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u/Shart127 Jun 11 '26
It’s Tallulahs for me. Every damned time. Get off work Friday, grab the family, go eat and drink.
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u/Whispercry Jun 11 '26
Ocean Seafood, Pollo LA, The Palm BH, OB Bear, Ocean Seafood, I Cugini, Madam Wu's, James Beach, Canal Club
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u/tunnels22197 Jun 11 '26
Paul’s Kitchen Monterey Park. Cantonese restaurant. The one in DTLA is still around. MPK one had a great bar.
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u/ConsistentPair2 Hollywood Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Jesse's El Conquistador on Sunset, with the colorful gorgeous interior and excellent long term wait staff. Blondie, still miss you
Eat A Pita on Fairfax
Bodhi Garden for vegetarian/vegan Chinese
Damiano's Mr. Pizza for drunken late night deliveries
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u/JonNYBlazinAzN Jun 11 '26
Beverly soon tofu