BEST CHEAP EATS
Grand Central Market/Bradbury Building - http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/ - A CAN”T MISS, this sprawling outdoor market offers a little of everything that’s good about LA. Dozens of food stalls to choose from. Eat a burrito the size of your head and (maybe) live to talk about it. Mongolian BBQ and “pupusas” from El Salvador are also excellent. Be sure to check out the historic Bradbury Building across the street - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradbury_Building.
Little Tokyo Historic District – Much to choose from here. My personal favorites are noodles at Daikokuya http://www.daikoku-ten.com/dk_home.html and Orochon Ramen http://orochonramen.com/. Professionals only at Orochon, please, or don’t come crying to me at the wedding when you’ve burned your taste buds off.
Philippe's Original – http://www.philippes.com/ - An LA landmark and fabled birthplace of the French dip sandwich, which Philippe himself accidentally “invented” 80 years ago when he dropped a sandwich into the gravy. The beat cop he was serving it to ate it anyway, and the rest is history. Sawdust on the floors, long but quick lines, nuclear mustard, cheap wines by the glass, and damn good hand-carved meat.
Langer's Delicatessen – http://www.langersdeli.com/ - East coast family members may balk, but take it from The New Yorker magazine: “The hot pastrami sandwich served at Langer’s Delicatessen in downtown Los Angeles is the finest hot pastrami sandwich in the world.” (Read the whole article here: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/08/19/020819fa_fact4). Order the Number 19. Trust me. Take the subway from Pershing Square to Alvarado.
Shekarchi – http://losangeles.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=24873&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=44 - Farsi for “hunter,” and hands down the best Persian restaurant in Downtown LA (there are many). WARNING: The kabobs, jeweled rices, and stews are delectable, but this is largely the same menu we’ll be serving at the wedding.
Mendocino Farms - http://www.mendocinofarms.com/ - California wine country inspired sandwiches made from seasonal, organic, locally-grown ingredients. Enjoy a fancy sandwich while sitting outside at the Cal Plaza amphitheater among throngs of corporate lackeys on their lunch breaks. MON THROUGH FRI ONLY.
Café Metropol - http://www.cafemetropol.com/ - Hip spot with great food and wine in an industrial area of downtown that doubles as an artist district. Fantastic (but pricey) sushi right next door at R-23.
Nick's Café - http://www.yelp.com/biz/nicks-cafe-los-angeles - Best breakfast downtown, period. Rumored to be owned by two LAPD homicide detectives. Belly up to the U-shaped counter and get your fix. Bring your own defribillator.
Señor Fish - http://www.senorfishla.com/ - The seafood quesadilla is one of the biggest bargains in all of LA. Lots of other super-fresh seafood choices served up Mexican style at unbeatable prices on the outskirts of Little Tokyo.
Empress Pavilion - http://www.empresspavilion.com/ - Very tasty and inexpensive dim sum in the heart of Chinatown. Shitty service, but still worth the trip.
Yang Chow - http://www.yangchow.com/ - Top notch Chinese. Their world famous “slippery shrimp” is a knockout.
Pete’s Café and Bar - http://www.petescafe.com/ - Nice space (mosaic tile, mahogany wood, big windows, patio) and solid grub. Easy walk from anywhere downtown.
Redwood Bar & Grill - http://www.theredwoodbar.com/site08/homewiframe.htm – Hilarious pirate-themed gastro-pub has good food and could just as easily be in the “Best Watering Holes” section of this list (see below).
The Original Pantry – http://www.pantrycafe.com/index.html - Established in 1924 and owned by former mayor Richard Reardon, this LA landmark lunch counter features serviceable breakfast, grill items and hot plates. Cheap, quick and always open.
Sultan - http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2008/08/04/special/special03.txt - Hole-in-the-wall middle-eastern joint is a true hidden gem and one of the best bargains downtown.
BEST WATERING HOLES
The Standard Rooftop - http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/rooftop-bar/
Golden Gopher - http://www.goldengopherbar.com/
7 Grand - http://www.sevengrand.la/main.html
Bar 107 - http://www.losanjealous.com/2006/06/13/the-truth-about-bar-107/
Broadway Bar - http://www.thebroadwaybar.net/
Edison - http://www.edisondowntown.com/main.htm
BEST ATTRACTIONS
Walt Disney Concert Hall - http://www.laphil.com/about/wdch_overview.cfm and Roy and Edna Disney Cal Arts Theater (REDCAT) - http://www.redcat.org/. Also check out the Grand Avenue Festival (art and live music) right in front of the concert hall on Sunday the 28th.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) - http://www.moca.org/
Olvera Street - http://www.olvera-street.com/ and Union Station - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Los_Angeles)
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