LA RECOMMENDATIONS PART I

Have you heard of Yelp?  Well, I'm a member and I get so offended when people trash my favorite restaurants. It's pretty ridiculous how angry I get. And funny.

As mentioned in a previous post, a good friend from the UK came for a visit en route to Costa Rica last weekend. We only had Saturday night, all day Sunday, and Monday night together. It was her first time ever in LA, so I really wanted to show her the best of the best, but at the same time, I didn't want to overwhelm her.

Being borderline OCD when it comes to organizing things, I made a list (and organized it by area):

Downtown/Silverlake/Melrose/Hollywood

Sushi Gen - My all time favorite. I actually went to Sushi Gen (pronounced like the g in gun) the day my boyfriend took these pictures. While doing research for my friend's visit, I looked up Sushi Gen on Yelp to see how everyone else liked it. Every negative comment was like a stab to the heart. It hurts guys. It's fine and I understand if you don't like it because the service or the quality of food was poor the one time you went. I get it, I've had a couple of bad experiences there too. A rude waitress, a not so fresh slab of maguro, or even a long wait. Trust me, I've been there. But just like a relationship, you shouldn't write it off so easily. It's delicious, filling, authentic, and great value for your money. Is there a better sushi restaurant in LA? Absolutely, if you want to spend a lot more. But, Sushi Gen is definitely the top of the line for its price range. It's damn good.

The Standard Rooftop Bar - Pretentious? A little. It's got a good view of the city though and in a strange European-ish way, it's very LA.

American Apparel (The Warehouse) - Only open from Monday through Friday, but more fun than your typical American Apparel shop. Made in Downtown LA.

Pho Siam - Best Thai massage place in the city! $40 for a full hour. Remember to turn off your cell phone!

Edison - This venue is so badass. Used to be the old Edison power plant, but has now been transformed into a lounge. Watch the steps.

Seven Grand - "There is definitely a bookish, masculine vibe to the place...the kind of joint you'd find in a Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Miller (Henry, not Arthur)...a great place to drink boubon, puff on a cigar and pretend to be in an imaginary boys club. Even if you're a girl." - LA Weekly, June 2007

Intelligentsia - Cute cafe with seasonal coffees.

The Village Idiot - Chill and unpretentious restaurant/bar with very HIGH ceilings.

The Kitchen - Good ol' no frills homestyle American food. The drinks are huge and there are free refills! Wee!

Amoeba - I love Amoeba. Though the LA store doesn't have a good $4 section like its Haight St. counterpart and (from what my boyfriend claims) the general selection is better up north, I still love it. My Jazz, Hip Hop and World sections are always stocked with what I want. Plus, they have some pretty neat acts from time to time. I could spend hours in there.

Alright, this is to be continued. It's getting too long and I haven't even started on the Westside, the beaches, or the best thing about travel (besides learning and experiencing other cultures), shopping.

Top: Purchased in HK
Shorts: Forever
Shoes: Gap