Top 10 Los Angeles Eateries From 'Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives'
Gloria's Café
Gloria's Café is a cozy and inviting spot to enjoy truly authentic Mexican and Latin American cuisine. Gloria's specializes in seafood, and their signature Seven Seas Soup includes fish, shrimp, scallops, octopus, and crab legs, all in one. Gloria's also serves a weekend brunch that includes a "Muy Macho Burrito" and an authentic Mexican hot chocolate.
Average Plate: $10
Must Try: Adobada stew — This generous stew of slow-cooked, fall-apart pork in a rich tomato sauce will fill you up and leave you utterly satisfied. On Triple D, this dish had Guy scraping his plate for the last drops, and visitors rave about this dish all over Yelp.
10227 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Phone: (310) 838-0963
Beer Belly
Beer Belly in LA's Koreatown is all about indulgent, "artery thickening" bar food, according to one review on Urban Spoon. The awesomely salty and fried foods are perfect for late evenings at the bar.
Average Plate: $8
Must Try: Duck fat fries — Try the duck fat fries with smoked salt, sweet onion sugar, topped with crackling duck skin. You'll never be the same.
532 S Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 387-2337
Don Chow Tacos
Don Chow's Taco Truck travels all over LA and serves Chinese and Mexican fusion food, as well as a few traditional Mexican dishes. Fusion options include a soy ginger tofu and shrimp taco, and the Don Chow Fun. Don Chow Tacos posts their upcoming weekly locations on their website and Twitter.
Average Plate: $6
Must Try: Don Chow's specialty Chimales are Chinese-Mexican tamales made of fresh masa, and stuffed with Chinese-inspired meats like Kung Pao chicken or Chinese barbecue pork. The tamales are steamed and served with a side of Chimale salsa.
Location: Rotating
626-502-8328
Eastside Market Italian Deli
Originally opened in 1929, Eastside Deli is known for its amazing Italian sandwiches and classic dishes like lasagna, meatballs, and antipasto.
Average Plate: $11
Must Try: DA special —This monster sandwich features meatballs, pastrami, sausage, roast beef, peppers, and sauce. It's enormous, ridiculous, and incredible.
1013 Alpine St., Los Angeles, California 90012
(213) 250-2464
The Golden State Café
The Golden State Café was founded with the mission of featuring all the best of homegrown ingredients from California, as well as local food. The menu features Scoops gelato, Craftsman breweries, and Topanga Vineyards.
Average Plate: $10
Must Try: A Harris Ranch beef burger —Served with Fiscalini Farms cheddar, topped with applewood smoked bacon, arugula, aioli, and ketchup butdon't forget a side of sweet potato wedges, served with garlic aioli.
426 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 782- 8331
Mom's Tamales
Mom's Tamales is an unassuming Mexican restaurant where tamales are king. You can buy yours cooked or uncooked in bulk if you just can't live without them. Be sure to pair them with Mom's horchata, which is one of LA's best.
Average Plate: $7
Must Try: Although Mom's offers a pretty classic Mexican menu, you'll want to dedicate your first visit to the tamales, of course. Your options include pork, beef, chicken, chicken with mole, cheese, cheese with spinach, and a sweet tamale with crushed pineapple.
3328 Pasadena Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 226-9383
Chomp Chomp Nation
Chomp Chomp Nation is another LA food truck, but this one combines the flavors of Singapore with classic American dishes to create unique items like Singapore Sloppy Joes, Singapore sling wings, and coconut stuffed French toast. To find out their daily locations, follow them on Twitter.
Average Plate: $8
Must Try: The Chili Crab Cake Sandwich-Think of it as the offspring of a burger and a crab cake. This well-known item from Chomp Chomp features a Singapore chili crab patty topped with their sweet chili sauce, slathered in tiger slaw and served between two brioche buns.
Location: rotating
(949) 637-1688
Nickel Diner
This vintage eatery offers classic diner fare, but specializes in hearty breakfasts and brunch that respect the tried and true combination of something sweet, and something bacon. Their homemade donuts are beloved, and there's also a friendly little meal called the 'hangover helper.'
Average Plate: $10
Must Try: The Maple Bacon donut — A sugary glazed donut, coated in salty bacon is the most sacred menu item at Nickel Diner. It's the perfect combination of sweet, soft dough and salty, crumbly bacon bits, but be warned: it's quite popular and is often sold out.
524 S Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone number (213) 623-8301
Park's Finest
This "backyard boogie barbecue" joint offers ribs, pulled pork, beef tri-tip, shortrib, and other barbecue essentials in a fusion of traditional Southern and Filipino styles. The Park's Finest calls itself "50% Mom 50% Pop. 100% L.A."
Average Plate: $13
Must Try: Ann's cornbread bibingka — A special take on Southern cornbread, Ann's cornbread bibingka is combined with rice flour and baked on a banana leaf for a taste of the Philippines.
1267 W Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 481-280
Polka Polish Restaurant
Located inside a tiny strip mall, the small and unassuming Polka offers old school Polish cuisine that ranges from home-cooked fare to gourmet options. The restaurant itself feels quiet and romantic, and service is attentive without being intrusive, so you can really focus on the beautifully executed food.
Average Plate: $13
Must Try: Pierogi- According to a Yelp review: "Pierogi! Pierogi! Pierogi! You know when something tastes so good you can't stop eating even if you're on the verge of exploding!" Polka's pierogi comes in a few versions including the cheese, potato, and jalapeno pierogi, regular cheese and potato, mushroom and sauerkraut, and beef and pork pierogi.
4112 Verdugo Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 255-7887