World Wide Tacos

2419 West MLK
323-291-1500

Likely the largest taco selection in the neighborhood, WWT serves them up vegan and flesh-style, in mind-boggling combinations that jump forward from where most other restaurants have stalled. The agenda is culturally embracing, with fake Belizean shrimp, for example, or mock chicken teriyaki. Not your basic taco selection, certainly. The tacos I inhaled were unlike any other tacos I've had in this town. The tortilla is not a signifier that the food has a root in Mexican cuisine. In this case, it's basically just an enclosure for a big taste party.
I ate a teriyaki taco, which was something I would never ordinarily order, but I inquired as to what a tasty option would be and this is what was suggested. I also ate a fried fake chicken taco. The flavors were super yummy, delicious in both cases. Anything fried is always good anyhow! My friend had a fake beef and potato taco, for some reason fake beef sounds disgusting, but he really enjoyed it. I had a taste and it wasn't so bad. He also had a tofu thing which he said was really, really good and very unusual. It looked sort of pureed, but I don't know what the flavor was like. Will have to try that out next time.
Here's the thing you may have heard about WWT, and yes, it's true. It can take some time for the food to be prepared. Which makes it a great place to catch up with someone you feel like hanging out with, but a terrible place to drop by if you're starving. There's a tarp with some folding chairs where you can wait it out. Most people are sitting in their cars. When I visited, there were 5 SUVs, all blasting different tunes. No Pantera. Those with bikes sat under the tarp. It took one hour and ten minutes to get the tacos. About an hour in, the chef brought out some amazing deep fried fake chicken wings that had a smokey flavor. Thank you.
You can go to WWT, order food and pay for it, and leave your number. They'll call you when it's ready. But it's also nice to take a book or a friend, and just chill out until the food arrives.

USC Wagons Part 1

A flock of gourmet food trucks have come to roost near USC, typically staking out positions along Jefferson and Hoover, beginning in the afternoons.

The Bull Kogi Truck offers Mexican-Korean fusion, tacos and burritos.  I tried the Kimchi beef, and spicy chicken tacos.  Neither was impressive.  While the beef was nicely smokey-sweet, the kimchi was wilted, without the zesty garlic redolence that might a great contrast make.

The Slice Truck, orange in color, endears with the simplest of menus: cheese slice, or pepperoni.

The cheese slice boasts an extremely thin crust, crispy and even, end to end.  Garnished with fresh basil and mozarella, it earns my recommendation.  A single slice is $3, but two can be had for $5.

Mayura Amrit

1277 West Jefferson Blvd, 90007
323 766 9775
See the updated post above
On the north side of the street, in a mini mall very close to USC, this new Indian place showed up a couple of weeks ago. I noticed it when I was riding past, and I dragged Louis and Adam over to check it out for lunch. Turns out it's the new venture from the folks who run Mayura restaurant over in Culver City. We've been there before, and it's pretty good, so very nice to have a branch nearby.
The restaurant was furnished in China-style, since it had taken over the premises of China Bowl. A lot of buddhas everywhere. There was a steam table with a fewIndian entrees, and a kitchen could make other items.
Louis and Adam had some premade food, which they said was delicious. There weren't very many choices for vegetarians that were there, so I had a big pancakey thing from the kitchen which was pretty good, but I think I ordered the wrong thing. It wasn't really spicy enough for me.
I rode by the other day and the place was already closed. I was disappointed until I got closer and saw the small taped sign which said the restaurant was closed for remodeling until August 2. I'm hoping the steam table will be fuller with veg options when they reopen- perhaps they were just testing the waters when we were there.
Stay tuned!

LAB

3500 Figueroa Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90007

(213) 743-1843

thelab.usc.edu

Louis, Adam and I visited The Lab last Saturday evening. We are too old or out of touch to realize that Saturday was the second night of the Electric Daisy Carnival. We'd never even heard of the EDC, even though it's been happening at the Coliseum for something like 13 years. The streets around USC were full of scantily clad ladies and their gentleman escorts and the traffic was a mess. Anyhow, we did manage to finally get to The Lab for dinner after sitting in traffic for longer than it would have taken to get there on foot.

The Lab is a gastropub style restaurant across the street from USC and next to the Galen Center. It's interor is "science-classroom chic" a la 1950's, with clean white tiled walls, chalkboards and big community tables for experiments and more. Unlike any other science classroom I've been in, The Lab also has an outdoor patio complete with couches, heat lamps, and fire pits.

The Lab is owned and operated by USC, which is sort of a bummer if you want to get away from the large conglomerate that is the university, but also pretty great because it's doubtful anything like this could exist without them making it happen. We got an earful about the how, what, and why of the USC/The Lab relationship from the guy in charge of the establishment, but we will spare blog-readers the details and go instead to the important stuff.

Those in the 90018 know what happens if you're hungry after 9pm. The options aren't pretty. So for that reason alone, The Lab is a great addition to the neighborhood. The kitchen is open until 11pm!

The food is pretty good. Big portions of "gastopub" fare like steak sandwiches, fish and chips, and burgers. There are a few vegetarian options on the menu, but not an abundant selection. The beer and wine menu is impressive, and The Lab would be a good place to go to get a drink and some appetizers.

Adam had the steak sandwich, which came adorned with onion rings. He reports that the onion rings are yummier than the fries, which came in huge portions and were good but not great. They are shoestring variety, which I usually love, so not sure what was wrong with them. Something about the flavor. I had a flat bread thing, which I thought would be cold, but it was like a big pizza. It was prettty good, but not what I expected. I think I'd try something else next time. Louis had fish and chips and he claimed it was really good, that the fish was very "light."

We will definitely go back to The Lab and if anyone reading this wants to go get a beer, I'm in.

8 oz. Burger Bar

"Bloody burgers," Luis exclaimed joyously as the serving commenced.
He had chosen the house blend, a burger crafted of sirloin, tri-tip, short rib and chuck; whereas, I opted for the Estancia Grass Fed. The burgers can be a bit customized, with various extras, a choice of cheese, condiments, sauces. A fillet of fish, turkey and veggie burger is offered as well, along with small snacks, a couple sandwiches, tempting shakes & malts, and basic salads.

The burgers were served on slightly crunchy rolls, a welcome upgrade over the usual limp bun, without overt seasoning or taste modifying additives. The sides were terrific as well, sweet potato chips and broccolini.

8 oz. Burger Bar is located amidst the small boutiques of hustle-bustle Melrose in a dual storefront that, on this night at least, seemed cavernous and energy dissipating. Whereas we secured a metered space, parking is likely a frustration at most times.

The burgers run $8 - $10, and can be paired, in various specials, with different micro brews.

8 OZ. Burger Bar
7661 Melrose Ave
323-852-0008
M-Sat 11:30 am - midnight
Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm

House of Dimes

1815 W Jefferson Blvd
323-737-4520

This tiny restaurant has tiny hours, only three days per week: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11-7pm. Inside there's a small counter and a limited menu of yumminess. The only veggie item available is the vegetarian taco, so I had two. I think the tortillas might have been fried first or something. Unlike tacos I've eaten before, but delicious nonetheless. My dining partner ordered a turkey burger, which he devoured voraciously and claimed was excellent. Then one of our neighbors came in for a turkey burger. It's the kind of place you might run into someone you know in, so be prepared. Super friendly, just tacos, burgers and chili on the menu, and drinks in cans from the fridge.
House of Dimes is still run by the same family who opened it 39 years ago. It's near the corner of Western and Jefferson, on the northwest side. You've probably driven by a hundred times and wondered what's up with that place. Now go try it out!

Harold and Belles

2920 W. Jefferson Blvd, around 10th Ave
(323) 735-9023
Very local and absolutely the best - Harold and Belles should be visited and celebrated by all 90018 locals.
After living here almost 8 years, I finally went to H and Bs and then I had to go again almost immediately. Anybody want to go check it out, I will be glad to join you.
Yes, the food will kill you. But what a great way to go.
The food is Louisiana/New Orleans/Southern. Crawfish and shrimp and gumbo and oysters (and chicken and steak) in many delicious dishes.
I heartily recommend the popcorn crawfish as an appetizer. Entrees? Especially, the crawfish etouffee.
Nice bar, too.
Good service and comfortable tables - easy to have a relaxing dinner and talk and talk and talk.
Expensive - entrees are $25 -$30 and you will probably want to have drinks and apppetizers and the ammazing bread pudding with hard sauce for dessert, so the bill will be high.

Laissez Les Bon Temp Roule