LA Restaurants

While cooking in some of the finest (and most expensive) restaurants in L.A., chef Alejo had an idea. Why not open a small, intimate eatery that serves the same gourmet food at lower prices? Alejo's now has two restaurants serving delectable, homemade Italian specialties like pasta primavera ($6.95), linguine pescatore (shrimp, squid and clams, $9.95) and chopped salad ($4.95). Try the authentic paella ($10.95) on Friday and Saturday nights, and don't forget Alejo's famous classic, spaghetti and meatballs ($6.95). Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner seven nights. Beer and wine (Westchester); takeout. AE, DIS, MC, V.

While cooking in some of the finest (and most expensive) restaurants in L.A., chef Alejo had an idea. Why not open a small, intimate eatery that serves the same gourmet food at lower prices? Alejo's now has two restaurants serving delectable, homemade Italian specialties like pasta primavera ($6.95), linguine pescatore (shrimp, squid and clams, $9.95) and chopped salad ($4.95). Try the authentic paella ($10.95) on Friday and Saturday nights, and don't forget Alejo's famous classic, spaghetti and meatballs ($6.95). Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner seven nights. Beer and wine (Westchester); takeout. AE, DIS, MC, V.

Looking for a neighborhood kind of restaurant where corn tortillas and spicy salsas are made from scratch, where pasilla chiles are roasted fresh for tasty chile rellenos, and where homemade black beans are a testament to everything canned beans aren't? You'll find no lard anywhere in Baja Bud's light but traditional Mexican fare. Pollo and carne asada are both low fat. And only canola oil is used in cooking, thus everything's healthy, including the addictive tortilla chips. The place sparkles clean and displays bright and lovely old-style Mexican murals. Menu items range from $1.90 to $6.75. Breakfast (W. Hollywood), lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; parking. No credit cards. ATM cards accepted.

Jamaican chef Sonia Telfer calls the cuisine at the Jamaican Cafe "the most authentic in L.A.," and you will certainly agree, whether you're feasting on smoked jerk Alaskan king crab legs (market price), broiled lamb with Jamaican orange mint sauce ($14.50) or blackened Jamaican swordfish ($15). Reggae tunes provide the beat, fine art on the walls uplift the atmosphere and classic cooking makes the meal. Jamaican Cafe also boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in Santa Monica. Lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; delivery; catering; reservations suggested. AE, DIS, MC, V.

Food for the gods--fresh, sweet, tender, succulent, big Louisiana shrimp floating in a heavenly spicy sauce. You want it, Killer's got it, you deserve it. Around for eight years, Killer Shrimp is a popular hot spot and has become one of L.A.'s landmark dining experiences--tourists and natives all seem to know that this is the place to satisfy cravings for the real thing. Indoor and patio dining. Lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; parking. MC, V.

Food for the gods--fresh, sweet, tender, succulent, big Louisiana shrimp floating in a heavenly spicy sauce. You want it, Killer's got it, you deserve it. Around for eight years, Killer Shrimp is a popular hot spot and has become one of L.A.'s landmark dining experiences--tourists and natives all seem to know that this is the place to satisfy cravings for the real thing. Indoor and patio dining. Lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; parking. MC, V.

Eight blocks from Venice beach lies one of the last treasures from the Aztecs, La Cabaņa. This authentic Mexican eatery with its Spanish tiles and colorful murals has a garden patio for those intimate moments. Montezuma would have devoured the steak picado with potatoes and spices ($8.25), or the pescado veracruzano--red snapper baked in a tomato and caper sauce ($8.75)--and washed it down with a cool strawberry margarita. And after the battle was won, Monte could return after hours--'til 3 a.m.--for a late-night quesadilla. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days, brunch Sun. Full bar; takeout; MC, V.

Whether you begin with naked shrimp ($8.50) or top it off with creamy banana darae ($2.50), a meal at Chan Dara has something for all tastes. Traditionalists can stick to house favorite pad Thai ($6.95), while adventurous eaters go for rock-and-roll clams seasoned with chile sauce ($8.25) or deep-fried catfish in special Thai sauce ($15.95). Four locations add to the variety. In Hollywood, Chan Darae is intimate and cozy; in Marina del Rey, Chan Darette offers a snappy noodle bar and a menu of Thai greatest hits; in Larchmont, it has a warm, friendly, family feel; and in West L.A., it's exotic with a touch of high-tech. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner seven nights. Full bar (W.L.A. and Marina del Rey); beer and wine (Hollywood and Larchmont); takeout; delivery; catering. AE, MC, V.

The Curry House serves an intriguing mix of Japanese, Indian and Italian cuisines. Its curry is made from over 30 spices (pepper, cloves, ginger and more) to season beef ($6.45), chicken ($6.25) and vegetables (potatoes, corn, carrots, shimeji mushrooms--$5.95). Savory spaghettis ($6.15-$6.75 lunch; $7.75-$8.50 dinner), Japanese entrées ($10.25-$13.95) and gourmet hamburgers ($10.75) round out the menu to suit every taste. Lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; valet parking; reservations accepted. AE, MC,V.

This outdoor café is the perfect place to catch some rays, sip an iced mocha and munch on mostly American chow before you head down to the boardwalk (only six short blocks away) to watch the local color. This beachy hangout is famous for its pancakes, waffles and skillets--a mixture of potato, meat and veggies, topped with cheese and scrambled eggs ($6.75). Or, if you're really hungry, grab a biggie--open-faced sandwiches piled with avocado, turkey, chicken or tuna ($6.75-$7.50). Breakfast and lunch seven days. Beer and wine; catering; parking. AE, DIS, MC, V.

What the Hard Rock Cafe is to music, Duke's Malibu is to surfing. Named after surf legend Duke Kahanamoku, Duke's celebrates an endless summer with steak and seafood served in a festive atmosphere complete with palm huts and vintage boards. The fresh fish of the day can be prepared in several distinctive styles, including Roasted Firecracker, a savory blend of tomato, onion and cumin aioli ($19.95). Sunday brunch offers a tasty array of breakfast items, baked goods and Polynesian-influenced dishes ($12.95). Lunch and dinner seven days, brunch Sun. Full bar; takeout; catering; parking; valet parking (dinner only); reservations suggested. AE, MC, V.

This streamlined sandwich bar serves traditional Italian-style panini sandwiches--cooked on a cast-iron panini grill that seals all the savory flavors inside a bread "envelope"--and updates them with healthy California ingredients. Favorites include the foccacia sandwich with smoked mozzarella ($6.95) and the grilled chicken with fontina cheese, roasted red peppers and pesto ($6.95). Try the scrumptious chocolate panini ("It's like a chocolate sandwich!") for dessert. Enjoy your sandwich inside, or out on the garden patio. Lunch seven days. No alcohol; takeout. AE, DIS, MC, V.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the Sunset Strip lies a restaurant that will take you south of the border. Just how far South you might ask--well, how does Argentina sound? The flavorful gusto of traditional Argentine steak dishes (prices vary) and European classics like Dijon chicken ($8.95)--as well as inventive vegetable dishes and salads--please palates of all persuasions. All generously portioned dishes come with freshly prepared sides like fluffy mashed potatoes or fresh, seasoned zucchini. Lunch and dinner seven days. Beer and wine; takeout; delivery; catering; valet parking. AE, CB, DC, MC, V.

See the establishment that sells succulent seafood by the seashore. Gladstone's Malibu, located right on the beach, allows you to feast on huge portions of fish and tasty crustaceans and enjoy a post card-perfect view from inside the restaurant or out on the deck. The largest ocean-front eatery on the West Coast serves specialties including mouth-watering Maine lobster and utterly appetizing Alaskan king and queen crab. Gladstone's also has private banquet rooms and will cater festivities on the patio or beach. Breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days. Full bar; catering; valet parking. AE, CB, DC, DIS, MC, V.

The Gourmet Coffee Warehouse is a necessity for the caffeine-addicted epicurean and, with wholesale prices, a relief for the pocketbook. The airy space swirls with the spicy aromas of arabica beans culled from fields around the world and fluid-bed roasted on the premises. Gourmet Coffee Warehouse serves not only patrons but the city at large, offering everything from half-pound to 5-pound bags (at those wholesale prices) to home connoisseurs, quality restaurants and offices. Open seven days. No alcohol; delivery. MC, V.