We’re heading down to sunny LA for spring break. Any ST locals with suggestions for a good breakfast burrito? Actually, any recommendations for good breakfast places? It’s our favourite eat out meal.
We’ve been to LA a couple times before and have seen most of the major things such as Disney, Hollywood, Universal etc. Any suggestions for other interesting trips or things to do? Is there anything to see in Malibu?
What’s the best outlet mall?
Thanks.
Santa Monica pier has a year round carnival. 3rd st prominade has lots of shopping (if that’s you thing).
Taqueria Tijuana on Florence just east of the 110 has good burritos. He’ll, anything on Florence east of the 110 has good burritos. Don’t be down there after dark.
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I think your best bet as far as a HUGE outlet mall is in Camarillo which is on the 101 Freeway maybe 40 min (?) Northwest from the city:
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=20
For breakfast one of the best (and unfortunately most popular) is Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in Manhattan Beach. There is almost always a massive wait but it’s worth it. Plus it’s a great location near the beach, pier and downtown MB:
Excellent! Thanks for all the suggestions.
Santa Monica pier has a year round carnival. 3rd st prominade has lots of shopping (if that’s you thing).
Taqueria Tijuana on Florence just east of the 110 has good burritos. He’ll, anything on Florence east of the 110 has good burritos. Don’t be down there after dark.
Very true. I bought a very delicious burrito at the taqueria at El Tampico supermarket today. That part of town is rough but not rough enough to be frightened by. Just make sure to run across the street because there seems to be a lot of hit and runs in the area.
There is also Amapola on Florence near Alameda that supposedly has the best tamales in town, if you can get them.
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Lots of much better things to do in LA than the tourist stuff. If you are staying in the South Bay there are a few better selections than uncle bills for breakfast. Good stuff has 3 locations in either hermosa redondo or el segundo. Great breakfast tacos (not on menu btw) 4 daughters I. Manhattan beach is good. Santa Monica mtns for trail running or hiking.Westridge trail will take you up to an old missle site with un beatable views of ocean and city. Perhaps hit trilab or another shop and rent a road bike and hit the canyons off of pch. Outlets camarillo and or the citidel will be good bets for those items. Abbot ki nny in Venice has great resturaunts. As well dtown santa monica ie not big box corp resturaunts) .
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I like Catalina island - well worth a day trip.
There is also Amapola on Florence near Alameda that supposedly has the best tamales in town, if you can get them.
I’ll have to check that out next time I’m down there. I do periodic work at 4 stations on that stretch of Florence.
Btw, there’s a taco I’ve hit a couple of times that hangs out on alameda near that conflagration of alameda/I10/I5 on/off ramp.
Unfortunately I haven’t the slightest idea what time/day it’s there. It’s not one of those hipster fancy taco trucks either. It’s the real dirty deal.
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More good ideas! Thanks again.
We’re staying in the Manhattan Beach area.
We’ll be the pasty looking people laying on the beach. That’s right, the weather you’re getting now is beach weather by our standards.
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Make sure you get a run on the chip trail. If you are golfer trump has a course in pv.
There is also Amapola on Florence near Alameda that supposedly has the best tamales in town, if you can get them.
I’ll have to check that out next time I’m down there. I do periodic work at 4 stations on that stretch of Florence.
Btw, there’s a taco I’ve hit a couple of times that hangs out on alameda near that conflagration of alameda/I10/I5 on/off ramp.
Unfortunately I haven’t the slightest idea what time/day it’s there. It’s not one of those hipster fancy taco trucks either. It’s the real dirty deal.
If you like good BBChew, check out Aray on the corner of Century and San Pedro in the dry cleaner parking lot. He and his four full drums are there on Friday and Saturday serving from 11-6. You will not be disappointed (beef, chicken, links and pork) and do not do as my friend did and get dried pollo from the clan on the same lot.
Locals only events fairly friendly from MB (and you didn’t say what ages kids you have—some of the below are not exactly kids friendly):
Rose Bowl Swap Meet (puts the OC prefab bs one to shame)
Do the Getty. Get lunch reservations. Order the fish of the day. The place is 10x better than the art, which is pretty solid…
It used to be Chinatown, but now it is Alhambra or Monterey Park for lunch. Find out whatever place Jonathan Gold is currently in love with for Dim Sum…Sea Harbor has been at the top of everyone’s list for last few years.
Don’t believe Yelp for LA food.
DO believe LA Weekly restaurant reviews.
San Pedro Fish Market is…interesting on a weekend, and as a tourist you are going to stand out/not really know what is going on. But it is definitely part of LA.
All the previous advice re tacos/tamales pretty solid.
LA simply has the best food trucks in the world.
Screw the outlet malls–goto the downtown fashion district…again, local flavor.
MB and Southbay aside, remember that outside of Tokyo there isn’t a better sushi city in the world…one reviewer commented that there is better sushi within any given 15 mile radius in LA than there is within any 1000 mile radius anywhere else in the world (Japan excluded).
If you like to swim the MB to HB (or vice versa) pier swims on Sat AM are fun.
If you can ride…like SERIOUSLY ride, the 5:15am Southbay crew can hold their own against almost anyone in SoCal. But you will get dropped unless you are SERIOUSLY strong.
Go for a run in the Santa Monica mountains. PV is a distant 2nd.
Ditto a mountain bike ride.
If you want a TDF style climb, almost impossible to beat the 39 above Duarte—literally 30 miles up. Getting to Crystal Lake alone is an accomplishment. Glendora Mountain Road is almost the exact same length/pitch as Alp d’Huez, but recent fires & mudslides have killed it for this spring.
Goto Malibu early and get one of the 20 or so parking spots for the 4-5 “public” beachs that only have parking spots for 20.
Goto a Russian bath in downtown LA. It is safe. You will be completely out of place. You will love it. Get flogged by Eucalyptus branches.
Go people-watch/window-shop in Beverly Hills. Stay for dinner. Goto Spago or Bouchon. Spago is more consistent. Or drive a bit more & goto Little Red Door. LA is in a bit of a down phase on non-steak/non-Japanese restaurants on the glamour side right now.
Sunsets, bottles of Chard, on the beach watching sunset at El Porto.
If you are a fan of Mario Lopez, head to the Grove around noon and wait for the taping of Extra or whatever show he is on then eat at farmers Market various cuisine. LACMA is free on Thursdays and worth the visit. LA Science Center is the current home of the Endeavour Space Shuttle and a nice rose garden. If in Hollywood, Amoeba is the spot of music shopping and good people watching.
More great ideas! The first time I took my daughter to LA, was when she was 11 or 12. She’s 18 now. She is very interested in the entertainment industry, so we will hit Warners Bros back lot again, and try for the elusive Ellen tickets. Now that she’s a little older we can do the out of the way things that give her a better sense of the city and the locals.
This is will be the first trip together to LA for the new Mrs. triathlung and I. The sushi sounds good as we both crave the soosh. I want to get her to some of the cool non touristy ideas you’re all suggesting.
What is considered the best beach for just laying around people watching etc? We’ve been to Manhattan beach before, but I haven’t been to any others.
As I look out the window, it’s snowing with a temp of -7C (20F) with a windchill. I can’t wait to GTF out of here for a break!!
Thanks again.
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Breakfast? You can never go wrong with donuts, and whenever I make it to LA it’s Randy’s Donuts near LAX. In addition to being a landmark, the donuts are awesome. Some of the best apple fritters I’ve ever had, and the plain cake donuts reminded me of when I was a kid (my own little Ratatouillet moment).
For more sweet tooth ideas, while I haven’t been to that particular location, I’ve had gelato from Grom (in Malibu) in its hometown (Turin) as well as Venice (the old one, not that place near LA), and Tokyo. Same great taste no matter where you get it. Try the dark chocolate sorbet - you’ll swear it’s not sorbet.
The best *people watching *beach is Venice. The best beach beach is about 100 miles north/west of there.
Forget about people watching at the beach and head East to South Central LA. Sit in your car for ten minutes and the entertainment will come your way. For the last six weeks I have been going there to work on the house, everyday is an adventure in that jungle. Movie making action at its finest.
Hope you have a nice vacation. I was born in LA, but left the area when I was five and moved to Maryland and now I live in VA. Been back on business, but not for fun.
Sorry I’ve no recommendations, but a request: Can you post some pics?
Please!
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