East Hollywood

North of the 101 Freeway and south of the Observatory are East Hollywood, Thai Town, Los Feliz, Virgil Village, and a small portion of Silver Lake. This is one of my favorite areas in Los Angeles, and I lived here for a decade.

When it comes to Thai food, there are plenty of options. You can try Ruen Pair, Pa Ord Noodle (they recently opened a new location that focuses on duck dishes), Sapp Coffee Shop (open until 7 pm, make sure to try their Jade noodles), and Jitlada. If you're looking for a late-night meal, Sanamluang Cafe is a popular choice, especially at 2 am. Thai Original BBQ, a mini-chain, has a location that my stepmom even enjoys, and it's housed in an old Taco Bell. Both Krispy Pork Gang and Vim Thai-Chinese Restaurant have served me enjoyable meals.

For breakfast, you can stay on Hollywood Blvd and visit pastry wiz Friends & Family. However, the coffee might not meet your expectations. In the Virgil Village corridor, Jessica Koslow's Sqirl is always packed, so make sure to buy some jam and try their rice bowl. Just up the street is Courage Bagel, which always has a line, but it's worth the wait because it serves the best bagel I've ever had. Alcove and Home, both located on Hillhurst, are good options if you have visitors from out of town, especially your mother-in-law from Ohio. Square One used to be my favorite breakfast spot for a long time, but now Saffy, from the Bavel team, has the best breakfast coffee combo in the city. Speaking of coffee, Dinosaur Coffee has a great aesthetic, but it's been a while since their coffee was good. The same can be said for Go Get'em Tiger up the street. If you're looking for something different, check out Nam Coffee, Obet & Del's, or Maru.

The two places I eat at the most in East Hollywood are Oi Asian Fusion and Best Fish Tacos in Ensenada. Oi has a wide range of options, making it hard to decide what to order. The pork adobo bowl, karaage fried chicken, pork buns, dynamite fries, and burger on a pretzel bun are all excellent choices. At Best Fish Tacos, the menu is limited to fish or shrimp, but the real highlight is the salsa bar, especially the spicy mango kiss salsa with slaw and crema.

For lunch, Boo's Philly Cheesesteak is as authentic as it gets. However, recently, the employees have been a little unfriendly, but it seems like they're trying to maintain the Philly vibes. Kismet Rotisserie is a healthier option with a menu focused on white meat. HomeState brought Tex-Mex to LA, and it has been a hit ever since. Can you believe that having migas tacos for breakfast was unimaginable a dozen years ago?

If you're looking for a place to grab a drink, Dresden is a must, especially if you're a fan of nostalgia. Harvard & Stone is a great venue for indie bands, and you can start your night a few doors down at the wine bar Tabula Rasa Bar. If you want to start drinking early, you can stop by the Drawing Room, although I have to mention that my old acquaintance who used to sell cocaine would hang out there.

For dinner, I highly recommend Ye Olde Rustic Inn. It's a British pub that serves the best chicken wings in the city. And of course, there's Little Dom's, It's a great place for people-watching. Dasano Pizza Bakery used to be my favorite for many years, but my love for Neapolitan pizza has faded. However, the experience at Desano cannot be beaten.