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Los Angeles
Celebrity chefs and cuisine from around the world are on the menu in Los Angeles. Asian food is a particular strength here; you won't have to look far for great sushi or dim sum. And while there are plenty of upscale gourmet offerings, you don't need to pay a fortune to eat well. There are plenty of delightful little delis, hot dog stands and dim sum joints where you can dine on a dime.
How to Save Money on Food When You Travel
Musso and Frank Grill is the oldest restaurant in Hollywood and it's still wonderful. If you love martinis, this is the place. It's clubby, dark, comfortable and moderately priced. Acapulco (with a few area locations) offers big, bold and better-than-you'd-think Mexican cuisine at really good prices. The Fajitas Gigante are not just gigantic when it comes to portion size -- this dish is a sizzling extravaganza of shrimp, chicken and steak with plenty of sauteed onion, guacamole and peppers -- and it's less than $20! Pair up your meal with a margarita (preferably in "grande" size). Chin Chin (multiple locations) is a beloved mini-chain offering up the likes of dim sum, only-in-L.A. Chinese chicken salad and plump, golden-browned pot stickers. Always fun, very inexpensive and quite delicious. KOI, located in West Hollywood, is a hey-isn't-that-Ben-and-Angelina-over-there kind of place; the food's Asian and the scene is white hot. Reservations are recommended. L'Opera Ristorante in Long Beach offers fantastic Italian dishes like red chile ravioli with roasted chicken and ricotta cheese. More than a handful of New Yorkers would tell you that there is no true deli in L.A. -- but Nate 'n Al actually is a really good one, Beverly Hills-style. It's a favorite among long-time famous locals; don't be surprised if you see one slurping up the very delicious chicken soup. The pastrami is as good as it gets -- even by New York standards -- and if you love short ribs, this is the place. Smack-dab between Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade and the Pier, The Lobster offers everything lobstery from steamed American lobster with Swiss chard to a refreshingly outstanding cold lobster and avocado salad. No disappointments here. Some say Pink's is an acquired taste, but not only are the fluorescent-orange chili dogs the best you'll ever have -- you'll also probably spot loyalists like Leno, Willis and Pitt lining up at this iconic outdoor stand (near the chi-chi Beverly Center shopping mall) with the rest of the crowd at this beloved L.A. institution. Even Ruth Reichl, the famous food critic, said she once dug through their trash to find out what kind of chili they used (it's a family recipe). If you love Moroccan food, the award-winning Babouch Moroccan Restaurant in San Pedro will do the trick. Their bastilla (chicken, spiced eggs and roasted nuts all wrapped up in filo, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon) is out of this world, and it comes with a fabulous floor show too. Nobu Malibu (3835 Crosscreek Rd., Malibu) is yet another outpost of chef Nobu Matsuhisa's well known family of restaurants, this time at the beach. Try the ceviche -- it's divine. For light, fresh Vietnamese dishes like green papaya salad and coconut curry cod, head to Gingergrass in Silver Lake. It's a great option for vegetarians and those looking for affordable, casual Asian fare.