Studios-and-warehouses Westside neighbour that quietly grew a chef scene around Vespertine, Cavatina at the Sunset Marquis and old standby Tito's Tacos.
Niki Nakayama's modern kaiseki house in Palms, Los Angeles, runs a 13-course tasting menu that changes by season and books months in advance.
Signature: Modern kaiseki tasting, Spaghetti pasta course
Order: The 13-course modern kaiseki, including chef Niki Nakayama's spaghetti course.
Tip: Bookings open at midnight Pacific on the first of the month for three months out. Refresh the page; tables go in 30 seconds.
Tito's Tacos in Culver City, Los Angeles has fried hard-shell beef tacos at the same walk-up window on Washington Place since 1959. Cash only.
Order: Hard-shell beef taco and a chile relleno burrito.
Tip: Cash only at the original walk-up window; the picnic tables are 1959 vintage.
Los Angeles Cooking School on Washington in Culver City runs hands-on classes covering knife skills, French and Italian technique, fresh pasta, Spanish tapas and baking. It offers single sessions plus multi-week series and summer kids and teen programmes.
Tip: Wear closed-toe shoes; the kitchens are working professional. Series courses run in four, eight and twenty-week formats and fill early.