Soowon Galbi on Vermont Avenue, Koreatown, grills charcoal short rib galbi as the house specialty in a 2000s-era room beloved by Korean families.
Must order: The charcoal galbi set with banchan and a pot of doenjang jjigae for the table.
Tip: Soowon uses real charcoal, not gas; arrive before 19:00 on weekends or expect a 60 minute wait.
Address: 856 S Vermont Ave, Ste C, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Cassell's Hamburgers inside the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown grinds its own chuck for griddled patties, a recipe in continuous use since 1948.
Order: The third-pound cheeseburger with grilled onions, plus a vanilla malt for the side.
Tip: Cassell's grinds beef in-house every morning; the breakfast burrito is the under-rated order from the same kitchen.
Tacos Tu Madre on Westwood Boulevard near UCLA, Los Angeles, is a small walk-up window for tacos, burritos and famous loaded carne asada fries.
Order: Carne asada fries piled with cheese, sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo.
Tip: Order at the walk-up window; the line moves fast and the half-portion is a meal for one.
Eduardo's Border Grill on Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, has served carne asada fries, burritos and combo plates from a corner counter for decades.
Order: Carne asada fries and a steak burrito with house red salsa for the table.
Tip: This is a Westwood lunch counter; cash and card both fine, expect a queue around the UCLA lunch hour.
Cassell's Hamburgers inside the Hotel Normandie in Koreatown grinds its own chuck for griddled patties, a recipe in continuous use since 1948.
Order: The third-pound cheeseburger with grilled onions, plus a vanilla malt for the side.
Tip: Cassell's grinds beef in-house every morning; the breakfast burrito is the under-rated order from the same kitchen.
In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, is the chain landmark closest to the Walk of Fame, with late-night drive-through service until 1:30.
Order: A Double-Double Animal Style with grilled onions and extra spread, plus fries well done.
Tip: Late-night Friday and Saturday closes at 1:30, the queue spills around the block by midnight.
In-N-Out Burger near LAX on Sepulveda sits at the end of runway 24R, making it the chain branch that doubles as a plane-spotting picnic spot.
Order: A Double-Double Animal Style and a chocolate shake to eat on the patio.
Tip: The patio is the move; aircraft pass directly overhead on approach to runway 24R every two minutes.
Jessica Koslow's Sqirl on Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles invented the ricotta toast format in 2012 and still draws a daily brunch line at the counter.
Order: Ricotta toast on Sqirl brioche with house jam.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit at a sidewalk picnic table; the queue is for groups, not solos.
