restaurants/bars/etc near UCLA?

[MortalNuts]

Hi folks --

I'll be at UCLA next week for a conference, and I'm looking for a few good places to eat and a few good places to drink. I'll probably have a rental car, but would prefer not to drive much, so proximity (either walking distance or a short-ish cab ride) to the campus is a definite plus.

Ideally, I'd like to hit a mix of casual places plus at least one really excellent meal. I guess I'm most interested in good sushi and good mexican, but anything's fair game.

Also, if anyone can tell me how huge of a pain it is to get to Commerce, I guess I could use that too. I doubt I'll have time or inclination to make it out there, but who knows.

thanks,

mn

[DeezNuts]

Good luck finding cabs in LA.

There is always In-N-Out in Westwood. People also like El Cholo for mexican food on Wilshire in Santa Monica. For sushi check out the Sawtelle area that is just south of UCLA, there is Hide Sushi and a couple others. None of this is walking distance, mind you. Walking the hills of UCLA can even get bad. Nobody walks in LA.

The commute to Commerce during rush hour is hellish, without traffic will take around 30-40 min. The drive to Hollywood Park is not as bad but you should still avoid during rush hour.

I would be better at the metro LA area. I dislike hanging out on the Westside.

DN

[BruinEric]

I don't hang out in Westwood anymore, because its been a while since I graduated. But...there is an area called "Westwood Village" just south of campus (i.e. directly off campus and in walking distance from anywhere on campus).

There you will find restaurants, etc. There is surely a good sushi place (when I was an undergrad there were several to choose from) so ask around or look at laweekly.com for good sushi in Westwood.

If you want to prepare, just go to Yahoo maps and click on "RESTAURANTS" and you'll see them on the streets south of UCLA (Gayley, Glendon, Westwood Blvd, etc.)

If you want a drink, pop into Westood Brewing Co and drink a Stone Pale Ale. Then get ballsy and try a Stone Arrogant Bastard -- I'm pretty sure they have all the Stone brews on tap there. Stone is SoCal's largest craft brewery so you can justify it as trying a "local" beer.

If you want to get out of Westwood for a while, zip on down to Santa Monica's 3rd street promenade and wander around.

Good mexican food abounds in L.A., of course. Read the eatery reviews at laweekly.com for places that are usually cheap but good, authentic eats.

Commerce is not really close. Do a yahoo map and you'll see it's quite a few miles (maybe 25 to 30?). Then realize that 25 miles is not short time-wise in L.A. Do some searches of rec.gambling.poker archives on google groups for advice about driving in/around the various L.A. area casinos. In most of those areas, you'll want to take the FREEWAY route. Don't think about cruising certain streets which look like good shortcuts. The 405 fwy is brutal almost any time of day, so plan ahead!

The weather has changed to nice & warm this week, so enjoy!

[jason_t]

[ QUOTE ]
If you want a drink, pop into Westood Brewing Co and drink a Stone Pale Ale. Then get ballsy and try a Stone Arrogant Bastard -- I'm pretty sure they have all the Stone brews on tap there. Stone is SoCal's largest craft brewery so you can justify it as trying a "local" beer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was last there in February and they had the Stone beers on tap.

[jason_t]

Sushi: Tengu is great and very close to campus. It's a few blocks south of campus on Westwood, one block east on Lindbrook. Their bluefin tuna special that they have sometimes is amazing.

If you want to get a little away from campus, Sushi Tenn southwest of campus on Sawtelle is fantastic. Very good sashimi.

Mexican: In Westwood, there is Acapulco a few blocks south of campus on Westwood and one block east on Kinross. It's decent and their Happy Hour is fun.

Again, if you don't mind getting away from campus, Casa Antigua a couple miles west of campus on Wilshire is great.

Other good restaurants in Westwood:

Thai House: Great Thai food just south of Gayley and Veteran
La Pain Quotidien: Nice breakfast/lunch place on Broxton
Enzo's: Classic pizzeria on Veteran

IMO, some of the best restaurants in the city are in Santa Monica though.

Getting to the Commerce is a pain. You have to take three freeways (405S to 10E to 5S) and unless you go at the right time (late) the traffic can be brutal. If you do go, don't bother trying to self park as it's always nearly impossible to find a spot. Good games there, though.

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
Sushi: Tengu is great and very close to campus. It's a few blocks south of campus on Westwood, one block east on Lindbrook. Their bluefin tuna special that they have sometimes is amazing.

Enzo's: Classic pizzeria on Veteran


[/ QUOTE ]

These are both very good.

Also, there is an In & Out right near campus if you're in the mood for that.

[MortalNuts]

Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated, and I'll definitely try out a few of these places.

Just so I'm clear here, is getting a cab really a pain in LA generally? I've never really spent any time there before.

thanks,

mn

[J.A.Sucker]

While in Westwood, you need to get a CAKE donut from Stan's. I'm not a donut guy, but I reckon they are the greatest. You should also allow ample time to walk around the streets of Westwood, especially now that the sun is shining. Some of the best people-watching, anywhere.

As for nightlife, your best bet is to hit a cab up and go out to Hermosa Beach for the night. Tell the cabbie to hit the pier. That should take care of everything. If you can't find what you want out there, you're dead.

As far as great meals in LA, good luck - it's not a restaurant town, contrary to popular belief. That mexican place I went to with mike l, gabe and michael davis was pretty good, but I don't know where it is, though it's in Hollywood, and that's kind of far. I also recall a good Thai place walking distance from UCLA, called Thai Time? or something. Good luck!

[wayabvpar]

Get over to Hollywood and get drunk at the Dresden (of Swingers fame), then wash all the booze down with a couple of Pink's hot dogs. My favorite night in LA...