My original inspiration to write about favorite places to eat at along Wilshire Blvd. was a recent piece on food destinations along Foothill Transit's route 187 in the March issue of Footnotes.
Then I realized with this Sunday's Ciclavia I had an ideal opportunity to share three of my favorite eateries along Wilshire between downtown and Fairfax. As you may recall I am a resident of the Wilshire corridor. The 3 are diverse as to locations (City East, Koreatown and Miracle Mile) plus two are ethnic and one is classic American cafe dining.
La Parilla bills itself as "a Real Mexican Kitchen". And do they deliver! The Medio Pollo I ate there last week was fresh and cooked to order. Well worth the 30 minute wait! I have had breakfast there several times and with the help of the staff (breakfast menu is en espanol and my Spanish to be charitable is terrible) have been very happy with what I ordered. Chips come with pico de gallo and salsa -- spicy hot!
Tortillas are fresh made in the kitchen every day. Hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m., it is located at 1300 Wilshire (at Witmer, SE corner) across from Good Samaritan Hospital and they have daily specials. If you are lucky a gentleman with guitar may be roaming and for a few dollars put on a fabulous performance.
HMS Bounty these days has a reputation as a hipster bar. And indeed the front area (especially Thursday through Saturday) is hopping during the evening. But is also a neighborhood hangout plus has a more intimate back area for dining without all the hubbub. I go there for the classic American cuisine that is tasty and reasonably priced. If you are lucky maybe the owner Ramon will be around and say hi. And the chef at some point will come out and ask what did you think of the meal. Plus Sunday they have a special 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. that is a sensational deal.
They also have the special called the "Wise Men" that consists of a shot of tequila or whiskey and a Tecate beer for $5.50. The baseball steak, their signature dish, is what is usually known as the culotte cut of the Sirloin. Hours are 11 a.m.-1 a.m. (kitchen closes at 11 p.m.), it is at 3357 Wilshire (at Alexandria, north side on the ground floor of the Gaylord apartment building). BTW, my Mom also gives this place a thumb's up from when during a visit she tried their salmon and was impressed at the portion and how good it was.
If you want to take a culture break after eating at the Bounty cross the street and enjoy
Robert F. Kennedy Inspiration park, a fitting salute to a great American.
Last but no least is India's Tandoori. Since I discovered this place in 2009 I have eaten at it almost weekly. And have enjoyed the experience immensely. Luckily Sundays they have what they call their champaign buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $12.50 (they are open until 10 p.m.) .
And the offerings are generous -- their signature chicken tandoori is joined by mini vegetable samosas, curries, rice, several varieties of vegetables (spinach, lentils) plus naan bread and fresh fruit/rice pudding for dessert. My Mom went nuts for their chili chicken and then later lamented about how spicy it was. "Well, why did you eat so much of it?" I asked her. "Because it was so good" she replied. In fact when I tell Mom I have again revisited "our" indian restaurant she laments Spokane (where she lives) has some OK Indian eateries but none as good as this one (or the Pakistani place in Seattle she frequented for lunch back when she worked in the federal building along the waterfront before she retired). At 5468 Wilshire (at Dunsmuir, south side).
All three have excellent friendly waitstaff that make dining a pleasure and atmosphere.
Happy eating!
