The meals are being offered at great prices -- only $15 for a three-course lunch at Luna Park, for instance, or dinner at Sushi Roku for $34 (prices vary according to restaurant and meal). American Express cardholders (yes, they're the event's major sponsor, along with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, aka LA INC.) can make their reservations now; the general public has to wait until January 16th to save their spots. more ›

Restaurants in the Innovative Dining Group (IDG) have announced that on Thursday, September 8th, 20% of their local restaurants' proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross in order to help add to the growing amount of funds raised in the Los Angeles area to benefit the survivors of Hurrican Katrina. IDG has six spots in the greater LA area, three of which are locations of Sushi Roku (West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Pasadena), two are BOA Steakhouses (West Hollywood and Santa Monica), and the Katana Robata and Sushi Bar. LAist knows many folks don't care for Sushi Roku, but we do know that supporting this cause is incredibly worthwhile. What we do think is open to a little ribbing is the fact that TV and radio's most well-known metrosexual, Ryan Seacrest, will be on hand at the Santa Monica locations Thursday, presumably to shake hands and flash his pearly whites. (Seacrest is apparently an investor in the IDG group.) Dining out is just one way to help raise money for Katrina Relief. Thursday will also bring the anouncement of the details around Dine for America, a national restaurant fundraising effort due to take place on October 5th. Stay tuned. more ›

We've got two spots we've recently hit up in Pasadena that let you feast on fantastic fare for less than $25 a person. Today's spot is sushi, at a little spot on Colorado in Old Town called Ari-ya. more ›

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Any self-respecting LA foodie knows their way around the city's dining establishments; any self-respecting LA foodie with an internet connection probably knows their way around the Chowhound LA message board. LAist has lurked there recently, trying to get a taste for what the top tasters in town think of certain spots, or where to go to satisfy a particular craving. But it's an intimidating world, those jungle-like boards. Say the wrong thing (let's say, perhaps, you're fond of Sushi Roku) and find yourself being served up for dinner, skewered and plated for all to see. Of course there are moderators, mainly there to be sure posters don't wax nostalgic about restaurants that have long gone, or that your home cooking recipe gets posted in the right forum. It's enough to keep a food-info hungry lurker's mouth firmly shut. But the public should benefit from these hounds' wisdom, yes? When LAist went north to SFist territory last month, we discovered that Chowhound has a brand new guidebook published for San Francisco eateries! And it's companion tome is for our friends at Gothamist! So where is LA's book, we ask? It's become painfully apparent to us that many Angelenos are stuck in a chain-restaurant rut. Or, possibly worse, they dine out to be seen, but not to be well-fed. Our city is crammed with deliciousness--it's just a matter of knowing where to look. We say to Chowhound: Give us our LA Chowhound Guide! We're sure your bites are far better than your bark. more ›

Stepping inside Sushi Roku's dim interior is like stepping into a cavelike haven from the brightness and bustle of the streets outside. The staff is enthusiastic and friendly, shouting traditional greetings, and, in our case, seating us promptly at the long, elegant sushi bar. There we could drink in the restaurant's cool and soothing stonework; we remarked that it felt as though we'd somehow been transported to a sushi bar in some beautiful Tokyo hotel. Beneath the glass of the bar we saw the piles of colorful, fresh fish and shellfish, awaiting the masterful touch of the lightening fast sushi chefs. We placed our initial order: Salmon, Tuna, and Mackerel (Aji) sushi, Canadian Rock Shrimp and Asparagus Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Spicy Scallop Roll. Soon the chef was presenting our dish over the rim of the bar, pausing to point out each item on the plate. The sushi pieces were gorgeous cuts--flavorful and fresh. The rolls were simple, well made, and not so packed with bells and whistles as to overwhelm the palate. We ate slowly, enjoying the ambiance and the food, and, with a nod of agreement from our dining companion, ordered just a little more: Halibut sushi and the Albacore and Garlic Roll. A bit of whitefish is a nice alternative in flavor in texture to the thicker, standard pieces of tuna or salmon, and the Albacore Garlic roll was phenomenal, with its tangy burst of garlic. Our dining companion cited the last roll her favorite, calling it "A fancy sushi version of a tuna sandwich." No matter what you call it, Sushi Roku is a moderately-priced, pleasant, and delicious haven in the chaos of Old Town Pasadena. Domo Arigato, Sushi Roku! more ›

LAist does its best to check out the restaurant scene in our favorite hometown, but sometimes we admit that we just don’t like to pick up the phone and make the dreaded reservation call. We know, we know. We’re lazy. And we hate dealing with haughty hostesses and manipulative maitre d’s. So imagine how thrilled we were when we stumbled on Open Table. This wonderfully orchestrated web site allows us to quickly scan dozens of restaurants in our area, check for available seating times and even earn points for using the system that can be redeemed in the future for Open Table Dining Cheques. We get an email confirmation immediately after submitting our reservation and most of the restaurants issue a follow-up call to let you know they received your booking. What a novel idea…they call us! LAist likes to tell them that we’re awfully busy at the moment, but perhaps they’d like to call back later when they won’t have to wait so long. more ›

The East Valley alone boasts more great sushi than all of the five boroughs combined. I'll start off with (what else?) the incomparable Sushi Nozawa, located in a strip mall at the corner of Eureka and Ventura. 5 days a week, Master Nozawa serves up eye-popping nigiri and unbelievable crab hand rolls. Food critics and Chowhound forum folks like to complain about the chef's demeanor, but we don't see what all the fuss is about. After many trips, LAist has only seen one person ever get thrown out of the restuarant, and she totally deserved it. This joint is worth the wait line, and it's worth the prices (a full meal will set you back $35-40). The baby tuna sashimi appetizer will literally send a chill up your spine. TRUST ME! more ›