Food

What we lose when we lose our dive bars

For all those times you do not want a fancy $20 cocktail at one of those fancy places, there's your reliable neighborhood dive. Here are three timeless dives along a stretch of 4 miles in the San Gabriel Valley, from San Gabriel to South Pasadena.

A liquor store sign, where the Q in the word "Liquor" is tinted and dislodged.

Where to find the best — and quintessentially LA — hot dogs in the city

Other cities have long hot dog histories steeped in mustard and ketchup, but L.A. has its own hot dog culture. You simply need to know where to look.

A hot dog sits inside of two white pieces of thin to-go paper, topped with cooked white onion and drizzled with bright red shinny ketchup, yellow mustard and white mayo with a bright green jalapeño with char marks. Directly above the jalapeño, a pair of metal tongs hold the pepper in place.

Has your favorite restaurant closed recently? We asked three chefs why it’s so hard out there

The post-pandemic restaurant landscape in L.A. isn’t for the faint of heart

A back-lit bar contains various bottles of alcohol, with rows of cocktail glasses underneath. In front, a large metal-topped bar sits.

The sweet, bitter, smooth pleasure of a good Negroni: 5 bars in LA that get it right

Whether it’s a classic or a creative variation (Darjeeling tea and cardamom anyone?), head to these spots for the perfect after-work or thru-the-weekend sip.

A glass holding a dark orange liquid is on the right side of the frame, with ice and a few coffee beans. Next to it on a marble countertop are a few other coffee beans. On the left is a round beer mat which says Another Negroni?

Bob’s Big Boy in Downey hoping to restore statue with hairdo ripped off in crash

The statue is a Downey mainstay. So beloved, one person actually started crying after learning of the accident.

A damaged Bob's Big Boy statue stands in Downey. The top part of his head is gone and a sign on him reads: "Don't worry... I'll be back!"

An urban bee farm makes Providence's hive-to-table menu a model for sustainability

The award-winning L.A. restaurant uses its home-grown honey in many dishes.

A cluster of bees on a honey comb with a small arch at the bottom that looks out onto urban landscape that's out of focus

How Heritage's philosophy of zero waste cooking led to its Michelin Green Star

Brother and sister duo Phil and Lauren Pretty’s restaurant is housed in a small converted craftsman in Long Beach. What they lack in physical space, they make up for in sustainability.

A white circular plate on a wooden table with four slices of raw pinkish white fish and a creaming sauces with green oily specs next to it.

Where to experience the joys of eating alone in LA

We’ve gathered some great places where you can dine solo without feeling like a sad sack.

Esters Bar Manager Jonah Atkins Making Drinks

Love mezcal? A new festival brings 50 traditional Mexican producers to LA

For the mezcal-curious, a chance to taste small-batch offerings, including some in the U.S. for the first time.

A bottle is being poured into a cup. Decorative tile is on the wall

Shake Shack wanted to steal In-N-Out's crown; now it's closing 5 locations in LA

The New York export specializing in smash burgers and crinkle-cut fries closes stores in Bunker Hill, downtown Culver City, Silver Lake, Koreatown, and Canoga Park.

How to choose your favorite happy hour in your LA neighborhood

Some neighborhood happy hour recommendations to connect with community.

A group of happy friends drinking and toasting friends at a bar or restaurant

Looking for seafood in the San Gabriel Valley? We've got you covered

An LAist reader asked us why it seemed there were so few seafood options in the San Gabriel Valley. So we went looking.

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