Food

'Historic' Clifton's sign is in a DTLA back alley. But it's not junk, owner says

The story of why a vintage Clifton's neon sign is hung in the restaurant's back alley — and what led to its suspected theft or vandalism this week.

A night time photo of a multi-story building with the name, "Clifton's" outside. People are hanging out outside.

Chef Pyet Despain is proving there’s more to Native cooking than fry bread

Despain offers ancient flavors with a modern take at her new residency at the Music Center in DTLA.

A woman with a medium-light skin tone and brown hair is wearing a long braid over her right shoulder. She is facing forward while smiling. She is wearing a dark denim apron with the words "You are on Native land" embroidered in white lettering over a light blue top, with her arms crossed. Behind her is a large multi-colored mural featuring a woman wearing native Indigenous garb.

3 LA restaurants to eat at for the rest of your life: We asked, you answered

We have your responses to a thought experiment: one life, just three restaurants. Here's what you told us.

An overhead view of different types of food plates on a light brown wooden surface shows two glasses placed in the center. One glass contains pink liquid, and the other contains yellow liquid, resembling mixed cocktails.

Cheap Fast Eats visits West Hollywood for superstar bites at a garage band price

We visit the historic West Hollywood neighborhood to find some solid chow that keeps your wallet in check.

Two different types of sandwiches are displayed next to each other on a slotted wooden surface painted light pink. On the left, there is a rectangular metal tray with a to-go paper containing a sandwich made with a long French-style bun filled with cooked ground beef, white sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onion. On the right, there is a small circular metal plate with a sandwich wrapped in silver foil paper. This sandwich is made with a round sesame seed bun, melted cheese, and bacon.

Mangled Bob’s Big Boy statue in Downey gets Halloween makeover

The statue that had its hairdo ripped off in August has undergone a spooky transformation in time for Halloween.

A statue of a server in a white-and-red checkered overalls is holding up a hamburger on a platter. Where the statue's head used to be has been replaced by piles of a pinkish red substance made up to mimic the look of fresh brains.

5 coffee shops in Boyle Heights with must-try hidden gems

As the coffee shop scene grows in the neighborhood, we sipped our way through to find you the best spots to kick back and relax.

Two medium skinned men stand in a commercial kitchen. One is wearing a black baseball cap, a maroon T shirt and a black apron; he's pouring hot water through a coffee filter into a glass jug below. The other has glasses and a beard and is looking down as he rearranges something on the metal counter.

3 exciting Thai restaurants in LA to try when you’re in a rush

Los Angeles has a long history of notable Thai restaurants. Here are some favorites to try right now.

A black plastic to-go tray with three different compartments, each filled with varying types of food. On the left is a bed of cooked white rice containing chunks of an orange squash-like vegetable in a yellow sauce towards the bottom of the tray. On top of the rice are two hard-boiled eggs with a light reddish-brown sauce. The right side has two smaller sections. The top section is filled with large chunks of sliced fish in a dark red sauce, while the bottom section contains large chunks of brown cooked meat and small quail eggs in a light brown liquid sauce.

If you could only eat at 3 SoCal restaurants for the rest of your life, what would they be?

You can do it, we believe in you.

A large taco made with a white flour tortilla with horizontal brown grill marks across it sits against a light wood surface. The taco contains meat, shredded green cabbage, and red salsa. It sits on a folded yellow to-go paper on a light blue plastic plate with slices of red radish and two wedges of lime. In the upper right-hand corner are two small plastic containers of red and green salsa.

Rosh Hashanah traditions — how the holiday table evolves

From pineapple-shaped chopped liver to vegan matzo ball soup, we look at traditions old and new.

An overhead image of a table set with the variety of dishes commonly served as part of the Rosh Hashanah

As LA restaurants are squeezed, Pasta Sisters is beating the odds

The popular Westside destination features quality food, affordable prices and a happy staff. What have they figured out that has befuddled so many others?

A white rectangular sign with black lettering reading "Pasta Sisters" is attached to a building. In between the black lettering, there is a yellow neon sign resembling a noodle with an arrow at the bottom pointing inside the restaurant. Behind the sign is a clear blue sky with a set of string lights hung below, next to the partially shown top of a tree.

Come with us on a tasting tour of Cambodia Town in Long Beach

Where to enjoy the cuisine’s bold, intense flavors.

A man with a medium-dark skin tone squeezes a lime over a white bowl of soup topped with white bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. Only the bottom part of his face is visible. He is holding a clear blue plastic water cup next to the bowl, and next to the bowl is a golden yellow piece of fried bread.

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.

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