RESTAURANTS
Tony Also Recommends: Mexican Fruit Stands
Fresh-cut fruits (whatever they have) are thrown in a bag with salt, chili and lime. $5 of fresh, tasty and pretty-good-for-you food. Locations all over LA.
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LudoTruck
Owned by Chef Ludo Lefebvre from LudoBites restaurant and "Top Chef." Locate the truck by checking Twitter, @ludotruck, or Facebook. LudoTruck only serves chicken. Tony samples chicken balls, biscuits baked with honey and lavender.
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Animal
Animal is a carnivore-centric restaurant specializing in all those good bits. Tony sits down with owners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. The men have marrow bone, chicken hearts, hamachi tostada, coconut sweetbreads, pig tails and crispy rabbit legs.
435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Kogi Truck
This food truck serves Mexican-style tacos with a Korean culinary twist.
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Tony Also Recommends: Kokekokko
Yakitori grilled over traditional white charcoal (flown in from Japan) -- chicken livers, heart, thigh, skin and, if you go early, ask about the off-the-menu stuff like the sublime “chicken butt.” It runs out fast. Regulars sit at the counter.
203 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Senor Fish
Serves sea bass, mahi-mahi and yellowtail. People come for the fish tacos, lightly battered and deep-fried.
422 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012See on Map
Red Medicine
For late-night, non-traditional Vietnamese, people enjoy this modern take on French and Vietnamese food involving very creative uses of herbs and flowers. Open late until 2 a.m., and very popular with food-service industry types.
8400 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211See on Map
Jumbo's Clown Room
Jumbo's is a last refuge for the ancient art of burlesque. This ain’t no strip club. Tony, Jon and Vinny (from Animal) sip on beer and tequila.
5153 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6113See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Varnish
This speakeasy is hidden in the back of Cole’s restaurant. Bartenders use ingredients such as fresh juices, purees and syrups. The bartender’s choice is often the way to go.
118 E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014-2006See on Map
Ham Ji Park
Tony meets friend and owner of Kogi truck, Roy Choi. They start with side dishes. Ham Ji Park is famous for 3 dishes (pork belly, pork spare ribs marinated in spicy pepper paste, and pork stew).
3407 W 6th St, Ste 101-C, Los Angeles, CA 90020See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Yu Chun
Their house special is cold noodle soup.
3185 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006See on Map
Dan Sung Sa
At this old-school, traditional Korean restaurant, Tony drinks some makali (a fermented rice drink), and samples chicken gizzards and spicy octopus.
3317 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: The Prince
This laid-back lounge offers one of the best preserved interiors in LA, and serves beer and Korean-style fried chicken.
3198 1/2 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Philippe the Original
Set up like an old-school cafeteria/diner, Philippe is best known for its "French-dipped" sandwich. The breakfast of choice: cake donuts, along with 10-cent coffee.
1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: King Eddy Saloon
This bar starts pouring at 6 a.m. Recommended for beer and whiskey.
131 E 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013See on Map
In-N-Out Burger
Anthony Bourdain gets a double-double "animal style" cheeseburger and chocolate shake.
9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045See on Map
Tacos Villa Corona
Tony has 1 chicken and 1 steak taco. Tacos Villa Corona is a family- run, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, serving tacos and burritos from a closet-sized kitchen. Tony goes back for a second round and gets papas burrito (breakfast burrito).
3185 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039-1805See on Map
ACTIVITIES
Tony Also Recommends: Book Soup
One of the last great independent bookstores. Each shelf is personally curated by the staff. They’re a major stopover for all the heavy-hitting authors.
8818 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069-2125See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: La Luz de Jesus Gallery
This gallery features narrative paintings and sculptures by SoCal artists. Themes range from sex to death. Admission is free.
4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Wacko
Premier emporium of pop culture in LA since 1974. Best-kept LA secret with wind-up toys and tiki collectibles, it's a 1- stop shop for hipster accessories and brick-a-brack.
4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027See on Map
Dearly Departed -- The Tragical History Tour
Tony joins a tour that specializes in grizzly tragedy and deaths in LA, from the notorious to the obscure.
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Tony Also Recommends: Necromance
This "wonderland of taxidermy" hobby shop has skulls, bones and antique medical supplies.
7220 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046-7620See on Map
ACCOMMODATIONS
Tony Also Recommends: Hotel Shangri-La
Opened in 1939, this hotel offers a nice view over the Pacific Ocean and Venice Beach boardwalk, along with a fire pit on the roof and a solar-powered pool. It’s also known for entertaining VIPs.
1301 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401See on Map
Tony Also Recommends: Custom Hotel
This hotel is right by the (LAX) airport and fulfills a traveler's basic needs.
8639 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045See on Map
Chateau Marmont
This classic mix of luxury bungalows and suites is Tony’s favorite hotel. Tony stays in a bungalow, the perfect place to hide out with high hedges, trees and walls.
8221 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046See on Map