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     If you drive past Alejo’s, guarantee you will not look twice. It’s not only easy to miss, but from the outside it looks like one of those spots you would be skeptical to eat at. It is in a tiny stip mall next to a 7/11, and if I hadn’t been recommended to go to this place, I would have never gone anywhere near it. When I told you I would introduce my blog followers to HOLE IN THE WALLS with amazing food, this place goes to the top of my list. I couldn’t describe it much better than that- it’s a tiny hole in the wall that is PACKED with people, and the food is delicious. After being a little skeptical looking at the outside of the restaurant, I decided to trust my friend who swore by this place. I opened the door to walk in, and the place was packed- no tables available. We didn’t have to wait long though, the service was fast and efficient and when a party of four left, …

     I’m making this post short and SWEET. I had to make a posting just for the BANANA PUDDING from the famous Magnolia Bakery. I LOVE banana cream pie, so obviously I fell in love with this banana pudding as soon as I tried it. BANANA PUDDING Magnolia Bakery originated in New York City in 1996, on a quiet corner in the heart of Greenwich Village. Now there are six Magnolia Bakery’s. I’ve been to the one in Grand Central Station in New York City, but lucky for me, one just opened up in Los Angeles on 3rd Street close to the Beverly Center mall (and conveniently close to the E! office where I work!). The bakery is so cute and charming- everything is pastel colors with black and white checkered floors, it’s just a sweet little dessert shop. The cupcakes and cakes are famous from there, but I always just get the banana pudding. I think it’s the best thing they have. It’s not heavy- it’s super light and fluffy with chunks of fresh banana and vanilla wafers. ~Lemon Meringue …

     The Edison is in Downtown LA, and it is one of the coolest bar/lounges I have ever been to. The place is so unique and beautiful, with an industrial warehouse kind of vibe. The whole theme is the 1920’s, and everywhere there are real architectural artifacts from LA’s first private power plant back in the days of Thomas Edison. There is a room of electricity generators from the 1920’s, black and white classic footage projecting on the walls, and real shoe shining stations you’d see on the streets of New York City in the 1920’s. The Edison is like a huge underground warehouse- upstairs is the lobby, coat check, and smoking lounge, and downstairs is massive with several little rooms to gather with friends to dine and enjoy cocktails, and a huge main bar that serves their famous artisanal cocktails. Me in front of electricity generators   A view of classic black and white 1920’s footage projected on the walls I went on a Friday night, and usually unless you get there super early, there is a massive line around the …

     I LOVE New York style thin crust pizza. It’s my favorite. Especially a good slice dipped in ranch dressing…I know, classy right? lol. Unless the pizza is SO amazing it doesn’t need ranch, but pizza dipped in ranch is probably the best combination, if you’ve never tried…Get on it. Anyway, there are a couple Mulberry Street Pizzarias around LA, one on Canon and Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, & one in Sherman Oaks and Encino on Ventura Blvd. It’s just a casual pizzaria, nothing fancy. After having the best pizza I ever had in my life in Brooklyn, (read my blog posting about Di Fara pizza in Brooklyn, New York), and Pizzaria Mozza which is “supposed” to be the best pizzaria in Los Angeles, I heard a lot about Mulberry Street pizza and decided to give it a shot. I’ve been to the one on Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills and the one on Ventura Blvd. in Encino. Mulberry is defintely a good represenation of New York style pizza. The slices are super thin, and a …

It’s Sunday, my favorite day of the week! SUNDAY FUNDAY. I decided to do the Santa Monica Stairs today, which for those of you who don’t live in the area, or have never done them, they are steep, tall steps in Santa Monica with beautiful views of the ocean at the top. People go there to exercise- it’s a great workout! After a great work out I built up a pretty good appetite and decided to go to one of my favorite spots- Father’s Office. It’s in Santa Monica on Montana Ave. between 10th and 11th street. They also recently opened another Father’s Office in Culver City, but the Santa Monica one is the original. They have amazing food, and their Office Burger is voted the #1 burger in LA according to some articles and magazines. I have been to Father’s Office many times, and I definitely think their burger is one of the best in LA. Also, they have unique beers on tap that you can’t get in grocery stores if you are a beer drinker. …

Margaritas baby! El Torito Grill is different than the regular El Torito. It’s more upscale and they have a different menu as well. I went to El Torito Grill in Beverly Hills after work with my work buddies, (there is also one in the Sherman Oaks Galleria) and the food is pretty good! They have a great happy hour.   Before they bring you your food, they of course bring you fresh chips and salsa, but they also bring you warm, homemade tortillas with butter. This was my favorite part! It’s worth to go there just for this if you just feel like ordering drinks. I ordered the Chicken Tortilla soup to start…yum! Roasted chicken salad…for my coworker that eats healthy lol   Lobster Quesadilla– I ordered this. Could have had a little more lobster, but still sooo good! *Highly recommended. Chili Relleno– Oozing with cheese! Roasted pasilla chile, jack cheese, cotija cheese, goat cheese, red chile sauce, pineapple-mango salsa, peruvian beans, pasilla-cilantro rice, sweet corn cake Shrimp tacos for cheap! CARNITAS YUCATÁN Slow-roasted garlic, achiote, …

       This cozy and causal Gastropub located in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA, is what I’d like to call an undercover hotspot. Most people who do know about it absolutely love it, but many people don’t. Lately, I’ve been more into going to downtown LA because it’s something different, especially because it’s up and coming. There are also some great spots for foodies. The Lazy Ox is located a couple blocks from the famous Edison lounge/bar, so if you want to eat out before going to the Edison, the Lazy Ox is a great choice. I walked over there for a drink right after eating. The food at the Lazy Ox is ecclectic and unique, yet prices are still reasonable. The restaurant that comes closest to it, would be ANIMAL, because of the exotic dishes. Some people may find the food a little bit too out there, but I appreciated the innovative ways it was put together, and the perfect combination of flavors in every dish I ordered. The Lazy Ox is usually packed at night during the …

     This has been my sushi spot for YEARS. Located a couple blocks from my house, Banzai sushi was my “go-to” sushi spot in high school. Whenever I’m home and am craving sushi, I go to Banzai. Banzai is in Calabasas, right across from the famous Sagebrush Cantina, and also down the street from the Calabasas Commons. Sushi is one of my favorite foods, so I love a good sushi spot. I wouldn’t say Bonzai is the best sushi restaurant out there by any means, there are better places for sushi, but I really like Bonzai. It has a nice vibe, inside is always packed, and the outside heated patio (the patio is covered during winter) has flat screen TV’s that usually always has a sports game on. I usually like sitting on the patio. One of my favorite sushi rolls ever is from Banzai. It’s called the Manhattan Roll. It’s a spicy tuna crunch roll, topped with avocado, eel sauce and spicy mayo. If you know me, you know I love anything with avocado! This roll has a …

“8oz Burger”      The other night I went to 8oz Burger Bar on Melrose in LA. I was hearing a bunch a hype about this place, people saying it was supposedly the “best burger in LA”, or right up there with Umami Burger and Father’s Office. Being that burgers are my favorite food, I drove all the way out there from my little neighborhood in Calabasas, to find out the truth about all the hype, and to inform my loyal food blog followers if this place is worth it or not. OPRAH said that the short rib grilled cheese steak sandwich was the “best sandwich in America”. So of course, if OPRAH approved this place, I had to try it ASAP, lol. 8oz Burger Bar is a gastropub with a cool and trendy vibe with booths and high top wooden tables. It has a full bar with wine and unique beers on tap as well. We ordered their “chocolate beer” that is made with coffee and chocolate. A little heavy for me, but still unique and tasty. Their signature burgers are “The 8oz” …