Top 10 Things to do in LA by a Local
By Kamico Drakes Brown – Guest Contributor
When you come to Los Angeles there are a few things that you have to do. See the Hollywood Walk of Fame. See the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Mann Theatre, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall by world-famous architect Frank Gehry. Maybe visit the watts tower. Go to the Santa Monica pier. Go to Universal Studios, yada yada. After you have visited all the expected landmarks in LA, take a step off the beaten path and experience the city like a local. Here’s a list of 10 things to consider, from a local, that aren’t mentioned on TripAdvisor.
- Dine with a celebrity chef. Several of your favorite celebrity chefs have restaurants in LA. Many Top Chef alums and names you’ve only heard about in Food and Wine magazine all have restaurants in LA. Be sure to check out at least one while you’re in LA.
- Black Market Liquor Bar (Antonia lofaso) (https://instagram.com/blackmarketliquorbar?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
- Osteria Mozza and the pizza spot next door (Mario Batali) (https://instagram.com/osteriamozza?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
- Girl and the Goat (Stephanie Izard) (https://instagram.com/girlandthegoatla?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
- petit trois (Ludo Lefebvre) (https://instagram.com/petittroisla?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
- My two cents (Alisa Reynolds) (https://instagram.com/my2centsla?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
While this list is short, there are many more celebrity chef restaurants spread all over the city. If you are keen on eating food created by your favorite chef, plan your visit so that your hotel or Airbnb is closest to the restaurant you want to visit.
2. Take a hike. Hiking is a huge part of LA culture. You never know what you will discover on a hike. Sometimes you can find a waterfall or just find yourself on a nice scenic route. You can even hike up to the Hollywood sign. Check out all your options at alltrails.com. https://www.alltrails.com/us/california/los-angeles.
3. Eat from a food truck. I’m not saying eat any and everything from everywhere, please use your discernment. But some of the best chefs started off on food trucks. The Koji food truck for example brought us Chef Roy Choi. As you see from some of the photos you can get some good food at a food truck. As for the fruit carts, I admit I stayed away from them for about 10 years. But that was out of ignorance. Fruit vendors are the wave! I only go with ones that I see cut the fruit in front of me so I can assess the cleanliness of the operation but that’s me. To enjoy like a native, make sure you get at least the Tajín and lemon juice on your fruit.
4. Try the sushi. Wherever you are coming from, unless it’s Japan, your sushi scene is probably not as thorough as it is in LA. Most people don’t realize that LA is a major port city with access to fresh local fish. That said, the competition for providing the best sushi is so plentiful the sushi market out here is a high-intensity game. There’s something at all price points. Though I recommend you stay in the middle but if you were on the fence if you’ve never tried it if you’ve always wondered what sushi is like – this is the city to do it.
- If you have never had sushi and you’re wondering where to begin, start with sushi rolls. They have ones with fried shrimp or fried crab in them. Look for a place that has lots of rolls on the menu like Crazy Rockin Sushi. (https://www.instagram.com/p/BzUeisij8O8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)
- Next level would be eating actual sushi – fish on rice. There are lots of places that are good for that but I like any of the locations by Katsuya.
- Next level would be where the menu is more limited, no rolls. Sugar Fish. (https://instagram.com/sugarfishbynozawa?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= ) is a great lower-cost option or Asanebo for the pricier but dang good option.
5. Check out some local graffiti and urban art. Los Angeles has some great graffiti art sprinkled all over the city. There are over 100 Kobe murals sprinkled all over the city and almost as many Nipsey Hussle murals as well. Take a walk down Melrose and you’ll find a few between Highland and Fairfax. True graffiti art lovers can also take a guided bike tour to get a glimpse at the best the city has to offer. (https://bit.ly/3x0Uy5m).
6. Take a day trip out of LA. I know you came to visit LA and there’s enough to do to fill a week or two weeks but right outside of LA are some really unique things that you can’t quite get in LA and would make your trip a little less run of the mill and all-around fun.
- Visit Santa Barbara. Less than two hours driving from LA, with its beautiful beaches and majestic mountains, this beautiful resort beach town has a lot to recommend it. Whether you are seeking great hiking, fine dining, water sports, sandy beaches, culture, or great nightlife, Santa Barbara has something for everyone.
- Try wine tasting in Temecula. Just an hour and a half drive from downtown LA, you can experience the best of southern California wine country amid the rolling hills of the Temecula Valley. (https://bit.ly/3mdWx1k) Once you arrive you will find a variety of wine tours and tastings to choose from. This is a perfect romantic escape for wine lovers.
- Day drinking and partying in Palm Springs. Enough said. Two hours southeast of LA, this desert town was one of America’s first resort towns where celebrities flocked to escape the winter. Today it has a wonderful collection of mid-century houses and buildings as well as over 60 art galleries showcasing a variety of art for every interest.
- Hit the outlets on the way to Palm Springs. Who doesn’t like a bit of retail therapy?
- Visit Disneyland Theme Park & Resort in Anaheim. The resort features 2 amazing theme parks – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. To make the most of your visit, buy a multi-day ticket and see what both parks have to offer. Disneyland is really a hidden gem and a perfect place for creating great memories for adults and children alike. If you enjoyed it during the day, you’ll find it even more magical at night. Stay for the fireworks. While you’re visiting the park, treat yourself to some excellent Chinese food from among the many options along the way.
7. Go Hollywood. You’ve seen celebrities mention in magazines and interviews what their favorite treatments are and where to get them. Now is your chance to get in on the action. For some that may be shopping on Rodeo Drive and just picking up a souvenir because, after all, it’s Rodeo Drive. For others, it may be taking a Tracy Anderson (https://tracyanderson.com/los-angeles-studios/) workout class just like Madonna and Tracee Ellis Ross. Or maybe just have your eyebrows done at Anastasia Beverly Hills. (https://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/salon.html) Whatever your preference, treat yourself to a little luxury while you’re in tinsel town.
8. Go Beach Hopping. With over 75 miles (120 km) of coastline and over 100 beaches, LA has a beach to suit every personal preference. For a leisurely afternoon, take an electric bike ride along Venice Beach, people-watch at the famous Muscle Beach, or shop for tchotchkes along the Venice boardwalk. In the evening take a drive down to Dockweiler Beach to watch some hang gliding and enjoy a bonfire on the beach, while watching the planes departing LAX. Talk about a great photo.
9. Visit Alhambra. Located in the San Gabriel Valley, Alhambra is just 11 miles east of LA and a short 20-minute drive from downtown LA. This area of LA has a predominantly Asian and Latino population with over 50% of the population identifying as Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Here you will find some great restaurants serving authentic Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine representing different regions of China.
10. Grab Some Tacos. With so many places to get tacos and burritos in the city, it’s all too easy to find restaurants serving subpar tacos. A shortcut to finding a good taco spot would be to first check out the recommendations in EaterLA. They make it their business to find and keep an updated list of the best tacos in the city. So if you looking to find great Birria tacos (slow-cooked goat or sheep meat), Carne Asada, fish tacos, all the tacos, start there. https://bit.ly/3mehqJF
After you have explored all that LA has to offer, document your trip in a travel journal from Big Brown Paper, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram if you find yourself at one of the places on this list. Have a great trip!
