Dodger Stadium is located in Elysian Park in the neighborhood of Echo Park, aka my neighborhood for the majority of my residency in Los Angeles. In fact, at one point I lived in a house only two blocks from Dodger Stadium, so to say I know the area is a tiny bit of an understatement. Echo Park created me. 😉
Echo Park
Bar – The Short Stop
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More nights than I can remember have been spent on the dance floor, the pool tables, at the bar, in the alley or in the photo booth at the Short Stop. What was once an old ‘Cop’ bar is one of the hippest bars in LA with THE BEST MUSIC and dance floor. As you can guess from the name, the Short Stop is also THE place to head before and after a Dodger game for a drink.
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Taco Truck – Taco Zone
Why not just share my favorite Mexican restaurant? Uh, cause that’s a different category, duh. Because Tacos served out of trucks deserves it OWN category and because Taco Zone is THAT good. Located on Sunset outside of the Vons off of Alvarado, Taco Zone is not actually a truck but a trailer serving some of, if not THE BEST tacos in Los Angeles. I suggest getting two mulitas (think: mini quesadilla) with suadero and a couple tacos, al pastor, asada or even veggie. Here’s the most important part: LOAD UP on the avocado salsa… I mean LOAD UP, pack a to-do container FULL of it.
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Brunch – Ostrich Farm
LA looooooves an avocado toast… NIKKI looooooves an avocado toast and what better place to get it than in a place where people have avocado trees in their yard!? We just do fresh fruits and veg better than everyone else. Thanks SUN! Anyway, head over to Ostrich Farm for a FAB brunch, from their avo tartines (so fancy!) to their herb biscuit sammy and their yummy bowls. Because we’re naughty, the last time Bekah was visiting we tried their brioche cinnamon rolls and they were grrrreat. Also, if anyone can make my house look like the inside of Ostrich Farm, please email me.
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Fresh Juice and Whatnots – Lassen’s Natural Foods
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Do you need a fresh juice? Watch the people behind the juice counter at Lassen’s Natural Foods whirl together something from their collection of organic fruits and veg. After, wander up and down the aisles looking for groceries, natural remedies, products, goods and more. If you want a recommendation, I get the Sweet Monster Smoothie which has lots of mango but also lots of spinach and kale so you can feel a little healthy.
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Sandwiches – Eastside Market
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Need a sammy? Wanna stand in a crowded line with a bunch of cops and LA city workers? Head over to Eastside Market Deli which has been serving up sammy’s hot and cold since 1929 outta the same location on Alpine! The Italian sandwiches are huge, enough to share or take home for later. I’ve tried the hot meatball but always go back to the cold cut or the turkey. SO #basic. SO GOOD.
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Korean / Mexican Food – Chego
LA has tons of fusion foods because of the incredibly diverse population we have. One of my fave chefs, Roy Choi is the king of blending Korean and Mexican. Most people know him from the Kogi trucks which arguably created the food truck trend a few years back. He’s gone on to open a ton of restaurants. One of my faves, Chego, is located in Chinatown. My friends and I meet here to gorge ourselves and then visit Tenren for tea or shop at the awesome vintage store in the strip mall location. I usually go for the Chubby Belly bowl with pork belly and split the Ooey-gooey fries with pals which are pretty much an upscale version of Animal Style fries from In-n-Out.
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Arcade – Buttonmash
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Sure an adult arcade with adult beverages is the perfect place to spend an afternoon or a blistering hot day, or even your birthday. Here in LA we have several of these adult aged arcades, the awesome thing that sets Buttonmash apart from the others is the food (it’s always about the food in LA!). Buttonmash has an amazing food program featuring Starry Kitchen‘s (“America’s most famous underground kitchen”) must haves like: Crispy Tofu Balls, Jackfruit Sammy, and the wings. The crazy couple behind Starry Kitchen (get his book now!) are worth the visit alone.
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Farmer’s Market – Friday’s on Logan Street
Friday afternoons through 7PM, you can wander the aisles of the Echo Park Farmer’s Market for fresh produce, goods and homemade products. The great thing about a lot of LA Farmer’s Markets is that they accept “EBT” and WIC money or cards which are given to low/moderate income people. That means, money they might normally spend at a grocery or bodega can be spent on local produce and goods! Farmer’s Markets are just got the well-heeled with plenty of cash anymore and THAT is great news for everyone.
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French Bakery – Valerie
Right smack dab in the middle of my old neighborhood is an amazing French Bakery called Valerie and NOTHING says Baseball like a French Bakery! From petit fours to cakes and croissants, sandwiches and breakfast, Valerie does it all and does it WELL. They also have an outlet in Grand Central Market, so you’re covered for any of your sweet tooth needs.
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Concert Venue – The Echo
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Cut a rug in the Echoplex downstairs or see new bands upstairs for free on Mondays during the weekly residency at The Echo. Just about everyone has played at the Echo from the band next door to the Rolling Stones secret show.
All this to say, GO DODGERS!!
