I’ve got to go to a class next week at USC, in downtown Los Angeles. The only time I’ve spent anywhere near there was working in a place so scary that we all drove an hour away to stay, rather than stay locally, so I have no idea what to expect.
I’m going on my own dime, so I can’t be eating out high on the hog every night, but I wondered if anyone has any suggestions for good, moderately-priced places to eat? Lunch will be on campus, but I can drive a little in the evening, although I won’t have time for any trips to the beach or anything like that. Help?
When I went to 'SC there weren’t too many restaurants in the area. I’m not sure how much has changed there since the mid '80s. The one place that should still be in the area is The Pantry. It is on 877 S. Figueroa St. which is a little north of the campus. It is a coffee shop and better for breakfast than anything, but you can get a decent sandwich there.
The place has never closed, but that may have changed during the riots, and has/ had never been without a customer since it opened (again, that was the case when I was there).
Other than that, the only ‘restaurant’ that I remember being nearby was a Sizzler. If you are willing to drive a little bit, I am sure that you can find a decent Mexican restaurant in the area.
USC is still in a pretty rough neighborhood to this day, but that area and downtown seems to be doing a little better. The Pantry’s still going strong, there’s a scattering of places near the Staples Center since that’s been open, and you’ll always be able to find a cheap Mexican joint on nearly every corner.
For some really good Latin American food, you can try Ciudad at 445 S. Figueroa. It’s kind of on the fancy side, so it can be pricey, but they often have good happy hour deals on appetizers at the bar. They make excellent mojitos.
For the pure tacky and kitschy appeal: Clifton’s Cafeteria at 648 E. Broadway, but that might not be an area you’d want to go to after dark.
You’ll not be that far of a drive from Chinatown, where there’s lots of cheap Chinese joints to eat at, and the Empress Pavilion at 988 N. Hill Street, which is tucked away in a multi-level shopping center. They have probably some of the best dim sum in L.A.
I don’t get down that way very often, so I’m just mentioning places I’ve been to down there. I think you’ll do fine for the week, and I’m sure you’ll meet some people that will have good ideas on where to go nearby, too.
I’ve never had dim sum, so that sounds like an excellent idea.
Great Mexican food is on about every corner in our valley too, so if I’m in the mood for some comfort food (which lately is Camarones Ranchero) I’ll find one of those.
First of all, USC is not in Downtown LA. It is south of Downtown. Downtown pretty much ends once you get south of Staples Center. There’s a whole other neighborhood between Downtown and the USC/Exposition Park area known as West Adams.
That said, a lot of the nicer restaurants in Downtown will have happy hours where you can get pretty good meals. Nick & Steff’s has a great value happy hour. You can get a huge meal for a decent price there.
Of course, you may end up losing money by having to pay Downtown parking prices.
It was closed one day by the health department! Just going by memory here, but I believe this was maybe 5 to 10 years ago. The really interesting thing about it being closed down for health violations was that it was owned by the then-mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordon. So no, the riots didn’t close it, but the city did for a day or two.
It’s been several years since I’ve been there, but you always got a large portions at a good price. Not a “fancy restaurant” by any means (much closer in appearance to a “dive,” but I would certainly recommend it.
Amazing that the mayor could have his restaurant closed. I remember standing in line there on Sunday mornings for 45 minutes in order to get some pancakes and great coffee. Every city needs a place like The Pantry.
