Casey's Tip

Texas BBQ has met its match! This is arguably the best brisket West of Texas and certainly the best in Los Angeles. It’s family-friendly with portions of all sizes and the tastiest smokey sides. For the adults, Southern-inspired refreshing cocktails like the Ranch Water go perfectly on a summer day. If you’re in town for the holidays, they do amazing family-style meals with a twist on the traditional plates like a deep-fried turkey.

Casey's Tip

When you think of a classic Mexican joint, Casa Vega is what you see and taste. If you're a fan, try the Tarantino Margarita! The story is that while shooting Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin jumped behind the bar after a day of shooting and made the cast and crew his special margarita which was then added to the menu. My personal favorite is the Casa Vega Classic margarita and I think it's one of the best in LA using a 67-year-old family recipe.

Casey's Tip

This place is a true hole-in-the-wall, no-frills masterpiece. It has such a unique perspective on Mexican food, with every dish having an incredible wood-fired undertone to the flavor. The Chimichanga with shredded beef is my favorite thing to order with their extra hot Chiltepin Salsa. It's worth the extra spend if you like it hot hot hot! Easily some of the cheapest and best Mexican in town.

Casey's Tip

I make a point of stopping by this local wine shop whenever I'm in the area. They have amazing app-style bites and a cozy patio for a chill early afternoon filled with day drinking incredible wines from around the world. It's not big, but it's highly curated and the staff are super knowledgeable. A fun fact is that the owner of the shop found an antique French pharmacy facade (hence the name) while traveling that became the unique shelves and atmosphere of the interior.

Casey's Tip

I have spent over a month of my life traveling Japan and nothing has compared to the fine art of the cuisine quite like The Brothers Sushi. It's on every best sushi in LA list for a reason. The space itself is no frills but instead mirrors the simplicity of a traditional Japanese establishment, minimal and classic. All of the sashimi dishes come with multiple preps you can choose from, my favorite being the smoked Japanese cherry wood yellowtail and the seared dry-aged toro. The Waygu miso lettuce cups are also on another level. If you are driving back from a day in Malibu, this is a great spot to stop for dinner. Reservations are strongly encouraged as they are always booked, but totally worth it if you love the freshest quality sushi. You don't need to go all out on the Omakase either to have a great experience.

Casey's Tip

Behind the bar, local regulars keep their personal Tiki cups for when they come in and it's super fun to see how unique they all are! The staff here is also the original establishing team so be sure to ask them for all the fun facts and history because they know it all. Lastly, order the "Toro" for a fun surprise! I recommend coming right when they open as it fills up super quickly and a line will form.

Casey's Tip

Not only is this a Michelin-star steak house with a fantastic wine list, but it also has an operational butcher shop on site where you can buy your favorite dry-age cuts that are worth the splurge. It’s a gorgeous and moody art deco-designed space that’s great for a dinner to impress a client or a date. A special highlight of this place is the table side presentation of their boxed variety of beautiful steak knives, each one unique with a different history. You first choose your knife, and then you're given a little synopsis of your chosen knife's origin and its attributes.

Casey's Tip

While the tasting menu is excellent if you're a super foodie, I believe the a la carte menu is an equally exciting experience with less commitment. I definitely recommend the cocktails over the wine only because they are truly special and pair very well with the meal's earthy and organic approach.

Casey's Tip

They have a super cool band of the month taco section on the menu that is a fun way to try something new! Different local bands create unique dishes they love and proceeds go to the surrounding arts community. Alongside the artist, original artwork is commissioned by a local graphic artist adding a cool visual component to the experience. Band Taco Alumni that I enjoyed have been Spoon, Silversun Pickups, Norah Jones, and Vampire Weekend.

Casey's Tip

This place can get very busy, especially on weekends. I strongly recommend reservations for the best experience or you could be waiting in line for a moment. The cocktails are fantastic (I recommend the Switchblade), and the ambiance is elegant and has a twist of mystery, as a classic underground speakeasy does. The cocktail menu is more tequila-focused than their other locations, but they have super experienced and knowledgeable bartenders who can mix the best of anything you desire. A must-try for any cocktail enthusiast.

Casey's Tip

When craving a Vietnamese rice dish or bowl of pho in Los Angeles, one would assume that they're going to find themselves in a lackluster eatery paired down with simple non-alcoholic beverage options, a quick solo lunch spot to fulfill a craving at best in a weird location. However, with Blossom in Santa Monica, this is not the case. This establishment is the only Vietnamese restaurant of its kind in Los Angeles proper. For lovers of Asian cuisine and upscale ingredients and cooking, blossom checks both of those boxes yet still feels approachable for all diners with its casual approach. It's also worth noting that they pride themselves in their wine list and have a better (and more reasonably priced list) than most one-star Michelin restaurants in Los Angeles. It's no wonder their website is blossommenuwine.com, as it's clear they take their list very seriously and acknowledge that it's part of their draw.

Casey's Tip

There's a reason this place always has a line. Hands down the best pizza in Los Angeles. If you can plan your visit, they open up their reservation list on Resy 2 weeks in advance at 9 am, so be sure to snag a spot quickly as their dining room is SUPER small but really cute. If not, arrive before they open for lunch and try to grab a walk-in spot. If you have to wait in line, get a slice to go and drink a glass of their small, mighty selection of natural wine at one of their standing tables out front while you wait. If dining indoors, try for a Wednesday or Sunday, as they have a rotating menu of bar pies available on those days. If doing a walk-up and dining at the standing tables, be sure to bring a hat, as there is no awning or shade. This is a foodies spot entirely!

Casey's Tip

I love to pop in here for a glass or two while waiting for my wife to shop through one of her favorite stores (Rolling Greens) which can take a while or when waiting for a table at Uovo pasta downstairs. The by the glass list has some great easy drinkers (noteably the pinot noir) but I find the by bottle list even more interesting if you have a 2 or more guests. Cant beat the ambiance! I recommend making a reservation in advance for weekends.

Casey's Tip

The second of it's kind in a series of pop-up turned permanent omakase sushi experiences from top chef star and michelin star awarded, Phillip Lee. I had the pleasure of meeting Philip before he became a celebrity chef of sorts, and have been a fan of his many restaurants ever since. Although he now has "Sushi Bars" in numerous cities across the US, the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara location (which has one star), are still flying relatively under the radar and worth a trip. The LA location is in what feels like a dying outdoor shopping center, but really houses a few speakeasy style unmarked restaurants by PL. This is a great dining experience for those who like the feeling of something exclusive yet under the radar - a great spot to impress a friend and wow them with the magic hidden behind unmarked doors in an unassuming strip mall. I recommend you do the second seating, as the chef's will allow you ample time to revisit any of your favorite of the 18 courses and you can linger and drink more sake and their infamous rice beer.

Casey's Tip

Zebulon is the home of the LA hipster music scene. Most nights are packed with locals coming to check out emerging and established artists even if it's just as a background to hang with friends. It has a Brooklyn-style edginess and grit but is a super fun experience for someone looking for an authentic bar/club night with live music.