Slow-braised meat tacos on hand-pressed corn tortillas. Sampler plate is the move.
Cuban pastries that have a cult following. Refugiados, papas rellenas, potato balls. Lines move fast.
California's largest used + new bookstore. The book tunnel upstairs is required Instagram-fodder.
100-year-old pier with the original Looff carousel, Pacific Park rides, and arcade. Free to walk on.
The most LA breakfast you can have. Get the Carol C. Special. Cash + card, no reservations.
The Godmother sandwich is non-negotiable. Order ahead online, lines on weekends are no joke.
Worker-owned food hall with Oaxacan, Yucateco, and Salvadoran kitchens. Chichen Itza is the heavyweight.
928-foot pier with the Roundhouse Aquarium at the end. Free, family-friendly, great sunset views.
24-hour Korean BBQ + bone-marrow soup. Get the galbi jjim — short ribs cooked in molten cheese tableside.
Iconic LA food hall since 1917. Tacos, pupusas, ramen, coffee, and Eggslut — all under one roof.
Historic gathering spot where mariachi bands have hired out since the 1930s. Free live music many weekend evenings.
Decades-old taqueria. Carne asada burritos in foil. Salsa roja is hot — start slow.
A mile of independent boutiques, galleries, and restaurants in Venice. First Fridays are a street party.
Wood-fired everything. Pizzas, vegetables, lamb chops. Reserve weeks ahead or sit at the takeaway counter.
Cheap, fast Mexican right by the pier. Wet burritos and a frozen margarita after a beach day.
22-mile beachfront bike path from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance. Rent a bike, ride all of it.
Contemporary art museum with Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room. Free general admission, reserve tickets ahead.
160-acre canyon park with panoramic city + ocean views. Off-leash dogs allowed on most trails.
LA institution since 1939. Lines move fast. Try the Lord of the Rings dog — bbq, onion rings, bbq sauce.
Natural geothermal spa in the middle of K-Town. Korean-style baths, body scrubs, sauna.
Vintage Korean-owned bar in a 1920s steakhouse. Looks frozen in time — featured in Mad Men.
Sherman Oaks Mexican institution since 1956. Dim red booths, strong margaritas, classic combos.
80-acre park with a 27-acre lake and a famous cherry-blossom grove in spring.
Watts burger spot since 1939. The "Whipper" challenges your jaw. Bring cash.
Folk-art masterpiece. 17 interconnected sculptures built by Simon Rodia over 33 years from scrap.