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Navigating: L.A.'s top rock ’n’ restaurants

The best, closest places to feed your face before or after the show

By Scott T. Sterling

Metromix
August 20, 2008

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Navigating: L.A.'s top rock ’n’ restaurants

(Credit: Los Angeles Times/Spencer Weiner)

After a hard night of moshing in the pit, schmoozing by the bar or just acting cool somewhere in between, a rock show can leave even the hardiest music connoisseurs famished. All that alcohol doesn’t really help the situation either, and we’re strong proponents of sobering up before you get behind the wheel. So let us gently lead you towards some reliable and tasty options to trip the chow fantastic before and after another night on the tiles. Rock on.

Al Wazir Chicken

6051 Hollywood Blvd. - Los Angeles

323-856-0660

If you go to a lot of shows by emerging indie bands, chances are you find yourself inside the Music Box on a regular basis. This little gem is just a block east and across the street. It’s easy to miss, being situated in a corner strip mall, but the consistently delicious Middle Eastern fare (and that addictive garlic sauce we can never get enough of) is always on point. Al Wazir is open until midnight, which should give you enough time to secure some falafel before heading back to the crib.

Brite Spot Family Restaurants

1918 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles

213-484-9800

Now this is where you can seriously sedate the pie-hole after a show at the Echo. The kitchen keeps rocking until 4 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, so you have plenty of time to hobnob after the final encore before stumbling down the block to the Brite Spot. It's only a block or so west on the same side of the street. You're sure to spy all kinds of hotties hanging out here after a gig, and any joint serving breakfast anytime gets a gold star in our book. Though the food itself is best enjoyed when your taste buds are drunk.

Café Tropical

2900 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles

323-661-8391

Everyone has their own amazing musical memories from the Silverlake Lounge: TV on the Radio’s first-ever show in L.A., a particular Autolux gig that bordered on the religious, Giant Drag's crush-inducing residency. As many (if not more) memories have been made just up Sunset at Cafe Tropical. Granted, the place closes at 10 p.m., which rules out most after-show munch sessions. But this purple place boasts possibly the best coffee in the city, which will get you more than fueled up for a night discovering the next big band. The Cuban sandwiches are good enough to remind you of debauched evenings spent on Miami Beach, and the cookies are as big as your head. The pastries are all on the dee-lish side (try a "Cuban Cigar"—yum!), and for all your blogging needs the morning after, they kick out free Wi-Fi. If there were a downside to be found, it would be the Tropical being so damned popular that we’re always running into those ghosts of our past that we wish would stay there. Still, we’d kill for this place to go 24 hours. In the meantime, we’ll take what we can get.

Dan Tana's

9071 Santa Monica Blvd. - West Hollywood

310-275-9444

This probably isn't the first place you think of when spilling out of the Troubadour after another sold-out show from the likes of Battles, El-P or Tokyo Police Club. But this Hollywood institution can hang with the hoariest of hard rockers. (The Brat Pack honed that whole lifestyle anyway.) While the place stays open until 1:30 a.m., Dan Tana's has been known to keep the party going even later when bands from the Troubadour stop in post-show to pay homage and slam the notoriously strong rum-and-Cokes. The delicious garlic rolls will help soak up some of that booze before you pass out.

Denny's

3750 Wilshire Blvd. - Los Angeles

323-384-1621

It’s easy to get your groove (and drink) on at the Wiltern. You get caught up in the opulence of the venue, the heat of the well-dressed guys and gals making the scene, and your growing tab at the bar. By the time the last encore is over and you’re buying a $5 bootleg T-shirt on the sidewalk, that red-and-yellow beacon on the corner seems like a revelation. How can you say no to something called Moons Over My Hammy? The fact that it’s a delicious pile of eggs, cheese and ham on sourdough toast seals the deal. Don’t forget about the legendary breakfast slams and the fried-tastic appetizer sampler. More bonus points: The coffee is strong, the place never closes, and you’re bound to run into fellow concertgoers getting their grub on. Denny’s is so rock ’n’ roll it hurts.

Flavor of India

9045 Santa Monica Blvd. - West Hollywood

310-274-1715

The next time you find yourself at the Troubadour on the early side and hungry for something with a kick, head up the street to this quaint Indian eatery. It's got all the culinary delights we expect from our Indian restaurants here in L.A., and the tandoori chicken is so good that Dolly Parton gets an order whenever she’s in town. Young ladies might want to keep an eye out for the notoriously libidinous staff. Just make sure to have some especially strong after-dinner mints handy, because curry breath at a rock show is just not sexy.

IHOP

5655 Wilshire Blvd. - Los Angeles

323-297-4467

A sweaty, exhausting night partying deep in the pit at the El Rey can generate a serious appetite. And after all that cathartic moshing, you don’t want any froufrou rabbit food or a healthy wrap. No, you need something hearty, drenched in maple syrup and served with a side of something fried and/or crunchy. (Bacon? Potato skins?) IHOP has what you need 24 hours a day. If the high-octane coffee doesn’t knock the drunk out of you, you’d better hand the keys to somebody else.

Leela Thai Restaurant

1737 Silver Lake Blvd. - Los Angeles

323-660-6100

Any self-respecting indie rocker considers Spaceland a second home. It’s pretty much ground zero of the Eastside's live music scene. The only thing missing is a place to chow down after seeing one of the countless shows. (Though there is a 7-11 right down the block, which is better than nothing.) At least we have Leela Thai to enjoy pre-show. They do Thai curries righteously, in a comfy environment with prices so reasonable that the food tastes even better. It’s BYOB, which is a nice (and economical) touch. The red curry (aka Red Gold) is a favorite, and the hot-and-sour soup always does the trick. Just remember: It’s cash only, so a pit stop at the ATM might be necessary.

Luna Park

672 S. La Brea Ave. - Los Angeles

323-934-2110

While the El Rey can get as raucous as any other rock club in town, we think this place truly shines when featuring bands a bit warmer and fuzzier, like The Bird and the Bee or Bebel Gilberto. So when your evening at the El Rey is more on the date tip, set the scene early with a romantic meal at Luna Park, right around the corner on La Brea. It’s especially lady-friendly, with fruity cocktails, make-your-own s'mores and designer corn dogs. Careful though, as the waitstaff is unusually cute—so make sure to maintain eye contact with your date…. In any case, all the ambience and good times won’t break the bank, making Luna Park a great start to your night out.

Masa of Echo Park Bakery & Café

1800 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles

213-989-1558

So you’re headed to the Echo to check in on the endless procession of red-hot (and often Metromix-approved) bands that regularly grace the stage. Instead of showing up fashionably late, having to struggle to find a parking spot and missing the first three songs of the headlining band, we suggest something a little more relaxed. Show up on the early side and stop by Masa for a genuine Chicago-style deep-dish pizza—the kind that’s baked into a thick-crusted pie and is all sorts of heaven for cheese lovers. The only caveat is that it takes 45 minutes to an hour to bake one of these culinary delights. We suggest you call and order ahead. Warm but prompt service will have you full and in the Echo with plenty of time to catch at least one of the openers.

Scott T. Sterling is Music editor for Metromix Los Angeles.