coffee house heyri

Ever wondered where to go at 3am in K-Town for coffee, cake, a snack, a smoke and free wifi?

Now ya know.

Easily mistaken for a club from the music and crowds out front, the latest Korean style late night coffee shop to open in the area offers everything you'd expect to find including an extensive selection of coffees, teas, cakes, pastries, fresh fruit smoothies, bingsu (shaved ice), and savories, like udon, sushi and tempura. Oh, and, of course, sandwiches. How could I forget sandwiches?


The converted house makes for plenty of seating options. There's a narrow, modern space inside on the first level facing the long glass service counter and pastry case, as well as very traditional, cozy, homey rooms upstairs. What was once a backyard with a tall palm protruding from its center is now an expanse of fairy light lit outdoor seating complete with music (of the K-pop variety the night we were there) piped in, plenty of heating lamps (if you're still chilly, the requisite blankets are available too) and large, private tented areas along the perimeter for groups. Feel free to hide out in one of the hidden corners - buzzer service at each table will get the attention of a server when you need one. Some of the round tables appeared to have firepits, but none were ablaze the night we were there.



There's a small lot out front as well as valet, so parking is a non-issue.



This is the perfect way to end an evening in K-Town. According to the owners, there'll soon be live music on weekends, too. And for the night owls they're open until the wee hours at 4am!





755 S Hobart Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 389-6138

www.cafeheyri.com

joan's on third

If you like Dean & Deluca, you'll love Joan's on Third. The space is small (but in the process of expanding!) and jam packed with delectable goodies to delight the palate.

The charcuterie selection is amazing, particularly if you're a fan of cheese. The selection packed into the cold cases will make your head (and your wallet) spin. The sandwiches, salads, sides and condiments are all a little taste of heaven and the cupcakes are not be missed. The peanut butter filled chocolate and the coconut are a couple of my faves and they beat the pants off of Sprinkles any day. The cake is perfectly moist and the icing is never piled too high or sickly sweet - unless you like it that way, in which case you should try the clouds.


Despite the inviting and always busy street side seating, I've never felt compelled to sit and have a meal here, but I can't seem to leave without less than two calorie packed bags, including at least one of their amazing sandwiches.


To state the obvious, yes, the street is crowded, yes, the place is often overrun by beautiful people and their beautiful pets, and yes, parking's guaranteed to be a bitch. So, what? If you can't deal with that, why are you living in LA in the first place? Pack up your purse pup, get off your beautiful duff and head to Joan's!


8346 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 655-2285


Photo courtesy of Joan S.

doughboys

Oddly enough, I've never been here for dinner in all these years, but good luck getting me off my soapbox when it comes to singing the praises of brek, brunch and lunch here. Despite some irritatingly long waits for a table, a couple of asshole servers, the impossible parking on 3rd, and even a friend's (legit) report of a rat running under her table, I can't seem to stay away!

The food is truly magnificent and the portions are rigoddamndiculous. No joke, you could feed a nuclear family with a couple of their dishes. Word to the wise - be prepared to waddle out and don't schedule any strenuous activity until you have a few hours to digest.

Some a.m. favorites you won't find at those "other" places on 3rd - SOS (shit on a shingle.. ask your granddads to explain this one), Red Flannel Hash made with sweet potato, Banana Caramel Pancakes (like banoffee pie for brek), the Blueberry Flax Seed Pancakes (good for you never tasted so gooood), and the Cinnamon French Toast (fuck ya!).

For lunch, you can't go wrong with any soup and sandwich combo including the Afterschool Special, but my fave is the piping hot Stracciatelli Soup with mounds of fresh spinach and asiago cheese cooked before your eyes. And, let's not forget, this is after all a bakery - the bread - amazing.

If you have room after all that, or happen to be a glutton for punishment like me, the desserts are divine. Their specialty, the Red Velvet Cake is melt in your mouth moist, and a must even for someone like me who doesn't usually like cake. Grab a piece to go if you want to ride the tide of food coma the rest of the day...

8136 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 651-4202

wild thyme

Remembering there was something about this place I liked the last time I was here nearly a decade ago, Beer and I stopped in for lunch while in Pasadena off to see the tax wizard.

With it's casual, country kitchen vibe, this is the kind of place that reminds you of grandma .. and the kind of place you could bring her for a meal out.

As I recalled, the service was warm and easy and the list of baked goods and sweets runneth over. We shared the appetizer platter which was ok and had the chopped salad (also just ok), but the turkey brie melt sandwich was pretty good. Just like I remembered, the zucchini bread (which is offered with nearly all the meals) was sweet and tasty.

Though not quite what I remembered after all these years, the food and the experience was reasonably good, and if you're in the area with a sweet tooth and in the mood for something easy and affordable, it's a good pick.

805 Fair Oaks Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030

(626) 799-4169

bread bar

In a sea of Atkins inspired protein peddlers, Breadbar is a refreshing return to what eating is supposed to be.. good, simple, comforting, food.

The space - both indoors and out on the patio - is inviting, and when you walk through the door, the sweet smell of baked goodness is hard to resist. The beautiful display of floor to ceiling bread loaves that flank the entry wall is impressive and enough to make any foodie weak at the knees. If you're in the mood for brek, the omelettes - for example, eggplant and gorgonzola (all paired with a complementary artisan bread) with fig brioche - are yummy, and if you're in the mood for a splurge, the french toast is hard to beat. For lunch, the sandwiches on a wide variety of fresh baked breads are super tasty.

Despite not coming out of the oven, the oatmeal was a great alternative if you're there on a cold morning. Same goes for the coffee, lattes and capps, which were all much better than average. The first server we had was a checked out ass, but his replacement was sweet as pie and on the ball to right what he'd wronged, so overall, no complaints on that front.

Don't forget to grab a loaf (or two) and some pastries for the road. You'll be sorry if you don't! You might think of this place as a splurge to blow the glycemic bank on, but they manage to balance things out with reasonable portions unlike what you'd expect to find.

Though this isn't a spot I'd necessarily go out of my way to frequent, as an option at the mall after harried shopping or catching a matinee flick, it doesn't get much better.

10250 Santa Monica Boulevard
Century City Mall
Century City, CA 90067

(310) 277-3770

cake & art

I got turned onto this inconspicuous bakery on Sta. Monica Blvd. in boys town years ago when I was in need of a wedding cake.

When I first got there, I looked around and thought to myself, 'this place specializes in cock cakes, are you for real?' Well, after a short time with the owner, Tom, I learned that they can bring just about anything you can imagine to life in edible art.

I was able to design my own wedding cake complete with my own hand drawn designs which were done in icing. It was nothing short of perfect. Now here's the kicker - Tom will be the first to tell you pricing cakes by the slice (even quality, artistic cakes) is hogwash. My cake which was given a $1200+ estimate everywhere else I went (anyone who's had a wedding can relate), was $300. (The estimate was actually $250 and Tom apologetically explained it was a little more work than they'd anticipated. I was hardly about to complain.) Since then, the shop has taken on a softer feel with additional cases for the many cupcakes they now do as well.

Custom is the name of the game here. They do a variety of standard cake flavors and fillings, but another little known secret is that Tom makes a mean carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. (I'm talkin' mean enough to rival my other fave baker, Sweet Lady Jane). It's THAT good and can be made with or w/out nuts - just like the cock cakes! If you have something in mind that isn't in their repertoire, bring in the recipe and they'll make it so. No kidding - they've done an amazing red velvet cake for me from a friend's recipe.

Since then I've been here for just about every occasion, including a b-day party he did a mad hatter cake for and a friend's baby shower for Beatrix Potter baby block cakes - the delicate, detailed images were screen printed in sugar - they were AMAZING and AFFORDABLE.

Tip: If you want to recreate an original design, make sure you have pictures or drawings and be very explicit in exactly what you have in mind. The one time I just described what I wanted, was the one time I wasn't completely in love with the cake. Every time I came armed with a visual, it was perfection.

Oh, and if you're in the market for a naughty cock, I mean, cake (you can choose race, size, cut, uncut, and with or w/out money shot - though this is one time I'd suggest you pass on bringing a photo) or t&a cake for a bachelor(ette) party, look no further. They do 'em like no one else!

8709 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 657-8694