Flickr photo by RexSteed

Our beloved restaurant The Park just recently launched Sushi Mondays as part of its weekly specials. The mouth-watering specials start at 5:30 pm, again on Mondays only, and are available in addition to their regular menu. It’s nice to have a little gourmet sushi option in Echo Park – we’ve never had a bad meal at The Park, and they do a spectacular job with the sushi options.

Tonight’s menu includes:

  1. Spicy tuna with cucumber and avocado $5
  2. Dragon roll with grilled eel, tempura shrimp, avocado and unagi glaze $5
  3. Smoked salmon and crab with cucumber $5
  4. Rainbow roll with crab inside, sliced tuna, salmon and avocado outside $5 (worth a try – not the best rainbow roll ever but good)
  5. Fried calamari roll with avocado, cucumber and unagi glaze $5
  6. Spicy cauliflower with cucumber and avocado $4 (cauliflower has a kick, highly recommended by EPN)
  7. Vegetarian California roll $4
  8. Tempura asparagus with avocado $4 (highly recommended by EPN)

Enjoy!

Bigmistas Barbecue
At the Echo Park Farmers’ Market most Fridays
562.608.8498
Website

The Echo Park Farmers’ Market starts up again this Friday (since the last two Fridays were holidays), and it’s a great chance to get some barbecue at the Bigmistas booth. We suggest the pulled pork meal – it’s delicious!

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Flickr photo by RexSteed

The Park Restaurant
1400 Sunset Blvd
(213) 482.9209
Website

Brunch hours:
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Lunch hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm

Dinner hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:30 – 10:00 pm
Tuesday and Friday: 6:00 – 10:00 pm
(reservations recommended)

The new Fall menu at The Park sounds deeelicious! If you sign up for their email list on the website, they’ll send you updates on restaurant specials (which will, quite frankly, make you want to go at least one a week if you could!).

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Looks like Mooi will no longer be operating for dinner during normal restaurant/business hours on a daily basis. Instead, they’ll be open for dinner on Fridays for a set 5-7 course menu, and will be busy with the catering side of the business through the holidays.

Owner Stephen Hauptfuhr told vegan blogging queen Quarry Girl:

Currently we have been operating under non-regular hours, meaning we are not open for regular dinner service on a daily basis as before, we are open every Friday for a set prix fixe 5-7 course menu that changes each week from Stephen Hauptfuhr and occasional collaborations with guest chefs… if you would like to be made aware of these dinners and any other times we will be open, please email stephen@mooifood.com with the subject heading ‘email list request’ and you will be added to his private list to receive these messages..

To get updates on the Friday menus, find Mooi on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure you place your special orders for the holiday soon – they are offering cakes, ice cream, and any regular menu items.

Tomorrow’s vegan, organic and raw Friday menu includes: butternut squash apple coconut soup, belgian endive, romain and asian pear salad with mustard seed vinaigrette, cauliflower mash potatoes and marinated asparagus, portabello meatloaf with plum ketchup, and pumpkin pie. Sounds yummy!

Cost is $20 per person with an RSVP, $25 for walk-ins. Don’t forget to RSVP to stephen@mooifood.com

Xoia
1801 West Sunset Blvd.
(213) 413-3232
Website

Hours (starting Tuesday, September 7):
Tuesday-Thursday: 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm
Friday: 12:00 noon to midnight
Saturday: 12:30 pm to midnight
Friday: 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Cash only!

Starters

Spring Rolls: Rice paper rolls w/ shrimp, pork, rice noodles, and fresh herbs served w/ peanut sauce. $5.75
Vegetarian Spring Rolls: Rice paper rolls w/ sautéed mushrooms, tofu, rice noodles, fresh herbs served w/ peanut sauce. $5.50
Pho Beef Tacos: Pho infused beef served on corn tortillas w/ cilantro, onions and house made red salsa. $5.75
Mi Quang Pork Tacos: Paprika and shallot spiced pork on corn tortillas w/ cilantro, onions and house made red salsa. $5.75

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Mooi
Gourmet Raw Vegan
1700 W. Sunset Blvd. (in the Jensen’s Rec Center building, right on the corner)
(213) 413-1100

Hours:
Breakfast and Lunch, Monday-Saturday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Dinner, Wednesday-Saturday: 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sunday Brunch: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Brunch just started yesterday (Sunday, August 29), so go check it out! Click here to view the entire Mooi menu.


6350654.jpgDinner House M
Also known as M bar by many residents.
1263 W Temple Street
213-482-3828
website

Monday – Sunday 8:00 pm – 2:00 am

Young folk, check out Grown club night every Wednesday. See more events on their calendar. They offer a full bar.

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1642 Bar
1642 West Temple St.

Facebook page
Yelp! page

Currently on tap:

  • Eagle Rock Populist (IPA)
  • The Bruery Humulus Lager
  • Sudwerk Lager
  • Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

Later this week, the Humulus Lager will be replaced by Bootlegger’s Golden Chaos.

The bar also offers a selection of nice canned and bottled beers (like 32 oz Cold Spring Beer for $5, and brews from Russian Rivers and Alesmith) along with a few wines. Prices run between $5 and $8 each drink. On occasion they have some special events every once in a while, including the “Old Time Music Jam” every first Thursday of the month.

Why go here? It’s like your favorite bar in Echo Park or Silver Lake, but without the hype and the crowds.

Elf Cafe
2135 Sunset Blvd.
213.484.6829
Wednesday – Sunday 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Reservations: email elfcafe@gmail.com
Website

v= Vegan, gf = Gluten Free
Cash Only. Elf uses only organic, sustainable, locally grown products and only local rennet-free cheeses.

The restaurant is currently under construction to expand its kitchen, but we can still expect the great menu below!

Starters

Mediterranean Lentils: A crock of organic lentils topped with mushrooms and carmelized onions (v, gf) – 9
Baked Sheep Feta and Tomatoes: Served with thyme and oil cured olives (gf) – 12
Soup du Jour: Our soups are made fresh daily with vegetables, olive oil and spices (v, gf)
Vegan Fondue: Pan-roasted vegetables and herbs served with a walnut romesco dip (v, gf) – 9
Labneh: California goat yogurt cheese with date, kalamata olive tapenade & warm pita (gf) – 12
Tahini Avocado Puree: Creamy avocado hummus served with garlic and warm pita (gf) – 9
Roasted Flatbread Shawarma: Similar to a shawarma sandwich served open-faced with crispy oyster mushrooms, spicy hummus and savory cabbage salad (v) – 12
Roasted Beet Carpaccio: Served chilled with savory pickled salsa and grated horseradish (v, gf) – 10
Spiced Moroccan Olives and Roasted Almonds: with rosewater infused organic dates (v, gf) – 6
Cornmeal and Herb Dusted Spicy Oyster Mushrooms: Our version of ‘hot wings’ crispy oyster mushrooms served with marinated celery salad and bleu cheese cream reduction (gf) – 10

Salads

Spicy Moroccan Kale Salad: A mountain of kale topped with charmoula dressing, harissa, avocado & sheep feta (v without feta, gf) – 13
Greek Village Salad: Traditional Greek salad of sheep feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives & onions (gf)- 12
Lebanese Cabbage Salad: Made with organic cabbage, dried mint, sumac, garlic and lemon (v, gf) – 8
Elf Salad: Mixed greens with dill, avocados, potatoes, olives and green beans (v, gf) – 11
Raw Organic Kale and Avocado Salad: A mountain of kale with avocado, hemp seeds and fresh blood orange dressing (v) – 12

Main Course

Spanakopita: Traditional Greek spinach and sauteed greens pie served in a filo shell with wild rice, tomato coulis and seasonal vegetables – 17
Braised Portobello Mushroom: Stuffed w/ seasonal risotticelli & smokey mozzarella on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes (gf) – 18
Moroccan Vegetable Tagine: Moroccan vegetable stew served over red quinoa with a side of spicy homemade harissa (v, gf) – 16
Baked Tart with Thyme and Garlic: Served on a bed of mixed green salad (choose two fillings or add a third for $1). Roasted tomatoes, mushrooms or red bell peppers, rosemary potatoes, carmelized onions, feta cheese, blue cheese & smoked mozzarella – 14
Stuffed Mediterranean Dolma: Sauteed chard filled w/ lentils, wild rice & mushrooms served with seasonal vegetables (v, gf) – 14
Savory Crepe and Chevre Butter: A chickpea crepe filled w/ spinach and cheese gratin & topped with a dollop of homemade goat cheese butter – 17
Roasted Beet and Braised Fennel: Served with aromatic wild rice and port wine reduction (v, gf) – 16

Flickr photo by RexSteed

The Park Restaurant has released its Summer 2010 dinner menu, and it sounds pretty delicious!

The Park Restaurant
1400 Sunset Blvd
(213) 482.9209
Website

Brunch hours:
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Lunch hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm

Dinner hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 5:30 – 10:00 pm
Tuesday and Friday: 6:00 – 10:00 pm
(reservations recommended)

The Park Prix Fixe Deals
Speakeasy Tuesdays: $15.00 for a three course meal

Friday Supper Club: $20.00 for a three course selection from the regular menu

Wednesday is $5 Burger Night
Munch a 6 oz. sirloin burger or homemade veggie burger with your choice of side for only $5.00

Click here to view breakfast, brunch and lunch menus for The Park.

Xoia Vietnamese restaurant (pronounced soy-yah) opened up last Friday, and we finally got a chance to go check out the new diggs and try out the menu.

Right now, Xoai is having a soft opening – meaning there is a limited menu and cash only (that was a surprise for us – we had to run down to the ATM a couple of blocks away for cash). They don’t serve alcohol yet, but according to Eating LA may apply for a license some day.

Echo Park Now didn’t attend the restaurant’s “community night” on Monday where bloggers and press were treated to sample the soft opening menu, so we ventured out last night and ordered just a couple of dishes on our own. I was feeling under the weather, and with the temperature outside unusually cool lately, I had to warm up with some pho. I ordered the vegetarian Pho Chay with tofu, my dinner date the Pho Tai with rare steak.

The broth is delicious – heavy on the anise flavors and plentiful. At first I didn’t think the broth had enough heat (I like mine spicy and steaming hot), but that was nothing a little sriracha didn’t fix. As mentioned, the vegetarian dish had plenty of broth and plenty of noodles, and while there were only about five chunks of tofu there were a LOT of mushrooms (mini portabello I believe). I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms (flavor good, chewing not so much), so I avoided those as much as I could. Other than that, it was tasty and while I put good dent in the bowl I couldn’t finish the whole thing in one sitting.

Vegetarian Pho

Oh yes, and my dinner partner really liked the Pho Tai.

I don’t eat red meat, but there seemed to be a pretty good balance between poultry, red meat, and vegetarian options. Though the menu doesn’t say, I did ask our server and the spring rolls do come vegetarian as well (on the menu they have pork and shrimp).

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Taix started serving super early breakfast for World Cup Fans (the menu started last Friday, June 11). Every day from 7-9:00 am for $9.95, you get:

Juice and Coffee/Tea

Choice of:
Continental Breakfast
Deluxe continental – $10.00
Classic American – $13.95

OR Chef’s Special Breakfast (changes daily)

For the 7:00 am games, you’ll need to reserve with Fernando at the bar. All 11:30 am games will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Taix
1911 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026-3288
(213) 484-1265
www.taixfrench.com

Mooi
Gourmet Raw Vegan
1700 W. Sunset Blvd. (in the Jensen’s Rec Center building, right on the corner)
213-413-1100

Daytime menu

Juices
Smoothies
Nut milkshakes
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The Grill ‘Em All truck frequents Echo Park, so it felt right to post its awesome menu.

Click here to follow the truck on Twitter for locations. For the website click here.

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Delilah Bakery
1665 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, Ca 90026
(213) 975-9400

Hours:
Wednesday – Sunday 7:30am – 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Website

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