J.R.’s proves you have to go into the places that look somewhat seedy to find really good food. J.R.’s is on the bend on La Cienega, just past Washington Blvd tucked beside office supply liquidators and furniture warehouses. It is well worth the trip for L.A.’s best barbeque, sweet and tangy, tender and exploding with flavor. Lunches are, for good reason, packed at the U shaped counter. For dessert, you can order a 7-Up pound cake if you have any room left at all. Average price for two people is about twenty bucks before tip.

(310) 837-6838, 3055 La Cienega, south of Washington, Culver City

I have to hand it to them, this is a damn good pastrami sandwich. But the best in town is at Langer’s (see other review). Johnny’s will do quite nicely, a sloppy whopper of a pastrami sandwich slathered with sauce and served on sourdough bread. The place itself is often packed, and it feels like an old diner that’s been there for decades. They also make a great shake and really good fries to go with your beef-a-rama. Any place where you bring the smell of the deep frier outside with you should indicate you’re paying $8 tops for a sandwich.

4017 Sepulveda, just south of Washington Place, Culver City

Joe Peeps’ is the “home of the 5,969 calorie pizza”. It’s not a deep dish, but it’s piled so high with toppings and goodies that the crust has to be a little more spongy to safely accommodate the weight of the toppings. Joe Peep’s is a fantastic pizza, and it will woo both thin crust and thick crust lovers alike with the quality of its pies. I strongly recommend the all meat pizza (pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, and more) with mild banana peppers. There is also a kick ass vegetarian pizza with more veggie options that I care to type here. And as for delivery, Joe Peep’s will deliver anywhere in the world. You just have to pay for the delivery cost. If you eat in, expect a New York style pizza bodega covered in magic marker graffiti. The cost is higher than the chains, you can expect to shell out $20-$30 for a large or extra large pie – but it’s so worth it.

12460 Magnolia Blvd, @ Whitsett, North Hollywood

Joe’s is by far the most consistently wonderful dining experience I’ve had in this city. It is so good, and so reliable, that the noisy room doesn’t even pull down a star in its rating. For several years I worked at Digital Domain, at the corner of Rose and Main nearby. I’ve been to Joe’s dozens of times for lunch and dinner and have never had a meal less than spectacular. Two years ago my visiting father got violently ill after a dinner at Joe’s. Much to my relief, it was because of years of turning himself into fois gras and his pancreas was exploding. Thank goodness! I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to go back to Joe’s. Joe’s has a wonderful, seasonal menu, an outstanding wine selection and exceedingly knowledgeable staff. Trust your server to guide you through what is good and bad, they will be honest with you about their tastes. I find that the price is not as high as most fine dining in L.A., so it is reasonable in its class. Expect to pay at least $50 per person if you do a full, multi-course meal with wine. Oh, and Dad’s fine, thanks. (Update – he died in 2010. Didn’t change his lifestyle enough.)

(310) 399-5811, 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice

3rd Street is becoming hard to beat as the hip starfucker zone of Los Angeles. Zipper, OK, New Stone Age, and Flight 101 are just some of the stores where you’ll find great gifts for your snooty modernist friends (like myself) while you shop alongside Alan Rickman, talk politics with Jake Gyllenhaall, and hold the door for a scruffy faced Jared Leto. All of these things happened to me, and I’m not even paying attention. Joan’s on 3rd is a New York style bodega swank deli that has horrible seating but stellar food. A great variety of sandwiches, but the glass case of salads is worth repeat visits. A vast array of pasta, vegetables, and cheeses, along with roast vegetables and meats make for a variety of choices for anyone. Anyone who considers mortadella, apricot glazed ham, and grilled maple rosemary chicken breast food (as opposed to overdressed meat) will enjoy themselves.

8350 W 3^rd St.