the monthly BEAT: Miracle Mile/Mid-City/Fairfax. Eat Out.

Chau and I both used to work in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles, and you better believe we found our fair share of great eateries. Any time of day, this relatively unassuming stretch between Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles has some delicious options.

Between around 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. a ton of famous L.A. food trucks are parked out front of the Variety Building (5900 Wilshire), and the 5750 Wilshire offices (which includes E!).

The Counter (for a custom burger and a quality milkshake)

Mixt Greens (healthy made-to-order salads and sandwiches)

Umami Burger La Brea (a BEAT favorite)

Caffe Latte (well-made espresso drinks, breakfast, muffins, soup, hearty salads, etc.)

Tawanni Thai (very decent strip mall Thai food, their tofu yellow curry was my go-to favorite)

Luna Park (good happy hour specials, pleasant little outdoor sidewalk area)

Stark Bar at LACMA (for creative cocktails and small plates)

Enjoy!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Tinga.

Mexican food isn't hard to come by here in Los Angeles, but light and fresh Mexican food can be. That's why new La Brea restaurant Tinga deserves a refreshing welcome, and repeat visits.

The story behind Tinga is that it's inspired by Santa Barbara favorite Super Rica, but I think it's a lighter, more high-end version that still delivers, and more. The restaurant is small but feels open, with high ceilings and a large window opening up to a couple outdoor tables. And the staff is more than welcoming; the owner (?) was already talking up customers like it was a neighborhood spot.

And it will be, if the food continues to be excellent. We opted for the Tinga, which is two tostadas with shredded chicken, lettuce and more (seen at bottom in the picture) and carne asada tacos (top). We also were convinced by the owner to get the Elote especial side, which is fresh corn mixed with cream, lime and salt, and the watermelon lemonade, and we were not disappointed in the least. The corn ended up being my favorite dish--fresh and with the perfect dash of lime, it makes for a great summer dish. Everything had the right amount of rich and spicy flavors without being too heavy, and despite looking like small portions, ended up being the perfect amount.

Dishes range in the $7-$10 range, which may feel like a lot at first, but the attention to detail is obvious. And as the summer (hopefully) heats up, Tinga's fare is exactly the type of light and flavorful food you'll want to be eating.

Tinga is located at 142 S. La Brea Ave. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. New happy hours at Milk and Tar Pit [Thirsty Thursdays!].

We've already told you how big of fans we are of Mid-City spots Milk and the Tar Pit, and luckily for you, the two spots are now featuring really cool happy hours worth checking out.

Milk is currently promoting an After School Special, where you can get their delectable milkshakes for a reduced price (opposed to their usual expensive $6-7 price tag) on Mon-Wed from 3-5pm. All the shakes are pretty great, but the Coffee Toffee and MILKIE Way Malt are personal favorites. And if you're hungry, stay for the pasta!

Or quickly head on over around the corner on La Brea to the Tar Pit, now helmed by a new bar manager and holding a special "Guilded Hour" full of deals. According to Grub Street, you can get four cocktails, including the Bees Knees (gin, honey and lemon) and the Brown Derby (bourbon, honey and grapefruit), for $6 each, and snacks like mini mac with gruyere for $5. Fries with spicy lemon salt, garlic and aioli is only $2.50! The deals take place daily, but it starts early and ends quickly--5-6:30pm.

Milk is located at 7290 Beverly Blvd. and the Tar Pit is located at 609 N. La Brea Ave., both in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Milk

Eat Out. La Brea Bakery.

With Chef Mark Peel at its helm, La Brea Ave.'s Campanile gets a lot of deserved attention for its delicious cuisine. But at $18 for a grilled cheese and $12 for a tomato soup, it's not exactly affordable dining for most of us.

But don't stray far; in fact, just look next door to the La Brea Bakery. Indeed, this spot right off of Miracle Mile is the origin of the delectable baked goods you may find popping up in local restaurants and even the supermarket shelf, but what many don't seem to know is that it also serves as an actual cafe too, complete with salads, beverages and yes, hot sandwiches and paninis made with that infamous fresh bread.

The salads are pre-packaged (though I know people who have enjoyed them) and I have yet to try their coffee or teas, but this is about the bread anyway, right? And these sandwiches truly deliver. They're under the counter when you walk in, but definitely ask for them to be heated up in their panini press, and you'll be all set to go in gooey delight. Think smoked ham and gruyere with balsamic onions and arugula on a rustic roll, or marinated artichokes, ricotta and pesto on olive bread. All top-notch ingredients, all packing a flavorful punch, and at $8 each, a pretty good deal for gourmet-style eating.

While you're waiting for the sandwiches to heat up, grab a bite or two from the basket of bread samples they always have out. And if you're extra nice (which the people who work there are), you may even get to sample some of their artisan cheeses or win some extra pickles to go with your meal (like I did, above). Then head outside to grab a pleasant sidewalk table, where you might catch a celeb or two walking out from next door, if you're not too busy wolfing down your sandwich, that is.

La Brea Bakery is located at 624 La Brea Ave. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. The Tar Pit [Thirsty Thursdays!].

If you've been paying any attention, you may have noticed that I do quite enjoy a fine, well-made drink. Which is why I was excited to try out the latest hip bar to hit the speakeasy scene (and the ever-growing La Brea area): The Tar Pit.

The smallish bar + restaurant is getting hype because Mark Peel--the cuisine auteur behind the beloved Campanile--is one of the backers, but here, the food takes a back seat. This place is all about the drink: from the moment you enter and take in the bar's dark ambiance, to the moment you finish the last drop of your fine-tuned poison and contemplate your next move.

Eat Out. Luna Park.

Between the flashy (i.e. Hollywood) and the hip (i.e. Eastside), sometimes it's hard to imagine a restaurant in L.A. that's just great but also not overhyped--a low-key neighborhood restaurant, if you will. For me, one of the first names to come to mind is Luna Park.

Maybe I just missed the hype moment for this restaurant, but for being in such a key location (La Brea and Wilshire) and for being consistently packed by 7 p.m. every night of the week, Luna Park seems to be strangely thriving under-the-radar. I only decided to check out the place because I conveniently worked nearby, and because the name and look of the place reminded me of Bret Easton Ellis' (whom I had become obsessed with at the time) Lunar Park.

And just like Ellis' novels, Luna Park is decidely dark noir L.A., with a touch of youthful coolness. The ambience is dark (literally and figuratively), but in a warm, welcoming way that makes it a perfect place for groups of people or romantic dates (some of the booths have drapes that make them more private-feeling). And though the dishes are often just simple comfort foods, they come better and fancier than whatever you'd whip up in your kitchen. The oven-baked mac 'n' cheese, for example, is creamy beyond belief, and the goat cheese fondue is great (in small doses..just make sure to share). Their Tasty Burger was good too, although nothing spectacular.

The prices are about mid-range ($12-$18 for entrees, $10 average for drinks), but they've always got deals going on, like their Blue Plate Specials Sunday through Thursday (which usually includes their amazing sangria!). AND they also happen to be taking part in this season's dineLA. Time to get in on the know.

Luna Park is located at 672 S. La Brea (near Wilshire) in the Miracle Mile district.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Luna Park