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. 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

Do It. DineLA.

With so many wonderful dining options here in L.A., what's a foodie-on-a-budget to do? Wait for dineLA to come around again--which thankfully, is right now.

dineLA is L.A.'s restaurant week (actually, more like two weeks), when more than a hundred restaurants all over the city offer some of their best dishes at low fixed rates. The participating restaurants vary from the super fancy to the local neighborhood joint, but either way you're sure to get a good deal: two-course lunches for $16-$28 and three-course dinners for $26-$44.

On paper, it might still sound a little pricey (especially for us striving folk), but it's actually quite a lot of food (I doubt most people are throwing down for three full courses on a regular basis) and it's just a great chance to check out a place/dish that you normally wouldn't/couldn't. And even within the prix fixe menus, you'll get choices, so you can't complain about being restricted from the usual fare.

With so many eateries participating, it'll be hard for you to go wrong. Some of my personal suggestions?: Asia de Cuba (mojitos are delicious--although, N.B., dineLA prices don't include alcohol/drinks), Campanile, Katana, Luna Park (stay tuned tomorrow for a review!), and The Bazaar. Let me know where else is worth visiting in the comments, and happy eating!

dineLA is taking place now until Friday, Jan. 29, and from Jan. 31-Feb. 5.

-- Chau Tu