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

Drink It. Free green milkshakes at The Counter [Thirsty Thursdays!].

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're not indulging in the green beer tonight -- DDs, that means you! -- here's a special holiday treat you can still enjoy. The Counter, of the build-your-own-burger variety, is offering free green milkshakes to those who "like" them on Facebook. Otherwise, it'll be $3 each (and for those who are indulging, The Counter's green beers are also $3). Happy drinking, be safe out there!

Check out more info on The Counter by visiting their website.

-- Chau Tu

Eat Out. The Counter opens in West Hollywood.

When you've got In-N-Out, there's not much else you need to ask for in terms of burgers. But on the off-chance that you'd like something beyond that tried-and-true Double-Double drenched in special sauce, you may as well step on over to The Counter, which is opening its newest location in West Hollywood today. After all, where else can you face more than 312,120 burger possibilities?

That's no over-exaggeration. Sit down at a table inside the eatery and you'll be given a clipboard, where you are surveyed on every single aspect of your meal, down to the sauce and the type of bun. A little intimidating for indecisive folks like me, but undoubtedly fun. Tillamook cheddar or soft ripened brie? Onions grilled or in fried strings? Traditional burger or throw it all in a bowl?

Thankfully, if you're concerned whether that ginger soy glaze will counteract your English muffin bun, the waiters and waitresses are quite helpful in giving you a few tips. One of our tips? Go for the Fifty-Fifty for a shared side--and definitely go with the sweet potato fries. And if you're feeling a bit guilty, all the beef is hormone and antibiotic free and humanely raised and handled. No frills, but tons of possibilities, The Counter makes for a good, unpretentious go-to spot for your (specific) burger fix.

The new Counter is located at 7919 W. Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: The Counter