Good restaurants near California Science Center and the cities of Bakersfield and Lancaster?

[theluckyrabbit]

El Parian is famous for wonderful food! Regional, authentic ethnic food is amazing in southern California! Take advantage of the opportunity to try some new things. You won't regret it!

 

[isabellea]

El Parian is famous for wonderful food! Regional, authentic ethnic food is amazing in southern California! Take advantage of the opportunity to try some new things. You won't regret it!

I added El Parian on my list of potential places to eat after our visit at California Science Center. I will let DH decide where to eat since that portion of the trip is more for him (vs DLR portion is more for me) and he's a more adventurous eater than me.

 

[Purrkins]

I added El Parian on my list of potential places to eat after our visit at California Science Center. I will let DH decide where to eat since that portion of the trip is more for him (vs DLR portion is more for me) and he's a more adventurous eater than me.

At one point the LA Weekly called the birria at El Parian the best dish in Los Angeles. It's pretty amazing and my son can eat his weight.

Carnitas is fried pork butt and carne asada is simply grilled marinated meat. Both are very good. Try some Mexican food in LA if you can. Just look for a cheap looking place with a line.

We actually have a dish that's the cousin of poutine that you should seek out at any quick taco shop in Southern CA, Carne Asada Fries. A mound of french fries covered in crema (thin rich sour cream), cheese, beans, salsa, and diced grilled meat. Best eaten once a year and shared with friends after a day of walking 10 or 15 miles. Not to be confused with the Australian version which is known as a Halal Snack Pack which are fries covered in yogurt sauce and gyro meat...

 

[oakleycat]

If you're coming to LA and are not familiar with real Mexican food you must try it! Get the carnitas and carne asada, try the birria, lengua, tripas, etc. if you (or your husband) is feeling adventurous. Birria is definitely a love it or hate it thing and I'm in the hate group (and I'm Mexican and my grandfather makes an apparently amazing birria).

 

[dotfurio]

If you're in Bakersfield you must try a communal Basque dinner. Delicious and pretty regional specific. Noriega Hotel and Wool Growers are probably your two best bets. Dewars is probably the best old time soda shops in the entire state and worth a stop.

Noriega's is truly communal - everyone sits at one long table and you share dishes with strangers. The serve one main entree at the meal, and there is one seating time. It's an interesting experience. http://www.noriegahotel.com/

Woolgrowers is my husband's favorite Basque place. They do not serve communal with strangers style. You'll be seated at your own table and served dishes family style, as they do at other local Basque restaurants. Barbara Streisand and James Brolin have dined here more than once. http://woolgrowers.net/

Both of these restaurants are away from the freeways and honestly in a not so great part of town, so I usually don't recommend them to people passing through. If you are feeling adventurous, though, give one of them a try.

 

[bcla]

If you're coming to LA and are not familiar with real Mexican food you must try it! Get the carnitas and carne asada, try the birria, lengua, tripas, etc. if you (or your husband) is feeling adventurous. Birria is definitely a love it or hate it thing and I'm in the hate group (and I'm Mexican and my grandfather makes an apparently amazing birria).

Isn't the taco truck scene around LA pretty good? And if you're mentioning adventurous, I've had tripe and tongue. I haven't tried cabeza, and I've only heard of but haven't seen brain tacos.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I've noticed no one has spoken up about dining near the Ca. Science Ctr.

The Science Center is in Expo Park, which also houses the impressive L.A. Natural History Museum and the L.A. Coliseum -- home the USC Trojans, LA Rams (temporary), and to the 1932 and 1984 Olympics and will be used again for the 2028 Olympics (the Coliseum gives tours but I believe has just started a massive renovation). Expo Park is a major tourist center in LA. but is not surrounded by a touristy area (South L.A. has not gentrified, and while tourist shouldn't consider themselves at risk the area around Expo Park, many do find it intimidating..it's a relatively desperate-looking area). But the (very affluent) USC main campus is directly across the street to the north, and there has been exponential development on the blocks just north and east of campus adding a lot of new dining in the last 5 years (mostly small QS chains targeting the student population). Today's USC students get to eat much better than I did. Plus, the Science Ctr. and Natural History Museum also have cafes.

If you looking for something more unique to the area, I few miles north in downtown L.A. there is the famous Phillippe's (110 years old this year, and one of few eateries in L.A. that live up tho the hype) near Union Station, and lots of interesting options in nearby Little Tokyo.

Besides Phillipe's, which is a great recommendation, Olvera Street with its Mexican restaurants is another good choice. My friend and I went there after visiting the Science Center, but instead of the restaurant we got the delicious taquitos from Cielito Lindo (so good).

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you do visit Olvera Street, look for the churro guy. The churros there are different from the ones at DLR. A totally delicious experiment to compare the two!

 

[Purrkins]

Isn't the taco truck scene around LA pretty good? And if you're mentioning adventurous, I've had tripe and tongue. I haven't tried cabeza, and I've only heard of but haven't seen brain tacos.

Cabeza is usually only the beef cheek and a little misleading as one expects lengue (tongue), ojo (eye) and sesos (brain) when ordering a "head" taco. But cheek meat is the best meat - tender, a bit fatty, reminds me of a nicely braised brisket or a super tender pot roast.

 

[China Expat]

I second Phillipes Roast beef dips in LA. I eat there every Sunday. The cole slaw is famous.