A Solo Weekend: The Foodie’s Ultimate Itinerary for Things to Do in LA

I went for work but I stayed to play. After a long work week between Long Beach and Los Angeles (LA), I decided to stay and enjoy a solo weekend in LA. While this visit was not my first visit in LA, my last visit was many years prior…and I was not solo.

In October the weather in LA is comfortable. The sun is out and the palm trees move gracefully with a light breeze. During the week I met some new family (ask about that story in the comments if you are interested), I met an online foodie friend in real life for the first time, and I met a local chef. I created my itinerary based on those interactions, and with the help of Yelp and Google.

How to Get to LA

I flew into Long Beach Airport on Southwest. Even though I primarily flew American Airlines at the time, Southwest was the most convenient airline out of Los Angeles Airport (LAX) and Long Beach Airports. If you have never been to LA know that getting in and out of LAX can be taxing. Long Beach was the best option for me since it was near my hotel. LA is 30 minutes away from Long Beach.

Where to Stay in LA: Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach

The Torrance Marriott is 25-30 minutes from the Long Beach Airport. I arrived at 2p which was great timing because I did not encounter any traffic. The hotel is off the main road but my GPS did a good job of getting me right to the front door. The Torrance Marriott is not a boutique hotel, but the valet, the bellhops, the bartender, and the staff who checked me in at the front desk were all friendly and helpful. My room was spacious and comfortable. The hotel has several amenities including a pool, room service, and free wi-fi.

Tips From An Out of Towner : 

• The bar is a great spot to hang out and there is live music on some nights.
• There is onsite parking in a covered garage not attached to the hotel at $37 a day for self-parking and $41 for valet parking. There are also charging stations for electric vehicles.

What to Eat in LA

Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant

Auty Maile’s started with one restaurant in Hawaii over 20 years ago. Today they have several locations in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and LA. Aunty Maile’s is located in an office park with plenty of parking and outside seating.

Tips From My Tastebuds

• I got the Mix Plate which comes with rice and mac [macaroni] salad. I chose Furikake Chicken which had a sweet glaze and is fried so it maintains a nice crisp. It could be too sweet for some people but I thought it went well with the white rice. My second item was the Kalbi Short Ribs, they’re a must order. 
• Get a can of the Hawaiian Sun.

Sunday Gravy

Sunday Gravy is nestled on a busy street in Inglewood. The Italian restaurant uses local ingredients to pack their pastas with bolder flavor. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners at an event, Chef Sol. He left a great impression. He was so down to earth I had to check out his restaurant. Luckily I was able to sneak in for an early dinner. Chef Sol’s father opened up his first restaurant, Jino’s Pizza, in the same spot as Sunday Gravy in the early 1970’s. Sunday Gravy is adorned with red, white, and green decor. Artwork, including a painting of Nipsey Hussle, cover the walls. You feel at home as soon as you step in the door. 

Tips From My Tastebuds

• Everything I had was good but the Meatballs and Ricotta are a must order. Two moist, large meatballs sit on top of whipped ricotta, smothered in red sauce and served with two, hand-sized pieces of crusty garlic bread. 
• There is a small lot beside the restaurant, and street parking. 

Azucanela Churreria – Hawthorne

Azucanela Churreria is a Latino owned Churreria dishes out fresh churros. The churros are crispy outside, soft inside, and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. The churros are made to order. The inside is bright and inviting, with plenty of Instagram worthy walls.

Tips From My Tastebuds

• The churros topped with ice cream and Nutella is a must order.
• There is a small lot in front with three parking spaces. I ended up parking around the corner, which was not as well lit, since I went after dinner.

Bruxie North Hollywood

A new take on the classic chicken and waffles. The Chicken & Waffles comes with Vermont maple syrup and the syrup was the cherry on top. The chicken is crunchy, mine was the perfect amount of spice, and all the flavors really came through. 

Tips From My Tastebuds

• I recommend a combo of the Chicken & waffles with the coleslaw as a side if you need something cooling. 
• The staff is pleasant but it can get busy so there may be a wait, but you can order ahead for pick up.
• There are multiple locations so choose the one most convenient for you. 
• There is street parking. 

What to Do in LA

Bloom & Plume Coffee

Driving down a busy street in Hifi a purple building captures your attention immediately. In the neighborhood of Historic Filipinotown a Black family owned coffee shop. The colors are vibrant all around the shop, from the lime green shirts to the pink flowers. It’s “thirst come, thirst served” at Bloom. With a welcoming, community atmosphere you can grab your coffee and feel free to hang out and grab a seat out front.

Tips From An Out of Towner 

• There is street parking out front.

Reparations Club

This Black woman-owned spot is a love letter to creatives. Reparations Club is a book store and a creative space for community events. Aside from the large selection of books, tucked in a corner of the shop is a menagerie of merch from Black owned businesses. I was leaving with something, I went with Marcus Samuelsson’s cookbook, The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food: A Cookbook. For all the music fans Reparations Club carries vinyl.

Tips From An Out of Towner

• Reparations is a great place to lounge and hang out. 
• If you’re a vinyl shopper from out of  town ask about shipping.

Hollywood Sign

I could not visit Hollywood without the obligatory Hollywood sign shot. There are several spots to view the sign from. I tried to get a spot called The Last House on Mulholland, but the farther i drove into the neighborhood the more claustrophobic it felt. As I missed turn after turn I found my way onto a street with a cafe and I exhaled. 

Tips From An Out of Towner 

• Plan ahead and picked the viewpoint that will offer the most comfortable view.
• Think about how close of a  view you would like to get. Do you want to climb to the top to get a shot with the sign or do you want a shot of the sign.
• If you choose to hike take water, your phone, and understand your route. 

Emmys

I shared my experience at Bruxie but what I did not mention is that it’s right next to the Academy of Television Park, also know as the Emmys. Around the whole park sits statues and busts of legendary figures in television history. Not to mention the the 18-foot high statue of the Emmy herself. The Hall of Fame Garden has over 100 busts, statues, and plaques of Hall of Fame Honorees. If you have time take a stroll around the garden

Tips From An Out of Towner 

• There is street parking out front.

Is LA Worth Visiting?

The traffic, noise, celebrities, and reality shows, may be all the things you heard about LA that make you question whether LA is even worth a visit. Yes there is Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, but there is more. Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, is a Black owned, soul food restaurant founded in 1975 visited by locals, celebrities, tourists and even presidents. The Getty Museum is “a museum with something for everyone.” Movie and TV studios such as Warner Bros. Studio also offer tours to the public. LA is 44 miles from north to south. I have visited LA on three occasions, and each visit was a different experience.

I had my experience in LA, have yours, and come back and tell me about all the places you visited on your first trip to LA.