Message: | I actually find the LA Zagats worse than most of the others. Here, in a city with a fantasitc and diverse array of Korean, Thai, Mexican, Central American and other regional foods, Zagats barely scratches the surface of these cuisines. (I don't think there's a single Central American restaurant in the book). In some cities it's at least a reliable source of what are regarded, by conventional wisdom and hype, as the best restaurants. (Sometimes those are the best and sometimes they aren't). In LA it doesn't even seem to do that. In addition, it treats entire neighborhoods as if they don't exist. If you're not west of the 110 and north of the 10, it seems unlikely that you make it in.
J. Gold's Counter Intelligence is, of course, the bible of LA Chowhounds, but there's also a good little book called "Hungry" that is shaped like Zagats but full of great little stands, diners, etc. (they are described, generally, but not rated or critiqued). |