Message: | I'm going to assume you mean 35 minutes in fair-to-middling traffic, so you have given a VERY VERY wide area culinarily speaking. We have West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Fairfax district, Santa Monica, West LA, South Central, Koreatown, part of the Valley... I mean, it's a WIDE area.
So, here we go:
Platos: El Cholo. People swear by the one downtown but the one on 11th St. and Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica is a nicer 'hood and the food is the same. Their El Cholo margaritas are made with Cuervo 1800 but you can call whatever you want (Hornitos, Sauza, &c.;) and are only $6.50. You'll miss green corn tamales (May-October) but they have such great food.
Thai: If you have people who aren't familiar with Thai, Thai Beer on Bundy Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA is a good intro to gringo Thai. If you're into the more Thai experience, go to Samanluang in Thai Town on Hollywood Blvd. There are a number of threads that have info on Samanluang.
Ribs: There is a place on Pico Blvd. just east of Centinela Ave. in West LA in a building that looks like a chili bowl. I forget the name but it's good food.
The quintessential LA tourist soul food experience (i.e., locals do it once) has a bit of a line, but it's such an odd combo that you have to try it. Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (one's on Hollywood Blvd., another is (I think) on Normandie in South Central) is a weird flavour combo that works.
Tacos: Tito's Tacos on Washington Pl. and Sepulveda Blvd. in Culver City. Right next to Johnnie's Pastrami and Lucy's, so you have your assortment of oh-so-healthy specialities.
Very LA: Mélisse on 12th St. just south of Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, Michael's on 3rd St. just north of Wilshire Blvd. and the Promenade, JiRaffe at 5th St. and Santa Monica Blvd. Very Californian chefs without the prices someone like Puck or Splichal can command. Röckenwagner on Main St. & Ashland Ave. in Santa Monica is pricier but is very good.
Very LA Weird: Inn of the Seventh Ray on Old Topanga Canyon Rd. just north of Topanga Canyon Rd. in the tiny artsy fartsy hamlet of Topanga. To get there is a bit of a drive, but shouldn't exceed 35 minutes unless there's bad traffic.* The ambiance and decor are INCREDIBLE and the food is pretty decent if weird (the menu is listed in order of esoteric vibration, with vegan first and red meat last). Definitely worth a visit.
* Directions: Take SM, Olympic or Pico Blvd. west and make a left on Overland Ave. Get on the 10 westbound and continue through the tunnel onto PCH (the 1). Make a right on CA-27 (Topanga Canyon Rd.) which is a curvy twisty hilly road. About 7 miles up you'll coming into town. When you see the post office, make a soft left onto Old Topanga Canyon Blvd. and the first right into Inn of the Seventh Ray.
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