Here’s one of the reviews from Los Angeles Citisearch:

Forget the $9.00/bowl chi-chi hipster junk and try this authentic little joint. The extensive menu offers much more than just pho and the meals are true-to-form with a distinctly Vietnamese taste (as opposed to a more Americanised or Pan-Asian spin). The noodle bowls and hot seafood dishes are a treat. And although I have yet to try it, the “Beef 7 ways” meal is offered for those into the more elaborate end of the menu. I’ve been coming here for years and it’s always consistently outperformed the competition in town.

Although this place gets mixed reviews, I just love how comforting the food tastes for me. We did tried their “7 courses of beef” menu once and it was ok, but I end up ordering the same thing each time, as you will see in the video. The food is delicious, cheap and we used to go there almost once a week and never got tired of it. To me, that says a lot.

So…check out my first posted cellphone flick (shakey, but I am going to get better!) and meet David, my former boyfriend.

Pho 999

6411 Sepulveda Blvd # 1K1L
Van Nuys, CA 91411

see you on the freeway…

You may also find these great hot dogs being served in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood(The Aladdin Hotel). Or if you are ever in the mood to gamble in Los Angeles. Than you can find some Pinks Hot Dogs at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, right across the street from the Forum where the Los Angeles Lakers use to play before moving to the Staples center. Pink’s Hot Dogs are also served at the Greek Theater in Griffith Park, Los Angeles(down the hill from Griffith Observatory).

The hours for the Pinks Hot Dog stand are almost around the clock. Open anywhere between 16 – 18 hours a day. It opens daily at 9:30 am and closes between 2 and 3:00 am. On top of that if you visit Pink’s you can have another chance to see a slew of celebrities. Especially since it is in close proximity of Paramont Studios. Such celebs that have been to enjoy the tasty hot dogs are: Celine Dion, Billy Dee Willaims(loved him as Apollo in the Rocky movies and Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars movies), Bruce Willis, Snoop Dog, Bobby Flay, Tyra Banks, Alec Baldwin, Rosie O’Donnell, Aerosmith(loved Steven Tylers daughter – Liv Tyler in “The Lord of the Rings”). And yes, even the great Martha Stewart was found buying and taking a few bites of these delicious hot dogs.

The hot dogs are thee best dogs one could ever possibly have. One can view Pinks menu. I usually spend anywhere from $5.00 – $8.00. My usual is just a hot dog with mustard straight up, side of sauerkraut with Orange Crush and a bag of chips. I do get adventurous and get the spicy Chicago Polish Dog – mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, lettuce and no chili. My all time fav though is the Bacon Chili Cheese dog.

Really, Really trust me. Pink’s Hot Dogs are worth it. I know I said you can get them at Planet Hollywood in Vegas, Hollywood Park Casino or the Greek Theater. But for the ultimate experience stop at Pink’s Hot Dog Stand on Melrose and La Brea.

see you on the freeway

InvisibleLA will be providing more frequent posting including Local cafe reviews (contact us for more information) and Live content – in regards to Los Angeles. Here are a few topic ideas you may want us to let you know about. Like the writers guild strike…..Hot spots for travel…Things to do free in LA. Tourist spots with pictures like Graumans Chinese theater. Or Vine and Sunset with the stars with the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Venice Beach – Santa Monica Beach, Pinks, Tommys Burgers. Pictures of outside the studios like Paramont(LA) and Sony(Culver City) and CBS studios on 3rd and Fairfax. A pic of the Hollywood sign(can be seen from in front of my house) to a pic of the Pantages theater.

Ok, Linda is just on her way out the door to Farmers Market behind CBS Studios. Let her see what she can pull up. She knows about 3 restaurants at Farmers Market. Farmers Market is a tourist attraction for its history(has been around since late 1920’s). Its behind CBS studios and right across the street from the Screen Writers Guild/Union where the strikes has been taking place. And the movie the “Black Dahlia” was about a murder that took place across the street in the 40’s.

So give her about 24 hours and let her pull something up for you.

The French Crepe Company has a website where one can view the menu and the price range. Be sure to click the Farmers Market location. There are many crepes to try. But I like to order the Beef Stroganoff Crepe. I love the tender beef pieces and mushrooms in the cream sauce. To the side of the crepe is an arugla salad with a dijon salad dressing(they have other dressing as well to choose from). Each plate will run one between $8.00 and $10.00. The other plate I like to order is the L’Opera crepes. L’Opera consists of two scrambled eggs with swiss cheese, avocado, onions and tomatoes. L’Opera crepe also comes with a side order of the arugala salad. For the cold and breezy Los Angeles days, I recommend their Soupe A’l’oignon Gratinee. French Onion Soup – a toasted baguette slice is placed in the bottom of a clay pot. Than beef broth and caramelized onions is poured over the bread. Placed on top is a heaping mound of Swiss Gruyere is than placed under a broiler to melt. The soup is roughly about $6.00. I also like to order their sparkling french lemonade to go with most of my crepe orders.

If I can’t make it to “Little Saigon”(Westminister), Alhambra or El Monte for this delicious soup. Than I go to local Pho’ restaurant near where I live. Pho 2000. They have several locations. The one I would frequent moved due to the high rise condos being built on Western and Wilshire. So I go to Pho’ 2000 other location which is on Vermont and 7th. It isn’t as busy as the Western and Wilshire location when it was opened. But nonetheless, is a good place to get a deceint bowl of your favorite type of Pho’.

Pho’ is a basic broth and noodle soup. One may have ox tail, steak or seafood as the meat of choice. When the bowl of soup arrives to you at the table, you smell the fragrance of the broth, meat, onions, anise seed, ginger and nuc mum(fish sauce). You may add some additional things that the waiter/waitress brings to your table. Usually, you may fresh sweet basil, green chile and bean sprouts. Some others may offer cilantro and thinely sliced onions as well. As far as condiments go, one may hoisen(a sweet thick soybean sauce), nuc mum(fish sauce) and siracha chili sauce. My favorite Pho’ is the Pho’ Tai, than the Pho’ Chicken, than the Oxtail.

I also do like ordering on ocassion the egg rolls with romaine lettuce and nuc mum dipping sauce.I also like ordering the “Bun Thit Nuong and Cha Gio”. Which is grilled pork chop, egg rolls and vermicilli noodles. For those who are crazy about coffee, I would recommend drinking the cafe’ su da. Which is the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Patience is the key with this drink. It is recommended to order the coffee at the time of your pho’ order. By the time you are finished with the soup, the coffee would have finished dripping into you coffee cup from the Vietnamese coffee maker. At the bottom of the cup is a spoonful of condensed milk. Once you have the amount of coffee. Stir and add the coffee mixture to your glass of ice and stir again to get the full taste.

Having Pho’ is a wonderful dish to experience. If you ever get a chance to sample or eat some. Go for it. It is worth the taste and experience.

El Cholo restaurant has been a fixture in the Los Angeles area since 1926. And the restaurant has been ran by the descendants of Alejandro Borquez and George Salisbury. The hours are generally around 11 AM – 10 PM. They do have vallet parking. And the busiest times of the year are in May around Cinco De Mayo(May 5th) and in September around the independence of Mexico from Spain(September 16th). El Cholo is widely known and famous for their margarita’s. Plan to spend between $10.00 – $20.00 per person,

I have been going to El Cholo restaurant for the last 12 years. Everytime has been a wonderful experience. I would recommend being seated in the patio area. My favorite dishes are the “Taste Of History”($12.25). It includes 1 taco, 1 enchilada, 1 tamale, 1 chile relleno with rice, beans and a salad. I usually order the Taste Of History when I really can’t decide on what I want. I never can finish the plate, so I take the remaining food home. The other plate I love to have is the Chile Colorado. Its chunks of beef in a spicy sauce, with the sides of rice, beans and cup of their fresh guacomole sauce and their homemade tortillas($10.75). You will also recieve free, fresh corn chips and salsa. And at the end of your mill will get sweet, savory prelaine candies.