The classic spots are a dying breed in NYC-for the most part, it feels like restaurants there are designed by a hedge-fund manager. Haynie says: “The food isn’t fantastic, but the environment amazes me. You can tell they’ve been made a second ago. And there’s something special about the tortillas, too. I’m such a massive carnivore and I love the stewed meats. But I’m also a fan of the veggie ones. Haynie says: “I love the OG one in Boyle Heights. These are the best tacos I’ve ever had in my life. (Photo: Yelp)Īddress and phone: 2100 E Caesar Chavez Ave (32) I’ve been to Thailand a bunch of times, and L.A.’s Thai scene captures it better than any other place. Jitlada is great too, but I like how the menu is super simple. For 10 bucks it’s enough to feed four people. I always get the grilled pork, which comes out practically blackened. Haynie says: “It’s a hole-in-the-wall Thai place in Little Armenia. Spicy BBQĪddress and phone: 5101 Santa Monica Blvd (32) They use real coals for wood as opposed to gas. There are great spots like Park’s and Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong, but I’m drawn to Soot Bull Jeep. It’s miles ahead compared to NYC’s Korean Way. The Korean barbecue is unbelieveable in Los Angeles. Haynie says: “My favorite food is grilled meat and rice, whether it’s Asian, Latin, or any other type of ethnicity. “I’m in the studio all day-I break the monotony by going out to eat.”įrom a seedy dive bar tucked in the back of a 24-hour Jewish Delicatessen, to a Korean barbecue joint specializing in charcoal grills, Haynie reveals his 10 essential spots in the City of Angels-and reminds us of why old-school is always the way to go. True to his “crate-digger” mentality, Haynie has taken it upon himself explore the city’s ethnic dives and time-honored establishments. “We would drive around in his souped-up pick-up truck, and he’d show me the best places to eat. Over the years, he’s flown out to work with a variety of artists, including West Coast hip-hop pioneer WC of WC and the Maad Circle.
“The Chateau is a weird place in the best of ways,” explains Haynie, who describes the hotel as a mutual meeting ground for Hollywood creatives and coke-snorting douchebags trying to breathe in the scene. For the past year, the New York native has set up shop in the historic Chateau Marmont off the Sunset Strip to record his solo debut album called We Fall, which dropped earlier this week. That’s from Grammy award-winning music producer Emile Haynie, who has made a name for himself with a handful of star-studded collaborations including Kanye West’s “Runaway,” Eminem’s Grammy-winning Recovery, and Lana Del Rey’s Born To Die. They’re like, ‘Why don’t we go and get a burger?'” “I’m the one spending an hour deciding on where we’re going to eat for lunch. As part of our continuing initiative to devote more coverage to Los Angeles, we’ll be running special features all week to explore the city’s ever-evolving food scene-from its most vaunted chefs, to its gritty underbelly.