Fickle - Little Tokyo

Fickle's Pulled Pork Sliders ($7)

If you're looking to change your usual routine of sushi or ramen in Little Tokyo - look no further. 

Fickle not only has an array of dishes on their happy hour menu, they also offer $1 chef's choice oysters, $3 drafts and $5 wines. The restaurant space is The Sandwich Smith for lunch and Fickle for dinner and located in the iconic Japanese Village Plaza.

Fickle's chef and co-owner, James Ta is a fourth generation chef who creates new dishes at he likes, allowing him to create fun and whimsical dishes that you wouldn't expect to find in this part of town.

The must order dishes during happy hour are the Pulled Pork Sliders made with Dr Pepper pulled pork, honey BBQ sauce, the Roasted Bone Marrow made with basil gremolata and daikon salad, sweeter than your usual bone marrow but a very pleasant surprise and the Buffalo Cauliflower.

Fickle also just launched their new Spring menu which includes dishes like, Kampuchia Shrimp a crispy grilled shrimp dish served with lime and a black pepper dipping sauce. Plus their Santa Barbara Uni Bún is not to be missed, comprised of vermicelli noodles, mint, cucumber and nuoc nam. Any sea urchin fan must try this dish.

Whether you're on a date or with a group of friends, Fickle is a fun, casual dining spot unlike any other in Little Tokyo. 

Pickle Fish Cakes: Cucumber Salad, Malt Vinegar Aioli $7 

Heirloom Tomato Salad (Available on the dinner menu)

Kampuchia Shrimp (Available on the dinner menu)

Santa Barbara Uni Bún (Available on the dinner menu)

Reviewed by Jenni. 

Fickle

362 East 1st Street. 

Little Tokyo. 90012

213.628.1888

www.ficklela.com 

Lunch

Monday - Saturday. 11am-3:30pm 

Dinner

Monday-Thursday. 5:30pm-10pm  

Friday & Saturday. 5:30pm-11pm 

Happy Hour

Monday-Friday. 5pm-7pm 

Parking

Japanese Village Plaza $10 

Street (free after 8pm) 

Islands: All Night Happy Hour

Whether you're a football fan or just like watching men in tightly fit uniforms run around the field, Islands is your go-to spot to watch the game! To celebrate the football season, Islands is offering all-night happy on Mondays and Thursdays (yes, that's at all locations). The happy hour includes appetizers for less than $5. Like their signature Beachside Sliders (4) for $3.95, Cheddar Fries (a must order) for $3.95, Spinach & Artichoke Dip for $4.95 and more. Plus you can't forget the drinks, like their Craft Beer (16oz) for $3.95, well drinks at $2.95! And you have to try their signature cocktails like the Big Island Iced Tea for $4.25.

Honestly, the last time I visited an Islands was in college but I was pleasantly surprised at the wallet friendly menu and drink selections. It's where you go for a casual night out to hang out with friends and catch a game or two. Plus who doesn't love all night happy hour?

The limited time, Makaha Maggie
with pineapple infused tequila, Grand Marnier,
fresh pineapple and agave nectar 

Beachside Sliders with caramelized onions, ketchup and pickles

No description needed, this is really good as a shot!

Steak Tacos

Islands Restaurants 

All night happy hour is available at all locations 

Monday & Thursday: 4pm-close 

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 4pm-7pm

Sunday: 9pm-close 

Reviewed by Angel 

Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar

In a city like Los Angeles, you have an abundant selection of breezy, sunny, comfortable outdoor patios - one such patio and one of my personal favorites is Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar in downtown LA. Owners, Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen overhauled the former Casa space into a rustic, industrial yet chic go-to spot.

With fabulous decor, it's not just the lit "Eat Happy" sign or the life-sized blue cow behind the counter, it's the family heirlooms and artifacts lining the wall and carefully tucked away within the restaurant.

Happy hour drinks go from 2:30 - 6:30pm and happy hour food, from 4:30 - 6:30pm daily. With really attentive staff, a casual ambiance, and good food - it's the perfect way to wind down after a long day. If you're in the downtown area, Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar is a must for happy hour!

Blue Cow Chips $4

Pink Eggs & Ham $2

Pitman Farm's Duck Wings $9 --- a must order! 

Picnic Country Fried Chicken $6 - buttermilk fried chicken, pimento cheese
on a Hawaiian roll... what's not to like? 

Pork Belly Banh Mi-ni Sliders $8

Beet and Burrata Salad - Off the regular menu and another must order

Ice Cream Sandwich with Pecan Ice Cream $5
(regular menu item)

Gooey Cake - a family recipe and my type of dessert.
A nice balance of sweetness and richness, a great way to end a meal.

~~~~ Reviewed by Jenni ~~~~

Blue Cow Kitchen & Bar
350 South Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA

www.bluecowkitchen.com

Lunch
Mon - Fri 11am-2pm

Dinner
Mon - Sat 5:30pm-10pm

Happy Hour
Mon - Fri 2:30-6:30pm

Parking: underground lot
Sat & Sun: first 2 hours are free
Mon - Fri: 11am-3pm $3 for the first 2 hours. 3pm-close: first 2 hours are free

Paradise Theatre

The Paradise Theatre - A festive sloe gin fizz.

What's better than happy hour? How about happy hour at LA's very first Styx themed speakeasy-- the one, the only, Paradise Theatre.

I know what you're thinking, there are a handful of places with craft cocktails served in vintage glasses that call themselves a "speakeasy" but Paradise Theatre is definitely different. It's a speakeasy in the most authentic sense of the term: entrance is by approved admittance, it's a secret location and it just might be open in the wee hours. It's also where the local bartenders hang out, during their off hours.

The Crystal Ball - Apple brandy, lemon juice, grenadine,
and a "crystal ball" of ice

I had the chance to visit Paradise Theater in June and quite frankly, I had no idea what to expect. After brushing up on my Styx music (aka Googling Styx music), I recruited my friends Victor and Mary from 2Sense-LA to join me on a late-night LA Adventure. "Late-night" since Paradise Theatre doesn't open till 11pm.

The Grand Illusion - A gimlet with mint, patterned after the
forest theme of the Grand Illusion cover.

Upon entering, your greeted by Bear. But don't worry, he's a security guard that's all bark and no bite. (Literally.) Get past this ball of fluff and you're good to go. We were then met with a welcome shot. A palate cleanser that was similar to a limoncello.

The group had a selection of cocktails - cleverly themed Styx cocktails that is. The ambiance is fun, welcoming and as midnight rolled around, more and more patrons began filling the room.

The Pieces of Eight - Their variation of the Ward 8 (Bourbon,
orange juice, lemon juice, grenadine, and mint)

This is truly a passion project... having a penchant for great craft cocktails and you guessed it, Styx. Overall, it's just a really fun place to hang out. Plus R&A are great hosts.  

The news is that Paradise Theatre will come to close on August 16th. But luckily for us they are offering a happy hour special until then! 

Here are the details: Paradise Theatre is only open on Fridays, doors open at 11pm. 

To get an invite and more details on happy hour visit their Instagram: ParadiseTheatre

Friends, take a trip to Silver Lake's one and only Styx themed speakeasy, while you still can! 

~~~~ Reviewed by Jenni ~~~~~~ 

Paradise Theatre 

Silver Lake

http://instagram.com/paradisetheatre

Carson House

The newest addition to Beverly Hills, owned by Scott Paletz and Steve Fowler is Carson House. An upscale gastropub that offers modern day comfort dishes, plus a seemingly endless tap of craft beers and a nice selection of wines. And the good news: they just launched their Happy Hour program. 

Chef Johnny Messina is serving up American pub fare with a twist and head mixologist Patrick Brady slings some smooth craft cocktails. 

Carson House is quite literally, like a house. Laid out with a living room / lounge area, full bar, dining room, communal table to big, red plush booths in the back. I've been to Carson House twice now and every time the service has been nothing less than exemplary: friendly, knowledgable and timely, basically there when you need them and gone when you don't. 

The happy hour is on weekdays, 4pm-8pm with drink specials that include $5 well cocktails, wine and $4 beers. 

From the happy hour menu, I'd recommend the personal pizzas, (cooked in their wood burning oven) and the chicken sloppy joes. Happy hour or not, Carson House is a great spot for lunch, dinner or late night eats. Plus their brunch menu is coming soon. 

Roxbury: Absolut Pear Vodka, Lime Juice & Thyme Sprigs

Potato Skinnies

Chicken Sloppy Joes

Lil Doggies (Would pass on these)

Personal Pepperoni Pizza 

Brighton:Black Grouse Scotch, Spiced Apple Cider, Lemon Juice & Cinnamon
Not on the Happy Hour menu but it's refreshing and delicious! 

Chicken Lollipops (Not on the Happy Hour menu)
A must order!

Philly Cheesesteak Potstickers (Not on the Happy Hour menu)
Literally a cheesesteak inside a dumpling

~~~~~~~Reviewed by Jenni~~~~~~~~

Carson House
8635 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA  90211
310.289.2800

www.CarsonHouseBH.com

Happy hour: Weekdays 4pm-8pm

Dinenr Hours:
Monday – Wednesday 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday – Saturday   5:00 PM – Midnight

Bar Hours:
Monday – Saturday 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM


Parking:
Valet Parking available for $5.50 per car.
Metered Parking on Wilshire Blvd is Free after 7pm and all day Saturday and Sunday

Bamboo Izakaya

The Giddy Geisha $6

I love living near the ocean, sure the traffic sucks and parking is nonexistent, but a cocktail on a sun soaked patio by the beach never gets old. So I was looking forward to checking out Bamboo Izakaya. The restaurant opened earlier this year on Ocean Ave in Santa Monica and owned by the same management group as Ocean 41, the members only restaurant/bar next door.

The space itself is very well done, with a mix of black and light bamboo for a clean, cool interior. There's outdoor and indoor seating, a main dining room, sushi bar and a private seating area in the back.

Walking in, we were greeted by a friendly host-- unfortunately service took a huge nose dive to rock bottom from there.

It's been a long time since I've experienced such horrible service. The server never came by, never brought menus to our table, or share plates, napkins or utensils. Normally these are already setup at every table prior to the guests' arrival but not in my case. I had to flag the waitress down every time I needed something and usually she would forget. I've experienced better service at Norms.

Sake "Yuzu Shu" $6

She also spilled another person's cocktail into our share plates, didn't notice and walked away before I could say anything. Take note that we got there at 3:30pm, it wasn't a near a dinner or lunch rush by any means. The busser was the only saving grace and we began requesting items directly from him.

I wrote the restaurant about my experience a week ago but have yet to hear back. (Presumably inundated with emails about bad service. Because it was really that bad... I can't even remember the last time I wrote an establishment about something like this.) 

Besides the poor service, the happy hour is solid. $4 / $5 / $6 dishes. Which include an array of dishes including various rolls, a kimchee burger, wasabi fries and popcorn shrimp.The food and drinks came out at a good pace. And again, it's located on Ocean Blvd, you're here for the cocktails, happy hour specials, comfortable seating and proximity to the beach.

Unfortunately a good happy hour, comfortable seating, and proximity to the beach doesn't make up for such bad service. There are many other places in Santa Monica with all of these and great service.

Happy Hour dishes

Happy Hour Drinks

Garlic Edamame $4

Popcorn Shrimp $5

Kimchi Burger $6

Chicken Skewers $5

~~~~ Reviewed by Jenni ~~~~

Bamboo Izakya
1541 Ocean Ave. Ste 120
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 566-3860
www.bambooizakaya.com

Happy Hour: 2:30pm-6:30pm daily

Parking: street meters or valet