After its first class in 1880, University of Southern California (USC) has been the home to world-class athletes and celebrity students. With their famous student body (Saweetie, Storm Reid, and Miranda Crosgrove), you can guarantee that USC’s food scene is A-list. Surrounded by South Central, the neighborhood restaurant scene calls to Mexican and Pan-Asian fare with restaurants that are friendly to large groups and budget-conscious students. Keep scrolling to join us on a crawl through the best restaurants near USC
Holbox
Location: 3655 S Grand Ave c9, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Mexican ceviche is served spicey, limey and fresh at Holbox! Sold at a reasonable price from a walk-up counter, you can source vibrant seafood that’s smocked in punchy marinades of lime, arbol-peanut sauce and habanero. In arms length of small boutiques of historic, Mercado la Paloma, we recommend grabbing a seat at their raw bar. This way, you can observe your chef as they prepare your meal as well as people-watch! Pro-tip: if you’re looking for a more ambitious dining experience, book an 8-course tasting menu exclusively offered from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s.
The LA Girl Picks: Smoked Kampachi Tostada with Baja Bay scallops, wild shrimp and arbol-peanut sauce.
Bacari (West Adams)
Location: 2308 S Union Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007
We are big fans of Bacari restaurants around Los Angeles. We’ve even featured their Sunset Blvd location in our Best Silverlake Restaurants List. But unlike Silverlake, which mostly operates from a garden patio, candle-lit Bacari W. Adams feels moodier and homier in comparison. Imagine neutral tones, cloth throws and antique chairs crowding a rustic dining room with free-flowing sangria pitchers on every table. Upscale tapas like pan-seared scallops and carmelized brussels sprouts dominate the menu, with each plate packing expansive flavors under the guise of small portion sizes.
The LA Girl Picks: Asian Pear and Brie Pizza and of course, $5 Margaritas (Monday-Wednesday)!
Thai By Trio
Location: 2700 S Figueroa St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90007
No to-go box will be big enough for your leftovers at Thai By Trio. Their portion sizes are so large, you will never come close to finishing your whole plate! For that reason, as well as their affordable prices and decadent flavors, this Pan-Asian/Thai restaurant is worth a stop on Figueroa St. Paper cranes fall from the ceiling and create a whimsical touch in this industrial space. Munch on Thai beef jerky and dim sum to start with a glass of fruity bubble tea, then brighten up your plate with a papaya salad and pineapple fried rice. We love the fresh fruit flavors.
The LA Girl Favorites: Pineapple Fried Rice with Thai Beef Jerky and Coconut Milk Tea Boba
Chichen Itza
Just like Holbox, Chichen Itza is spearheaded by Chef Gilberto Cetina in Mercado la Paloma. Both restaurants share affordability and bold flavors, but hold different specialties. Yucatán-inspired Itza has some of our favorite tacos in town, with cochinitas (achiote-marinated pork) and chicharron (fried pork cracklings) assembling part of our regular order. Glancing at the rest of the menu, don’t skip the tamal horneado and the torta de pollo asado (roasted chicken). We can’t live without their habanero sauce, and lucky for us, it is also available for purchase!
The LA Girl Favorites: Tacos Cochinitas and Torta de Pollo Asado, with extra habanero sauce on the side
Ebaes
Juicy ramen bowls and boat-shaped sushi platters rule the menu at Pan-Asian Ebaes. A USC staple for over 10 years, Ebaes is the place to enjoy decadent meals with free-flowing sake and a group of friends. Their happy hour menu gives you an amazing deal with $6.50 sake and $5 IPAs, as well as discounted chicken karage and california rolls. Also, if you don’t have plans on the 1st of the month, stop in for their signature ramen, offered for only $7!
The LA Girl Favorites: Original ‘Ebaes’ Ramen (shrimp-based) with cold Strawberry Sake to share
And for more amazing dinner rec’s, check out our favorite Silverlake restaurants here.
