The best ramen I had in LA, maybe anywhere. Even my food-critical son loved it.

Home State is known for their Texas-style breakfast Tacos. Next door to it there's a wine bar called Bar Covell, which lets you bring your tacos from next door and eat them while you have a glass of wine. Don't order more than two breakfast tacos if you don't want leave there with your pants unbuttoned.

If you love karaoke like I do, there's a ton of spots to check out in LA, but none quite as charming (or David Lynch-y) as Melody Lounge. Be forewarned, this spot is intermittently open. You'll know they're ready for business if they plant a sandwich board outside offering cold sandwiches and cheap beer. Hopefully, you'll get a chance to meet the owner Willie, whose (possibly embellished) life stories rival Hemingway. As for the song selection, the campy MIDI versions and painfully less than accurate lyric translations can suddenly turn your favorite tunes into high-wire acts (i.e. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" magically transforms into "Libyan on A Jet Plane"). Hell, they even have a song called "Schindler's List" on the menu! Even if you don't sing, Willie or his wife will gleefully take the stage. Special tip: for a true Chinatown boner, request Willie sing Enrique Iglesias' "Bailamos."

You've heard of Disneyland, but you must see the Abraham Lincoln animatronic at the end of Main Street near the entrance. He gives a super life-like impassioned speech about America that is very timely. 

Crispy rice salad with the works forever.