Caroline Pardilla

100 Things To Try in LA Before You Die

— by Caroline on Crack

To-dos pictured are bolded in the list below.

I don’t pretend to be the ultimate expert in all things in LA but a reader had put this challenge to me after reading similar lists on San Francisco’s 7×7 and on a San Diego food blog. So here’s 100 things to try in LA before you die — my very personal list of recommendations of how I think one could best enjoy LA; what every Angeleno should eat/drink/do in our fair city before you die (or move).

A lot of these I’ve tried before. And, yes, foodies may pooh-pooh me for some of the selections but most are things that made me really appreciate living here while others are LA landmarks and/or still on my to-do list. And then there are those on the list that are so unique to LA.

Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments! Listed in no particular order. Cocktails are in red. And if you’re so inclined, you can either print the list here or see a map here.

NOTE: Please do not repost this list in its entirety. To do so is in violation of Creative Commons. You can excerpt it but you need to also link to it. Thanks.

  1. Cocktail punch at the Radio Room in the Edison
  2. Chili dog from Pink’s
  3. Rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapeno at Wurstkuche
  4. Korean short ribs taco from Kogi BBQ taco truck
  5. Great Los Angeles Walk
  6. Ajo Garlic Ramen at Ramenya
  7. Sour Kraut Cocktail from Copa d’Oro
  8. Red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles
  9. Singing Elvis at Palms Thai
  10. Churro from churro cart at Disneyland
  11. Junk food dessert platter at Simon LA
  12. Dessert tasting menu at Providence
  13. Classic martini at Musso & Frank Grill
  14. Roasted bone marrow at Church & State
  15. Pedal boat at Echo Park Lake
  16. Bowling and $4 cocktails at Shatto 39 Lanes
  17. Kobe-style beef at Park’s BBQ
  18. Mulholland Drive from 405 to 101
  19. Medicina Latina at Malo
  20. Father’s Office burger
  21. Maple bacon doughnut at Nickel Diner
  22. Mashti Malone‘s lavender ice cream
  23. Red Line Metro barhop
  24. Live music at Spaceland
  25. Magic Mojito at Bar Centro at the Bazaar by Jose Andres
  26. Wine tour through San Antonio Winery
  27. Sample everything at Scoops ice cream
  28. Bike from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach and back
  29. Mochi from Mikawaya Little Tokyo
  30. Broiled San Francisco stuffed French toast at Starling Diner
  31. Mojito sampler jelly shots at Bar Nineteen12
  32. High Tea at Royal/T
  33. Pimp your own burger at the Counter in Santa Monica
  34. Carne asada burrito from Tacos Tumbras A Tomas at Grand Central Market
  35. Diddy Riese Chocolate Chip Cookies
  36. Ride the mechanical bull at Saddle Ranch and have a premium SR AMF
  37. Greyhound Proper at Hungry Cat
  38. Blue cheese fries at Pete’s Cafe and Bar
  39. LA Conservancy’s Historic Core walking tour
  40. 21+ screenings at the ArcLight
  41. Secret beef feast at Totoraku
  42. Moonlight Rollerway
  43. Bartender’s Choice at Comme Ca
  44. Tomato, mozzarella, sausage, salami, bacon & guanciale pizza at Pizzeria Mozza
  45. Ride the Pacific Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier
  46. Late-night Danger dogs
  47. Bet on a horse at Santa Anita racetrack
  48. Loco Moco (foie gras loco moco, quail egg, spam, hamburger) at Animal
  49. Blood & Sand cocktail at Tiki Ti
  50. Tea and a stroll through Huntington Gardens
  51. Drive Sunset Boulevard from Echo Park to PCH in a convertible
  52. Double chocolate croissant pudding with Jack Daniels sauce at Milk
  53. Hike from Fern Dell Drive to Mt. Hollywood, stopping at Griffith Observatory
  54. Meatball sandwich from Bay Cities Deli
  55. Scorpion cocktail at Hop Louie
  56. Magic Castle
  57. Scoe’s No. 2 at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles
  58. LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats
  59. Philippe’s French Dip with hot mustard
  60. Dim sum at Empress Pavilion in Chinatown
  61. Remember the Maine at the Varnish
  62. Omakase dinner at Urasawa
  63. LA Phil concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall
  64. Pool party at Standard Rooftop Bar
  65. Quarter chicken with side of garlic sauce at Zankou Chicken
  66. Goddess spa treatment at Olympic Spa
  67. Vodbox at Nic’s Martini Lounge
  68. Turkey dinner at Clifton’s Cafeteria, don’t forget the green jello
  69. Los Angeles Marathon
  70. Marty & Elayne at Dresden Room
  71. Coleslaw and sourdough toast at Original Pantry
  72. Real Black Dahlia Tour by Esotouric
  73. Ninotchka at Bar Lubitsch
  74. Stay in a bungalow at Chateau Marmont
  75. Auntie Em’s Market dinner
  76. Sunday wine tastings at Silverlake Wine
  77. Grilled cheese night at Campanile
  78. Power lunch at the Polo Lounge
  79. Cadillac Margarita at El Cholo
  80. Courtside at a Lakers game
  81. Angel City Derby Girls Tournament
  82. Box seats at Hollywood Bowl summer concert
  83. Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium
  84. Ride the Good Year blimp
  85. Sip mojitos poolside at the Hotel Roosevelt’s Tropicana Bar
  86. Ringside at Lucha VaVoom
  87. Summer movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
  88. History Walk from Mission San Gabriel to Olvera Street
  89. Taro ice cream at Fosselman’s
  90. Galco’s Soda Pop Shop
  91. Apricot & Honey 75 at the Penthouse during sunset
  92. Angel City Drive-In
  93. Downtown Art Walk
  94. Bonfire at Dockweiler Beach
  95. Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s
  96. Karaoke at Brass Monkey
  97. Yee-Mee-Lu “blue drink” at Good Luck Bar
  98. Sunset dinner and horseback riding with Sunset Ranch
  99. American Food & Wine Festival
  100. Hike to the top of Sandstone Peak and sign the register