This is a great restaurant to go to for fine dining. You can treat yourself to authentic Brazilian food and they have a buffet for people like me who have a hard time making up their minds what they want to eat. They’re tech savvy as well. You can make a reservation online and even view a video of their restaurant and get a snake peek at the food cooking in the kitchen.

Porto Alegre Churrascaria is a Brazilian steakhouse, but they also have a fantastic salad bar. Beef, steak, chicken, pork, quail, turkey, lamb, and duck are just some of the meats on offer. Prices are a bit steep, but the quality more than makes up for it. If you’re on a budget, go online and look at their exclusive offers. Never hurts to save money. They have a great ambience going that will make you reluctant to leave. You’ll fall in love with the décor the moment you step in the door.

The salad bar deserves a rave of its own. Gotta try the salmon. It’ll melt in your mouth. There are heaps of choices and with four rows full of salad goodies, you’ll definitely find something you like. The asparagus is sweet, there are clams, calamari and other seafood, as well as the unexpected, such as fried bananas. It’s $35 a person, but money well spent.

Porto Alegre Churrascaria
www.portoalegre-churrascaria.com
(626) 744-055
260 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Mon-Fri 11.30am to 2.30pm
Mon-Thu 5 to 10pm
Fri-Sat 5 to 11pm

Their name says it all. They’ve got chicken and burgers and they do them very well. Like many hole-in-the-wall places, it’s not in the best of neighborhoods, but their food is unbelievable, so grab a friend or two and head down to Dino’s.

Their chicken is a wee bit spicy and garlicy, but it sure hits the spot. Hope you’re hungry because you’ll be getting lots and lots of fries with it. If that’s not enough, they’ll also give you corn tortillas as well as some coleslaw. A meal fit for a king at pauper prices, only 5 bucks.

They’ve got burgers as well, a double cheeseburger will only run you a little over $3. Their sauce is a bit like thousand island, a bit like Latin, Greek, and Indian mixed together. But no matter, it’s still great. Parking’s pretty bad, so call ahead of time. Dino’s offers great food, low prices, and chicken that’s absolutely amazing.

Dino’s Chicken and Burgers
(213) 380-3554
2575 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006

With southern cooking and good service, this award restaurant is casual yet elegant. You have the choice to make your dining experience how you like it. Southern hospitality can be found here in LA at Harold’s and Belle’s Restaurant. Their prices are moderate, but they have specials, such as their Happy Hour Special for food and drinks.

Harold and Belle’s Restaurant is a family affair that began way back in 1969 with a husband and wife team that wanted to bring home-style New Orleans cooking to California. Their cooking has grabbed many people’s attention and they’ve been consistently winning awards since 1999. With signature dishes such as Gumbo, Fried Chicken, Jambalaya, and Fried Crawfish, you’ll surely lick your plate clean.

Probably not the healthiest food out there, it sure is good. Portions are large and there’s butter in just about every dish. While the prices aren’t too cheap, you’ll get a huge amount of food, so it’s easy to split a dish with a friend or two. If you’re looking for some fantastic southern food and southern hospitality, then come to Harold and Belle’s.

Harold & Belle’s Restaurant
www.haroldandbellesrestaurant.com
(323) 735-9023
2920 W Jefferson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Mon-Thu, Sun 11.30am to 9pm
Fri-Sat 11.30am to 10pm

If you’re tired of the same Asian cuisine, then you’ve got to try eating Tibet Nepal House. Authentic food and great service makes this restaurant stand out among the rest. At $9, the lunch buffet offers the perfect chance to try out the various dishes and not have to worry about expenses. The food is similar to Indian food, but not as spicy. The lunch buffet has about five dishes, as well as sides such as rice, pita bread, and veggies.

The restaurant is super small, so don’t go with a large party. Your best bet is to get it to go. The décor is pretty zen-like with a Buddha and water fountain to add to the experience. Vegetarians will enjoy this place as they’ll have lots of options to choose from. Like the lunch buffet, the rest of the menu has reasonable prices, you’ll eat well and have enough left over to go to a movie afterward.

Their website offer five pages of photos and explanations of the dishes, so you can choose what you want before you go. The Aloo Achaar, which is potato with spices, is delicious and filling. They’ve got lamb, seafood, chicken, and even goat meat to choose from. Their Nariwal Jhinge Machha at $15 is a bit expensive, but if you consider that it’s shrimp with coconut milk and spices, it’s a steal.

Tibet Nepal House
www.tibetnepalhouse.com
(626) 585-0955
36 E Holly St
Pasadena, CA 91103