Go International on Los Angeles' Westside

I went to this Persian restaurant a little while back, and it wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t totally wowed either. I’ve heard good things about Shahrzad Flame which is further south down Westwood. Either way, be sure to order some kebabs and some rice when you go out for a Persian meal. The rice is seriously awesome.

After your Persian feast head to Rose Market for some authentic Persian ice cream for dessert. They have flavors like Rose, ginger, and saffron. But if you’re looking for chocolate chip cookie dough, you best hoof it down the street to Cold Stone.

Sunnin is not a Persian restaurant but IMHO it’s one of the best places to eat on Westwood Boulevard. It’s a hole in the wall, so you’re probably better off just getting takeout. But the meats are delicious, as is the hummus. I recommend the combo so you can taste all the various skewers.

I don’t come here for the ambiance, but I do come for the cheap, delicious tacos. I haven’t had the burritos, but I hear they are quite wondrous as well.

Ironically I lived around the corner from this place and I didn’t actually eat here until after I moved away. Anyway, this place is a great neighborhood sushi joint. The staff is super friendly as is the chef, Masu. Everything was fresh, and they also do the ubiquitous spicy tuna on rice cake.

I went to U Zen shortly after going to En Sushi which is also on Santa Monica Boulevard in West LA and I have to say U Zen is definitely superior. Not only was U Zen cheaper than En, but the rolls were much better. It’s great if you’re looking for a relaxed, casual dinner sans drama.

I found out about this sushi place from the LA Weekly and I was very satisfied with my meal (thanks Jonathan Gold!) The sushi was good, but the specials are pretty amazing, so make sure to read the whole menu— last time I went I got a delicious yam dish with Jidori chicken.

My friend Sara introduced me to this Ramen place and it’s the perfect meal on a cold day. Santouka is probably more flavorful (see Mitsuwa below), but since Santouka closes pretty early, this place is a good backup option.

A while back Ambala Dhaba got glowing reviews from Jonathan Gold. And while I’ve heard that it’s not as good as it used to be, I still liked our meal. We got the goat curry (just because I had never had goat before and I was pretty curious) and it wasn’t half bad— kind of like beef, but tougher.

I went to All India Cafe a while ago after one of my Indian friends raved about it. I got some takeout there with my sister and I remember it being pretty good, though I think everything usually tastes better when you eat it in the restaurant. I haven’t been back in a few years and I’ve heard mixed reviews about it since then, but I think it’s worth a try.