Happy Hours are abundant on the Westside of L.A. So many restaurants these days are offering lower priced menus, and very often it’s exactly the same items that are served during the dinner rush. Diners have a chance to sample new tastes at a much lower price.
SOL Cocina is located in a newly developed area of Playa Del Rey and features the cuisine of the Baja region of Mexico. One always feels better starting a Mexican meal with a skinny margarita…so of course I opted for the less caloric cocktail first, but then moved on to the house margarita. Both were tasty, although the latter was especially delicious and included orange juice, SOL’s house-made sour mix (Agavales Blanco), and a splash of Patron Citronge.
We began our Mexican feast with the Hot and Raw Ceviche served with sweet potato and beet chips, along with the Guacamole Sol, Grilled Sweet Corn, and Shrimp Cucarachas. All of these dishes were fantastic. The ceviche was fresh and delightful. The guacamole was created at the table and featured added touches such as mango, tequila and goat cheese. The corn was spicy and savory, also cut and served right at the table. The shrimp were cooked to perfection.
We also enjoyed delicious Carne Asada Tacos, which were fully loaded with pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, etc., along with the Queso Vampiro Taco (not on the happy hour) which offered all of the above, plus an additional layer of cotija cheese between two corn tortillas.
The dinner was wonderful, and I will definitely be returning. SOL Cocina Playa Vista is located in the Runway at Playa Vista, 12775 W. Millennium, Suite 160, Playa Vista, 90094, 424.289,0066, solcocina.com.
Hama Sushi opened in 1979 and has become a popular Venice haunt known for its authentic Japanese fare. The happy hour is extensive, offering a large range of tastes. Traditional sushi rolls are featured such as a California roll, spicy tuna roll, veggie roll, spicy salmon roll, spicy scallop roll, and even a spider roll. Other options include: Tonkotsu Ramen, Miso soup, Gyoza, Agedahi tofu, Scallop dynamite (scallop mushroom casserole), baked mussels popcorn shrimp and more. Hama Sushi, 213 Windward Ave. Venice, CA 90291, 310.396.8783, hamasushi.com.
Finally, if you are looking for a happy hour with live entertainment, head to Boardwalk 11 in West L.A. – you can even perform yourself at this happening karaoke spot. Once you order drinks, you’ll find singing becomes a bit more appealing.
Although the Karaoke takes place every night, the happy hour runs Mondays through Fridays and boasts a range of choices (both food and drink) such as spinach dip, chicken fingers, chicken wings and its best seller – Mac and Cheese Eggrolls (no this is not a typo). This popular dish combines classic mac and cheese, wrapped in a wonton, served with house-made buttermilk ranch dip. This was surprisingly good, but you’d better not miss your work out the next day. Also, the chicken wings come in three flavors: spicy buffalo, sweet chili sesame, or honey BBQ sauce…you can even order a plain version. My favorite was the sweet chili sesame. Boardwalk 11 is located at 10433 National Boulevard, LA, 90034, 310.837.5245, boardwalk11.com.
Be sure to call ahead or check the websites for hours and any changes in the happy hour menu. Take your taste buds for a treat!
