Two new great Sushi Happy Hours in LA!

The Culturistas love Sushi, it happens to be one of our favorite cuisines.  Delicious AND figure friendly. And even more than Sushi- we love a good happy hour. So of course we were thrilled with these new finds.  Both found in West Hollywood, Omi Sushi and Crazy Rock'n Sushi are fab places to get delicious sushi/sake/beer for a great price.

We love this place for their fab happy hour menu.  Prices are great on the sushi and even better on the sake- A large sake is $1.75!!! Happy hour goes from 4pm to 9pm- which is great for people that have later work hours.  We recommend the "Red Rock" (crispy rice with spicy tuna and jalapeno) "Crazy Tuna Roll" And "Omi Crunch Roll"  Check out their happy hour menu here: http://omisushila.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/omihappyhourfinal.jpg

Omi Sushi

8163 Santa Monica Boulevard 

West Hollywood, CA 90046

(323) 654-1056

I tend to judge a sushi place on the freshness of their Spicy Tuna Roll- since it happens to be my favorite basic.  And at Crazy Rock'n Sushi is it soooo good and fresh. Even better- their happy hour lasts all day from 12pm-10pm.  Try specialty rolls such as: The Sweet Love Roll, and Spicy Tuna Tempura- yum!

Crazy Rock'n Sushi

7100 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046

(323) 882-8247

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Happy hours and discounts this weekend!

It's no secret the Culturistas are fans of happy hours. It's a recession friendly way to eat, drink and socialize with friends! This weekend in honor of LA Pride 2009, Taste on Melrose is extending their happy hour to all day Sat and Sun!

Taste
8454 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood

And at Luna Park you can get 50% off everything Friday night-Sunday night if you bring a UCLA id or wear UCLA gear! Follow them on twitter for more of their awesome deals!

Luna Park
672 South La Brea
Los Angeles

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Happy Hours we love: McCormick & Schmick's

All of the food at McCormick's [during Happy Hour] ranges from 1.95 to 4.95!! You can't beat those prices unless you plan on eating at McDonalds. But even those the prices are cheap--the portions are huge and the quality of the food is great! Happy hour is from 4-6:30. The downtown LA location is always fun and busy---so be prepared to scout out tables if you come with a group. Here are the general foods they offer during happy hour (though it can change depending on the location).

$1.95

Shrimp Ceviche
In Citrus Marinade
Blackened Chicken Sandwich
Cheddar Cheese and French Fries

$2.95

Classic Cheeseburger
with Fries

$3.95

Ahi Tuna Roll

Calamari

Potato Skins

$4.95

Fish Tacos

Salsa Fresca and Sour Cream

Kobe Beef Sliders

Cheddar and Caramelized Onions

Fried Shrimp

Cocktail Sauce and French Fries

They also have discounted Martinis and 2.50 beers.

Click here to see McCormicks locations (there are tons across the WHOLE country!): McormickandSchmicks.com

Click Here to see more of the Culturista's favorite happy hours!

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Gyu Kaku Dinner/Happy Hour Specials

We've already mentioned that Gyu Kaku is a great place for happy hour (99 cent Kirin Drafts!! helooo). But now they are having extra discounts for us foodies---with their Sakura festival from March 16th through April 19th.

New "Sakura" menu:

Filet Mignon is now $3.95
Hana Sake bottles are now $12
All Japanese beer is $3.95
Sakura Cocktails are $3.95
All desserts 50% off

When you fill out the survey at the end of your meal you are also entered into a contest to win $1,000. Sounds good to me!

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Restaurant Profile: Rush Street

[The Exterior of Rush Street]

Rush Street- is a relatively new restaurant/bar in the heart of Culver City. It was inspired by the famous street in Chicago and serves "bar centric eats" and a dynamic nightlife scene. There are 2 floors and 2 bars in the restaurant. The food is very tasty and moderately priced (Entrees are $11-19)- I definitely recommend trying the turkey burger with sweet potato fries. They also have a wide range of pizzas, salads and appetizers. A perfect place for happy hour (which is Mon-Fri from 3-7pm). The restaurant also has specials---my favorite is Tuesday: 1/2 off bottles of wine!

[Inside the restaurant: Rush Street]

For more info and complete menu details check out their website: www.rushstreetculvercity.com

Rush Street
9546 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 837-9546

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The Downtown bar roundup: Part 2

Have you already gone to all the bars listed in Part 1? Well than you'll be happy to know there is a Part 2 !!

Broadway Bar

830 S Broadway

(213) 614-9909

This classy cocktail lounge resides in the heart of LA's historic theater district. It is in a 4,000-square-foot space adjoined to the restored Orpheum's box office. It has the feel of a posh 1940's
club with its gorgeous decor and 50 foot centerpiece bar.

The Edison
108 W. 2nd St.
213-613-0000

We've mentioned the Edison in our greatest LA Happy hours post!! This gorgeous bar will transport you to somewhere very different than 2000's Los Angeles. This downtown hotspot revitalizes the art of the classic, hand crafted cocktail.



The Golden Gopher
417 W Eighth St
Phone: (213) 614-8001

The Golden Gopher was a onetime speakeasy that was extensively remodeled, adding sparkling glass chandeliers, wide-panel windows, wraparound couches and gold-crusted gopher lamps. The Gopher even has a in-house take out liquor store due to having one of the oldest liqour licenses in LA. Happy Hour: Thurs-Fri 5-8 and Sun-Mon all night. Also stop by
Colori Kitchen (right next door) for dinner and BYOB!


Elevate

811 Wilshire Blvd
(213) 236-9600
This hip, stylish, and a modern club is a fun place to go to in downtown. There's dancing, private booths and all around good time. It is in a 6000 square feet space, which has the feel of a NYC loft with its large windows looking out into downtown.

The Standard Rooftop Bar

550 S. Flower St.
213-892-8080

The Standard has a great rooftop bar where you can stare out at LA. Stocked with couches and beds, there are plenty of places to chill out--it's the ultimate pool party.

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The Downtown bar roundup: Part 1

For most of us Los Angelinos, we frequent the same bars and clubs over and over it tends to get a little stale. Well the good news is, we have a downtown! I know what you are thinking.... "downtown at night looks like it's straight out of 'I Am Legend'" or "the only thing fun to do in downtown at night is see a game at the Staples center" or "downtown...ya it's fun if you want to hang out with crack heads and homeless people." Well if you still have those notions, you are living in the past my culturistas. There are tons of great places in downtown and new ones cropping up all the time, so here is a compilation of some of the best for you all to explore and enjoy :)

Suade Bar & Lounge
@ the Bonaventure Hotel
404 S. Figueroa St.
213-489-3590
http://www.suedebarla.com/

This posh bar resides in the Bonaventure hotel. They ambiance is sexy and romantic with its red suade seating and private booths a plenty. Great place for downtown professionals and dwellers a like to catch a drink after work. They have an awesome happy hour "4-4-4-4" Mondays-Fridays 4-8pm where everything is four dollars (beer, appetizers, well drinks and wine)

Bar 107
107 West 4th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: (213) 625-7382

This little dive bar with tons of character is a favorite among downtown hipsters and hollywood partiers alike. The red walls, fifties style decor and stuffed animal heads on the wall make for quite an eclectic mix. Great place to dance, take pictures in the photo booth and chug $2 PBR cans.

Crocker Club

453 S Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90013

(213) 239-9099‎

We've previously mentioned the newly opened Crocker Club here. It is inside the old Crocker Bank building and is as luxe as it gets. One of its lounges is actually inside the old vault, they have private rooms inside the old safety deposit box rooms and they have a second lounge that may or may not be haunted.

The Varnish Bar @ Coles
118 E. Sixth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-622-4090
http://www.thevarnishbar.com/

The Varnish Bar, located in Coles French dip is one of the newest bars on the scene. The idea behind the Varnish Bar is that it is a little secret speakeasy and an homage to classic American cocktails. The decor is also very old school, a lot of wood and old fashion lamps--which just add to the nostalgia.


Lucky Strike @ LA Live
800 Olympic Blvd.
213-542-4880
http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/

Lucky Strike has been making bowling trendy and swanky for years. Their newest location is found at LA Live downtown. While they don't have cheapest drinks or bowling in town- you are sure to have a fun time! Tip: Dont park in LA live for $20---drive around Olympic and Fig to find a 5-10 dollar lot - or even a meter.



ESPN Zone at LA Live
1011 S. Figueroa St.
213-766-7070
http://www.espnzone.com/losangeles/

If you are looking for a sports bar with tons of flat screen tv's to watch a game on, ESPN zone is the place. 2 floors of sports memorabilia and games can keep you busy for hours.

Check out Part 2 here:

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Restaurant Profile: Taste on Melrose

Taste on Melrose
8454 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: (323) 852-6888

The Dine LA restaurant week enticed me into trying this trendy little restaurant, "Taste" on Melrose. But unlike many other high end restaurants in the area, it's unpretentious and uber friendly. Between my boyfriend and I, we tried 6 different dishes, the chicken tortilla soup, the white truffle oil and mushroom mac and cheese, the kobe beef burger, the blackened salmon, a lemon tart and trio of "gelato" (both desserts mysteriously were not on the dinela.com menu)

The standouts were the mac and cheese and the kobe beef burger. The burger was made with Gorgonzola Cheese, Onion Jam, Arugula and Tomato on a Sesame Bun and served with the most delicious and unique pomme frittes (pictured below). Although this burger tastes almost exactly like the one served at Father's Office, I'm not sure whose came first...so I can't judge on originality.

Not all the courses were amazing (aka the desserts! you cant call 3 scoops of what tasted like Dryer's ice cream, gelato) but the friendly atmosphere and solid food will definately have me coming back for more. More good news: They have a happy hour from 4-6 on Tues-Sun. Check out the menu below:

- They also have half off bottles of wine on Monday
- And Full moon aphrodisiac nights-- apparently on the full moon they plan a special aphrodisiac menu serving food that will 'stimulate your senses'

We also had a certain celebrity sit behind us during lunch if you are into star spotting. :)

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Best Happy Hours: LA Edition

Best Happy Hours in LA

The Culturistas bring you the best of the best happy hour spots in Los Angeles.

The Edison Bar:

108 W. Second St. #101
Los Angeles, CA, 90012

(213) 613-0000

Edison's Website

Thursday (5-7pm) = you'll find depression era martinis at 35cents a pop.
Friday (5-7pm) = Soup Kitchen night: they serve complementary grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup---plus "depression era cocktails at depression era prices." And don't feel guilty living it up because 25% of the proceeds go to local food banks and charities.

Hand crafted cocktails and the majestic relics of a long lost era of glamour and intrigue mark The Edison one of the nations most intriguing lounge spaces. There is a dress code, so check out their website before going.

The Backstage Bar & Grill:
10400 Culver Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 839-3892

Backstage's Website

Monday-Saturday 4-7pm: $2 Domestic Beer, $3 Well Drinks, Half-Price Appetizers.

Not just your average bar food-- It's the only bar kitchen in history without a freezer or microwave. The other good news: the best karaoke in town Thurs-Sat starting at 9pm, there is never a cover, and the drinks are one of the cheapest in the city.

Formosa Cafe:

7156 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 850-9050

Mon-Fri 4-7pm: discounted sake, cocktails and small plates.

Opened in 1934, this trolley-car restaurant has preserved its star-studded history, making it an ever-trendy watering hole in West Hollywood.

The 3rd Stop:

8636 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048-3323
Phone: (310) 273-3605

Mon-Fri 5-7pm: discounted food and drinks

A casual gastro-pub that serves upscale food from a revolving menu with choices like brick-oven pizzas, a gnocchi-based mac and cheese, seared ahi and burgers. Even better: 36 beers on tap. The prices are a bit high so take advantage of the discounted happy hour!

Gyu-Kaku
163 N.La Cienega Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Gyu Kaku's Website

Mon-Fri 5-6:30 and 9:30 to last call: Cocktails and Martinis $5, Kirin drafts $.99. 50% off appetizers and discounted food.

Delicious Japanese bbq joint where you cook the food yourself. While it can be work it's a lot of fun and so tasty! They have several locations across the city so check out their website for more info.

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