The Dining Guide to Atwater Village
The eclectic Atwater Village dining scene offers a wide range of flavors and price points. Head down to Los Feliz and Glendale Boulevards for the most options, ranging from budget-friendly snacks to more upscale, sit-down dinners. You'll find international favorites - Indian curries, Salvadoran pupusas, Armenian chicken - as well American classics in the restaurants that line Atwater Village streets. There are a lot of new, hip flavors to try too, like the out-of-the-ordinary ice cream selection at Wanderlust or the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fusion dishes at Momed and Dune. Be forewarned: It's hard to eat just one meal in Atwater Village.
Dune - Atwater Village
Dune is one of those restaurants, even if you've heard about it from countless people, you might miss it. This Glendale Boulevard joint is very small and it's easy to walk right past it as you're passing through the lunch or dinner crowd on this busy, restaurant-packed street. But Dune is well worth seeking out. The menu is pan-Middle Eastern-meets-Angeleno, with favorites like tabbouleh and the ubiquitous avocado toast. There's a take on the shawarma sandwich made with fried chicken, as well as lighter fare with a snack-friendly menu that includes items like dates and "spiced almonds and olives."
Tacos Villa Corona
Tacos Villa Corona is a closet-sized space squeezed between the storefronts of Glendale Boulevard. While their name boasts tacos, they're actually well-known for their breakfast burritos. The shop, which is only open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., packs eggs, potatoes and your choice of extra fillings inside tortillas for the crowd that hovers around its window. The burritos are fairly inexpensive and are big enough to keep you going for much of the day. Note: Tacos Villa Corona is cash only.
The Tam O'Shanter
The Tam O'Shanter is a slice of old school Los Angeles on a hip boulevard. The Scottish-themed restaurant was opened in 1922 by Lawrence Frank and Walter Van de Kamp (they later founded Lawry's the Prime Rib) and there's a lot of history between its dark wood walls. Walt Disney and his animators were regulars - his favorite table was #31, right by the fireplace and commemorated by a plaque. Today, you can order classic Scottish and American dishes at "The Tam," from haggis to the famed prime rib dinner. There's also the Ale & Sandwich Bar, featuring hand-carved sandwiches and rotating drafts, weekday happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., and live music on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.