Meal Time
Beyond Chicken Fingers: Six Delicious Kid-Friendly Dining Options
March 10, 2009
We are a family of eaters. We come from a long line of good eaters, going back many generations. Thankfully our children share our passion for food which makes it easy for us to go to restaurants with them. As I snack on some creme brulee, I thought I would share some of our favorite restaurants that aren't kid-oriented (like Chuck E Cheese) but still kid-friendly on the Westside. Some of them are chains but they are easy, the kids love them, and the food is good. The others, I hope I am exposing you to a new restaurant that will become a new favorite.
Dagwood's Pizza in Santa Monica and Venice (pizza, Italian)--Great for delivery or a dine-in restaurant. It has a neighborhood pizza joint feeling and the pizza is delicious! Pasta and subs for those who are not pizza eaters.
Taiko in Brentwood (Japanese)--Located in the Brentwood Gardens structure on the 3rd floor, it is an affordable Japanese restaurant. We love to order a couple rolls and the Taiko combinations. Best of all, they have Hello Kitty melamine bowls and plates for the kids. The weekends get busy so call in advance to reserve a table.
Koreatown Plaza food court in LA (Korean)--Being Korean, we love to come here regularly. However, the great thing about eating here is that everyone can choose what they want. We normally get some noodles, Korean BBQ meat, soup, and dumplings. There are tons of high chairs, the menus are in English with pictures, and also have Vietnamese noodles, Japanese options and Boba tea.
Souplantation in Brentwood and Marina Del Rey (salad bar buffet)--this is one of the kids' favorite restaurants. To be honest, I am not sure how many vegetables they actually eat. But they certainly do eat the pasta, muffins and frozen yogurt. And I try to get a week's worth of vegetables in one sitting, to make up for my usual deficiency.
Kay n Dave's in Brentwood, Rancho Park and Pacific Palisades (Tex Mex)--this place is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They serve freshly made mini muffins at breakfast and delicious chips and salsa for lunch and dinner. The Rancho Park location is my favorite because it has an outdoor patio in the back.
Colony Cafe in Rancho Park (burgers and salads)--I love burgers and the burgers here hit the spot when I am craving. The fries are awesome too. My kids love the hot dogs here and the frozen yogurt is excellent.
Read more...
Calling All Foodies: DineLA week is Back!
January 29, 2009
If I had to list the loves of my life, it would go something like this: hubby, kiddies, my mom, friends, prime rib, chocolate, ice cream, steak, McDonald's fries, In-n-Out everything...I could really go on forever. I LOVE food. Love, love, love it. When it was just my husband and I, we loved trying out different restaurants. This was in San Francisco, so unfortunately, we have not had a chance Read more...
Looking back at 2008
December 30, 2008
What an amazing year it has been at Savvy Source West LA! The site officially launched in May with Nina Moon and she filled the treasure troves with tons of toddler-friendly times. Savvy source West LA has advice on what to do with your kiddies during sunny days , rainy days , weekend days , and special days . Interested in art ? music ? books ? No problem. We've got it covered. Want Read more...
Five Tips for Trick-or-treating with preschoolers
October 28, 2008
This being Los Angeles, the land of make-believe, there are no dearth of scarily decked-out haunted houses, skeletons dangling in foliage and realistic bloody corpses. Color me overprotective, but this isn't my idea of an ideal Halloween for a preschooler. I'm also not one for crowds and the idea of waiting in long lines to knock on doors when I'd consider ourselves lucky to even knock on 10 Read more...
Allergy-safe Halloween - Trick-or-treating with your allergic child
October 24, 2008
My son has a serious peanut and tree nut allergy and for awhile I thought we would never be able to safely celebrate Halloween. Although parents complain about the candy-gorging, the thought of having to keep our child home and away from the costumes, trick-or-treating and general merriment made our hearts ache. But thankfully there are ways to make Halloween a safe holiday for allergic Read more...
Children's Tea Party - Anyone for Tea Catering
October 22, 2008
There's nothing quite so dainty or delightful as a truly English tea party. Better yet, an English tea party for princesses . Anyone for Tea Catering offers catered tea service menus for children's parties starting at $25 per guest with a 15 guest minimum, delicate china included. After all, nothing but the best for your little princess, right? So invite your little girl's guests to dress up Read more...
Flashback - 5 favorite posts from September
September 30, 2008
My husband has been working long hours all this month so I've basically been flying solo around here for a month. Needless to say, I welcome October with open, grateful arms. Still, September wasn't a total wash. In case you missed it, here are five of the best posts from September. 1. Bistro de l'Hermitage - friendly French food for four-year-olds - Because excessive alliteration aside, it Read more...
The Getty Museum - A Preschooler's Guide Part 1
September 24, 2008
You exit the 405 at Getty Center Drive and make your way to the parking entrance where you fork over $10(!!!!) for parking. You enter the underground parking lot and pass several large school buses and your heart sinks as you anticipate large hordes of elementary school students ready to trample on your tiny preschooler. But you continue on (since you already paid the ten bucks, there's no Read more...
Bistro de l'Hermitage - friendly French food for four-year-olds
September 22, 2008
When I went to Paris with my mother and grandmother in college (I know, some collegians go on wild adventures with their classmates. I, on the other hand, did Europe with my elders), they didn't want to eat at French food. Totally blasphemous, right? My mom and grandma are the folks who frequent the same three restaurants and order the same thing every time they go. So French food seemed a Read more...
Doing the LA County Fair before naptime
September 19, 2008
The fair opens at 11 on Fridays, meaning that I had exactly three hours before my two-year-old melted into a steaming pile of wayward limbs and glass-shattering cries. Of course, I forgot to take into account that the heat, the excitement and the sugar (oh, the sugar !) would make that more like two hours and fifteen minutes before meltdown. So, might I suggest that you try and make it to the Read more...
5 perfect preschool playdates
September 09, 2008
Preschool may make it a tad bit easier to set up playdates (no more desperately hoping that another lonely parent will send a friendly smile your way), but there always remains that question - where to go? Here are five perfect places for your kids to play and for grown-ups to bond. Play - I love that Play is set up to facilitate both playdates and one-on-one bonding between parent and child. Read more...
Weekend Warriors
September 05, 2008
As you already know (because you've already entered our giveaway), the LA County Fair starts TODAY. My family is planning on making the trip this weekend for the first time ever and, from what I gather, there's more to do (and, more importantly, eat) than one can possibly imagine. So, get thee to the fair! LA Greek Fest is also taking place this weekend with Greek music, dance, art, food and Read more...
LA County Fair Giveaway!
September 03, 2008
It's that time of year - the start of school, fall and the LA County Fair ! Even though I'm an LA native, I've never been to the fair. Actually, I didn't even know about it until I heard a radio program last year talking about the fair and myriad of fried foods featured at the fair. Anybody up for some deep fried White Castle burgers? Or what about pig races (an Oreo for the winner!), a pirate's Read more...
5 tips for the first day of preschool
September 02, 2008
Whether you're sending your two-year-old to preschool for the very first time or your little one is an old hand at this whole preschool gig, here are a few sweet reminders for the start of the school year. 1. Notes in the lunch box - Even though your preschooler (probably) can't read, a few little silly pictures on post-it notes will put a smile on her face and ease those first-day jitters. 2. Read more...
Weekend Warriors
August 29, 2008
It seems like just a few weeks ago when I was heralding in the first day of summer, the longest day of the year and the end of the school year. And now suddenly you want to tell me that summer is nearly over? That this is Labor Day weekend? No! Okay, okay, so denial is not the most effective tactic against the onslaught of autumn. Perhaps I should just try and take advantage of what's left of Read more...
The Corner Market -- Is Los Angeles a walkable city?
August 28, 2008
Click over to Walk Score , a website that rates the walkability of cities and neighborhoods in the US, and you'll find that Los Angeles is the 9th most walkable city in America. When I heard this my first reaction was probably similar to the one you're having right now. Namely, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? But yes, supposedly only 16% of Los Angeles is car-dependent. As in, the vast majority of Angelenos Read more...
Weekend Warriors
August 22, 2008
My son and I are big Elizabeth Mitchell fans her children's folk tunes are just the thing for sunny afternoons, both playful and calming. So I'm absolutely psyched to go see her and her family perform at the Getty Center Central Garden this weekend. Pack a picnic and go see this free family concert on Saturday or Sunday at 4 and 5pm. Starting tonight, check out the Fiesta La Ballona festival Read more...
Koreatown Plaza Market -- Bring Your Preschooler and An Empty Stomach
August 13, 2008
Like so many families in Los Angeles, we find ourselves frequenting several different grocery markets in order to find all the food items we want/need. I go to Trader Joe's weekly for the basics, then to what we've dubbed the regular supermarket (i.e. Albertson's, Ralph's, etc.) for things like Ritz crackers (mmm'salty goodness!) and roasted whole chickens, and to our local farmer's markets Read more...
Veteran's Park in Culver City -- Pretend Play at the Park
August 11, 2008
For so long my son played obsessively with two things: balls and wheels. End. Of. Story. So when he finally began to venture into the world of pretend play, cooking pasta for me to eat and building tables and chairs out of Legos for his heretofore neglected stuffed animals to eat dinner on, I was so very happy. You see, I am not so good at the endless throwing of balls and pushing of cars. But Read more...
Top 5 Los Angeles Beaches, Pools and Watering Holes
August 05, 2008
There are so many great beaches in Los Angeles. I have so many happy memories of skipping stones in Malibu, digging for sand crabs in Hermosa, body surfing in Redondo and building sandcastles at RAT beach. So really, if you're looking for a sun-soaked, salt watered day, just head west and stop when you hit the coast. Nevertheless, there are some specifically kid-friendly spots that are worth Read more...
Trump National Golf Club - A Tot Hiker's Haven
August 04, 2008
This past weekend our non-golfing family spent Sunday morning at Trump National Golf Course . No, we weren't signing up our two-year-old for golf lessons. Trump National Golf Course, situation at the edge of a cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes with a fabulous view of the ocean, is criss-crossed with public hiking trails and surrounded by swaths of protected land where plants native to the area grow Read more...
Dinner Destinations -- 5 Fabulous Restaurants to Introduce Your Preschooler to Ethnic Foods
July 22, 2008
One of the things I most love about living in Los Angeles is the variety of ethnic foods available. Whether you're hankering for enchiladas, samosas or mu shu, your own threshold for adventure is really your only limitation. And although toddlers can be a particular bunch, it pays off to start introducing your children to a variety of tastes early on. It's also a great way to introduce your Read more...
Mozart, Moby or Miles -- Pershing Square Kids
July 16, 2008
One of the best parts of writing for Being Savvy Los Angeles has been discovering the sheer multitude of things to do in this city. For instance, did you know that Los Angeles has an outdoor ice skating rink? In downtown, no less? Pershing Square, a square block of public space in the heart of downtown, transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter. Obviously that's not the most useful Read more...
Weekend Warriors
July 11, 2008
It's been a long week, hasn't it? I'm really feeling the whole TJIF sentiment today. Even better, this weekend my family will be heading down to my parents' home in the South Bay (free babysitting! Woohoo!). In that vein, we'll start the edition of Weekend Warriors in Redondo Beach, right smack in the heart of the South Bay. On Saturday, why not drive down Redondo Beach? You can spend the day Read more...
Three Days In and Around Los Angeles - Downtown
July 10, 2008
Downtown is probably more friendly to suits and singles than families with kids under five, but that doesn't mean that can't be an interesting place for your children. Especially if your children haven't experienced, well, really tall buildings that can be kind of cool. And if you are here for business, but had to bring along the kids, this list will help you navigate the kid-friendly side of Read more...
Three Days In and Around Los Angeles -- Mid-Wilshire
July 09, 2008
Even though I don't live in the area, I spend about half my time in the Mid-Wilshire area. Comprising everything from Museum Row to Larchmont Village to the Farmer's Market and the trendy shops on 3rd Street to Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire is where I tend to fall back on whether I'm looking for a fun, enriching place to take my son or I want a great pair of shoes or some really excellent eats. And Read more...
Three Days In and Around Los Angeles - Santa Monica
July 08, 2008
Obviously we could spend several days writing about just one of the many LA neighborhoods (and we have so check the archives yo!), but not all of us are lucky enough to actually live here (insert sarcasm about smog and traffic). What if you only had three days to spend in LA? What are the must-sees? Where should you stay? And, most importantly, what should you eat ? For the next three days Read more...
Weekend Warriors: Independence Day edition
July 04, 2008
If you're not going away for the long weekend or pet sitting for your parents that are (that's us!), there's plenty of Independence Day and non-Independence Day related activities to keep you and your little ones entertained. Of course, tonight you'll need to check out the fireworks . If you miss the fireworks tonight, you can still catch them post game at The Home Depot Center . Saturday Read more...
Toddler on a Sugar-High - Patbingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)
July 03, 2008
What could be better on a hot summer day (or night!) than a big bowl of patbingsu , the Korean version of shaved ice, but oh so much better. Ice? Check. Ice cream? Check. Cold fresh fruit? Check. Add pat (sweet red beans), dduk (rice cake), some sweet condensed milk and maybe some colorful, fruity cereal bits and you've got a perfect summer dessert. As a little girl, I used to love this dish Read more...
Layover Lifesavers: A Preschooler's Guide to the LAX
July 02, 2008
LAX is not a place I look forward to spending any time at all. Whether you're arriving, departing, dropping someone off or picking someone up, LAX is a tangled maze of cars, people, and of course, planes. If you happen to have a longish layover in LA, don't try and wait it out at the airport, especially if you have children. Since you need to estimate being at the airport at least two hours Read more...
Essential Summer Music -- Summer Music Festivals In and Around Los Angeles
July 01, 2008
Summer has descended and with it has come the annual outdoor music festivals. Unlike indoor concerts where children are generally expected to stay still and quiet (and, really, what fun is that?), these outdoor concerts are the perfect opportunity to expose your child to professional music in a fun, more laid-back environment. They're also perfect for a romantic date with your SO. Of course no Read more...
Little Gourmet: Culver City Farmer's Market
June 25, 2008
Let me begin with a confession: I am not a farmer's market shopper. Don't get me wrong, I think they're great, but I always seem to have a good excuse. (It's too expensive! I don't have time! It's too crowded! I'm too tired! I have a rock in my shoe and can't walk!) Certain fab bloggers , however, have been slowly chipping away at my anti-fresh produce resolve. Yesterday, I broke down. The Read more...
5 Ways to Get to Know Los Angeles with Your Preschooler
June 24, 2008
Los Angeles, unlike most major metropolitan cities, is sprawling. Taking stock of the city as a whole can be daunting, even more so when you have a preschooler in tow. And while so many Angelenos spend most, if not all, of their lives in their respective neighborhoods, that really is a shame. So why not play tourist (albeit a far cooler, in-the-know tourist) this summer and explore the City of Read more...
Let's Date: The Treehouse Social Club
June 23, 2008
As indoor play spaces go, The Treehouse Social Club on Robertson Boulevard has a leg up on the competition. They don't have a lot of toys per se (they do have a few, but if that's what you're looking for, go elsewhere). Neither do they have piles of primary colored foam blocks or children's gym equipment. Instead, the main room is dominated by a fantastic treehouse (complete with a tree, of Read more...
All About Me -- Date Night at the Hollywood Bowl
June 19, 2008
When I was pregnant with my first child, my husband and I were told time and time again, The best thing you can do for your marriage after you have kids is to have regular date nights. It's sage advice, but when you combine a nursing newborn, the high cost of childcare and two exhausted parents, date nights end up pretty low on the to do list. Now that we're starting to get this whole Read more...
Watch Out! - Toddler on a Sugar High
June 18, 2008
I'm pretty strict when it comes to sweets, but I'll admit it, whenever my son is feeling a little blue or I worry that I've been neglecting him for the newborn, I take him out for a bit of sugar and some one-on-one time. Here are a few of our favorite places: Yoku Yoku One of the countless spin-offs of Pinkberry, Yoku Yoku is cashing in on all the recent dessert trends by serving fro-yo, Read more...
Daddy Dearest - 5 Father's Day Restaurants
June 10, 2008
Mothers are so often portrayed as the ultimate multi-taskers juggling kids, household chores, family schedules in addition to their real jobs. But in our family at least, both mom and dad are multi-tasking. I juggle caring for our two children during the day with cooking, cleaning, freelance work and soon preschool co-op responsibilities, but my husband doesn't come home from a long day at Read more...
Mozart, Moby or Miles - Grand Performances Summer Festival
May 30, 2008
Mozart, Moby or Miles Grand Performances Summer Festival My brothers and I grew up to a pretty eclectic collection of music. At any given time, my parents were indoctrinating us to the tunes of Nirvana, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix or Chopin. I've always appreciated this early exposure to such diverse sounds. With two-thirds of the performers hailing from around the LA area and the others part of Read more...
Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my! - The Los Angeles Zoo
May 21, 2008
My son is going through a frog stage. He talks about frogs all. the. time. He hops around the house like a frog. He shouts, RIBBIT! RIBBIT! until he's blue in the face. So I thought when I took him to the LA Zoo recently that I would be fulfilling one of his most dearly held dreams and desires. But, as we discovered, the LA Zoo unfortunately does not have frogs (but they do have toads, which Read more...
History Lessons - Olvera Street
May 15, 2008
Known as the birthplace of the City of Angels, Olvera Street represents the oldest part of downtown. Technically, Los Angeles was founded on a site slightly southeast of Olvera Street in 1781 by a group of Spanish settlers, but they were forced to higher ground due to flooding. Olvera Street was the central street on the plaza of the new town. In the 1926, a socialite named Christine Sterling Read more...
5 Things To Do When the Sun's Shining
May 13, 2008
This list is nowhere near comprehensive since the sun shines here, well, a lot. LA has been designed with the sun in mind so you'd be hard-pressed to find places that aren't good for sunny day visits. Here are a few of my favorites nonetheless: 1. Redondo Beach and Pier After splashing around in the waves, head up to the pier and eat lunch at Pacific Fish Center where you're giant crabs and Read more...
More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in west la
Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle
Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune
Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues
Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors
Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun
A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories
Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet
The Most Fun in Life Is Free!
The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots
The Voice of Being Savvy west la:
Elise Crane Derby, Susan Choi, Nina Moon
Read more Being Savvy for:
Advertisement
Recent Posts
- Never Can Say Goodbye: Preparation and Separation Tips from a Preschool Teacher
- My Own Little Elves: How to Let Your Kids Help You More Around the House
- Way Beyond Chicken Fingers: Authentic Ethnic Dining Options for the Adventurous
- Five Things to Know about the Aquarium of the Pacific
- What to Do When You Are in a Car Accident
- For the Mature Funny Bones: Humorous Books for Adults
- Four Reasons to Visit the Petersen Automotive Museum
- Why Preschool is a Safe Place for Parents to Grow Up
- Five Reasons to Visit the Annenberg Community Beach House
Favorite west la Lists
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: Fun Things to Count Around the Neighborhood
- 99 Things to Do with Your Preschooler
- How Dancing Saved My Day
- Beyond Chicken Fingers: Six Delicious Kid-Friendly Dining Options
- Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful: Snow Play
- Community Classes: Great Alternative to Expensive Enrichment Classes
- Our Home is Green: Changes Made to Make Our Home Eco-Friendly
- Virtual Fun! Video games and Preschoolers
- Free Educational Internet Games!
- People Who Need People: Making Friends for You and Your Children
Advertisement
Review Your Preschool
Join the hundreds of west la parents helping other parents find the right preschool for their child.
View Preschools and Daycare Centers in Other Cities
View preschools in other cities
- Tulsa Preschools >
- Las Vegas Preschools >
- St Louis Preschools >
- Tacoma Preschools >
- Cleveland Preschools >
- Saint Louis Preschools >
- Colorado Springs Preschools >
- Newark Preschools >
- Durham Preschools >
- Columbus Preschools >
- Raleigh Preschools >
- Ann Arbor Preschools >
- Marietta Preschools >
- Arlington Preschools >
- Mesa Preschools >
- Fremont Preschools >
- Baton Rouge Preschools >
- Little Rock Preschools >
- West Palm Beach Preschools >
- Stamford Preschools >
- Albuquerque Preschools >
- Milwaukee Preschools >
- New York Preschools >
- Dayton Preschools >
- Saint Petersburg Preschools >
- Wilmington Preschools >
- Washington Preschools >
- Birmingham Preschools >
- Sacramento Preschools >
- Indianapolis Preschools >
- Louisville Preschools >
- Bellevue Preschools >
- Newton Preschools >
- Charlotte Preschools >
- Madison Preschools >
- Saint Paul Preschools >
- Philadelphia Preschools >
- Miami Preschools >
- Trenton Preschools >
- Detroit Preschools >
