BY ASHLEY HUYNH/PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HUYNH

Urth Cafe

After dancing the night away, showing your snazzy groovy moves out on the dance floor, it’s a given to want something cold, decadent, and irresistibly sweet to end the day, right? So why not visit Urth Caffe to conclude your night? Not only is it a well respected hot spot for both celebrities and local folks to get delicious bites, everything is organic, and reasonably priced. As you approach the line, you’re humbly welcomed by an employee handing out menus. Personally, it added a bit of loving touch as the owners make sure their employees personally welcome their guests as they step foot into the restaurant. As my friend and I came a bit earlier than our other friends, we decided to share a dessert as we waited for them. We each ordered our own drinks, we got a iced matcha green tea latte with boba, a iced chai tea with boba and shared a portion of matcha tiramisu. As you cut yourself a piece of the soft sponge cake, you can see the layers of green tea and cake. It’s a refreshing new change to the normal espresso soaked lady fingers. Urth provides many versions of international  classics, showing their own versions and twists. From desserts, to sandwiches, Urth is the one stop shop for a tasty treat after prom.

Wurstkuche

Hot dogs are an all time national staple food. Wurstkuche gives you all that and more. A German flare. As a joint in Downtown Los Angeles, with many other restaurants competing for profit, Wurstkuche keeps many returning customers from going anywhere else as they come back time after time with empty stomachs waiting for their exotic spiced dogs and foreign styled fries. From the view outside, the restaurant is quiet with a long line that’s always out of the door, but by the time you order, and find your seat, the food will arrive within minutes. My fellow companions and I ordered two large Belgian fries, and three exotic hot dogs (mango jalapeno, crocodile, and buffalo). With one order of the Belgian fries, you can choose two of their many signature sauces. We decided to pick chipotle aioli, curry ketchup, buttermilk ranch, and pesto mayo. With such varied sauces, it creates a party in your taste buds. Each and every bite into the casing is filled with mouthwatering exotic spices that compliments the equally as exotic meat perfectly. Overall the experience at such a renown restaurant much like Wurstkuche was extremely flavorful, and different. One sit down meal at this shop will make you want to come back, waiting in line craving for more.

The Counter

Let me just start off by saying that it’s a build-your-own burger shop. Personally I really enjoy experiences such as this one, primarily because you won’t have your meal interrupted by a customer complaining about their meal. Ordering from The Counter is really simple, the menu layout is concise and orderly, as it comes in five steps. From choosing a burger, distinguishing the type of cheese you’d like, choosing up to four toppings, selecting your signature sauce, and finally, fixing on a bun. If you’re on a diet, The Counter also has an option for you to have it bun-less! All you have to do is ask for a “bowl” instead. As I apply my own personal twist to my burger, I decided to have onion strings, jalapenos, applewood smoked bacon, and provolone cheese. The overall  crunch factor that’s added as a contrast to the softness of the juicy beef patty is pretty remarkable, I expected the complexity to be an underdog, not expecting such an outcome. After such a long night, some burgers and fries wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Shin-Sen-Gumi

Yum. Ramen. One of many guilty pleasures. Hakata Ramen Shin-Sen-Gumi has it all, with flavor packed soup bases, to tender fresh noodles there’s not a moment to miss when it comes to such a delectable treat that’s being offered at such a reasonable price. Being placed in a casual background, it’s quite fitting for the restaurant to have a build-your-own concept that allows you to have complete control of exactly how you would like your one way ticket to flavor town. Whenever I make my pit stop at Shin-Sen-Gumi I normally just order the Hakata Ramen, rather than building my own, mainly because it has everything I want. This particular house special essentially has beni shoga (pickled ginger), green onion, and the elusive slowly braised (and very succulent) chashu pork slices. the ingredients mellow together exceptionally well. After just one bowl, it leaves you wanting, craving for another spoonful. So what are you waiting for? Get a bowl after prom!

Bottega Louie

Bottega Louie is placed right in the heart of LA’s famous hustle and bustle, so what’s a better place to impress your date at other than Bottega? Providing a upscale casual dining area, with exquisite food, the only thing that can make it better is the price. It’ll definitely exceed their expectations. When my friend and I ordered, we choose the smoked salmon and club sandwich as a late brunch. Upon arrival of our dishes, it was a fresh surprise to see that the chefs make the potato chips fresh on site. The execution on our meals is quite spectacular, given that the actual taste that’s being placed on your pallet is being questioned, when you take a bite the textures and mere freshness of the ingredients make you think, “it’s so flavorful but so light at the same time?” The smoke salmon was our personal favorite. The cream cheese, bit of acidity from the tomatoes, freshly picked dill, tangy vinegar capers, spicy red onions, all laid on a soft-crunchy-toasty bagel. Every single key element morphed into a light but filling meal. Bottega Louie definitely exceed our own expectations.  However, if you don’t have time to have a sit down meal, make sure to stop by and pick up one of their many sweet treats as a celebratory gift. Many visitors swoon in from every corner of the California to have a taste of their famous macarons. From salted caramel to chocolate and lavender, Bottega has it all. This restaurant definitely exceed our own expectations. It’s a bright lit ambient surrounding, filled with colorful food that plays with your taste buds, it’s a guarantee spot to “dine to impress” to make an impression for your date or loved one.