Next time you’re at Pink’s hot dogs make sure you’re in a group and you have one person willing to take one for the team. Designate that person to wait in line (offer to buy him or her a dog), then walk up the street to the Jet Rag clothing store. Try on a bunch of random items for a movie costume montage. Make sure to take pictures to send to the poor sap waiting back at Pink’s for a little in-line entertainment. (Arkasha Stevenson / Los Angeles Times)
Angelenos have become as accustomed to waiting for a table at a restaurant as they are to sitting in traffic on the freeway. But waiting for a table doesn’t always have to be torture.
Here’s a list of things to do while you’re waiting for a table at some Southern California restaurants notorious for their wait times.
-- Jenn Harris
At Boiling Crab, above, tell the hostess you’ll be next door at “Home” and she’ll know you’re talking about Cafe Home, a restaurant across the plaza. They’ve got free popcorn, TVs, and a ton of old-school board games. You can also grab a beer, glass of wine or boba tea drink. When you’re table is ready, the hostess will come get you. You can also order your food from Boiling Crab to go and bring it to Cafe Home to eat it. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
The Little Tokyo Daikokuya location is across the street from the Japanese Village Plaza mall, home to some small boutiques, a market, Cafe Dulce bakery and a Mitsuru Cafe where you can pick up some Imagawayaki (Japanese griddle cakes filled with sweet bean paste) to nosh on after your ramen. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
The smell of bubbly pizza crust and tomato sauce wafting out of Casa Bianca is enough to make a diner waiting outside angry. For a little sensory relief, head across the street to Permanent Records, where you can drown your pizza woes in bins of vinyl. (Pete Metzger / Los Angeles Times)
Connie & Ted’s, Michael Cimarusti’s new seafood shack, is one of the hottest reservations in town, so be prepared for at least an hour’s wait. But instead of standing around hungry, walk down the block to The Hudson, which has an old-school photo booth perfect for killing some time taking goofy pictures with your friends or a date. They’ve also got $3 beers and well drinks during happy hour. (Dominic Riley / For The Los Angeles Times)
If you go to Kang Hodong Baekjeong, above, put your name down then head over to White Cafe & Karaoke across the street. Rent a room for an hour and spend it belting out your own renditions of “Lady Marmalade,” “Don’t Stop Believn’” and “Billie Jean.” If you get thirsty, walk back across the street to the Bohemian restaurant for a couple bottles of soju to prep your appetite for the meat overload that’s about to happen. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
