5 Great L.A. Restaurants for Single Awareness Day

Whereas couples or polyamorists have Valentine's Day, some singles have been propping up their very own holiday. Some sources point to it as the alt-version of Valentine's Day held on the 14th of February, but according to SingleAwareness.com the official Single Awareness Day is today, Feb. 15. You'll notice the resultant acronym is purposeful, if a bit tongue-in-cheek. As anyone single can attest, the stereotypes of bachelors and spinsters number aplenty; one might as well beat them to the punch.

In no particular order, save for organizational purposes, here are five restaurants where your singlehood shines as not just a preferred way of life but an advantage:

5. Father's Office

If you arrive in more than a pair, you'll be lucky to snag a table, much less seats next to each other at peak hours. All the better if you're just trying to grab some beer with one of Sang Yoon's formidable cheeseburgers. 3229 Helms Ave., Culver City; (310) 736-2224.

Carne asada taco and chicken vampiro at Mexicali; Credit: G. Snyder

4. Mexicali Taco & Co.

Let no one come between you and your quesadilla vampiro-style, made with a potent garlic sauce that lingers post-meal. The food truck turned brick'n'mortar demonstrates one of the best liberal use of garlic in town, rivaling that of Zankou's. 702 N. Figueroa St., Chinatown; (213) 613-0416.

3. Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong

Embrace with pleasure some or all of the conventional dating don'ts you're often told to avoid, but you enjoy anyway: Bright lights; pungent food; smoky grills; and large, raucous groups. 3465 W. 6th St., Koreatown; (213) 384-9678.

2. Wurstkuche

Between communal seating arrangements and the eventual mustard mess you'll create from one of four different styles available tableside, this isn't a joint for demure vibes typical of initial dates. 800 E. Third St., dwntwn; (213) 687-4444.

tsukemen at Tsujita; Credit: G. Snyder

1. Tsujita

Nearly all the components of getting to a bowl of ramen served tsukemen for lunch is a mini-discussion you'd rather have on your own. Do you want to wait for a table or sit at the bar? Extra noodles? Add hot water to the condensed soup base or not? A misstep could be costly. 2057 Sawtelle Blvd., Sawtelle; (310) 231-7373.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.