Besha RodellLate night happy hour isn't the newest trend in the world, but it is a trend that is steadily growing, particularly in Los Angeles. We have a theory about this: Most other cities don't really need happy hour at 10 p.m.
Why? Because happy hour is obviously meant to bring in customers during off-hours. And in many cities, 10 p.m. is not an off-hour, it's the busiest time of night. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is not a late night town. I've heard so many theories about why this is: car culture, healthy living culture, an old Hollywood conspiracy between the studios and the restaurant industry to make sure actors make their morning call-times. Whatever the reason, New York is still jumping when we're all in bed – even with the time difference.
In an effort to lure us into the evils of late-night revelry, more and more bars and restaurants are resorting to late night happy hours, offering food and drink specials for the night owls. Here are six places where you can get a deal if you wait until everyone else has thrown in the towel. ]
Happy hour oysters and beer at EMC Seafood; Credit: Erin Lyall
6. EMC Raw Bar
Koreatown's swanky house of seafood is fairly well known for their regular $1 oyster happy hour. But they have a late night option as well: From 10 p.m.-midnight on Sunday and 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Thurs., EMC offers $1.25 oysters, and $5 beer and house wine. There are also specials on select menu items. 3500 W. 6th St. Koreatown; (213) 351-9988.
5. East Borough
Downtown Culver City's newest Vietnamese hot spot is hoping to lure you in past bedtime with some bargain eats and drinks. On Sunday-Wednesday 9-10 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday 9:30 p.m.-11 p.m., East Borough has a happy hour menu that includes pork bánh mì for $5, $5 imperial rolls, and pork belly and egg with pickled mustard greens and jasmine rice for $7. There are also beer specials for $4-6, and wine for $7 a glass. 9810 Washington Blvd. Culver City; (310) 596-8263.
4. Plan Check Fairfax
Every day, two hours before closing (Sun.-Wed. 10 p.m.-midnight; Thurs.11 p.m.-1 a.m.; Fri. & Sat. midnight-2 a.m.), Plan Check serves a special happy hour menu. Specials include taco hamburguesa ($5); a green pimento cheeseburger ($8); and the smokey fried chicken sandwich ($7) with yam preserves, smoked milk gravy, hot sauce and pickled okra. There are also snacks for $3-5 and a couple of $12 cocktails, which doesn't seem like much of a bargain until you consider they're star bartender Matthew Biancaniello's creations. 351 N. Fairfax Ave. Beverly Grove; 310-288-6500.[
The bar at Le Ka; Credit: Anne Fishbein
3. Le Ka
Downtown' s Le Ka, which looks and feels very much like the trendy restaurant in every rom-com from the last 15 years, hosts a weekend-night happy hour on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Small plates (like fried oyster sliders and bone marrow gratin) are available for between $5-13, wine for $7 a glass, draft beer for $5, and a there are a couple of $8 cocktails. 800 W 6th St., downtown; (213) 688-3000.
2. Allumette
Allumette is mainly thought of as an upscale restaurant experience. But the owners of the small Echo Park eatery are trying to drum up some bar business as well. Every day that the restaurant is open (Tues.-Sat.) from 10:30 p.m.-midnight, you can get the cocktail of the day for $7. Bar manager Serena Herrick is making some of the coolest cocktails around, so that's a fun deal. They also serve select glasses of beer and wine for $5. 1320 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park; (213) 935-8787.
Coles; Credit: 213 Nightlife
1. Coles
The bar at Cole's is often packed, with drinkers from all walks of life packing in for the vintage good looks and classic cocktails offered here. But that hasn't stopped them from trying to pack even more of us in: From Mon.-Wed., 11 p.m.-2 a.m., Coles serves a bunch of bargain eats, plus $5 draft beer and $6 old fashioneds. Food includes $5 French dip slider trio with fries, $5 BBQ pork sliders trio with fries $1 fries and $1 tots. 118 E. Sixth St., downtown; (213) 622-4090.
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