Pine & Crane Silverlake

Pine & Crane brings Taiwanese cooking to the edge of Sunset Junction in a bright, quick-service setting designed for sharing. The menu includes dan dan noodles, beef rolls, Three Cup chicken, rice dishes, cold appetisers and vegetarian and vegan choices; guests order at the counter, and the restaurant does not take reservations. The listing checked showed 4.6/5 from 1,547 opinions, with praise for the noodles, variety and informal atmosphere; several visitors warn that waits can build when the dining room is busy.

The kitchen relies on simple ingredients and dishes with contrasting spicy, savoury, sour and aromatic flavours. Reviews often mention the dan dan noodles and pork buns, although some note that service slows at busy times. Groups can order several plates to share; for a lower-cost meal, noodles or an individual rice dish make it easier to control spending than a longer dinner with drinks.

The address is 1521 Griffith Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026; phone (323) 668-1128. It opens from noon to 10 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday to Sunday, and closes on Tuesdays. Guests can eat indoors or take food to the public Sunset Triangle, although table service is not provided there. Reservations are not accepted, and street parking is limited. Arrive early or consider takeaway if you would rather avoid a wait.