One of my favorite escapes is when I find myself somewhere in LA and I no longer recognize where I am. Suddenly I'm seeing with fresh eyes: it's new and I'm a tourist. This was my experience at Yamashiro Restaurant which, despite having lived here my whole life, I had never been to or even heard of.

Yamashiro is a top notch Japanese Restaurant at the top of La Brea in the Hollywood Hills. It has arguably one of the best views of LA that you can find. From Dodger's Stadium to the Wilshire towers and all of Hollywood in between. Maybe I went on an uber clear night, maybe that's what it always looks like. But now it's on my list of places that out of towners cannot miss.

And if the view happens to be clouded over, you can eat in their Garden Court.

It's great food, but you can also stop by and get a drink, enjoy the view and fall in love with the city all over again.

Garden Court image: Floetry Flickr Page