Spitz Bar / Restaurant

Downtown, Los Angeles –

Kebobs and cocktails are on the menu at Spitz, a distinctly non-Japanese joint that juts onto a hip strip of Second Street in Little Tokyo.

During the day, the sidewalk patio fills with cute artsy couples sipping sangria and shoppers rewarding themselves with aioli-drenched Street Cart Fries, as the aromas of lamb and beef waft onto the street.

Daily Happy Hour – which by the grace of the kebob gods lasts nearly all day on weekends – draws boys on their bicycles looking for Schlitz and whiskey specials, while lone diners check out the bizarre stainless steel art installations on the ceiling between draft pitchers and plates of Dönoquitos, a sort of Mexican taquito meets döner kebob.

The vibe stays relaxed and the cozy space un-crowded most nights, even when Spitz makes the smooth transition from restaurant to bar and DJs set up to spin obscure bass-driven mixes to go with the mojitos, Manhattans, and spicy mango chiladas.

Groups of friends filter in throughout the night, some to tank up before heading to a Downtown club and others to hang around over some gourmet gelato.

Either as a stop on the way out or a destination for the evening, Spitz dribbles cheap eats and a chill vibe.