When it comes to getting to know Los Angeles, actor Martin Starr is an expert. Born in Santa Monica, Starr says his family moved frequently around the region. “I lived in the Valley, Hollywood, Hancock Park and ended up back in Santa Monica when I was 15,” Starr says.
In Sunday Funday, the people of Los Angeles tell us step by step their ideal Sunday in the city. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
Today, the actor known for his role in the HBO comedy “Silicon Valley” and films such as “Knocked Up” and the “Spider-Man” franchise, lives in Miracle Mile. His latest television role is in the Paramount+ crime drama “Tulsa King,” where he plays Bodhi, a marijuana shop owner who has become a trusted member of the gangster group (Sylvester Stallone). The show's third season finale airs on November 23.
“What I love most about Los Angeles are the people and friends I've made over the years,” Starr says. “Other than that, Los Angeles has some of the best food in the world. There are a lot of fine Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are so many delicious, moderately priced places in Los Angeles, and those are my favorites.”
Starr, a foodie who co-founded the Sweet Stash candy company with musicians Ezra and Adeev Potash (The Potash Twins), says his ideal Sunday includes a walk on the beach, eating enchiladas and playing video games or reading at home.
9:30 am: Sleep in and then hydrate
I'm a lazy weekend guy. I often have to get up early to go to work, so it's nice to take a little time for myself on Sundays. After we wake up, my wife (Alex Gehring, bassist for the band Ringo Deathstarr) makes herself coffee. I start the day with a glass of water or a matcha and then we'll probably go to a restaurant for breakfast.
10:30 am: Get some really good pancakes.
One of my favorite places for breakfast is John O'Groats in West Peak. They don't just make a fruit garnish. They make melon, specifically, and I loved it. I wouldn't have chosen cantaloupe as a fruit to eat in the morning, but it turns out that cantaloupe is pretty good. They make their own cookies, which are delicious. They have a variety of really good pancakes. They make a seven grain granola pancake that I really like.
If we don't go there, we would go to another great breakfast place called I met her in a bar. That place is really tasty. The guy who opened it met his wife at a bar. They have great French toast and make Thai style fried chicken and waffles. I love the freshly squeezed orange juice at both places.
Noon: Take a walk with Betty White
After breakfast, we would go out for a walk with our dog and take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Our dog is an all-white pit bull and her name is Betty White. We were walking through Hancock Park. There are some really nice houses there and it's nice to just walk around. I also grew up in that neighborhood for a while. I went to third street [Elementary] School, so I'm pretty familiar with the area.
1:00 p.m.: Eat enchiladas on the beach.
Then we went down to the beach. It's a bit of a long drive, but one of my favorite restaurants is there because I spent a lot of my time when I was young in Santa Monica and Venice. is called Cha Cha Chickenand it is by far my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. It's in Santa Monica, one block east of the water, where Pico ends at the beach. I would order the Jerk Chicken Enchiladas, which come with a side of mixed rice and beans. There is also some chopped salad on the side and I love the dressing. The enchiladas have a combination of sweet and spicy sauces on top that are very good. And then I like spicy Cuban fries. I always ask for them extra crispy, and they put a little spicy salt on top. I went there so much as a kid that I became friends with the owner, Ricky Prado. He inherited the place from his parents and took over. He and I took a trip one time to Florida, where he met my dad, as well as I met his entire family because they all worked at the restaurant.
2:30 p.m.: Walk along Santa Monica State Beach
Afterwards, we would take a walk on the beach to enjoy the beauty and fresh air of the ocean. There is a small path that deviates from Cha Cha Chicken, and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail It's right there. The Santa Monica Pier is to the north and to the south is the Venice Beach shopping area. You can see sidewalk shows and all the fun performers when you go.
4:30 p.m.: post-traffic puzzles and video games
Traffic to get home would probably be an hour. There, Alex would probably do some crossword puzzles while I read or play video games for a bit. We played jazz music in the background. Or maybe we would just hang out on the porch and enjoy the day. We are lounge people. So when we get the chance, we just enjoy reading and crossword puzzles. It's a simple life. We brought the Midwest to Los Angeles. All I need is a rocking chair.
6 pm: Happy Hour calls
After that, we could hit happy hour at Uchi West Hollywood. My wife is from Austin and her favorite restaurant opened a place in Los Angeles, so we go there from time to time for a good meal. It's Japanese, but focused on sushi. If you sit at the bar, you can enjoy happy hour all night long.
7:30 pm: Happy hour continues until dinner.
We ate some of our favorite food. My wife loves a particular sake and I love Mitsu Mitsu, which has zero proof ritual gin, rosemary and yuzu honey. Our favorite dish is called hama chill. It has small slices of mandarin orange on yellowtail fish, with a little Thai spice on top, and is smothered in a ponzu sauce. My wife loves edamame and I don't. But this place has the best edamame so I can't help but enjoy it. Some of them are a little crunchy and have lemon juice and salt. It's very tasty. They work things out so you can really take your time and enjoy everything.
9 p.m.: Dessert on and off screen
We would probably come home, have dessert, and watch “The Great British Baking Show” or “Below Deck,” a drama-filled look at the world of private boating. You'll also get a good look at the interesting people who charter these yachts and whether they tip well or not.
11 p.m.: Go to bed, after a few laughs.
We would go to bed, but we would probably stay up for an hour talking and laughing before falling asleep. It would be a perfect Sunday.
