As one of the few places in LA that has an actual 600-year-old pagoda on-site that doesn't look like the last hole on a miniature golf course, this "Cal-Asian" classic has adorned a hilly perch above Magic Castle since the day it opened as a restaurant back in the '60s (though the building itself appeared high above Hollywood decades before that). Initially built as an exact replica of a palace in Kyoto, Japan, Yamashiro's main restaurant sits atop a windy, well-signed Sycamore Avenue beckoning its guests to higher ground, and incidentally, one of the best views in the city.

On a menu that strives to rival the eminence of the sprawling panoramic view, look for Asian influence on almost every page; dishes have included nori-crusted ahi tuna and Kobe steak. And a special must-see is the centralized atrium housing a Japanese garden and streams inhabited by koi, who swim heartened by the fact that they've successfully avoided inclusion on the "specials" menu. With a kitschy bar scene possessing comfy nooks and bathroom attendants anxious to offer helping hands (if not a mint), Yamashiro continues to be a formidable option for those seeking a romantic dining novelty for two.

-- Gregg Rosenzweig (Photo: Courtesy of Yamashiro)