LA’s Far Bar Serves Food From Afar, But Beer From a-Near

What to do when the kids want Chinese, and all you want is a burger and a serious craft beer? Well there’s good news because now there’s a place in Downtown Los Angeles, that serves amazing local craft beer paired with brilliant Pan-Asian food. And it’s closer than the name Far Bar suggests, right down in LA’s historic Little Tokyo.

Dan Tahara opened Far Bar on the north side of the nationally recognized historic First Street in 2006. Dan originally intended the location to be a throwback Chinese restaurant with little interest in serving craft beer. He started with a classic Chinese/American restaurant that served contemporary Chinese food, and then moved to serving more Asian-style small plates.

Dan finally found that serving a Pan-Asian and an Asian fusion menu has worked best for the foodies that frequent Far Bar.

The menu features an Italian Samurai Hamburger with Tamarind Aioli, a Mac-and-Cheese Fried Lollipop, American sushi, and gourmet sausages. They also cure their own salmon and bacon.

I had their maple and peppercorn bacon when my wife and I went to their Sunday brunch and I wish I could have frozen time every moment I took a bite of that majestic piece of pork meat. I usually don’t eat bacon because I try to keep my boyish figure, but I will recommend Far Bar to anyone just for the bacon alone.

But as any craft beer enthusiast in LA knows, Far Bar is most frequently visited for their top-notch selection of local craft beers.

Far Bar ventured slowly into serving craft beer in 2009. Dan started emphasizing local breweries, such as Angel City (which is now brewed a few blocks away) and Eagle Rock in 2010 and 2011. He always enjoyed good beer and owned beer bars in the 1970s, where he served Dancing Queens and Don Cornelius look-a-likes. Back in the day, he served what craft was available, such as Henry Weinhard’s (back when it was craft), Bass, and Anchor Steam.

Now he focuses on pulling selections from hot emerging local breweries and regional stalwarts like El Segundo, Monkish, Smog City, and The Bruery. In addition to a wide variety of stellar brews, Far Bar offers a staggering assortment of bourbons, ryes, and whiskies. Along with trying these spirits, beer drinkers can venture into tasting sakes and Far Bar’s selection of fine Japanese craft beer.

Far Bar is also becoming more specialized in paring food with craft beer. They hold events throughout the year where they pair specialty dishes with crafts from select breweries. They recently had a pairing with an Eagle Rock Barrel-Aged beer in a Templeton Rye barrel that they provided.

Dan strives to make sure that when a group of friends with a wide variety of tastes comes into his establishment, everyone is satisfied.

The craft beer nerd will get his or her IPA fix, the designated driver can enjoy a nice coffee or tea, the casual beer drinker can indulge in a Sapporo, and Uncle Joe can enjoy more bourbons than his liver can handle. And everyone will be satisfied with the Pan-Asian menu, and the variety of food dishes are bound to please anyone with taste buds.