Long Layover at LAX

Hello everyone, I'm wondering if any of you might be able to give me a steer on how to spend our layover at LAX.

We're arriving at 7pm on VS23, and depart at 9am the next morning to Seattle with Virgin America. The Holiday Inn Express LAX is booked for the night, so we'll have somewhere to sleep.

We're not likely to have much downtime as let-lag will probably mean we'll want to be in bed quite early, but I'm just wondering if any of you have any pointers for stuff to do around LAX e.g. a place we could get some dinner if we're hungry after arriving? Thinking of trying out The Encounter restaurant which looks quite quirky!

Any help is much appreciated.

Frankly you have suggested what I would recommend, further afield but not to far are the delights of Venice Beach or Santa Monica ... but as you say, post landing and immigration, you'll not want to do to much!

http://www.jerrysdelimenu.com/restaurants/Jerrys-Famous-Deli-Marina-Del-Rey

Always go there when near LAX.
Only about 10 minutes drive.

We're arriving at 7pm on VS23, and depart at 9am the next morning to Seattle with Virgin America. The Holiday Inn Express LAX is booked for the night, so we'll have somewhere to sleep.

Did the very same thing actually earlier in the year (same hotel too!) and too was planning on going out for a nice meal upon arriving, but was unlucky and took over two hours to get through immigration/customs after a slightly delayed flight, so all could manage was a KFC from around the corner and bed!

Not saying that it was a bit of a rough area or anything but the KFC had bullet-proof glass off of banks over here separating you from the staff haha