var query = from c in ctx.Customers
            where c.City.StartsWith("Lo")
            select c;

-- will generate this SQL statement:
SELECT CustomerID, CompanyName, ...
FROM    dbo.Customers 
WHERE  City LIKE [Lo%]

exec sp_executesql N'SELECT  ...
 WHERE (CAST(CHARINDEX(@p__linq__1, [Extent1].[Description]) AS int)) = 1',N'@p__linq__1 nvarchar(4)',@p__linq__1=N'test'

var query = from c in ctx.Customers
            where SqlMethods.Like(c.City, "L_n%")
            select c;

-- LIKE and ESCAPE
-- If an AdventureWorksEntities.Product contained a Name 
-- with the value Down_Tube, the following query would find that 
-- value.
Select value P.Name FROM AdventureWorksEntities.Product 
    as P where P.Name LIKE 'DownA_%' ESCAPE 'A'

-- LIKE
Select value P.Name FROM AdventureWorksEntities.Product 
    as P where P.Name like 'BB%'

MyDbEntities en = new MyDbEntities();
ObjectParameter param = new ObjectParameter("descr", "L_n%");            
var query = en.Customers.Where("it.City like @descr", param);

List<User> users = db.Users.Where("it.UserName LIKE @usernameToMatch", 
        new ObjectParameter("usernameToMatch", usernameToMatch))
    .OrderBy(u => u.UserName).Skip(pageIndex * pageSize).Take(pageSize).ToList();

MyDbEntities en = new MyDbEntities();
ObjectParameter param = new ObjectParameter("descr", "L_n%");            
var query = en.Customers.Where("it.City like @descr", param);