27-05-2025
The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: May 27
The editors at Eater LA dine out several times a week, if not per day, which means we're always encountering standout dishes that deserve time in the limelight. Here's the very best of everything the team has eaten this week. La District from All'Antico Vinaio in Koreatown
When Florence's sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio first opened in LA, any location was pretty much guaranteed to come with a line and a lengthy wait. Now that there are a few locations across LA, it's much easier (and dare I say much more enjoyable) to swing by for a schiacciata sandwich topped with all manner of Italian meats and cheeses. A recent favorite of mine is the La District with pancetta, pecorino cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula. The thin-sliced pancetta is salty and fatty, which works well against the acidity of the sun-dried tomatoes. The pecorino cream has all the flavors of a more traditional sliced pecorino, but in spreadable form, ensuring that there aren't any naked corners of the sandwich. The arugula is a welcome green with the richness of the other ingredients, and adds a pleasant pepperiness. The La District comes in at $17 right now, but it's easily large enough to feed two, and the staff here are always generous with toppings. 3923 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest Fried fish sandwich from Little Fish in Echo Park
Like clockwork, as soon as the weather warms up, I start craving fried fish sandwiches. One of the best around town right now can be found at Little Fish, set in the front of Echo Park's Dada Market. The pop-up gone permanent is still serving its famous fish sandwich, with a slab of crispy fish on a plush potato bun. The sandwich is simple, topped with just Kewpie mayo, a slice of American cheese, and dill pickles, but it doesn't need anything else. The fish is always hot and crispy, and there's no better place to enjoy the sandwich than one of the benches looking out toward Sunset Boulevard. For a side, try the nori potatoes dunked in garlic aioli. 1606 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest Chicken Parmesan sandwich from Starbird in Redondo Beach
I don't typically highlight chain fast-casual restaurants, but a recent visit to Starbird in Hermosa Beach left me delighted by at least one of their many fried chicken dishes. The chain, originally from the Bay Area with a specific focus on antibiotic-free chicken and more health-forward dishes, had a sub-$10 sandwich that really surprised me. With a crispy cutlet as the main character, thick marinara sauce, melty provolone, fresh basil, and a smear of basil pesto brought this magnificent sandwich together. Roasted garlic aioli works as an additional, creamy binder. I would love to see chicken Parm sandwiches placed between burger buns at more restaurants, but the one from Starbird was terrific for the price. Another aspect of Starbird that I really appreciated was that the chain will donate a meal to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank if you post a photo of the meal to social media. That's the kind of sharing we can all get behind. Starbird currently has locations in Hermosa Beach, Beverly Grove, Marina Del Rey, and is coming soon to Torrance. 429 CA-1, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest French toast from Laya in Hollywood
With a preference for savory and salty, my brunch practice includes ordering French toast for dessert to share with the table. The setup is already perfect, starting with cocktails and coffee, then moving on to the thoroughly satisfying omelets, bacon, and Béchamel. Dessert is rarely on my radar because the weekend daytime meal is incredibly filling, but Laya's kitchen sent out French toast for the table, which made the meal. Chef Charbel Hayek recently launched Sunday brunch, and much of the menu has Lebanese roots, particularly the first course, which features falafel, seared halloumi, crudite, olives with feta, and incredible labneh that his mother actually prepares in Laya's kitchen. Back to the French toast — the dish elevates custard to new heights with an impossibly soft yet firm consistency, featuring brioche, brown butter, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and layers of salted caramel throughout. It's beyond rich and beautiful to look at. It pairs well with the cardamom-spiced Lebanese coffee poured tableside. The entire daytime experience on Laya's gorgeous patio makes for an enjoyable morning or afternoon with a crowd that's especially happy to be there. 1430 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90028. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Sign up for our newsletter.
