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The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: June 9
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. Vietnamese-style lomo saltado from Nam Kitchen in Gardena
Over the past year, I've determined that Nam Kitchen has become the South Bay's best overall casual Vietnamese restaurant thanks to stellar pho and a handful of creative dishes like this Vietnamese-Peruvian fusion lomo saltado. The kitchen takes slightly sweet soy flavors of bo luc lac and tosses them with classic lomo saltado ingredients of red onion, tomato, and French fries, topping them with cilantro and serving with a side of creamy aji verde and a mound of white rice. The tenderloin pieces are as easy to eat as marshmallows, savory and covered with black pepper. Frankly, this could be one of the best lomo saltado preparations anywhere in the city, and it'll be something I crave. Nam Kitchen's other fusion dishes are worth exploring, but even the pho đặc biệt is top-notch, piled high with quality beef and a spice-laden broth. 1530 Artesia Boulevard, Gardena, CA 90248. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Steak tacos from MidEast Tacos in Silver Lake
Silver Lake is lucky to be the home of MidEast Tacos, an Armenian-Mexican taco restaurant from Mini Kabob's Armen Martirosyan. Operating out of a brick-lined corner space along Sunset Boulevard, right across from the former 99 Cent store, the restaurant serves up toum-topped tacos, crispy potatoes with Aleppo pepper, and burritos stuffed with marinated chicken. But for me, the best way to experience MidEast Tacos is with the simple steak taco, with a corn tortilla instead of the flour tortilla it comes with. The steak is reminiscent of the flavors of Mini Kabob's own beef, with a slightly smoky and well-spiced profile. The meat is chopped to a size reminiscent of a street taco, just large enough to get the entire flavor without it being overwhelming. A size of crispy papas brings the entire meal home, which is best enjoyed at one of the tables on the sidewalk. 3536 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Spicy salami pie from Little Goat Pizza House in Glendale
As a Northeast LA resident who loves grubbing on pizza from the comfort of my home, my options are often limited. Especially when comparing neighborhoods that are flush with celebrated pizza spots, I frequent the same restaurants more often than I care to admit. That doesn't serve my job very well, so after branching out into Glendale, I took home two pies from the Little Goat Pizza House. The results were worthy of a return, particularly the spicy salami pie. Though the margherita was respectable, the combination of the Neapolitan-style crust covered in San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, garlic, tarragon, and a respectable amount of spicy honey made my day. I assumed my patented pizza-consuming position next to the low coffee table, opened the box, and dug in. I was impressed by the consistency of the beautifully leavened sourdough placed in a wood-fired oven. I will happily sit down on-site and consume it hot out of the oven next time. It tasted perfect the following morning for breakfast. 942 N. Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA, 91202. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Whole grilled branzino from Zinqué in Century City
Of all the homegrown restaurants in Los Angeles, I didn't peg stylish French hangout Zinqué to become a fast-growing chain. Armed with key locations in West Hollywood, Downtown, and more recently in Century City, the restaurant has grown to Scottsdale, Westlake Village, and even its spiritual homeland of Paris, France. Given its prime locations, I'm starting to see Zinqué as a viable alternative to places like Cheesecake Factory or Houston's, serving reliable if sometimes predictable food with generous portions. Zinqué's strength isn't in innovation, but rather in serving high-quality ingredients without much fuss. Their charcuterie board is ample and quite good, while their mushroom bucatini could've used a touch more salt. The bistro burger is delightful and satisfying for meat-and-potato types. The whole-grilled branzino gets a gorgeous golden brown interior and a hefty pile of shaved fennel and arugula. For $45, they serve a fish big enough for the table to share. And the branzino was juicy, fresh, and nicely seasoned, the dry-herb chimichurri bringing a vegetal punch when needed. You could see why Zinqué has mass appeal, an easy option for fussy palates and large groups. 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90067. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
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