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Eater
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: Jun 2
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. Ice cream from Saffron & Rose in Westwood All of Los Angeles seemed to have the same idea of going to Persian ice cream shop Saffron & Rose this weekend. On Saturday night, the shop was abuzz, with a line that nearly reached the front door. The fluorescent lights of the shop bathed groups outside in a white glow as cars whizzed by down Westwood Boulevard, music blasting out of cracked-open windows. My usual order is the cucumber ice cream, but unfortunately, they were out by the time we arrived. Instead, I opted for the date ice cream and the classic saffron and pistachio. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the date, but the scoop far exceeded my hopes. Chewy chunks of sweet dates were folded into the stretchy ice cream base, which isn't too sweet. The saffron added a pleasant floral contrast, studded with crushed pistachios. It's a scoop I'll likely be revisiting many times this summer. 1387 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Carne asada torta from Wendy's Tortas in Lincoln Heights During cooler months, I head to Wendy's Tortas in Lincoln Heights for its excellent pozole, but as the weather warms up, my order slowly transitions into tortas. The daytime corner restaurant sits just off the freeway, making it a convenient stop, and has a small parking lot in the back. The torta here is no frills, with just a meat of choice (I usually go for carne asada), a spread of beans, mayonnaise, onions, tomato, cheese, and jalapeños. The sandwich is grilled on the plancha before serving, crisping the exterior of the bread. Meat is generously piled on and the mayonnaise is just enough to hold it all together without becoming overwhelming. If you're headed to Benny Boy down the street, this is a great spot to pick up some food to bring in. 2603 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031 — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest Kebab platter from Mini Kabob in Glendale Now that the Michelin Guide has awarded a star to a food hall stand in Los Angeles (Holbox), I think it might be due time to have it award another left-field, only-in-LA star to the city's best overall kebab restaurant: Mini Kebob. Time and again, this classic, tiny shop just off Central Avenue in Glendale has served the best grilled meats and Armenian-inflected sides in Southern California. As a patron for 15-plus years, I've marveled at the juicy, flavorful beef lule; the tender chunks of chicken thigh shish; and the glorious beef shish made with New Zealand flap meat. Its fluffy, buttery rice and spot-on sides, from the smooth hummus to the savory, slightly smoky eggplant caviar, make it stand out; the balanced garlic sauce provides a redolent punch with every bite. The Martirosyan family has been operating the restaurant for years, expanding to Westfield Topanga and most recently to Neighborly in Westlake Village (note: Armen Martirosyan no longer recognizes the Topanga Social location on his social media, so the affiliation might be more of a licensing situation). The best thing to do is go to the Glendale original, wait for a spot at the single picnic table out front, and ask for an 'chef's choice' platter with everything. I promise the food will be as good or better than the finest fine dining restaurants, easily the best Los Angeles meal served on paper plates. (Pro tip: call ahead to place the order instead of waiting) 313 1/2 Vine Street, Glendale, CA 91204. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Chocolate strawberry doughnut at Miracle Bakery in Burbank Burbank is a neighborhood where one has to pay attention at all times — there is far more than IKEA runs and suburban life. Recently, I enjoyed visiting the multimedia Black Sheep Gallery, which showcases the art of Los Angeles-based artist Jill Behunin; the Burbank Aviation Museum; hiking through Stough Canyon; and making a pit stop at Miracle Bakery. This is far off the main drags, so locals find this a quiet spot to grab a breakfast sandwich, latte, or agua fresca. Everything is made on-site, including the cakes, cookies, muffins, scones, and chocolate strawberry doughnuts. The doughnuts have the ideal moist consistency that one always hopes for and sweetness that won't cause a blood sugar spike. The way to consume this beauty is with a basic cup of coffee that doesn't interrupt the flow of flavors. Miracle Bakery is a full-on, family-owned neighborhood spot. Staff know the regulars, and they're quick to make recommendations like this stellar doughnut or the equally excellent coffee cake. 1529 N. San Fernando Boulevard, Burbank, CA, 91504. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: May 30
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For Oaxacan food and margaritas: Sabores Oaxaqueños Eighth Street mainstay Sabores Oaxaqueños continues to be one of Los Angeles's best destinations for Oaxacan specialties like tlayudas, mole, and alambres, but beyond the food, it's also really fun. Plenty of restaurants can turn out consistent dishes, but Sabores Oaxaqueños also understands the vibe that its customers are looking for. The colorful interior is lively even when not entirely full, as frozen margaritas and tortas emerge from the kitchen and land on floral-tablecloth-topped tables. The restaurant is open literally all day, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., which makes it easy to swing by for a breakfast of huevos rancheros or a late dinner. And while the Koreatown location has the same parking issues as any other restaurant in the neighborhood, Sabores Oaxaqueños also operates a second location at the edge of Hollywood. 3337 1/2 W. Eighth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90005 . — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a relaxing pre-theater snack in Downtown LA: Abernethy's Chef Adolfo Perez of Cilantro Mexican Grill spent a career learning various cuisines and dishes from the Cheesecake Factory before striking out on his own restaurant, a gas station establishment with some of the San Fernando Valley's best burritos. Perez began a residency at Downtown LA restaurant Abernethy's in late April, serving crowd-pleasing Mexican American dishes like surf-and-turf fajitas, barbacoa taquitos topped with ancho chile ranch, and achiote-marinated roast chicken. Abernethy's occupies prime pre-theater dining real estate at Downtown's Music Center, and Perez's food works as a delightful snack prior to the area's high-quality shows. The tables on the patio are especially desirable, with views of City Hall down the hill and the iconic John Ferraro/LADWP building surrounded by a faux lake. It's on late afternoons like this, when the breezes turn from chilly to pleasantly warm, that summer has finally arrived in Los Angeles. 220 N. Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a breakfast sandwich that beats them all: Calabama Los Angeles fell in love with Cara Haltiwanger's inventive pop-up in 2020, where she dropped breakfast sandwiches from a fire escape with a bright red bucket. Calabama was one of those local sensations that brought some joy for everyone in lockdown at a time when social distancing was at an all-time high. Haltiwanger made her pop-up permanent in late 2024, where she opened the same concept (without the bucket drop) in Hollywood, serving breakfast sandwiches layered with bacon, egg, cheese, grilled onions, and avocado. She still makes that spicy-sweet sandwich dipping sauce, along with other staples from her Alabama childhood, including sweet tea, buttermilk biscuits, and a Southern staple: pimento cheese. The cheery stand is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, slightly east of Highland. Calabama is impossible to miss; look for a compact, free-standing white building near the sidewalk with an egg-yolk-colored awning. They even serve coffee and dog biscuits. 6751 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90038 — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an unimpeachable Japanese-style omelet: RVR Go to RVR in Venice on a weekend morning when you feel particularly patient. All good things are ultimately worth the wait, including (or especially) its tamagoyaki omelet, an ovular spiral of luminous golden eggs that is sliced and crowned with shaved Comté, chives, and cracked black pepper. The omelet is so well-constructed that more than one passerby stopped while I was eating it — in front of the window for a peak Abbot Kinney view — to admire its form. The right and only move is to get the refreshing red gem lettuce salad (spotted with crisp Brussels sprouts and doused in an aged black vinaigrette) to alternate bites. If you're into something sweeter, however, the mochi beignets and black sesame pancakes seemed to be popular on other tables. Not-too-sweet teas over ice or the pour-over coffee complete the picture. 1305 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
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.
Eater
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: May 23
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For affordable Chinese takeout: Combo A As food prices continue to rise, getting an affordable but satiating meal is at the top of many people's minds. Cue Combo A, a longtime Echo Park Chinese restaurant that stuffs takeout containers to the brim with chow fun, orange chicken, and beef and broccoli. It's easy to walk out of here with enough food to spread over multiple meals for well under $20, and the quality is far beyond what would be found at a fast food chain. The orange chicken is tossed in a well-seasoned sauce and remains crispy even after cooling down, while the barbecue pork is tender and flavorful. You can even go half and half on combinations of fried rice, chow fun, steamed rice, and chow mein. Add in sides of cream cheese-stuffed wontons, egg rolls, fried chicken, or pot stickers, and wash it all down with boba. 1411 Echo Park Avenue, Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a group gathering with fantastic bites and sips: BLVD MRKT Getting a group of friends together with varying tastes can be challenging, but not if you know where to go. To make sure there is something for everyone, head to BLVD MRKT, a Montebello food hall made out of shipping containers. BLVD's got a unique charm to it and an even more uncommon model that mentors and showcases new businesses next to more established ones. At the center of the dining courtyard are community picnic tables covered by umbrellas. Star by taking a lap to see what's appealing — in the complex you'll find pupusas from Vchos, a Oaxacan mocha from Cafe Santo, chilaquiles verdes via Los Taquero Mucho, or bites from Cold Pizza (it's served hot), For the Win, and a Mexican Lollipop cider that actually tastes like watermelon candy. Once everything is prepared, sit at a table and let the joy take over. BLVD has excellent programming happening every week, and on Memorial Day Bluey (the animated cartoon series) will be at a meet and greet that kids will adore, along with fruity and creamy paletas with face painting. It's an excellent plan on any weekday or weekend, so start inviting. 520 Whittier Boulevard, Montebello, CA, 90640. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an elegant Memorial Day dinner in Chinatown: Firstborn For a few weeks after it opened in late March, Chinatown's Firstborn was the talk of the food world, drawing curiosity, excitement, and some eyebrow raises given its location and price. The latter point will probably continue to be in contention, but for now, expect some of the most innovative modern Chinese cuisine in Los Angeles right now. Chef Anthony Wang is treating this like his first feature film and creativity abounds from the plate to the space (FYI, his sister is filmmaker Lulu Wang). Some dishes are brilliant, like steak tartare over soft tofu and tofu gnudi with artichokes. Barbecue cabbage is a show-stopper, scorched like burnt marshmallows but exuding an unnatural sweetness. Combined with the heady leek vinaigrette, it's easily one of the most creative dishes I've had in awhile. Cumin lamb saddle carries traditional Sichuan flavors in a luxurious form with a woven bundle of shredded potato elegant enough for a Michelin-starred restaurant. It's like a reimagined Chinese steak frites with the tenderness and gentle gaminess of lamb that's frankly superior to beef (there, I said it). Order more dishes than you think, as portions are on the smaller side, and expect to pay over $120 per person with a drink or two. If Wang can continue to draw the artsy/well-heeled crowd, I expect Firstborn to gain some major eyeballs come awards season (consider this a culinary 'For Your Consideration'). 978 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an underrated seafood gem in Melrose's 'Michelin Mile': Koast While Kevin Meehan's tasting menu restaurant Kali is under the knife, his new seafood spot down the street should be your Larchmont/Melrose dinner reservation of choice. Speaking to Meehan prior to opening, he considered Koast his ode to the East Coast seafood restaurant, with much nicer touches and some LA style. Raw bites are inventive and well-portioned, like local bluefin with vadouvan or sea bream sashimi with ponzu, shiso, and wasabi good enough to be served at Nobu. Grilled prawns in thyme butter offer the succulence of a backyard barbecue with the sweet, tender complexity of the best shellfish from New Caledonia. The lobster manicotti could be the most fun dish on the menu, properly spotted with finely chopped chives that wouldn't make sense at a red sauce joint. The cheesy, gooey mess studded with lobster chunks is the ideal counterpoint to the raw fish. A syrupy salted caramel brown butter cake topped with whipped cream awaits those who must get dessert. 6623 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
Eater
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: May 16
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here's our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. For a Crunchwrap Supreme that's not from Taco Bell: K Pasa When late-night cravings hit, Taco Bell is always there with a Crunchwrap Supreme ready to heal all. But now, a Koreatown taqueria is doing its own version of the signature dish that's bigger, beefier, and hits just like the original. Located next to clubstaurant Mama Lion, K Pasa serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, taquitos, and ice-cold glass Mexican Coke, alongside specials like its Krunchy Wrap. The pliant floor tortilla comes filled with a choice of meat like carne asada, birria, Korean spicy pork belly, or Korean barbecue short ribs. Like the original Crunchwrap, cheese, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, onions, cilantro, and sour cream are added in, plus the signature crispy tostada. The Krunchy Wrap comes out almost double the size of Taco Bell's version, and, of course, toasted on the sides. The carne asada is flavorful and tender, served in hunks, the way it would be in tacos. And while K Pasa isn't open as late as Taco Bell, it is open until midnight for those late-ish night cravings. 3958 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an easy Westside coffee-and-burrito brunch: Alfalfa Alfalfa in Santa Monica didn't initially seem like a place that would become a vital neighborhood hang: It was a transplant from Jersey; its millennial-pink facade felt pandering; and the menu of salads and wraps seemed less like what people wanted in 2021, when pandemic-era comfort food still reigned. Still, it swung in with two Angeleno-friendly breakfast burritos (one chorizo and one ancho-potato); a kaleidoscopic array of gluten-free doughnuts; and a harder-to-find, at the time, chicken Caesar wrap, which has since proliferated around the city. In the three years since it came to town, Alfalfa has expanded to a second location in Los Angeles's Larchmont neighborhood, and it now does a brisk business — people want those salads, salad wraps, and burritos. I get them frequently for easy breakfasts and not-so-sad desk lunches, and it was my breakfast choice this past Mother's Day when I wanted something easy and great to share with my husband and toddler. The potato breakfast burrito, available on a regular flour or pliable gluten-free tortilla, gets crisped on the flat-top and is served with red and green salsas; the Nutella doughnut holes hit the toddler palate just right. 2309 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager For vinyl tunes and fast Wi-Fi: Companion It's hard to find the ideal daytime working spot. Some cafes discourage weekday laptop warriors, while others just don't have very good coffee or any snacks at all. But Venice's Companion has figured out the formula for a cafe that welcomes remote workers without making the environment feel too office-y. The airy all-day cafe took over the former vegan pizzeria Double Zero, redoing the space with a white interior that feels cozy instead of cold, green tile, and shelves of vinyl records that staff switch out throughout the day. The Wi-Fi here is fast (and free), making it easy to grab a coffee and an excellent pastry and settle in at one of the tables. Unfortunately, Companion is no longer offering sandwiches during the daytime, but there are breakfast burritos on deck for something a little more filling. The only downside is that there are only a few plugs easily accessible throughout the cafe for charging, so make sure to come with a full battery or bring a mobile power bank. At night, Companion flips into a full-on restaurant and wine bar, serving pasta, pizza, salads, and more. 1700 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a reasonably-priced Thai lunch or dinner for one in Hollywood: Luv2eat Express There are so many times in a week that I just need a quick meal without too much thought. My mind typically goes to something like Panda Express, an easy lunch or early dinner that satisfies the entire family for less than $10 a person. But recently, I had that feeling at Luv2eat Thai Express, the new outpost of Luv2eat Thai just a few doors down from its Hollywood strip mall restaurant. The bright, spacious dining room offers a bit more in the way of creature comforts compared to the similarly delicious Northern Thai Food Club. Luv2eat Express dishes have a nice balance between familiar (chicken penang and green curry, pad kra pow) and the more obscure (sour fish stew, tamarind eggs). I really like how the food is served on pressed metal plates, like a cafeteria or quick lunch in a Bangkok back alley. Expect everything to have a relatively high level of spiciness from the start, which means those more accustomed to the sweeter, milder Thai flavors will likely find Luv2eat Express too intense. But this is Los Angeles, and everyone here graduates to a master's level of Thai food knowledge in a short time. Consider Luv2eat Express your post-grad Thai experience. 6666 W. Sunset Boulevard, Unit L, Los Angeles, CA 90028. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Related The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
