Los Angeles (Individual Posts - Coming Soon!)
LA is hands down my favorite place to eat. I am very lucky to live in San Francisco but I truly believe LA takes the cake on food. K-Town is unrivaled for the best Korean food, maybe anywhere and there is always something new to discover here. You can eat amazing sushi, pop into Kazunori for handrolls, find some of the best street tacos in the land or sit down to have a modern American meal in a hip, modern neighborhood. And, hallelujah, David Chang finally has arrived on the West Coast. Majordomo was my favorite place I ate at in 2019. These are just a few of my favorites and I hope this list continues to grow and grow.
More LA Recs
Bestia - You would never assume this beautiful buzzy space is in the Arts District in LA as you pull up to the front door. Inside is a regional Italian restaurant that boasts a large and bold menu full of pasta, meats, salads and pizza. Go during uni season to make sure you can get your hands on the uni spaghetti. It’s served with trout roe, cultured butter, chives and limes. To die for!
Otium - Elliott and I stopped in here for a snack and a drink while we were waiting for our turn at Yayoi Kusama’s exhibit at the Broad. It’s a beautiful space in DTLA that is serving amazing contemporary dishes like oysters, little gem salads, hummus and muhammara, grilled cheese sandwiches, fried chicken and khachapouri just to name a few. I can’t wait to go back for a full meal.
Sqirl - This cafe is so amazing and it’s no surprise Jessica Koslow has gained a cult following since opening Sqirl. The brioche toasts with ricotta and homemade jams are out of this world and she also has a variety of seasonal bowls (think brown rice, pesto, preserved Meyer lemon peels, hot sauce, watermelon radishes, feta and a poached egg) plus sandwiches, porridges, french toast and more.
If that’s not enough, she’s partnered with Gabriela Camara of Contramar fame to open up Onda in Santa Monica. Their website reads “A neighborhood restaurant in conversation between two sister-cities, Los Angeles and Mexico City, focusing primarily on the seafood of the Pacific using ingredients from Mexico and the farmers markets in Los Angeles.” SOLD.
Beach 26 Cafe - All I can say is California Roll Burger. This place has tons of creative burgers but you should try the Chef Katsu Original California Roll Burger. It’s a huge beef patty topped with snow crab salad, ginger, avocado, nori, and a shoyu-mayonnaise based sauce. They also have a really fun brunch menu and great breakfast cocktails.
Manhattan Beach Post - If you’re in Manhattan Beach this is definitely a place you should stop and eat at. I’ve been there multiple times and it’s good for brunch with large groups, a casual lunch or just to stop in and have a drink. I loved their cheddar biscuits and they have beautiful charcuterie boards. It’s the perfect pre-beach place to dine.
Gus’s Fried Chicken - Yes, this is a chain but it’s a really good one. Their fried chicken is a Memphis style version that has a long backstory and history (you can read about it in their website). It’s delicious and they serve all the best sides from mac and cheese, greens, slaw, to potato salad and baked beans.
Animal - This is a fun, minimalist restaurant that focuses on meat dishes (hence the name, Animal). I took my cousin Taylor here and we tried so many awesome dishes. They have yakitori, hamachi tostadas, braised rabbit legs, poutine, pork belly buns and more. Definitely worth the stop.
Grand Central Market - This place is right downtown and I always always stop here when I’m in LA. It’s home to EggSlut and home to one of the best burritos Elliott and I have ever tried from Tacos Tumbras A Tomas. He still talks about this burrito to this day. You can literally find anything you want here from ramen to Belcampo meats to freshly baked breads and more. It’s the perfect stop before checking out the Broad nearby.