Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week

The editors of Eater 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 recently.

May 30, 2023

Tandoori monkfish osso bucco at Baar Baar in Downtown

Wonho Frank Lee

There are many dishes to rave about at the brand-new Baar Baar in Downtown Los Angeles, not to mention the slate of thoughtful cocktails named after Bollywood films. (I’m still thinking about the Old Fashioned variation I sipped made with ghee-washed bourbon, bitters, and saffron syrup.) Following a slew of memorable starters that included a piping-hot green pea kulcha and chilled oysters topped with pickled cucumbers and a guava-chile granita, my husband and I shared a few mains, including the butter chicken and the tandoori monkfish osso bucco. While it’s hard to beat chef Sujan Sarkar’s signature butter chicken, the tender fish, delicately spiced and garnished with pickled rhubarb, gave it a run for its money. The comforting millet porridge served alongside the fish may have given it the slightest edge. 705 W. 9th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. —Cathy Chaplin

Seafood gumbo at Stevie’s Creole Cafe in Mid-City

Matthew Kang

I’ve been on the hunt for some of the city’s best gumbo and I’d be remiss if I didn’t try the epic bowl from Stevie’s Creole Cafe in Mid-City. The restaurant’s own literature says the late Jonathan Gold considered the gumbo the “best this side of New Orleans,” but a keen reading of Gold’s original review doesn’t use that actual construction. Either way, it doesn’t matter because this nearly $30 feast of seafood and filé is certainly one of the most tremendous bowls of gumbo in LA, stocked with tender shrimp and king crab pieces, rounds of chewy andouille sausage and flakes of shredded chicken. The next time I try Stevie’s gumbo, I’ll ask for rice on the side so I can let the broth soak it up little by little instead of all at once. 5545 W. Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019. —Matthew Kang

Bacon egg and cheese sandwich at Bodega Park in Silver Lake

Wonho Frank Lee

As someone who grew up in Southern California, I frequently encourage transplant residents to embrace LA for what it is, and to please leave their former city where it belongs. So it’s been surprising (and slightly triggering) to see a number of bodega-esque pop-ups and sandwiches in LA as of late. But I found my way into Silver Lake’s Bodega Park over the weekend and was delighted at the merging of cities on a menu. While the bacon, egg, and cheese is positively delightful, there’s also an aji chicken burrito with salsa roja, bulgogi roll, Philadelphia-inspired mantua, and even a chopped cheese. Former Black Hogg owner Eric Park made excellent sandwiches before opening Bodega Park and continues to push the envelope with new and fresh ingredients. What an excellent and very LA thing to do. 2852 W. Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake CA 90026. —Mona Holmes

Saffron pistachio Medjool date “ice cream” at Awan in West Hollywood

Virali Dave

The menu at Awan, which means “cloud” in Indonesian, is straightforward. There are several flavors available, but as the brand’s Instagram bio is quick to point out, what’s being served through a small window in West Hollywood is not ice cream. Made from Indonesian coconut, the dessert has the scoopability and texture of an extra-creamy gelato, but it’s all vegan. The saffron pistachio Medjool date flavor is particularly special. It’s a riff on the Persian classic and is made with a saffron and rosewater base, with crunchy pistachios and soft date pieces added in for flavor and texture. 866 Huntley Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90069. —Virali Dave

May 22, 2023

Sunchokes with a grilled strawberry at Pasta Bar in Encino

Virali Dave

The standout dish on Pasta Bar’s ever-evolving 11-course tasting menu is the fowl course. While this course typically features dry-aged duck, a grilled strawberry, salsify puree, and a grilled ramp, there’s also a vegetarian version that uses slow-roasted sunchokes instead of duck. The sunchoke is roasted for an hour and a half with butter, grilled, and served alongside a charred strawberry jam, salsify puree, and grilled strawberry and ramp — all topped with a smooth sunchoke and allium chowder. The resulting dish is a revelation, proof that sunchokes and strawberries make a beautiful and complex combination: savory, sweet, creamy, and tart. 16101 Ventura Boulevard #255, Encino, CA 91436. —Virali Dave

Pad kra pao at Rad Nah Silom in East Hollywood

Wonho Frank Lee

A recent dinner at Rad Nah Silom had me giddily sitting on a pink plastic stool in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard. The family-run, evenings-only Thai street food operation makes for an ideal meetup spot these days now that the weather is finally cooperating. Rungthip Sathirathiwat and her four sons serve a succinct menu of wok-fired noodles and rice, with not a single slouch on the menu. The pad thai topped with crunchy dried shrimp is well balanced, while the rad na noodles offer pure comfort on cooler evenings. But there’s nothing like the pad kra pao for those who can’t resist the unbeatable combination of bird-eye chiles, Thai basil, and ground pork. Served over steamed white rice with the option of adding a fried egg on top, the pad kra pao delivers an irresistible burn. 5321 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027. —Cathy Chaplin

Roman California-style pizza at Roca in Pacific Palisades

Matthew Kang

Roman-style pizza hasn’t quite caught on the way that deeper-crusted Detroit-style has in Los Angeles, but that doesn’t mean the possibilities to explore the thinner crust, cut slice style are limited. That’s certainly what Roca founder Rick Rosenfield, who co-founded California Pizza Kitchen, saw in the format when he opened its first location in Pacific Palisades in the sprawling Caruso development. With prime placement along the sidewalk, Roca caters to a busy after school crowd and curious shoppers who aren’t used to seeing affordable food options in the Palisades. While Rosenfield and his chef Ohad Yosef were keen to develop classics, like sopressata, funghi, or caprese, Rosenfield wanted to make sure the imprint of his CPK past was on the menu. Hence, a barbecue chicken salad, barbecue chicken pizza, and Thai chicken pizza, three classics carried over but modified a bit for Roca. The results are half-inch thick pizzas covered to the edge with stringy mozzarella with a slight crisp coming from the dark metal pans and special Bonci-designed gas ovens. Luigi Roditis of Il Romanista and Nancy Silverton of Triple Beam might’ve been the first to help bring the style to LA, but given Rosenfield’s experience and resources, it’s not inconceivable to see Roca proliferating across busy commercial areas across town. 1061 N. Swarthmore Avenue, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. —Matthew Kang

Blueberry spiral croissant at Delight Pastry in Pasadena

Mona Holmes

Delight Pastry in Old Town Pasadena is a visual stunner that’s spacious, bright, and inviting. The shop’s glass case holds a meticulous display of cakes, macarons, croissants, kouign amann, and other delicacies that appear way too beautiful to eat. Mother-daughter team Lily Azar and Sarah Hashemi operate the two-year-old bakery with a delicate touch and flavors developed from Azar’s 20-plus years of pastry experience in Iran and Europe. Her specialties are vast, but the blueberry spiral croissant is what got me. The pastry is slightly flattened, beautifully crispy, and dipped in a blueberry glaze. I’m not the biggest dessert fan, but this pastry must be shared and talked about. Order the blueberry spiral (or the delightful rose water croissant) with tea or coffee, sit down, and take the joyful moment in. 39 Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91103. —Mona Holmes

May 15, 2023

Spaghetti and meatballs at La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills

Wonho Frank Lee

The red sauce renaissance is real in Los Angeles. Or, more specifically, the East Coast Italian moment has finally arrived. Out of nowhere, a handful of saucy, savory spots has opened seemingly overnight, some focusing on seafood and others — like La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills — crashing headlong into nostalgia with what may be the city’s best spaghetti and meatballs. Carbone isn’t coming to LA any time soon and the Jon & Vinny’s team is busy expanding to Miami soon, leaving La Dolce Vita as the current front-runner for cool, new (well, redone and reborn), one-off spots to hang out all night and really feel like Frank Sinatra. It’s not easy to get into the restaurant, but patience will be rewarded with one of the best and most satisfying bowls of pasta in town. La Dolce Vita is back, and LA’s red sauce moment is here in a very big way. 9785 S. Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. —Farley Elliott

Cheesecake at Tatel in Beverly Hills

Virali Dave

Located in Beverly Hills, with additional locations in Madrid, Ibiza, Mexico City, and beyond, Spanish restaurant Tatel launched a new tapas brunch menu this month. Chef Marva Desimone and her team are serving up a range of Spanish tapas — tortilla Española, Andalusian gazpacho, croquetas de jamón Ibérico — alongside some traditional American brunch dishes. Also on the menu is Tatel’s world-famous cheesecake, which is served a la mode with a scoop of smoked milk ice cream. It’s not exactly a Basque cheesecake, nor is it fully similar to a New York cheesecake; it’s somewhere in between, properly firm and gooey. Whether shared or eaten solo, a slice is a rich and indulgent treat, a wonderful close to any meal. 453 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. —Virali Dave

Panang lamb neck at Poltergeist in Echo Park

Cathy Chaplin

It’s hard to imagine a more joyful place for dinner these days than at Button Mash in Echo Park. Since February, chef Diego Argoti and his team have taken over the stoves at the barcade to deliver some of the most wildly creative cooking in town. The menu is full of familiar dishes turned on their heads. While individual dish descriptions can sound outlandish on the menu, everything makes perfect sense under Argoti’s care and the kitchen’s solid execution. Warm Parker House rolls arrive coiled like a cinnamon roll and glazed with miso honey. Ropey strands of hollowed-out pasta come slathered in green curry. And perhaps best of all, a perfectly cooked lamb neck, showered with fresh herbs, plops on the table ready to be tucked into saffron buns with a dab of hot sauce and a plethora of pickles. The kitchen is having a blast with flavors and format — come get a taste of their palpable energy and excitement. 1391 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. —Cathy Chaplin

May 8, 2023

Risotto verde at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood

Virali Dave

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Grandmaster Recorders is a 15,000-square-foot multi-level space serving coastal Italian and Australian fare alongside an impressive array of cocktails and wines. Given its past as a recording studio — where the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Gwen Stefani once recorded some of their hits — there’s also always eclectic and tasteful music playing to create the right ambiance. The dinner menu includes an array of breads, antipasti, and other small plates, alongside larger plates, and pizzas join the menu this week. A highlight was the risotto verde, which comes with green garbanzo, spring peas, goat cheese, and scallion oil. It’s creamy without being heavy, vibrant and herbaceous, and made all the more delightful with generous dollops of cheese. 1518 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028. —Virali Dave

Crispy intestine at Golden Leaf in San Gabriel

Cathy Chaplin

There are many ways to enjoy intestines, whether braised with aromatics in dark soy sauce or tenderly cooked with rice in a porridge. My current favorite preparation entails slicing the offal lengthwise, trimming it into bite-sized pieces, and frying it to a golden crisp. With its slight musk and unyielding chew, intestines can be challenging for some. But at the Taiwanese restaurant Golden Leaf in San Gabriel, the kitchen’s ingenious method yields an awesomely crispy texture that glistens like lacquered duck skin, while the flip side’s molten layer melts in one’s mouth. 717 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776. —Cathy Chaplin

Chicken Parm at the new Drake’s on Melrose

The booths are deep, the tables are big, and the lights are low at the new Drake’s at 8747 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Formerly a furniture store, this see-and-be-seen hangout has been completely overhauled by the Vandelay Hospitality team out of Texas (Hudson House). The group is growing into Los Angeles with other projects in the coming months, despite some rough waters, and this new throwback Italian steakhouse arrival is just the beginning. Look for big platters of spicy pasta, fun starters like crab rangoon, and a towering multi-layer cake that gives alternate Hollywood Hills hotspot Lavo a run for its money. The real show-stopper is certain to be the chicken Parm, served wide and thin with a just-sweet-enough sauce. It’s not the kind of massively overhanging chicken breast that has been pounded to death in the kitchen (that’s a good thing), making it a satisfying entree that can also be shared by one or more diners at the table if everyone is sharing everything. And at Drake’s, the party is certainly meant for everyone. 8747 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood. —Farley Elliott

May 1, 2023

Truffle risotto at Casa Madera in West Hollywood

Casa Madera inside the Mondrian Hotel is a stunner. Tall windows reveal beautiful city views and the interior’s carefully curated neutral decor creates a warm environment. The drink program is thoughtful and thorough and comes with all the bells and whistles — expect smoke, fire, foam, and more. The menu features Mayan and Mediterranean fare, and the dishes are a true feast for the senses. Presentation is everything, but it’s never style over substance. Casa Madera’s truffle risotto is as beautiful as it is rich and comes with wild mushrooms, Parmesan fondue, and shaved Parmesan, with the option to add shaved black truffle as well. The dish is made all the more visually appealing with pops of color from blue flowers, green chives, and red chile flakes. It’s hearty and warm, and best-shared family style. 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069. —Virali Dave

Arròs negre at Flor y Solera in the Arts District

Cathy Chaplin

There are many ways to start (tapas of all stripes including classic gildas and several types of croquetas) and end (churros, crema Catalana, and more) a meal at Flor y Solera, but it is essential to make room for the arròs negre somewhere in between. Found under the Arroces y Demas section of the menu, the one-pan wonder arrives at the table white-hot and ready to be devoured. The squid ink-stained Calasparra rice, embedded and topped with both squid and cuttlefish, whisks tastebuds to the sunny shores of Valencia. Equal parts comforting and transportive, it’s the dish that needs to be on every table. 1335 E. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021. —Cathy Chaplin

Marionberry huckleberry merlot pie at Know Reality Pie in Eagle Rock

Stephanie Breijo

I am nursing a hangover this morning. My body is in very bad shape after tasting 30-plus pies within a few hours. This all happened on Sunday at KCRW’s Good Food PieFest and Contest, where a group of judges gathered at UCLA to choose from hundreds and hundreds of pies entered by home chefs and professional ones. My category was fruit, and we narrowed it down to three. Though there was an outstanding cherry-plum zinfandel, Know Reality Pie baker Michael Biggie’s marionberry huckleberry merlot pie stole my heart with a complex interior, perfect sweetness, and latticed top. It’s a bold choice given that most berries are not quite at peak, but I would happily take another slice or a whole pie anytime, even in my present state. Head over to Know Reality Pie to try one of Biggie’s creations; they take orders in advance and walk-ups on weekends. 5106 Townsend Avenue, Eagle Rock, CA 90041. —Mona Holmes

Short ribs at Theia on West Third

Every night is a party at Theia on West Third Street. The Greek-by-way-of-the-dance-floor restaurant is prone to bring out sparklers and spin napkins in the air to the thrum of upbeat DJ sets, inviting everyone into the mid-block party between Robata Jinya and a nail salon. Theia is a unique experience even for Los Angeles and is best enjoyed with friends who are ready to laugh, stand up, and generally have a great night. The food skews towards lighter fare and roasted meats, and works well when paired with strong and continuous cocktails, but the sleeper hit of the space may well be the slow-cooked short ribs served in a garbanzo bean stew. It’s rustic, rich, and filling for a colder week like the one Los Angeles is about to have, and warms up the body enough to keep the sparkling party going all night long. 8048 W. Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048. —Farley Elliott

April 24, 2023

Papaya salad at Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks

Virali Dave

There are so many incredible dishes from Anajak Thai that are worth ordering over and over again, and the green papaya salad might genuinely be my favorite. Though it might appear to be one of the simpler offerings on the menu, the dish is so multifaceted — spicy, sour, sweet, citrusy, savory, umami, and crunchy all at once. The addition of the kumquats in the papaya salad made the start to our meal feel all the more special, and added texture and brightness that played well with the tomato, peanut, lime, and chile. The first and last bites were most special; the first shocked my palate with the dish’s complexity. The last — a spoonful of the spicy, sweet, sour, citrusy dressing — was so delicious and drinkable that I’d like to make a cocktail with it. 14704 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. —Virali Dave

Bánh cuốn đặc biệt at Bánh Cuốn Lưu Luyến in Garden Grove

Cathy Chaplin

With the recent openings of Tenseven Rolls in San Gabriel and Bánh Cuốn Hương Bắc in El Monte, bánh cuốn is having a moment of sorts in LA. While this northern Vietnamese delicacy of steamed and filled rice paper rolls can be hard to come by locally, it’s easy to find in Little Saigon — and Bánh Cuốn Lưu Luyến is one of the most popular destinations for the dish. On my first visit to the fast-casual restaurant, my mom and I shared the house special, which included plain rice rolls and ones filled with ground pork and shrimp. The generous platter arrived topped with an egg roll, two different kinds of steamed pork, fried tofu, bánh cống (deep-fried mung bean cake with shrimp), and a heap of deep-fried shallots. We doused everything in fish sauce, of course. The variety of textures and flavors on the platter left nothing to be desired. Pro tip: It’s always a great idea to order the đặc biệt on any Vietnamese menu to get a sense of what the restaurant considers its strongest offering. 14351 N. Euclid Street, #1J, Garden Grove, CA 92843. —Cathy Chaplin

Cornbread at Hatchet Hall in Culver City

Hatchet Hall

Wes Whitsell departed from Hatchet Hall last week, leaving the impressive restaurant without a chef at the helm. My group already booked a reservation before the news came out and canceling was out of the question. We all wondered if the kitchen standards would remain intact, but after one bite of the cornbread, I am happy to report that they are. That was the case with every dish, but that wonderful, custardy cornbread is one of the star items that keep customers returning. The heirloom grains hail from Anson Mills in South Carolina and are baked with care. There’s ample butter to assist, so much so that one could even designate the cornbread as dessert. Whatever the path, order one or two for the table and dig in. 12517 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90066. —Mona Holmes

Brazilian cheese bread and delightful drinks at Nossa Caipirinha Bar in Los Feliz

The best part about one of those really fine spring days, the warm ones that come after days of rain and wind and cold, is being outside with a drink in hand. Spaces like Nossa Caipirinha Bar are built specifically for such moments, when the doors and windows are open and the energy of the room inside calls to people passing by. Others opt for the sun-dappled sidewalk patio, catching wafts of music from the primary dining room and errant chatter from the street beyond. It’s a moment that can feel like a beautiful lifetime, especially when caipirinhas and some of Nossa’s simple pão de queijo (cheese bread) get involved. With luck there are many more days like that ahead, where the world of LA dining opens up and suddenly, sitting on a patio sipping Brazilian drinks and pulling off bites of cheese bread, feels like the most natural thing in the world to be doing on a Saturday afternoon. 1966 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz. —Farley Elliott

April 17, 2023

Kee mow at Dek Sen’s in Sherman Oaks

Virali Dave

Los Angeles has the largest Thai population outside Thailand, so it’s no surprise that the city is rich with options for incredible Thai restaurants. The San Fernando Valley is home to many of them, and Dek Sen’s, which serves Thai-inspired comfort food in a small shop in Sherman Oaks, is one of the newer spots to enter the scene. (It joined sister restaurants Rustic Spoon, which has locations in nearby Valley Village and Toluca Lake, in January 2023.) Dek Sen’s is the sort of spot you want in every neighborhood for quick and easy access to rich and flavorful Thai dishes. I stopped by for the first time this week, and the kee mow was a true highlight. I order Thai takeout regularly, but these noodles were exceptional. They were extra long with wavier edges that held even more sauce, and they tasted fresh, with a perfectly chewy texture. Stir-fried with white onion, bell peppers, peanuts, and a signature drunken sauce (and finished with a shot of whiskey), the kee mow comes at a range of spice levels and should not be missed. 14845 Burbank Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411. —Virali Dave

Carne asada burrito at Tacos Tumbras a Tomas in Downtown

There’s a hierarchy to Grand Central Market, Downtown LA’s historic dining and shopping destination. All of the restaurant vendors there are busy, sure, but some — like Eggslut — pull in an outsized crowd, for one reason or another. At the newish Broad Street Oyster Co., it’s all about branding and social media engagement; at G&B Coffee it’s the location and high-quality coffee. Few vendors carry the same level of influence, fanbase, and flavor as Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, though. The legacy stall is surrounded by signs informing queueing customers as to where they should stand, lest the hordes of taco, burrito, and torta eaters clog up the aisles entirely. Even with fast service and a steam table setup, there are so many eager eaters ready to eat at Tacos Tumbras that things can go from busy to bursting in no time flat, particularly around lunchtime when the carne asada burritos and taco plates become perhaps the most in-demand dining option in the whole market. Part of the equation that keeps people coming back is price, surely, and part of it is flavor, but in the end, it is the confluence of those and other factors (like the stand’s lasting legacy) that keep Tacos Tumbras a Tomas as busy as can be, day in and day out. There is no shortage of fantastic burritos around Los Angeles, but there is only one Tacos Tumbras a Tomas. 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013. —Farley Elliott

Stuffed apricots at Café Basque in Downtown

Cathy Chaplin

Chef Daniel Rose’s Café Basque has been humming along since opening at the tail end of last year, attracting buzzy crowds during dinner hours. While it's hard to deny the charms of sitting at a booth, the bar stools perched along the restaurant’s counter peering into the open kitchen offer excellent views while nibbling on pintxos and sipping crisp wines. In addition to ordering the classics like tortilla Española and croquettes, lean into less familiar bites, especially the stuffed apricots. The apricots, poached in cider vinegar and stuffed with duck confit, taste like a triple punch of sweet, savory, and tangy. A delicate drizzle with duck jus adds the finishing touch. 1060 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015. —Cathy Chaplin

Super saiyan crunch roll at Naughty Vegan in Pasadena

Mona Holmes

When someone recommends a plant-based restaurant, I proceed with caution. My follow-up is: “What kind of vegan food do you like?” Preferences vary from those who embrace faux meats to those looking for culinary creativity using actual vegetables. I live with a vegetarian and we try to eat mostly vegan at home, but no matter the restaurant, it should taste delicious upon first bite. This week, the best bite without question was the super saiyan crunch roll from Naughty Vegan. My eyes were on a slice from U Street Pizza directly across the street, but my partner insisted I try the roll. It’s got ample crunch and is stacked with ingredients: house-made imitation crab meat, avocado, cucumber, crispy onions, spicy mayo, scallions, sesame seeds, and a wonderful glaze drizzled on top. 20 E. Union Street, Unit 170, Pasadena, CA. —Mona Holmes

April 10, 2023

Fish and chips at the Lonely Oyster in Echo Park

Mona Holmes

Go to the Lonely Oyster and order the fish and chips. Full stop. And yes, this dish is easy to find in LA but not all live up to the standard set by this Echo Park restaurant. After all, this is an eatery that prides itself on ample seafood choices like salmon crudo, ceviche, uni and caviar service, and of course, oysters. Here chef Dom Crisp dips New Zealand snapper in tempura batter before dropping it in the fryer, and sprinkles fries with Old Bay seasoning while whipping together house-made tartar sauce. Staff expertly suggested a Santa Barbara chardonnay to go with this satisfying and classic item. 1320 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90026. —Mona Holmes

Vermicelli mac and cheese at San Laurel in Downtown

Virali Dave

San Laurel is one of two restaurants from chef Jose Andrés currently open in Los Angeles, joined by Agua Viva just across the 10th floor of the Conrad Hotel downtown. The restaurant transforms Southern California produce using Andrés’s signature spin on Spanish cuisine. The resulting dishes are imaginative and familiar. (I went to school in Washington, DC, and Andrés’s numerous spots in the city are what first taught me to love restaurants.) This weekend, I tried the vermicelli mac and cheese at San Laurel — fideuá pasta and Idiazábal cheese topped with chanterelle mushrooms, dollops of egg yolk sauce, and a generous amount of crispy shallots, all garnished with a single laurel leaf. Visually, the dish was almost akin to birds in a nest. It was also comfort food at its best — hearty, warm, and not overly complex. 100 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. —Virali Dave

Burrito at Damian in the Arts District

Cathy Chaplin

Weekend brunch at Damian is an understated affair in a town chock-full of high-energy options with free-flowing mimosas, souffle pancakes, and tipsy crowds. Though usually darkly lit during dinner hours, the space on a weekend morning gives off appealing industrial vibes, especially on the covered patio. After starting off with a duo of savory-leaning sweets, including the blue corn concha and panque de elote, my dining companion and I shared a tostada, the amply portioned fried chicken, and delightful chilaquiles topped with machaca-style fish. The most memorable dish of the morning was the most seemingly simple one, a Norteño-style burrito filled with conchita pibil. The tender flour tortilla held the contents well, while the salsa verde was just the thing to brighten up the delicate parcel. And now that I’ve experienced the serenity of brunching at this Arts District gem, it’ll be hard to go back to the days of long waits, over-the-top waffles, and booming dining rooms. 2132 E. 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021. —Cathy Chaplin

Mt. Lowe-Down pizza at Side Pie in Altadena

The simple back patio at Side Pie in Altadena is part hidden gem, part family hangout, and entirely a blast. The hilltop corner restaurant — which began life as an underground pizza project serving out of the side yard of a house nearby, hence the name — is a gathering spot for Altadena locals who come through to enjoy wide slices of wood-fired pizza cooked in a domed oven that’s tiled in homage to the Grateful Dead. The pizzas move from basic to complex depending on one’s needs, with options for simple pepperoni and cheese to this month’s Mt. Lowe-Down special, a red sauce option that comes with Korean-flavored bits of beef, fermented cucumber, and a habanero ranch sauce for a nice kick. It’s a wild, flavor-packed pie with sales proceeds going to the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens Club, which works locally to fix area hiking trails and promote access to the wilderness just beyond Altadena’s front door. Good pizza, great vibes, amazing cause — what’s not to love? 900 E. Altadena Drive, Los Angeles, CA 91001. —Farley Elliott

April 3, 2023

Backyard classic burger at Flavor Season in Glendora

Farley Elliott

The smashed and heavily-seared burger is ubiquitous in Los Angeles now, spreading from its early local days at spots like Burgers Never Say Die to become the de facto style for any new burger restaurant in the region. That’s a mistake, in my view, because it’s so limiting — and only further saturates an already over-served market. Still, there’s no denying that heavily-crusted burgers have their place (so long as they’re not only crusted and charred beef), particularly when married with quality simple ingredients like pickles, chopped onions, American cheese, and some kind of sauce.

At Flavor Season in Glendora, the simple Backyard Classic does just that, and the result is predictable if delicious, making it a standout for the Inland Empire. The strip mall restaurant, which is otherwise short on ambiance, is managing not to push the boundaries of the smash burger form but to act as an intentional steward, expanding the virtues of the genre to an ever-more-suburban audience. And for that, we thank Flavor Season for the work they’re doing. 1311 S. Grand Avenue, Glendora, CA 91740. —Farley Elliott

Lobster scampi pizza at the Rose in Venice

Matthew Kang

There’s a new brunch menu at the Rose in Venice, which doesn’t seem to faze chef Jason Neroni serving through hundreds of people each weekend day. While there, he modified a pizza he plans to serve at Best Bet, scheduled to open in the very near future in Culver City. A blistered Neapolitan-style pie came topped with a garlicky, oily red scampi sauce that substitutes lobster for shrimp since we’d already ordered the shrimp and grits. Be sure to have napkins ready for this wonder of a pizza, with thick red oil ready to splatter onto clothes and chins.

Expect a thick, airy cornicione with blackened blobs (which one may or may not prefer) from a wood-fired oven. The scampi pizza shows a good deal of Neroni’s creative thinking forthcoming at his new restaurant, and I certainly excited. 220 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291. Best Bet is opening 12565 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066 within a few weeks (fingers crossed). —Matthew Kang

Spicy no-tuna hand roll at Niku Nashi on Melrose Avenue

Seemingly out of nowhere, vegan sushi is having a micro moment in LA. While the genre itself is not new, some of the players are, including Niku Nashi, which operates a self-described “permanent residency” within APB on Melrose.

The new vegan cocktail bar and hangout in the former Darkroom space (which also offers alcohol-free cocktails and entirely dry days of the week) has found a ready audience thanks to its leafy interior and garden-esque appeal. The sushi at Niku Nashi matches the vibes, served on slate-toned plates and with lots of sauce and sides. The food isn’t groundbreaking as sushi, but it is high quality and thoughtfully constructed to appeal to as many diners as possible.

That’s good news, vegan or not, for many Angelenos who simply enjoy the creative possibilities with fun, colorful cut and hand rolls. No one who is a real sushi aficionado will be “fooled” (not that anyone is trying) by the dishes at Niku Nashi, but for an everyday snack at a lush new Melrose bar, dishes like the spicy no tuna hand roll are more than up to the challenge. 7302 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. —Farley Elliott

Assorted poke bowl at Ali’i Fish Company in Torrance

Matthew Kang

Even after my trip to the big island of Hawai’i last year, I’d had high reverence for great poke, knowing that most, if not essentially all of the poke in Los Angeles falls short of the high standard one would expect to find on the islands. To me, the essence of everyday poke is in the market-style setup with seasoned fish and just a few additions, like seaweed salad or avocado slices. There aren’t any additional sauces or fish roe or modifications, really. Just pick your fish and eat over a salad, rice, or both. I seem to have lucked out in getting the takeout location of Ali’i Fish Company, which also has a more built-out restaurant in El Segundo, just a few miles from my South Bay home.

At Ali’i’s Torrance outlet, it’s just four to five different kinds of tuna or salmon sporting light marinates that allow the freshness and flavor of the fish to come through. Ali’i claims to have its own buyers getting fish direct from Hawai’i, and it’s clear the fish quality is a step above a garden-variety poke spot in LA, given their plump, almost luxurious texture. Coupled with a sweet, chewy seaweed salad and seasoned sushi rice on the bottom, it’s an exercise in simplicity. 4437 Sepulveda Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505. —Matthew Kang

Dry-aged duck at Pasta Bar in Encino

Matthew Kang

The varied, ambitious tasting menu at Pasta Bar in Encino landed the San Fernando Valley one of its newest Michelin stars when the guide returned to LA a few years ago, leaving food enthusiasts in the 818 their own impressive counter to enjoy fine dining without having to trek over the Hollywood Hills. Pasta Bar features all the mores and fineries of a Michelin Star tasting counter, with stellar wine pairings and an Italian-influenced set of small plates where each dish focsuses on a few strong flavors.

Of all the savory courses, the dry-aged duck breast stood out to me, the intense minerality and gentle funk of the duck complemented by a tangy, sweet citrus sauce. The kitchen did a terrific job cooking this to a perfect rare while searing the skin to a chicharrón-level of crispiness. I wished for a tad more of the buttery salsify puree to help bind every bite, that’s a foible I can get over when thinking about the delicious, elemental duck preparation. 16101 Ventura Boulevard #255, Encino, CA 91436. —Matthew Kang