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Shakshuka at Republique
Ian Arthur

15 Soulful Shakshukas to Try Around Los Angeles, 2017 Edition

Eggs, pita, and merguez but the skillet is optional

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Shakshuka at Republique
| Ian Arthur

Step aside falafel, there's a new Middle Eastern dish that's all the rage right now and it's called shakshuka. For those who didn't grow up with it, shakshuka is a breakfast dish comprised of a tomato-based stew, spicy sausage (though not always), and an egg or two cracked on top.

Everything gets cooked in a skillet and generally comes served with a side of pita. It's warm, filling, and delicious. Here's a guide to 14 of the best shakshuka dishes in LA right now, updated for 2017.

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Roladin Restaurant

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A trip out to this Reseda restaurant will be rewarded with two shakshuka options. The Mom’s is spicy and comes with a side of Israeli salad and baguette cuts. As the name suggests, this is the classic, and it’s done right. The second option is a sort of shakshuka-pizza called the Melted Mom’s. Place the stew and egg over fresh pizza dough, top with mozzarella, and voila…or whatever the Israeli version is.

Hummus Bar & Grill

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Hummus Bar and Grill is the full Israeli experience: servers that seem like they just finished their stint in the IDF, Hebrew spoken all around, and shakshuka that's as authentic as any beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. The stew is heightened with a kick of spiciness, and balanced with the sweetness of the roasted vegetables. Order a side of Merguez sausage for added spice and meatiness, otherwise, use the warm pita to sop up whatever's left.

Oren Peleg

Aroma Bakery Cafe

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This Ventura Boulevard staple is technically in Encino, but stepping inside transports one to a Tel Aviv suburb. Aroma’s shakshuka is traditional. The flavor is heavy on tomato with a kick of spice and basil to add dimension. A hint of sweetness is thrown in for good measure. The dish comes with a side of pickles, olives, and warm, perfectly fluffy pita. Order the Nana tea for a complete experience.

Habayit

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Habayit may be famous for its falafel and matzo ball soup, but their shakshuka is as warm and authentic as owners Amir and Pnina. The shakshuka itself is not spicy, but add some of the green schug sauce (made with Habanero and Serrano chilies) to turn the heat up to a 10. The dish is served with pita and traditional Israeli salad.

Ian Arthur

What was once a Beverly Hills local favorite, Momed has a second location in Atwater Village. Both serve shakshuka, but only on the weekends. Momed gets their spices right with just the right blend of herbs and spice level. At the end, there’s a full pita to help soak up the rest of the dish.

Bibi's Bakery & Cafe

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This Jewish bakery in the heart of the Pico-Robertson neighborhood is a hole-in-the-wall in the best possible sense. Just a few tables that are never empty and a bakery display case. Everything they make is done in their stone oven, including the shakshuka. Needless to say, the phenomenal pita comes served fresh with a side of hummus. Take note that the spicy shakshuka comes loaded up with chiles, and while it's one of the more traditional versions here, it's not served in a classic skillet.

Ian Arthur

Origin Cafe

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The tomatoes are fresh, the eggs are creamy, and the seared parsley garnish has just the sharpness to punctuate the flavors. The shakshuka at Origin is a perfectly balanced version of a traditionalist recipe. Choose between challah or baguette side bread options, or go with the 7-grain toast and homemade jam for the ultimate taste of morning.

Shakshuka at Origin Cafe
Yelp

Toast Bakery Cafe

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After waiting an hour for a seat, Israeli salad and olives come served as the side dish to this solid shakshuka. The plate is one of the most "authentic" Israeli versions in L.A. With plenty of customers speaking Hebrew inside, it’ll feel like a place in Old Jerusalem.

Paper or Plastik Cafe

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The draw of the shakshuka at Mid-City cafe Paper or Plastik is its simplicity. Tomatoes, peppers, and bread. They're not reinventing anything here, but like everything on the menu, the highlights of the shakshuka are the fresh, organic ingredients —from the produce to the bread. The result is a dish that tastes so authentic it could be crafted by a grandmother. Add to that PoP’s solid coffee program, and brick-and-steel-chic atmosphere, and there’s one solid breakfast. 

Ian Arthur

Republique

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Walter and Margarita Manzke's La Brea eatery has a line during most hours of its daytime service, a credit to its order-at-the-counter model during breakfast and lunch. The interior is filled with light and styled like a small village courtyard. The shakshuka is made with kale, yogurt, and some sesame seeds on top for a more modern variation. The bread is crunchy and fresh. In fact, the aroma of the bakery is one of the first things to notice when walking in through the door.

Go Get Em Tiger

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The team behind G&B opened up this coffee shop with a kitchen, and the result has been praiseworthy, to say the least. The shakshuka (here called “Baked Eggs”) includes chorizo (in place of merguez) and ricotta cheese. It's not kosher, but it's sure delicious. The hearty dish comes served with two thick and perfectly buttered slices of toast to boot.

Ian Arthur

Kismet has become something of a poster child for the rise of Middle Eastern and vegetable-centric menus in Los Angeles. As such, shakshuka is something of a necessary morning offering, and Kismet doesn't disappoint. Like just about everything that comes out the kitchen, the shakshuka here is packed with bright, fresh flavor. Cumin and parsley adds a nice depth. The dish is served with a thick, delicious piece of bread from Bub & Grandma's bakery.

The shakshuka at Dune began as a topping for the hummus dish, but it was so popular that it evolved into its own fully-fledged menu item. This well composed plate uses Aleppo peppers for heat and cumin for a hint of the Middle East. The shakshuka can be ordered vegan, and is served with an option of homemade pita or white bread from bakers Bub & Grandma.

Ian Arthur

The Semi-Tropic

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The shakshuka here flies under the name "baked eggs," but the taste is the same: three fresh eggs baked in a skillet are topped with a Moroccan sauce (re: tomatoes with various spices), spinach, and a goat cheese that serves to smoothen out the flavors. Toasted sourdough comes on the side, and some coffee from the bar is always a good call. The warmth of dish and the coziness of Semi-Tropic's interiors are a perfect pairing for a chilly morning.

Shakshuka at The Semi-Tropic
Yelp

Lodge Bread Company

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The shakshuka at Lodge (called Aba's or "dad's") is thick, savory, and a hint of spicy. The ingredients are kept simple: fresh eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and some herbs. The  parsley and dill on top cut through the heartiness of the cumin and the heat of the cayenne. Four cuts of slightly charred country bread are served on the side, and definitely hold their own—just like aba would have it.   

Oren Peleg

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Roladin Restaurant

A trip out to this Reseda restaurant will be rewarded with two shakshuka options. The Mom’s is spicy and comes with a side of Israeli salad and baguette cuts. As the name suggests, this is the classic, and it’s done right. The second option is a sort of shakshuka-pizza called the Melted Mom’s. Place the stew and egg over fresh pizza dough, top with mozzarella, and voila…or whatever the Israeli version is.

Hummus Bar & Grill

Hummus Bar and Grill is the full Israeli experience: servers that seem like they just finished their stint in the IDF, Hebrew spoken all around, and shakshuka that's as authentic as any beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. The stew is heightened with a kick of spiciness, and balanced with the sweetness of the roasted vegetables. Order a side of Merguez sausage for added spice and meatiness, otherwise, use the warm pita to sop up whatever's left.

Oren Peleg

Aroma Bakery Cafe

This Ventura Boulevard staple is technically in Encino, but stepping inside transports one to a Tel Aviv suburb. Aroma’s shakshuka is traditional. The flavor is heavy on tomato with a kick of spice and basil to add dimension. A hint of sweetness is thrown in for good measure. The dish comes with a side of pickles, olives, and warm, perfectly fluffy pita. Order the Nana tea for a complete experience.

Habayit

Habayit may be famous for its falafel and matzo ball soup, but their shakshuka is as warm and authentic as owners Amir and Pnina. The shakshuka itself is not spicy, but add some of the green schug sauce (made with Habanero and Serrano chilies) to turn the heat up to a 10. The dish is served with pita and traditional Israeli salad.

Ian Arthur

Momed

What was once a Beverly Hills local favorite, Momed has a second location in Atwater Village. Both serve shakshuka, but only on the weekends. Momed gets their spices right with just the right blend of herbs and spice level. At the end, there’s a full pita to help soak up the rest of the dish.

Bibi's Bakery & Cafe

This Jewish bakery in the heart of the Pico-Robertson neighborhood is a hole-in-the-wall in the best possible sense. Just a few tables that are never empty and a bakery display case. Everything they make is done in their stone oven, including the shakshuka. Needless to say, the phenomenal pita comes served fresh with a side of hummus. Take note that the spicy shakshuka comes loaded up with chiles, and while it's one of the more traditional versions here, it's not served in a classic skillet.

Ian Arthur

Origin Cafe

The tomatoes are fresh, the eggs are creamy, and the seared parsley garnish has just the sharpness to punctuate the flavors. The shakshuka at Origin is a perfectly balanced version of a traditionalist recipe. Choose between challah or baguette side bread options, or go with the 7-grain toast and homemade jam for the ultimate taste of morning.

Shakshuka at Origin Cafe
Yelp

Toast Bakery Cafe

After waiting an hour for a seat, Israeli salad and olives come served as the side dish to this solid shakshuka. The plate is one of the most "authentic" Israeli versions in L.A. With plenty of customers speaking Hebrew inside, it’ll feel like a place in Old Jerusalem.

Paper or Plastik Cafe

The draw of the shakshuka at Mid-City cafe Paper or Plastik is its simplicity. Tomatoes, peppers, and bread. They're not reinventing anything here, but like everything on the menu, the highlights of the shakshuka are the fresh, organic ingredients —from the produce to the bread. The result is a dish that tastes so authentic it could be crafted by a grandmother. Add to that PoP’s solid coffee program, and brick-and-steel-chic atmosphere, and there’s one solid breakfast. 

Ian Arthur

Republique

Walter and Margarita Manzke's La Brea eatery has a line during most hours of its daytime service, a credit to its order-at-the-counter model during breakfast and lunch. The interior is filled with light and styled like a small village courtyard. The shakshuka is made with kale, yogurt, and some sesame seeds on top for a more modern variation. The bread is crunchy and fresh. In fact, the aroma of the bakery is one of the first things to notice when walking in through the door.

Go Get Em Tiger

The team behind G&B opened up this coffee shop with a kitchen, and the result has been praiseworthy, to say the least. The shakshuka (here called “Baked Eggs”) includes chorizo (in place of merguez) and ricotta cheese. It's not kosher, but it's sure delicious. The hearty dish comes served with two thick and perfectly buttered slices of toast to boot.

Ian Arthur

Kismet

Kismet has become something of a poster child for the rise of Middle Eastern and vegetable-centric menus in Los Angeles. As such, shakshuka is something of a necessary morning offering, and Kismet doesn't disappoint. Like just about everything that comes out the kitchen, the shakshuka here is packed with bright, fresh flavor. Cumin and parsley adds a nice depth. The dish is served with a thick, delicious piece of bread from Bub & Grandma's bakery.

Dune

The shakshuka at Dune began as a topping for the hummus dish, but it was so popular that it evolved into its own fully-fledged menu item. This well composed plate uses Aleppo peppers for heat and cumin for a hint of the Middle East. The shakshuka can be ordered vegan, and is served with an option of homemade pita or white bread from bakers Bub & Grandma.

Ian Arthur

The Semi-Tropic

The shakshuka here flies under the name "baked eggs," but the taste is the same: three fresh eggs baked in a skillet are topped with a Moroccan sauce (re: tomatoes with various spices), spinach, and a goat cheese that serves to smoothen out the flavors. Toasted sourdough comes on the side, and some coffee from the bar is always a good call. The warmth of dish and the coziness of Semi-Tropic's interiors are a perfect pairing for a chilly morning.

Shakshuka at The Semi-Tropic
Yelp

Lodge Bread Company

The shakshuka at Lodge (called Aba's or "dad's") is thick, savory, and a hint of spicy. The ingredients are kept simple: fresh eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and some herbs. The  parsley and dill on top cut through the heartiness of the cumin and the heat of the cayenne. Four cuts of slightly charred country bread are served on the side, and definitely hold their own—just like aba would have it.   

Oren Peleg

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