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Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Uracha Chaiyapinunt

11 Feast-Worthy Pork Chops to Try in Los Angeles

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Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
| Uracha Chaiyapinunt

Pork chops have traditionally suffered from an image problem. In most cases, pork chops are a decidedly unsexy food; the nondescript cut is often eschewed on Instagram feeds for the likes of clams and lardo tacos and sea urchin toasts.

It's that same off-the-radar quality that gives the humble pork chop so much of its appeal. The comforting, substantive and lean cut is given to overcooking and is often overlooked for its more exotic-sounding counterparts (the far-too-ubiquitous pork belly comes to mind), but a proper pork chop is a happy medium, a protein that's capable of being at once healthy and satisfying, both meaty and subtle.

As for that image problem? Forget it. Pork chops are in — from large format bone-in tomahawks to ritzy skewers to old school fried chops, here are some great places to dine on the swine in Los Angeles.

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Tomahawk Pork Chop at Chi Spacca

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By purist's standards, chi SPACCA makes the best pork chop in the city. The hulking Tomahawk pork chop can serve a hungry couple or make for large format sharing, but the treatment of the chop is surprisingly delicate. Grilled in a rather finicky process and coated generously with fennel pollen, the chop gets bifurcated and served separated from belly to bone. Give the belly to a less suspecting diner, though: The real magic is closest to the bone.

Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Uracha Chaiyapinunt

Iberico Pork Skewers at Raku

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Though Raku’s pork chops won’t come in the form of a chop, the Iberico pork skewers take the meat just under the belly, cube it and grill them over coals, robata-style. One bite in the diner is overwhelmed by the rich taste of pork fat injected with an umami boost from the glaze. For fans of pork, it’s a must order at the Las Vegas import.

Fennel Crusted Heritage Chop at Sotto

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Sotto’s fennel crusted heritage chop takes the Chi Spacca formula and scales it down a notch (or three). The grilled chop gets a solid crust from the fennel seed and salt rub, and it comes both juicy and fork-tender, making it more than just a protein also-ran at one of the city’s better Italian restaurants.

Char Siu Pork Chop at Jar Restaurant

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Suzanne Tracht’s midtown meat haunt does many things well, but the char siu Berkshire double pork chop is a playful take on a chophouse standby. The sweet, salty and altogether savory double chop benefits from the strength of its marinade and gracefully sidesteps being a compulsory menu item and plunges into cult-following territory.

Double-thick Kurobuta Pork Chop at CUT

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Ordering the double thick Kurobuta pork chop might elicit some quizzical glances and the wrinkling of noses. After all, the sleek Richard Meier-designed cavern in the Beverly Wilshire isn’t so much a chophouse as it is a sybaritic citadel of stupendously marbled steaks. What CUT doesn’t get enough credit for, however, is its rich, comforting side dishes like creamed spinach crowned with a sunny-side-up egg, or cavatappi mac and cheese. What better way to balance out the heft than with the (comparatively) light protein of a Kurobuta pork chop that’s guided to perfect doneness and finished with a seasonal fruit mostarda?

Pork Chop at Tom Bergin's

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Tom Bergin’s is known to have better pub fare than most, and their pork chop is no exception. Served up pan-roasted with apple butter and a side of slaw, it’s a little leaner than most pub food and a plenty serviceable option if you need something a little healthier than their famous corned beef poutine to go with a cold pint.

Dry-Aged Pork Chop alla Saltimboca at République

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Walter Manzke prepares a dry-aged Cook's Ranch pork chop at his instant classic of a restaurant on La Brea. The cut comes "saltimboca" style, with polenta, sage, prosciutto, and roasted pear, and is big enough for the entire table to share.

Sierra Prescott

Pork Chop Rice at Old Country Cafe

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The pork chop rice at Old Country Cafe was the subject of a guest article from Esther Tseng, and it’s easy to see why. Crunchy batter, not too salty and perfect over rice with a hard-boiled egg and a side of mince meat makes the recent price hike for this Taiwanese comfort food staple completely justified.

Southern-style Fried Pork Chops at Pann's

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Frying a pork chop usually lends to the lean pork chop being overcooked, but not at Pann’s, where the surprisingly juicy, crackly-skinned chop is perfect alongside comfort food staples like braised greens, macaroni and cheese and, of course, those massive onion rings.

Grilled Country Cut Pork Chop at Hinterland

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Hinterland has a tight menu of Southern-style classics, but the pork chop might be the one to beat on the menu (shrimp & grits notwithstanding). The Niman Ranch cut comes with a seasonal mix of mushroom, cipollini onions, and a dense marsala sauce that'll make it delicious to the last bite.

Pork Porterhouse at Bestia

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Chef Ori Menashe prepares a massive tomahawk pork chop that changes seasonally, but currently comes with a pumpkin mostarda and red sorrel. It's definitely big enough for the entire table to share.

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Tomahawk Pork Chop at Chi Spacca

By purist's standards, chi SPACCA makes the best pork chop in the city. The hulking Tomahawk pork chop can serve a hungry couple or make for large format sharing, but the treatment of the chop is surprisingly delicate. Grilled in a rather finicky process and coated generously with fennel pollen, the chop gets bifurcated and served separated from belly to bone. Give the belly to a less suspecting diner, though: The real magic is closest to the bone.

Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Tomahawk pork chop at Chi Spacca
Uracha Chaiyapinunt

Iberico Pork Skewers at Raku

Though Raku’s pork chops won’t come in the form of a chop, the Iberico pork skewers take the meat just under the belly, cube it and grill them over coals, robata-style. One bite in the diner is overwhelmed by the rich taste of pork fat injected with an umami boost from the glaze. For fans of pork, it’s a must order at the Las Vegas import.

Fennel Crusted Heritage Chop at Sotto

Sotto’s fennel crusted heritage chop takes the Chi Spacca formula and scales it down a notch (or three). The grilled chop gets a solid crust from the fennel seed and salt rub, and it comes both juicy and fork-tender, making it more than just a protein also-ran at one of the city’s better Italian restaurants.

Char Siu Pork Chop at Jar Restaurant

Suzanne Tracht’s midtown meat haunt does many things well, but the char siu Berkshire double pork chop is a playful take on a chophouse standby. The sweet, salty and altogether savory double chop benefits from the strength of its marinade and gracefully sidesteps being a compulsory menu item and plunges into cult-following territory.

Double-thick Kurobuta Pork Chop at CUT

Ordering the double thick Kurobuta pork chop might elicit some quizzical glances and the wrinkling of noses. After all, the sleek Richard Meier-designed cavern in the Beverly Wilshire isn’t so much a chophouse as it is a sybaritic citadel of stupendously marbled steaks. What CUT doesn’t get enough credit for, however, is its rich, comforting side dishes like creamed spinach crowned with a sunny-side-up egg, or cavatappi mac and cheese. What better way to balance out the heft than with the (comparatively) light protein of a Kurobuta pork chop that’s guided to perfect doneness and finished with a seasonal fruit mostarda?

Pork Chop at Tom Bergin's

Tom Bergin’s is known to have better pub fare than most, and their pork chop is no exception. Served up pan-roasted with apple butter and a side of slaw, it’s a little leaner than most pub food and a plenty serviceable option if you need something a little healthier than their famous corned beef poutine to go with a cold pint.

Dry-Aged Pork Chop alla Saltimboca at République

Walter Manzke prepares a dry-aged Cook's Ranch pork chop at his instant classic of a restaurant on La Brea. The cut comes "saltimboca" style, with polenta, sage, prosciutto, and roasted pear, and is big enough for the entire table to share.

Sierra Prescott

Pork Chop Rice at Old Country Cafe

The pork chop rice at Old Country Cafe was the subject of a guest article from Esther Tseng, and it’s easy to see why. Crunchy batter, not too salty and perfect over rice with a hard-boiled egg and a side of mince meat makes the recent price hike for this Taiwanese comfort food staple completely justified.

Southern-style Fried Pork Chops at Pann's

Frying a pork chop usually lends to the lean pork chop being overcooked, but not at Pann’s, where the surprisingly juicy, crackly-skinned chop is perfect alongside comfort food staples like braised greens, macaroni and cheese and, of course, those massive onion rings.

Grilled Country Cut Pork Chop at Hinterland

Hinterland has a tight menu of Southern-style classics, but the pork chop might be the one to beat on the menu (shrimp & grits notwithstanding). The Niman Ranch cut comes with a seasonal mix of mushroom, cipollini onions, and a dense marsala sauce that'll make it delicious to the last bite.

Pork Porterhouse at Bestia

Chef Ori Menashe prepares a massive tomahawk pork chop that changes seasonally, but currently comes with a pumpkin mostarda and red sorrel. It's definitely big enough for the entire table to share.

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