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Broken Spanish Chicharron

The Single Best Dish to Try in 18 Different LA Neighborhoods

One thing to order, from Brentwood to Arts District

by Crystal Coser and Matthew Kang Aug 14, 2017, 4:20pm PDT

25 comments / new

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Broken Spanish Chicharron

| Stan Lee

by Crystal Coser and Matthew Kang Aug 14, 2017, 4:20pm PDT

25 comments / new

With such a broad geographical spread and notoriously infuriating traffic, it isn’t always easy to eat through all the neighborhoods in LA. So when in a new part of town, it’d be wise to make it count and hunt down the single best dish in the area. Here now, a highly curated list of the best dishes in 18 neighborhoods, presented from west to east.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

North Valley: Pastrami Reuben at Brent's Deli

The reuben sandwich at Brent’s Deli is a study in balance: how the longtime deli takes thinly sliced pastrami and stacks it high with a layer of sauerkraut. Melted cheese and griddled rye complete the package for what might be LA’s best grilled sandwich.

Open in Google Maps

19565 Parthenia St, Northridge, CA 91324

Visit Website

Brent’s Deli The Hot Dish

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Santa Monica: Fried Egg Sandwich at Huckleberry Cafe

Expect to wait upwards of an hour at prime brunch hours at Huckleberry. Most of the crowd has the egg sandwich on its mind, a perfect compilation of sunny-side-up eggs, Niman Ranch bacon, gruyere, arugula, and aioli on country toast.

1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

Fried egg sandwich with sunny eggs, crispy Niman Ranch bacon, melted gruyere, fresh arugula, and rich aioli on toasted country bread.

Also featured in:

Venice: Smoked Fish at Gjusta

Few restaurants are more representative of the current state of Venice than Gjusta, what may be the best lunch on the Westside with an outstanding selection of baked goods and an outstanding porchetta sandwich. The star of the show though is the smoked fish which can be had as a plate or on a bialy with pickled onions and herbs.

320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

smoked fish gjusta

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Brentwood: Pizza at Pizzana

Big words have been said about Brentwood newcomer Pizzana. Thankfully, the naturally fermented dough and wood firing that comes by way of Italian-born chef Daniele Uditi makes for a gloriously chewy miracle that doesn’t disappoint.

11712 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Visit Website

A black background featuring an uncut, charred vegetable pizza from Pizzana.

Also featured in:

South Valley: Burger from Bill's Burgers

Proprietor Bill Elwell makes a fantastic two roadside burger in Van Nuys, along a sleepy road that looks like it hasn’t changed much in decades. Order up a double cheeseburger with some crispy bacon, and marvel at how good this simple burger can be.

14742 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91411

Visit Website

Bills Burgers

Also featured in:

Westwood: Kabobs from Taste of Tehran

There are plenty of great places for kabobs in Westwood, or otherwise known as Tehrangeles for its concentration of Persian restaurants. Taste of Tehran strikes a nice balance between affordable and flavor-forward without being too fussy.

1915 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Visit Website

Taste of Tehran

Also featured in:

Manhattan Beach: Bacon Cheddar Biscuits at MB Post

There may be no more delicious carbohydrate in all of Los Angeles than the bacon cheddar biscuits with maple butter at MB Post. A meal at this Manhattan Beach staple just isn’t complete without the generous pucks of all things delicious.

1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Beverly Hills: Chocolate Souffle at CUT

The chocolate souffle is legendary here for a reason: it’s basically a textbook example of how good the French dessert can be when it’s well prepared. Leave room after gorging on grilled meats from Wolfgang Puck’s flagship steakhouse.

9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Visit Website

Cut Souffle

Also featured in:

West Hollywood: Chicken Parm from Dan Tana's

One of Hollywood’s most legendary eateries has been serving its signature chicken parm for 50 years. Although the dish may seem rather pricey, the hefty helping is more than enough to share.

9071 California Route 2, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Visit Website

Veal Parmasean at Dan Tana’s

Also featured in:

Hollywood: Steak at Chi Spacca

No one should complete a meal at this temple of carnivorous predilections without what is arguably the best steak in the city—the 50-ounce dry-aged black angus porterhouse that is the bistecca fiorentina.

6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Visit Website

Chi Spacca Steak

Also featured in:

Torrance: Soba at Ichimiann

The bucksheat noodles at this Old Torrance institution come in a variety of ways. The basic zaru soba is fantastic on its own, served arrayed on a wooden mat. However, the hot or cold bowls add variation to repeat visits, such as the one laden with seaweed for extra doses of umami flavor.

Open in Google Maps

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

Visit Website

Koreatown: Galbi Jjim at Sun Nong Dan

Once considered a dish reserved for royalty, galbi jjim, or braised Korean short ribs, is best prepared at Sun Nong Dan. Order it spicy and prepare for a super garlicy, ultra delicious stew that has the likes of Jonathan Gold and David Chang singing its praises.

3470 W 6th St #7, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Visit Website

Sun Nong Dan

Also featured in:

Silver Lake: Fried Chicken Sandwich at Night + Market Song

Once an off-menu special for those in the know, the craze for Night + Market’s fried chicken sandwich was so real that it became a staple on the menu. When in Silver Lake, there may be no better lunch than the Chiang Rai-style chicken thigh that is dressed in the east-meets-west accoutrements of papaya slaw and ranch dressing.

3322 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Downtown: Chicharron at Broken Spanish

Ray Garcia’s modern Mexican restaurant has one dish everyone must try: the crispy pork chicharron. It’s a whole pork belly slice deep-fried and then topped with a lime-riddled sauce of elephant garlic and fresh herbs. Try it with house made salsa and blue corn tortillas.

1050 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Arts District: Cavatelli alla Norcina at Bestia

Bestia opened back in 2012, completely revolutionizing the now-hip Arts District. Back then, it was without question the hottest table in town, and now, nearly five years later, little has changed. That’s in part thanks to the ever-popular cavatelli alla norcina made of ricotta dumplings, housemade pork sausage, black truffles, and Grana Padano.

2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Cavatelli alla Norcina at Bestia

Also featured in:

Pasadena: Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy

Perhaps the platonic ideal of a breakfast burrito, this Pasadena favorite has been making this affordable morning classic for generations. Just be prepared to skip lunch.

Open in Google Maps

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91106

Visit Website

Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy, served in a cardboard box next to chili cheese fries.

SGV: Toothpick Lamb from Chengdu Taste

The dish on everyone’s table at Chengdu Taste is without question the toothpick lamb. The fatty pieces of meat are heavily doused in cumin and chili and skewered on toothpicks, practically begging for it to be paired with a frosty glass of beer

828 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

Visit Website

Toothpick lamb at Chengdu Taste

Also featured in:

South LA: Tacos Los Guichos

While there are certainly plenty of excellent places for tacos al pastor in Los Angeles, don’t miss out on this street food favorite that sports two dueling al pastor trompos on weekends. Spinning late through the night, they’re some of the best tacos in the city.

320 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003

Tacos Los Guichos

Also featured in:

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North Valley: Pastrami Reuben at Brent's Deli

19565 Parthenia St, Northridge, CA 91324

The reuben sandwich at Brent’s Deli is a study in balance: how the longtime deli takes thinly sliced pastrami and stacks it high with a layer of sauerkraut. Melted cheese and griddled rye complete the package for what might be LA’s best grilled sandwich.

Open in Google Maps

19565 Parthenia St, Northridge, CA 91324

Visit Website

Brent’s Deli The Hot Dish

Santa Monica: Fried Egg Sandwich at Huckleberry Cafe

1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Expect to wait upwards of an hour at prime brunch hours at Huckleberry. Most of the crowd has the egg sandwich on its mind, a perfect compilation of sunny-side-up eggs, Niman Ranch bacon, gruyere, arugula, and aioli on country toast.

1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Visit Website

Fried egg sandwich with sunny eggs, crispy Niman Ranch bacon, melted gruyere, fresh arugula, and rich aioli on toasted country bread.

Venice: Smoked Fish at Gjusta

320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Few restaurants are more representative of the current state of Venice than Gjusta, what may be the best lunch on the Westside with an outstanding selection of baked goods and an outstanding porchetta sandwich. The star of the show though is the smoked fish which can be had as a plate or on a bialy with pickled onions and herbs.

320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Visit Website

smoked fish gjusta

Brentwood: Pizza at Pizzana

11712 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Big words have been said about Brentwood newcomer Pizzana. Thankfully, the naturally fermented dough and wood firing that comes by way of Italian-born chef Daniele Uditi makes for a gloriously chewy miracle that doesn’t disappoint.

11712 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Visit Website

A black background featuring an uncut, charred vegetable pizza from Pizzana.

South Valley: Burger from Bill's Burgers

14742 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91411

Proprietor Bill Elwell makes a fantastic two roadside burger in Van Nuys, along a sleepy road that looks like it hasn’t changed much in decades. Order up a double cheeseburger with some crispy bacon, and marvel at how good this simple burger can be.

14742 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91411

Visit Website

Bills Burgers

Westwood: Kabobs from Taste of Tehran

1915 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

There are plenty of great places for kabobs in Westwood, or otherwise known as Tehrangeles for its concentration of Persian restaurants. Taste of Tehran strikes a nice balance between affordable and flavor-forward without being too fussy.

1915 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Visit Website

Taste of Tehran

Manhattan Beach: Bacon Cheddar Biscuits at MB Post

1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

There may be no more delicious carbohydrate in all of Los Angeles than the bacon cheddar biscuits with maple butter at MB Post. A meal at this Manhattan Beach staple just isn’t complete without the generous pucks of all things delicious.

1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Visit Website

Beverly Hills: Chocolate Souffle at CUT

9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

The chocolate souffle is legendary here for a reason: it’s basically a textbook example of how good the French dessert can be when it’s well prepared. Leave room after gorging on grilled meats from Wolfgang Puck’s flagship steakhouse.

9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Visit Website

Cut Souffle

West Hollywood: Chicken Parm from Dan Tana's

9071 California Route 2, West Hollywood, CA 90069

One of Hollywood’s most legendary eateries has been serving its signature chicken parm for 50 years. Although the dish may seem rather pricey, the hefty helping is more than enough to share.

9071 California Route 2, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Visit Website

Veal Parmasean at Dan Tana’s

Hollywood: Steak at Chi Spacca

6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

No one should complete a meal at this temple of carnivorous predilections without what is arguably the best steak in the city—the 50-ounce dry-aged black angus porterhouse that is the bistecca fiorentina.

6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Visit Website

Chi Spacca Steak

Torrance: Soba at Ichimiann

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

The bucksheat noodles at this Old Torrance institution come in a variety of ways. The basic zaru soba is fantastic on its own, served arrayed on a wooden mat. However, the hot or cold bowls add variation to repeat visits, such as the one laden with seaweed for extra doses of umami flavor.

Open in Google Maps

1618 Cravens Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

Visit Website

Koreatown: Galbi Jjim at Sun Nong Dan

3470 W 6th St #7, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Once considered a dish reserved for royalty, galbi jjim, or braised Korean short ribs, is best prepared at Sun Nong Dan. Order it spicy and prepare for a super garlicy, ultra delicious stew that has the likes of Jonathan Gold and David Chang singing its praises.

3470 W 6th St #7, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Visit Website

Sun Nong Dan

Silver Lake: Fried Chicken Sandwich at Night + Market Song

3322 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Once an off-menu special for those in the know, the craze for Night + Market’s fried chicken sandwich was so real that it became a staple on the menu. When in Silver Lake, there may be no better lunch than the Chiang Rai-style chicken thigh that is dressed in the east-meets-west accoutrements of papaya slaw and ranch dressing.

3322 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Visit Website

Downtown: Chicharron at Broken Spanish

1050 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Ray Garcia’s modern Mexican restaurant has one dish everyone must try: the crispy pork chicharron. It’s a whole pork belly slice deep-fried and then topped with a lime-riddled sauce of elephant garlic and fresh herbs. Try it with house made salsa and blue corn tortillas.

1050 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Visit Website

Arts District: Cavatelli alla Norcina at Bestia

2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Bestia opened back in 2012, completely revolutionizing the now-hip Arts District. Back then, it was without question the hottest table in town, and now, nearly five years later, little has changed. That’s in part thanks to the ever-popular cavatelli alla norcina made of ricotta dumplings, housemade pork sausage, black truffles, and Grana Padano.

2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Visit Website

Cavatelli alla Norcina at Bestia

Related Maps

Pasadena: Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91106

Perhaps the platonic ideal of a breakfast burrito, this Pasadena favorite has been making this affordable morning classic for generations. Just be prepared to skip lunch.

Open in Google Maps

640 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91106

Visit Website

Breakfast Burrito at Lucky Boy, served in a cardboard box next to chili cheese fries.

SGV: Toothpick Lamb from Chengdu Taste

828 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

The dish on everyone’s table at Chengdu Taste is without question the toothpick lamb. The fatty pieces of meat are heavily doused in cumin and chili and skewered on toothpicks, practically begging for it to be paired with a frosty glass of beer

828 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

Visit Website

Toothpick lamb at Chengdu Taste

South LA: Tacos Los Guichos

320 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003

While there are certainly plenty of excellent places for tacos al pastor in Los Angeles, don’t miss out on this street food favorite that sports two dueling al pastor trompos on weekends. Spinning late through the night, they’re some of the best tacos in the city.

320 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90003

Tacos Los Guichos

Related Maps