WHY The Pioneer rice special, a combination of crispy minced shrimp cake, slabs of grilled marinated pork, delicate steamed egg loaf and a salad garnish, has customers returning again and again. WHAT The small city of Artesia may be famed for Little India, in which this Vietnamese place sits, but in fact it’s as multinational [...]
The same folks who’ve brought us the LA Street Food Fest are back with a new event that looks mighty promising. Called Artisanal LA, it’s a celebration of local food and drink, often from micro-producers, such as Flying Pie Man, Spun City Organics, Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery, Silverlake Farms and Chicks With Knives’ Perishable Pickle [...]
WHY Neighborhood charm with gourmet soul. WHAT Surrounded by a quaint neighborhood of historic homes and breezy apartments, this bright, quirky café has become a hub of local life. (Come in alone and you can sit at a long communal table with soon-to-be friends.) For breakfast, try the mascarpone-stuffed French toast or the sweet and [...]
WHY For kosher, Israeli-style Middle Eastern cooking that’s fresher, lighter and more flavorful than most. WHAT This storefront looks cheesy from the outside, but inside is a cheerful café with yellow walls, vintage French posters and granite café tables. Its Middle Eastern cooking is a bit different from the Lebanese norm: easier on the oil [...]
WHY High-quality Chiu Chow dim sum, and lots of it. Don’t miss the taro and the exceptionally juicy sui mai. WHAT This vast and grand restaurant is famed for the incredible range of its dim sum-60 choices most weekdays and 80 on weekends—and its Chiu Chow expertise also extends to dishes like the whole perch [...]
WHY That Abbot Kinney esprit, plus a chance to feel virtuous and catered-to at the very same meal. WHAT From the sidewalk, Axe (pronounced ‘ah-shay’) looks so understated as to be practically unmarked, but that hasn’t stopped the hordes from discovering its green-friendly menu and tastefully minimalist vibe. The entrées, like the porterhouse pork chop [...]
The 2011 edition of EAT: Los Angeles hits the streets this week, and in honor of the occasion three of us—Miles Clements, Jean T. Barrett and Colleen Dunn Bates—will be guests on Larry Mantle’s AirTalk on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. We’ll be talking about what’s new in L.A.’s vast, constantly changing culinary landscape, and of [...]
WHY For 46 beers on tap, with great choices from Ireland, England and Belgium, and solid English fare, including a good chicken curry and lovely pasties. WHAT A pleasantly old-school pub (pressed tin ceilings, polished wooden floors, walled patio) that perfectly suits its old-fashioned setting in Sierra Madre’s village center. In the back is a [...]
WHY Kala jeera (black cumin) or French four spice, and knowledgeable staffers who can tell you what to do with them. WHAT This Wisconsin-based chain is the Grand Cru of spice shops. At both the new Santa Monica branch and in Torrance, you’ll find a dizzying selection of chile powder, cinnamon and pepper blends. The [...]
WHY For a taste of au courant Thai cooking followed by fine-dining-caliber desserts. WHAT A stylish storefront noodleteria where noodles are just a start. The kap klâem-bar-snack-like small plates-reflect the urban Thai culinary trends inspired by owner Billy Jalanugraha’s visits to his native Bangkok. Don’t miss the house version of larb tod: the fried ground [...]
