In the last few years, I’ve been fascinated by the advances in vegetarian cooking. Instead of tofu being the main ingredient, chefs use other meat substitutes like tempeh, black beans, seitan, and chickpeas. Pura Vita became the first 100% plant-based Italian Restaurant in LA, and they recently opened their third restaurant in Redondo Beach. Chef…
Tata’s Cafe, an American Cafe with a Salvadoran Spin
When I worked from the office, I enjoyed eating lunch in restaurants near El Segundo. I typically wandered into nearby Lawndale and Hawthorne because the food was more diverse and exciting to me. One such restaurant was Pupuseria El Cerro Verde. During the pandemic, they closed down and recently re-opened as Tata’s Cafe. The owner…
Ramen Discoveries, A Popup Dining Series
In celebration of JAPAN HOUSE’s current exhibition, “The Art of the Ramen Bowl,” JAPAN HOUSE created Ramen Discoveries, a delicious popup series showcasing the diverse flavors of Japanese ramen. Now through July, guests will be able to pair their visit to the exhibition with a trip to their fifth-floor restaurant space to experience world-class ramen….
Nouilles of 3rds, Cambodian Take on Vietnamese Pho
When I drive on PCH through Lomita, I’m always looking for new restaurants. I’ve been happy to see new regional Chinese restaurants appear in the last few years like DimSum 101. Due to the construction in the strip mall taking place, I was never interested in trying out Nouilles of 3rds. My one year of…
How to Better Appreciate Japanese Food in LA
Japanese food has become a favorite of not only locals from its home country, but also of people all around the world. The fun mix of different flavors has made it a staple for adventurous and picky eaters alike. Some of the most popular Japanese dishes include sushi, ramen, and katsu. The food is also characterized by…
Kozo Sushi – Great Option for Japanese Take-Out Sushi
The Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance is best known for its many Japanese eateries, such as Nijiya Market, Iccho, Ichimi-An, and Yamaya. Sushi Boy recently closed and reopened in a new location in the mall as Kozo Sushi. Kozo Sushi took over the retail space where Sub Society resided. It is a fast-casual restaurant with an extensive…
Palestinian Cuisine Discovered at Jerusalem Chicken
It’s all about chicken at a new Palestinian restaurant in LA’s Windsor Hills section on Slauson. Owner Sami Othman, is a veteran restauranteur who started Orleans and York, a deli with five locations featuring NY deli sandwiches and New Orleans-style po-boys. Othman felt that it was time to go back to his Palestinian roots. He…
Dim Sum 101 Delivers Quality Dim Sum to the South Bay
Most dim sum connoisseurs categorically state that the best dim sum in LA may be found in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV). Sea Harbor, Elite, and Lunasia are a few they usually utter when asked. From my house, it can take just under an hour with no traffic to arrive to the SGV. With traffic,…
Piccini Delivers Dine-In Quality For Italian Takeout
Updated Oct 31, 2022 During the pandemic, some restaurant owners took advantage of the downtime to create new concepts. Due to the staffing shortage, fast-casual restaurants became popular because they don’t require servers. One example in the South Bay was Piccini, a restaurant created by the owners of Gaetano’s in Torrance. Piccini means young children…
Nostalgia Bar & Lounge, A Retro Bar with Quality Food
With COVID restrictions largely lifted, people seek ways to get out of the house and have fun. For me, it’s terrific to see restaurants and bars back open again. The Nostalgia Bar & Lounge is one of the most recent to open. I attended their grand opening ribbon-cutting event with the Santa Monica Chamber of…