Dim sum is a Chinese meal of small plates best enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Due to the large Chinese population in San Gabriel Valley, the majority of dim sum restaurants reside there, I learned about Iron Teapot, a dim sum restaurant opening on the westside. My daughter and I visited during…
Where to take Dad for Father’s Day in LA
Due to the pandemic, everyone’s life has been impacted by their inability to do the things they love doing. Included were celebratory events such as eating out on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. With the restrictions lifting in LA, it is now possible to find LA restaurants featuring on-site Father’s Day specials City of Commerce…
Shiku Brings Korean Comfort Food to Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market has become one of the most exciting places to dine in LA. One of the latest entrants is Shiku, an eatery created by Kwang Uh and Mina Park of Baroo. They feature homestyle Korean comfort food and deliver it as doshirak, a traditional Korean rice box. In Korean “Shiku” means “the people…
Pandemic Pivot Results in the Proudly Serving Burger Pop Up
Matt McIvor and his wife Jenn Infanto own Localite L.A., a public relations agency. They created a successful agency promoting many LA area restaurants and the pandemic hit. They immediately lost all of their customers and their livelihood. To make ends meet, McIvor pivoted and created a pop up business called Proudly Serving. McIvor tested…
Where to go for Memorial Day Weekend Specials
In May 2021, the LA County Department of Public Health announced that indoor dining may be open at a maximum of 50% occupancy. This is good news for the restaurant industry and as I drive around town I’ve observed “now hiring” signs on windows. Memorial Day is Monday, May 31 and it’s an excellent opportunity…
Uncle Darrows Delivers True Cajun Experience
Uncle Darrow’s was around long before the latest group of po-boy shops entered the LA market. Prior to their current location in Carson, they originally opened in Mid-City in 1994 and moved to Marina del Rey in 2001. Their planned expansion to Carson quickened after the Marina Del Rey landlord suddenly raised the rent to…
Anzu Gourmet Scores with Japanese Fusion in Sawtelle Japantown
A ¾-mile stretch of Sawtelle Ave in West LA has an amazing collection of Japanese eateries. Named Sawtelle Japantown, you can find restaurants specializing in sushi, ramen, tsukemen, udon, Japanese curry, yakitori, and bento. One of the more recent restaurants to open is Anzu Gourmet, a place specializing in karaage fried chicken. Karaage is a…
Katsu Sando Features Japanese Katsu Sandwiches To-Go
Three years ago, one of the most popular sandwiches to appear on Instagram was the katsu sando from Echo Park’s Konbi. In fact, Bon Appetit featured the recipe for their pork katsu sando. While I haven’t frequented Konbi, I recently visited Katsu Sando, a restaurant located in downtown LA’s Chinatown. If you aren’t familiar with…
Torta Movil Delivers True Mexico City-Style Tortas
A good sandwich begins with the bread. It should not overpower the sandwich and yet be sturdy enough to hold the contents without falling apart in your hands. That said, I happen to have a liking for Mexican tortas. One vendor that does it extremely well is Torta Movil, a business that runs out of…
Smhokin Pot Brings Cajun Cuisine with a Southern Twist
I used to chase food trucks across the city. The craze has mostly worn off and the ones remaining are producing solid cuisine without gimmicks. Many of them aspire to earn enough capital to open a brick-and-mortar. The latest one to do it is Chef C’s Smhokin Pot. Chef Calvin Alexander hails from Shreveport LA….