In the late 1980s, Chinatown’s Empress Pavillion was a top LA restaurant for dim sum. Since then, the San Gabriel Valley has become the de facto standard for Chinese food, including LA’s best dim sum eateries. Empress Pavilion was known for its wide selection of dim sum served by Chinese women pushing carts throughout the…
Le Great Outdoor – Delicious Al Fresco Dining
According to a survey from Restaurant Owner, restaurant startup costs can range between $175,500 and a staggering amount of $750,500! If you are doing it for the first time, that’s an overwhelming obstacle. Despite this barrier, it is interesting that two young entrepreneurs managed to open Le Great Outdoor with almost no capital and no…
Where To Find Thanksgiving Dinners To Go in LA
Every year, we look forward to feasting on Thanksgiving Day. What more could you ask for from the bird with the golden finish to the stuffing and sides? And although making your turkey dinner is worth it, you may not have the time to prepare it. The following restaurants remove the pressure by offering Thanksgiving…
Fatty Mart, A Neighborhood Food Mart and Eatery
Chef / Owner David Kuo named his restaurant “Little Fatty” because that was what he called a little boy. His humor was evident from the beginning with his first restaurant, Status Kuo. He also opened Skinny Dave, a sandwich shop in Westchester. His latest project is Fatty Mart, part specialty food mart, restaurant, and community…
Aunty Maile’s Delivers the Exceptional Hawaiian Experience
I became aware of Aunty Maile’s when it opened as Island Flavor in Gardena. Before I tasted the food, I knew it would be good because of the big-framed Island customers. The owners moved to bigger digs and reopened as Aunty Maile’s with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. When the pandemic hit, they converted…
Humble Potato – American comfort with a Japanese Twist
While many restaurants feature American comfort food, I notice when someone decides to bend the rules. In 2012, Eric Ong opened Humble Potato on Lincoln Blvd in Westchester. I’ve dined at two restaurants, which followed Most Valuable Playa and Mee and Greet. Thanks to my friend’s suggestion, I finally visited Humble Potato in Culver City. …
Mona Pasta Bar – An Authentic Italian Pasta Experience
I was delighted to learn that an Italian pasta restaurant recently opened in downtown LA. Having fresh memories of my vacation in Italy, I was hopeful that Mona Pasta Bar would relive my fond days of twirling fresh pasta in Tuscany. Mona Pasta Bar quietly soft opened on Ninth Street at the beginning of August….
Celebrate Japanese Cuisine and Culture at Nisei Week
From Sat Aug, 12 through Sun Aug, 20, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival returns for its annual cultural celebration. In its 81st year, it is the oldest ethnic festival in the US; its purpose is to celebrate and share the Japanese and Japanese American culture. This year’s theme is Turning the Corner, a post-pandemic desire to…
Top Chef Jackson Kalb Opens Jemma di Mare in Brentwood
LA diners flock to restaurants that feature their favorite chefs. One such chef riding the wave is “Top Chef” Jackson Kalb. I first became aware of him at Factory Kitchen and later at Jame Enoteca and Ospi. He and his wife, Melissa, recently opened Jemma di Mare, a new Italian-American concept emphasizing seafood. If you’re unfamiliar with Brentwood, you…
Where To Find Hatch Chiles in LA
Once a year, Melissa’s Produce brings Hatch chiles to select Bristol Farms and Lazy Acres locations and roasts them as they do in supermarket parking lots in New Mexico. It is an annual tradition with New Mexicans because they buy the roasted chiles in bulk and use them in recipes throughout the year. For a…