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…
South Bay
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…
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…
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…
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…
Chef Melba’s Bistro, Seafood Heaven in Hermosa Beach
I’ve always thought of Hermosa Beach as a bar town and not somewhere you can dine on anything except bar food. Despite driving, bicycling, and skating on Hermosa Ave right in front of Chef Melba’s Bistro, I never felt the urge to visit. Due to a friend’s recommendation, my wife and I recently dined there. …
Krust Bakery and Cafe Improves with New Owner
I frequently walk on Pacific Coast Hwy and was surprised to see Krust, a bakery, still in business. I checked their website on a whim, and my jaw dropped when I saw the extensive and inviting menu. In addition, they close later, which means that they fixed their ability to produce enough goods. A couple…
Bowl Thai Grill Complements Nearby Sweet Rice
In 2013, Angela Sakdi bucked conventional trends and opened a fast-casual concept of an authentic Thai restaurant. She immediately succeeded and soon opened Sweet Rice which quickly became No. 8 on Yelp’s 100 best places to eat in the country in 2020. Her family’s most recent endeavor is Bowl Thai Grill, located next to Sweet…
Maru Kitchen Features Delicious Korean Comfort Food
Lomita is becoming the new hotspot for Asian cuisine in the South Bay. Longtime residents like A-1 Chinese BBQ were the early pioneers, and new entrants like Ruiji Sichuan Cuisine and Maru Kitchen have recently emerged. As a South Bay resident, I am happy with this evolution as it reduces my need to visit San…