Until A Basq Kitchen opened in Redondo Beach, Basque cuisine was relatively unknown in LA. The restaurant had a nice five-year run and it recently closed. The owners created a new California casual fish concept and re-opened as A Fish and Friends. Due to the pandemic, they feature open-air dining on the top deck of…
South Bay
Kotohira for Heavenly Japanese Udon Noodles
Twenty eight years ago, Tozai Plaza opened on the corner of Redondo Beach Blvd and Western Ave. in Gardena. The mini mall quickly became the buzz of the Japanese community because they opened new cutting edge restaurants. One of them was Kotohira and it is still operating today. As you drive by the busy intersection,…
Al Watan, for Flavorful Pakistani Cuisine To Go
Last weekend, I was picking up food at a Hawthorne restaurant and the owner told me that she is unable to process online orders. She was busy and stressed out and rather than argue with her, I opted to find another restaurant and see about obtaining a refund. Fortunately, I knew the area and I…
N Café Features Bento Boxes and More!
According to USA Today, the average lifespan of a restaurant is five years and by some estimates, up to 90 percent of new ones fail within the first year. Chef Yuichi Natori bucked the trend by working for the last 25 years at Chaya Venice. He recently went out on his own and opened N…
July 4 BBQ Take-Out in Los Angeles
Updated July 2, 2020 Due to the State of California prohibiting large social gatherings, most firework displays won’t take place this year. In addition, fireworks of any kind are illegal in Los Angeles County. Finally, with so many people cooking at home these days, why not take advantage of one of these July 4 BBQ…
Saffron Food Mart, a Great South Bay Find for Middle Eastern Cuisine
I drive by the Saffron Food Mart on a regular basis. The market is on the way to many stores I frequent. Because it does not have an entrance facing the street and it lacks visible windows, I think of it as a grocery store and not a restaurant. Seeing a recent social media review…
Swell Deli, an Artisan Sandwich Shop
It seems like Subway is almost as pervasive as Starbucks. They are located everywhere and sometimes attached to gas stations. If I find a new sandwich shop that isn’t named Subway, I automatically feel compelled to try it because I yearn for something different. My wife told me about Swell Deli and I told her…
Week 8 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
Two months after LA’s restaurant’s were ordered to close their dining rooms, a somber mood still covers LA. Some have figured out how much they need to pay the rent with no dine-in customers and others have simply given up. I continue reviewing restaurants that are currently in operation. Hurry Curry of Tokyo Hurry Curry…
Week 1 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
With the freedom Americans enjoy, I never imagined that our everyday lives would be impacted in such a severe way. Freedom means many things and I used to enjoy the freedom of movement or as Southwest Airlines says “you are now free to move about the country.” I thought it would be interesting to continue…
South Bay Restaurants Offering To-Go This Weekend
Confused about what you can and cannot do right now? You are not alone. Fortunately, the staff at LAist consolidated the rules into an easy-to-read article. Fortunately, it is still permissible to pick up “to go” food at a restaurant. If you don’t know how to cook or are getting tired of your own cooking,…