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Catch a wave, Los Angeles - we are seeing the city transform into a seafood paradise with the fresh addition of new American and globally influenced seafood raw bars and hot bars. Thanks to our many international communities, we’ve got even more of the ocean to explore. Here are some cool spots for the best seafood in Los Angeles.
Pizza is the perfect comfort food - it’s easy to eat, hearty, oozing with gooey cheese and often customizable with a bevy of tempting toppings. Pizza means many things to different people, including thin-crust, New York-style; deep-dish Chicago pies; and chewy, traditional Neapolitan versions. Any way you slice it, narrowing down a list of top pizzas is no easy task, especially considering our boom in high-quality restaurants. That said, we’re up to the challenge. Discover the best pizzas in Los Angeles.
L.A. is the U.S. city with the most donut shops, meaning it can be tricky to sift through the river of deep-fried rings. Clearly, Angelenos have displayed serious commitment to doughnuts (aka donuts), which originated in the 19th Century. Cake Monkey Bakery and Donut Snob also wholesale great donuts to different coffeehouses, but we’re focused on 20 L.A. places where you can find destination donuts on a regular basis.
Every week, tens of thousands of people descend on Santa Monica to enjoy the inviting beach, bike path, pier, mountains, and of course the food. SaMo has long been a culinary trendsetter, and now boasts several classics, including Michael’s Restaurant, Chinois on Main and Valentino. The farmers market, which dates to 1981, of course helps to supply surrounding eateries with the most current produce. Here are 15 of our favorite restaurants in Santa Monica.
Pasadena's last dining evolution advanced beyond a base of Old Pasadena chains to family-run, food-focused gems that now span the entire city. In the past few years, we've seen even more restaurants dial up the community's culinary ambition. Discover 10 dining destinations, ranging from fast casual establishments to fine dining bastions.
The sizzle and smoke of the tabletop Korean barbecue is one of the definitive features of the L.A. dining scene. The abundance of well-priced American protein and a rabid following of diners has created a critical mass of restaurants specializing in grilled meats, nearly overshadowing the love of barbecue in the motherland itself. Through the years, barbecue restaurants have segmented into various categories – premium, all-you-can-eat, and middle-ranged a la carte, with each place trumpeting a particular specialty or stand-out side dish. Still other places emphasize the grilling devices and methods, where some employ charcoal for a smokier experience and others rely on special grates for more direct heat.
Barbecue is best enjoyed with a glass of ice cold Hite, a simple Korean lager, or a chilled shot of soju, the national spirit of choice. Think of Korean barbecues almost like more affordable steakhouses, where it's easy to get together with friends and family for a casual lunch or evening to celebrate the variety and quality of great beef, pork, and banchan. It's hard to go wrong with that formula.
Meeting for coffee is well and good, but afternoon tea is a treat. It’s a special occasion with tiered trays, porcelain pots, and adorable miniature sandwiches and sweets that look almost too good to eat. Almost. While Los Angeles is an ocean and a continent away from London, there are a surprising number of local spots that offer excellent afternoon tea. Whether you’re looking for a civilized way to spend quality time with your BFF or a venue for a wedding shower, there’s a hot pot of tea with your name on it.
Andrew Zimmern is a two-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer and teacher. The globe-trotting host of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern recently led an expert panel of celebrity foodies to create the list of 100 nominees for the 2013 Munchies: People’s Choice Food Awards. Now through April 30, 2013, the public is invited to vote for the Munchies here.
Find out some of Andrew Zimmern’s favorite places to eat and stay in Los Angeles.
Venice, my how you’ve changed. It seems like not too long ago when America’s favorite Bohemian beach enclave offered not much more than cheap, fried fish tacos of questionable origin. Those days are long gone. Nowadays, the neighborhood is a culinary destination, home to modern fare, chef-inspired cuisine, and some of the city’s best bakeries and artisan sandwich shops. Of course, in the interim, rent has also become prohibitively expensive. But thankfully you don’t have to live here to enjoy Venice’s ever-burgeoning bounties. Whether you hang your hat a stone’s throw from Abbot Kinney, or you’re visiting from half a world away, these are the restaurants you can’t afford to miss.
No longer must Angelenos subject themselves to old, overly roasted coffee. A new wave of specialty coffee purveyors is now either roasting their own beans or brewing beans from trusted purveyors to deliver variety and nuance. Homegrown coffee players like Cafecito Organico, Coffee Commissary and Groundwork Coffee now complement national brands like Blue Bottle, intelligentsia, La Colombe, Philz, and Stumptown, who have all set up shop in L.A. Now, nearly every neighborhood has at least one standout coffee bar. Learn about 23 top indies that are helping to propel the movement forward.
