Los Angeles Bites
- celiclu
- Apr 20, 2019
- 4 min read
New York City is a culinary gem. There are so many different cuisines spread out all through the five boroughs. From dim sum in Chinatown to blintzes in Brighton Beach, every New Yorker finds their go to spots. Every time I travel I can't wait to try the food scene. I'll be honest that growing up in New York City I got a bit spoiled.
My trip to Los Angeles in March, my friend, Phuong and I tried places I've never visited. Yes, there is the famous In -N- Out, but I did not go, and it's for the best. Los Angeles has great spots that I think every New Yorker can agree that it's tasty.
The picture above is from Great White in Venice Beach. Ricotta, blueberries, bananas, honeycomb buttered hotcakes sprinkled with powdered sugar was such a great start! The ambiance is a relaxed vibe where you order up front, grab a number, and wait to be served. They were warm, fluffy, and had that slight crisp at the end. So if you're done with your surf, come here to load up on the yummy carbs!
Yes, I love pancakes! Another great spot for brunch is Catch. They also have a location in New York. The restaurant serves a great selection of seafood. The Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with candied almonds and cream cheese frosting. If you're craving something sweet, order these! The almonds were a great crunchy texture to that sweet fluffiness.
Next up is the Shakshuka with ground turkey, baked egg with feta and challah bread. The dish is from Middle East and Northern Africa and is known for it's rich spices of cayenne, cumin, and paprika. There was nothing bad about this dish, but I can say that it was safe from lacking spices. This may have been a conscious decision because not everyone is big on spicy, but I would've loved more cumin.
Apologies for anyone who does not care for pork, but I simply love it! These had the right amount of fat and smokiness. My fingertips were also not covered in grease. Well done, Catch!
California does get cold in the winter. Do not be fooled by the palm trees. You won't need a Canada Goose but you might like a puffer from Uniqlo especially if you get cold easily.
We stopped by Mi & Greet and I tried their Prawn Mee dish. This seafood broth was perfectly balanced with red chili and ginger with a generous portion of tiger shrimp. If you're feeling cold on a Cali night, this spot has warm dishes to make you feel good.
Feel like ordering take out? Hit up Hollywood Pies!
This joint is making Chicago style deep dish pizzas and it's dangerously good! We ordered the Gable with pepperoni, mushrooms and olives. The only tip I can give is that a small can be quite enough or you'll definitely have left overs if you order the large.
Sweet tooth? Jeni's! They have a wide selection of different flavors with non-dairy options, too. Brown Butter Almond Brittle is my favorite. It's probably a good thing I don't live near a shop! A few of their other flavors are Roasted Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam, Boston Cream Pie, Brambleberry Crisp, and Pistachio with Honey. Jeni's is innovative with their flavors and less frills like most ice cream shops. I'll continue to look forward to picking up a scoop.
Drum rolls, please!
I have found a new restaurant that is now one of my all time favorites and it's called Ms Chi. Located in Culver City, Ms Chi is Chinese American cuisine with a great twist! Chef Shirley Chung creates a fun menu that keeps Chinese flavors but with an American kick.
Cheeseburger Potstickers.
This is the American kick I just mentioned. This dish serves three potstickers with bacon jam on the side. You will need a fork and knife because so much flavor will be bursting out! The crisped cheese on top gives you a nice crunch and with the bacon jam, you're pretty much eating a cheeseburger but in another form. Clever and tasty!
Beijing Zhajiang Mein.
There's nothing more fun than a dish that's begging you to mix and mash it all up! The more you mix, the more flavor you will get in every bite. This dish is served with hand cut noodles and pork belly ragu. It wasn't spicy. I liked how the vegetables in the dish made it colorful. Pork ragu for me is always good. It must be the slow process and simmering that brings out all the good flavors in pork. I absolutey loved this dish and will strongly recommend it. It's also good for two!
We ordered a good amount! There was no room for dessert which only means there must definitely be a next time! The food here is simply delicious.
One last thing, the service here is the best I've experienced in Los Angeles.
Next time you're in Los Angeles try adding one of these spots on your to do list because traveling always gets better when there's delicious food involved!
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