Though grounded in classic seafood dishes such as fish and chips, the menu at Water Grill also encompasses more exotic fare; the restaurant's sea urchin garnered acclaim in a Discover Los Angeles article about the best places to eat uni in Los Angeles. The restaurant also offers a variety of choices at its raw bar, including stingray from Maryland and rincon de ballenas from Baja California, Mexico. Water Grill's entrees include Maine lobster, king crab, sea scallops, halibut, swordfish, and a wide range of other fish and shellfish prepared with flair by expert chefs.
Located on Grand Avenue, Water Grill has been a hotspot for Los Angeles seafood lovers since 1989. Lauded by Zagat, Dine LA, and the Tasting Table, among others, the restaurant has served as a culinary incubator for two of Los Angeles' most acclaimed chefs: Michael Cimarusti and David LeFevre. Water Grill opened a second location, on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, in 2013 to similar acclaim, with local publications LAist and LA Weekly making special note of the new location's more casual atmosphere and ocean views.
Though grounded in classic seafood dishes such as fish and chips, the menu at Water Grill also encompasses more exotic fare; the restaurant's sea urchin garnered acclaim in a Discover Los Angeles article about the best places to eat uni in Los Angeles. The restaurant also offers a variety of choices at its raw bar, including stingray from Maryland and rincon de ballenas from Baja California, Mexico. Water Grill's entrees include Maine lobster, king crab, sea scallops, halibut, swordfish, and a wide range of other fish and shellfish prepared with flair by expert chefs.
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Serving organic coffee and teas since 1989, Urth Caffé in Los Angeles is a must-visit for those who are serious about coffee and the organic food movement. As the first cafe in the United States to serve only organic coffees, Urth Caffé takes its standards very seriously; not only must all coffee brewed at the cafe be certified organic, but all coffees must also be shade-grown with sustainable farming methods. The coffee shop is also dedicated to ensuring that farm workers receive fair wages, only purchasing beans from sources that have been independently verified to pay fairly. Furthermore, Urth Caffé buys the highest-quality European-processed coffee beans grown from Bourbon or Typica coffee trees.
The cafe's unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability has resulted in numerous awards and accolades, beginning with the 1998 award for No. 1 Coffee Restaurant in Los Angeles from Los Angeles Magazine. Since then, the premium coffee and tea shop has been featured in The New York Times, Coffee and Cuisine Magazine, Vanity Fair, and several other publications. In addition to more than 100 different coffees and teas, Urth Caffé offers patrons a range of choices for breakfast and lunch, including soups, salads, wraps, and breakfast pastries. As one of the most famous cities in the world for gourmet cuisine with celebrated chefs frequently opening groundbreaking restaurants, Los Angeles enjoyed the opening of multiple notable restaurants recently, including Republique on South La Brea, in the last year. The creation of Walter and Margarita Manzke in cooperation with Bill Chait, Republique serves French-inspired dishes in a warm, energetic location that formerly housed Campanile.
A number of signature dishes have already emerged from the menu, such as the Brussels sprouts with frisee, bacon, and a poached egg. Individuals may also want to try the charcuterie board comprised of terrines and pates made in-house. The buttery escargot with pastry puff pouffes is the perfect way to open the meal. Even the bread with French butter alone is worth a trip to Republique. Patrons who want to avoid the inevitable wait for dinner at Republique can visit during the day for a breakfast menu that includes delicious pastries and bread paired with Verve coffee. The restaurant also accepts dinner reservations. Some of the most renowned bakers in the world are located in Los Angeles. The city and its surrounding areas have some of the nation’s best bakeries, including Bouchon Bakery in Beverly Hills. Led by Thomas Keller, Bouchon Bakery has become famous for its kougin amann, a layered pastry made with croissant dough, butter, and sugar. Baked at a high temperature, this treat develops a layer of caramelized sugar along the bottom. Other great treats at the bakery include bacon cheddar scones and caneles.
Bread Lounge, an artisanal bakery and café in the Downtown Arts District, bakes fresh bread daily under the direction of Ran Zimon. The bakery supplies some of the best restaurants in the city with their baguettes. In addition to baguettes, Bread Lounge has wonderful Danishes and borek. Two other great options are Karen Hatfield’s Sycamore Kitchen, known for its wide range of sticky sweets, including a renowned date cake, and Proof. Located in Atwater Village, Proof has perfected the classic croissant. Baker Na Young Ma also offers several playful treats, such as the sea salt chocolate chip cookie. Los Angeles is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. While many restaurants have earned fame for their dinners, a few in Los Angeles have earned a reputation for excellent and creative breakfast dishes. Salt’s Cure, for example, offers locally sourced ingredients and a menu that changes constantly depending on the season and availability. One of the restaurant’s most consistent dishes, its oatmeal griddle cakes, is also one of its best. Salt’s Cure is located in West Hollywood.
In Santa Monica, diners can try Huckleberry, which boasts a variety of delicious pastries, ranging from croissants to doughnuts, as well as various specials. Adventurous diners can opt for the green eggs and ham, which uses pesto to add color to the eggs. Huge Tree Pastry, located in Monterey Park, delivers another interesting selection with its Taiwanese breakfast. This meal features a variety of different sweet buns and pancakes, as well as Chinese donuts. Canele, on Glendale Boulevard, one of Los Angeles’ favorite breakfast locations, offers all of the classics redone with an imaginative twist and perfect execution. A new restaurant with a unique focus is opening soon in downtown Los Angeles. Called ChocoChicken, the restaurant features fried chicken with chocolate flavors. Adam Fleischman, the founder and chief executive officer of Umami Burger, one of the most renowned burger spots in the city, established ChocoChicken to meet the spirit of culinary adventure that now exists in Los Angeles.
Umami Burger has long attracted diners with its own distinctive flavor combinations, and this sister restaurant targets the same audience. Fleischman has become known for recreating familiar standbys with odd and strangely addictive flavors, and ChocoChicken continues this theme. The fried chicken at ChocoChicken does not merely have a mole flare, as one might expect. Instead, chefs put chocolate directly into the fry batter for an innovative twist on a classic comfort food. The restaurant pairs its chicken with homemade biscuits and a range of different sides, including white-chocolate mashed potatoes, dark-chocolate ketchup, and bacon muffins. ChocoChicken already has plans to expand. Serving a wide selection of coffees and teas to complement its equally generous breakfast menu, Larchmont Bungalow greets diners with a cozy atmosphere and excellent customer service. Breakfast options include red and blue velvet pancakes, salmon crepes, latkes, lobster eggs Benedict, and the “Meat Sensation” omelet. The restaurant also offers several vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items on its all-day breakfast menu. Dishes range from vegan quinoa blueberry pancakes to vegetarian and gluten-free “Sunshine's Huevos Rancheros.”
For lunch and dinner, individuals may choose from a number of sandwiches, wraps, crepes, salads, and burgers (many of them gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian) as well as appetizers such as fish tacos, gluten-free lobster mac and cheese, and vegan green enchiladas. All sandwiches, wraps, and burger items are served with a choice of coleslaw, fries, salad, onion rings, or one of several other options. Located on North Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles, Larchmont Bungalow is open every day from 7:30 am to 9 pm. Catering and delivery are also available. Whether you’re a lifelong Angeleno or a first-time visitor to L.A., it can be easy to focus on dining at the city’s signature restaurants, the famous spots where celebrities and studio executives rub elbows with L.A.’s hippest gourmands. However, this huge city hides any number of tucked-away restaurants found in strip malls or quiet allies, neighborhood hot spots that deliver huge flavor and plenty of fun without the pomp and circumstance of the big players. Seeking out these hidden gems may mean skipping the glamour, but it’s worth it when you taste the incredible food.
Los Angeles may be at its best in restaurants that take advantage of the city’s burgeoning Latino population, and little retreats like Los Balcones, a Peruvian restaurant hidden in the Hollywood hills, or Leo’s Taco Truck, a late-night favorite in Eagle Rock, are well worth finding. Italian food has always been a big hit in the city, but an authentic and often overlooked gem is Alejo’s in Westchester, which serves up Italian food like they made in the old country. If you’re in Venice, you’ll do well to stop at the French Market Café, while Hollywood visitors hungry for fried chicken absolutely must visit Bird’s Café and Bar. Featured in the Huffington Post as one of the best cafes in Los Angeles, Blu Jam Cafe launched in 2006 under the management of owner and chef Kamil Majer and his partner, David Fris. Since then, Blu Jam has become popular among local and visiting breakfast aficionados alike. With breakfast and lunch served all day, the cafe has something for everyone.
Breakfast offerings range from the signature crunchy French toast, made with egg brioche and corn flakes, to the less-than-traditional Kamil's Breakfast, which combines pan-roasted macaroni with ham, bacon, cheese, and eggs in a delicious scramble. For lunch, diners can choose from a variety of burgers, gourmet sandwiches, salads, and soups, as well as entrées such as grilled salmon, chicken schnitzel, and Argentinean brunch steak. In addition to Argentinean and American influences, Blu Jam Cafe takes inspiration from the cuisines of Mexico, Italy, and Chef Majer's native Czechoslovakia, from which the goulash dish Kamil's Lunch takes its cue. Located on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Blu Jam Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Burger fans in Los Angeles likely already know all of the usual suspects. These restaurants include Umami, Hungry Cat, Apple Pan, and Father’s Office, among others. Unfortunately, these places always dominate “best of” lists to the detriment of other locations around the city that also serve incredible burgers.
Mo’s Fine Food allows customers to design custom creations. Its signature burger, the Royale with Cheese, features tempura pickles, white cheddar, and crispy polenta. Another fantastic burger is at Slater’s 50/50. Perfect for diners who like spice, the Sriracha Burger is a half-bacon, half-beef patty blended with Sriracha hot sauce and then topped with sautéed mushrooms and Sriracha bacon ribbons. For an unusual burger flavor, individuals can opt for the BBQ Beer Burger at Seoul Sausage Co. The patty, laced with the flavors of Korean barbecue, comes topped with pickled onions. The Standing Room, which is a deli counter in the back of a liquor store rather than an actual restaurant, serves the Neapolitan, an Angus beef patty with short rib trimmings, cheeses, and an egg. The Neapolitan comes with truffle fries. |