1 week Ago
Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town. Los Angeles experienced an unprecedented climate catastrophe in early January when the Palisades Fire ravaged Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu , and the Eaton Fire tore through much of Altadena .
Across the city, restaurants have mobilized to provide support, relief, and free meals to impacted residents and first responders . The effects of the fires have been felt across the wider industry, as impacted restaurants face a future of rebuilding, while others find their dining rooms empty. These recommendations reflect our ongoing support of the industry as a whole.
For a polished Korean barbecue situation worthy of the top tier: Origin BBQ It makes close to zero sense why Quarters is packed until late at night and its sister restaurant Origin just a few doors down remains quiet after 10 p.m.: Origin could be my second favorite new Korean barbecue spot to open in Los Angeles in recent years (after K-Team, which I have visited too many times to count).
The restaurant may have removed its signature ddukgalbi from the menu, but the bulgogi and pork jowl remain two of the better options in town. I love how the jowls, fatty and plump, gain a nice crisp edge from the searing hot steel grill pan. Banchan and sauces are on-point, from the dressed salad and shaved green onion slaw to the pickled radish slices.
Origin might not have that “new restaurant shine” anymore, but it’s my top recommendation for Korean barbecue newbies. 3465 W. Sixth Street, Suite 20, Los Angeles, CA 90020.
— Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For Panamian food by the beach: Si! Mon It’s not peak beach season anymore — fog hangs low around Venice, its tendrils slinking all the way to the canals. But for those of us who feel an affinity for beach-adjacent dining year-round, even the chilliest California winter night won’t discourage a trip to Si! Mon. The restaurant still feels bustling, with warm light cast over its enclosed patio and smaller indoor dining room.
Regulars know it’s hard to go wrong when ordering with the kanpachi and surf clam ceviches, crispy green banana patacones, and crisped pork belly served over a bed of beans. No meal is complete without at least one plate of the richly seasoned fried chicken drumsticks, which happen to be gluten-free. 60 N.
Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For an Italian sandwich that always hits: Ggiata Yes, Ggiata has expanded into somewhat of a mini-chain in Los Angeles, but the team has managed to keep the quality on point at each location. While some expansions offer less-than-ideal results, the sandwiches at Ggiata just keep getting better.
The Spicy P remains a house favorite, with a crispy chicken cutlet doused in spicy vodka sauce and topped with cheese, basil, and pesto. The chicken Caesar wrap, an East Coast icon made permanent on the menu in 2024, has a pleasantly rich salad and craggy pieces of fried chicken cutlet wrapped up in a pliant tortilla. Its multiple locations means you’re probably always near a Ggiata, making it easy to satisfy a craving any time.
5009 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest For a vibey brunch that isn’t trying too hard: Vicky’s All Day There’s something about a vibey cafe that isn’t trying too hard to be a vibey cafe. Vicky’s All Day in West Adams just is , and that’s part of its charm — the mostly mid-century modern dining room with Art Deco flourishes isn’t soulless, the food is casually great.
Here you can get stacked breakfast plates with a seared half tomato, fluffy scrambled eggs, crisped and smashed potatoes, and bacon-like pastrami, offset by a small mountain of lightly dressed market greens. The tangy, chile-spiked Chinese chicken lettuce wraps are the ones from your childhood but 8,000 times better — and hotter. The shakshuka comes with airy, blistered laffa bread the size of a newborn.
From the same folks behind next door Mizlala, you can find those Levantine flourishes in the lox and avocado toasts, the rose-honey yogurt bowls, and on the sandwich side: a sabich pita comes glistening with amba and tahini under a pile of chopped salad and herbs. This is your weekend plan, so go. 5410 W.
Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager Related Sign up for our newsletter. Check your inbox for a welcome email.
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