TOPSHOT – This photo taken on February 7, 2019 shows a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline. … [+]
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Los Angeles is more than just an elite city for sunshine and surf. It is also a premier dining destination.In fact, some people even dare to call it that. of The best dining destinations in all the land, including sources as well-traveled as Phil Rosenthal. star of Netflix show someone to feed phil In a recent interview, he told me that LA overtook New York for the top-tier title.
My personal opinion is that Los Angeles, America’s second largest metropolis, is actually the most underrated. Whenever an outsider talks about this town, it tends to have a derisive tone. But dismiss this diverse and flavorful landscape at your own risk. It’s a heaping portion of something to savor.
Yanbang Society — 712 S Santa Fe Ave; Arts District
Superstar chefs (and spouses) Katiana and Jeong Hong envision their own concept as a Korean-American deli.But it really Several We’ve put together a concept. On one side are minimarts and supermarkets with homemade canned cocktails, natural wines and makgeolli. The adjoining restaurant showcases Hongs’ genre-bending alchemy. Porridge with roasted red abalone in a pot pie style. Oversized buttermilk biscuits are dipped in a Korean curry gravy chokka block filled with ground beef and ground pork. Our signature chicken wings are fried twice and then steamed in a sweet and spicy soy sauce glaze. There is matzo ball soup with sujebi dumplings. It can be enjoyed with the aforementioned supermarket adult beverages. None of it is sensational.
Stunning buttermilk biscuits under a Korean curry gravy from Yangbang Society
Yanbang
Saint Laurel — 100 S Grand Avenue.downtown
José Andrés does not disappoint. In fact, despite his global acclaim, the humble chef and humanitarian is the sleek new Conrad, as he does at this artfully rendered restaurant inside the Los Angeles Hotel. We are still over-delivering. His inspiration here was to build a bridge between the culinary traditions of Spain and California. Arrive via fideua pasta with local sea urchin, pomegranate, pea shoots, Marcona almonds covered, fideua pasta with Idiazabal cheese and chanterelles under a gazpacho consommé (adult mac and cheese) To do. Drinks include a refreshing sherry and an extensive list of Spanish red and white wines. At Agua Viva next door, it’s all about playfully balanced, fruit-forward cocktails like the Vanilla Habanero Tolnap Tiki Punch with pineapple, grapefruit and cinnamon soaked in rum.
Al fresco dining with the Disney Concert Hall as a backdrop
saint laurel
Mother Wolf — 1545 Wilcox Ave; Hollywood
It’s already one of the hottest tickets in town. Chef Evan doesn’t have much to say about his funky ode to oversized Roman cuisine beyond what’s already been talked about. In summary the pizza and pasta are all world class. However, the cocktail menu here cannot be said enough. The $18 selection leverages a variety of bitter-forward modifiers not often found in high-bar taverns, let alone restaurant bars, and SPQR is a prime example. A vodka fueled by his Cocchi, infused with orange blossom and olives. Then there’s Contorto, a robust High West rye rounded out with Barolo Chianti and Amaro Montenegro. [insert chef’s kiss].
Parent company Ten Five Hospitality deserves credit for the whole culinary transformation they have managed in this part of town. Between the adjacent Thompson Hotel and Tommy Hollywood Hotel, this group of restaurants counts several notable locations. If Mother Wolf’s reservations are hard to come by, head to her Ka’teen, where chef Wes Avila serves Yucatecan cuisine in a lush space that opens onto the Mexican rainforest. Meanwhile, mezcal-fueled drinks occupy the top spot on the drink menu. First, Ai Maria! —Agave spirit with tamarind, red mole and sesame seeds. Then continue the party at Tommy’s Rooftop at Desert Five Spot. This is a lively outdoor outpost featuring excellent frozen margaritas.
Amari’s cart rolls through Mother Wolf’s stylish dining room.
mother wolf
Warehouse — 101 Wilshire Boulevard; Santa Monica
It’s hard to tell if Masa Shimakawa is a sushi chef or a true magician. Let’s settle on a combination of the two. Fairmont his Miramar Tucked away in a hidden corner of his lobby, a space previously reserved as a warehouse, the maestro is left to his own devices, making nightly omakase for just his eight guests at a time. increase. His chilled egg custard stuffed with lobster, eggs and sea urchins is a dream come true. And that’s just the starting point. Choose a carefully selected sake pairing to maximize the effect of your 6-course dinner.
Sushi Chef Masa Shimakawa presents his tomago omelet at Soko.
Brad Jaffe
Or Bar — 8228 Santa Monica Blvd; West Hollywood
This stylish new gay bar in the heart of West Hollywood focuses as much on the quality of its cocktails as it does on the elegance of its interior. Indeed, both are considerably higher. Apple brandy stands alongside Armagnac and Coconut in Liberation. Twig N’ Berries brings a subtle fruity explosion to an already refreshing gin and tonic combination. And here you will find one of the best Bloody Her Mary girlfriends ever assembled in a club setting.