[Los Angeles, CA] LA trip mini report

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

I would totally trust you with more recs! i didn’t even look at the rest of this thread, however, because i didn’t want to go down the rabbit hole of finding all these places I wanted to try. I make almost every where we go a foodie thing, and I kinda wanted to give the BF a break - not have to travel far to find places, just kind of stumble into places nearby, etc. that always makes for iffy eating (crappy Mexican on the boardwalk, for instance.) And I didn’t read any reviews on Gjusta to steer away from certain items. My bad.

And I get that we may not have ordered the right things. I love smoked fish but wanted to get something the BF could potentially share, and he’s not a fish eater. I’m kicking myself about the porchetta.

So, yeah, if I go back to L.A., i’ll be checking with you! and this Board, of course.

[brisket44]

Sorry to hear about your experience at Gjusta. I’ve only been twice and had an excellent breakfast dish with eggs, lox, etc. and had the prime rib sandwich and octopus salad both of which were also excellent. My buddy got the pastrami sandwich and I agree with you it was pretty mediocre. I know they do dinners but to me its more of a breakfast and lunch place. I didn’t try any of their baked goods.
I had a nice meal at Gjelina a fews years back sitting out on their warm back patio felt very LA, but the Cal/Med/Italian menu is something you can get at any number of restaurants in SF. I like to focus on Thai and Mexican when I go to LA (and an obligatory Langer’s pastrami stop).

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

Yes - we should have sought out good Mexican. While i do live in the Latino neighborhood of SF (The Mission), and we do have a plethora of taquerias, my experience from growing up in L.A. is that there is better, more varied Mexican food there. We ate at a stupid boardwalk cafe in Venice (mostly just for hair-of-the-dog purposes) and just happened to both choose Mexican dishes, and they were truly inedible. That was our fault. I know for a fact L.A. can do better. Next time!

[TheCookie]

I totally understand. It’s why I didn’t bombard you with a lot of out of the way restaurants or dishes to try. Sometimes when we’re going on a trip and I put out feelers I get way more recs than my brain can handle. You & I are the same in that every excursion (even in my own county) is a possible foodie excursion. And I too like to give my sweetheart a break from my obsessions every now and then.

Anyway, seems like you had a great trip otherwise and got your L.A. feet wet again!

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

TOTES!!

[TheCookie]

@brisket44

I like to focus on Thai and Mexican when I go to LA (and an obligatory Langer’s pastrami stop).

This! Man/woman after my own heart. Not just Thai - I’m on the Asian food tip period. But I think she was far from a lot of the good spots and only in town a couple days, so. Anyway, Venice is a trip in itself. It’s changed a lot but I still love it.

P.S. I Langer’s too!

[brisket44]

Hey @TheCookie, I don’t want to go too far off thread, but I’ve got a night in LA in a month or so and my sister wants to get some Cuban food. Any recs? We’ve both been to Versailles but many years ago.

[TheCookie]

Hi @brisket44!

Were totally not going off thread! It’s an L.A. thread. Yay! This is the most action it’s seen in ages.

Unfortunately, with all the great traditional foods here Cuban is not one of them. I used to love Versailles but had it recently and it was pretty bad. We also had a family/friend function at Habana in Orange County this summer. The atmosphere was really nice and service was great. But we all agreed the food was kinda’ one note.

The best option is Porto’s Bakery, but closest locale to L.A. is in Glendale. Peeps’ love the bakery (guava cheese pastry & cheese rolls ) and some love the Cubano sandwich too. www.portosbakery.com. If you’re looking solely for a Cubano sandwich I hear raves about the one at A Cut Above Butcher Shop in Santa Monica. www.acabutchershop.com

Happy Hunting!

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

Aw, sad to hear Versailles has gone downhill! Used to love that place…

[TheCookie]

Actually, I need to clarify. My recent experience was at the La Cienega/Pico location. I haven’t been to the fun Venice Blvd locale (original?) in ages. But I hear pretty much the same thing, so I hesitate to recommend.

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

When I was a kid (we’re talking over 40 years ago!), we used to go to two other places for Cuban food: One was called Casa Madrid (weird, I know), a tiny place which I’m sure is closed)and the other was El Colmao, in a mini-mall, which I see is still open! https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-colmao-los-angeles
I wonder if it could possibly be any good still. It was a mainstay of the latino community at the time, for sure…

[TheCookie]

El Colmao is relatively close to me. We’ll check it out.

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

oooh, i hope it’s good! super old school. can’t wait to hear!
damn the pics are making me drool…

[sck]

@mariacarmen

I got the brisket banh mi - I should have gotten the porchetta! The brisket itself was silky and tender, with a slight smokiness, but it was so overwhelmed by the veggies piled on top it really didn’t taste like a banh mi at all. Don’t get me wrong - Banh mis are one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, and I love the pickled veg that comes on them. But this was unbalanced. You could barely discern the meat, and there was just too much veg on it - there IS such a thing.

That was a salad, not a banh mi.

[mariacarmen (maria ascarrunz)]

right?

[TheCookie]

Here’s a couple of new spots we’re lovin’…

GUERRILLA TACOS - Downtown L.A.

Sh*t is Bananas & Paging Doctor Rum

Sh*t is Bananas - Housemade Banana Rum, Mount Gay Rum (eh, eh man), Svol Aquavit (no idea), Pineapple, Orgeat (almond flavor), Lemon. Paging Dr Rum - 2 Rums, Coco Lopez, Kafir Leaves, Lemon Grass, Lime, Pineapple, Orange.

Central Coast Grassy Bar Oysters (best sustainable rating), Ponzu, Santa Barbara Uni, Chives

Super briny, creamy, a bit of tug, Uni ups the creamy, sweet, brininess and ponzu provides a nice, little slurp of flavor.

Hamachi Tostada - Hamachi (yellowtail), Chile del Valle, Salsa Bruja, Plums, Chives

Gilded the Lilly a bit w/Avocado Salsa

For a raw Hamachi dish it is kinda’ rich and wonderful.

Char Siu Tacos! Beeler’s pork (humane!), good char, lots of garlic, hint of 5-star, pickled onions. Just great.

We both (meaning me & my $1.50 street taco guy) agreed it’s our favorite taco right now, maybe period.

Sweet Potato Taco - Roasted Sweet Potato, Almond Chile, Feta Cheese, Fried Corn, Scallions

Great balance of flavors - soft caramelized sweet potatoes, extra spicy almond chili sauce, creamy tart cheese, crunchy corn crumbles, lovin’ the housemade tortillas.

Chef Wes Avila was slinging this seasonal deliciousness out of a truck for years before opening his brick + mortar spot.

---

PORRIDGE + PUFFS - Filipinotown

Hibiscus + Rose Shrub

Plain Puffs

Amaranth Porridge - Amaranth Tempura, Morning Glory, Tomato Confit, Fermented Pennyworth Pistou, Okra Pickles, Myoga Pickles, Housemade Togarashi

Poultry + Mushrooms - Sweet Soy Braised Chicken, Mushrooms, Crispy Shallots, Celery Pickles, Seasonal Greens/Edible Flowers, Mirepoix Rice Porridge, Hibiscus-Shiso Pickled Soft Egg, Housemade Togarashi

Yakimiso + Sausage - Grilled Black Eye Pea Miso w/KnK Ranch Nectarines, Ginger & Aromatics, Numbing Spice Braised Pork (optional), Fennel in Black Bean Sauce, Rose-Geranium Onion and Celery Pickles, Edible Flowers, Negi Rice Porridge

Seaweed + Mushrooms - Broad Bean & Spice Marinated Fresh California Seaweed, Miso Roasted King Oyster Shroom, Plum-Makrut-Daikon Pickles, Negi Porridge, Hibiscus-Shiso Pickled Soft Egg, Housemade Togarashi

Brown Butter Mochi w/Miso Caramel

Flowers, Herbs, Roots, Pickled, Ferment-y Stuff

This ain’t your mama’s porridge. Chef Minh Phan has taken her culinary skills, creativity and a little daring to transform this humble, comfort dish into a bit of magic in a bowl.

[RedJim (Jimmy)]

Wonderful!

[TheCookie]

Thanks!

[brisket44]

Los Angeles/San Diego trip over Thanksgiving.
LA
Langers Deli - king of west coast pastrami - don’t talk to me about the No. 19, just pastrami, spicy brown mustard and double baked rye.
Maccheroni Republic - Great reasonably priced hand made pastas, completely unpretentious atmosphere. This is the rigatoni with tomato sauce and burrata. I had the pappardelle with wild boar ragu that was excellent [for some reason the photo didn’t load].
Wexler’s Deli - Grand Central Market. Classic combo - bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers and onions, really excellent silky smooth lox.
Holbox [pristine Mexican seafood] - kid got the ceviche and fish taco combo meal, I had 8 blood clams on the half shell and shrimp torta. Ceviche was just OK, super fresh but kind of one note lime. Blood clams were great, icy cold, perfectly shucked. Shrimp torta was great as well, fresh plump fried shrimp, used several of their housemade hot sauces on it. Nice hand made tortillas on the perfect fish tacos. Super reasonably priced for the quality of the seafood.
Nickel Diner - strawberry, chocolate-coffee and bacon-maple donuts. Really good but super rich and large. Kid also had their homemade strawberry pop tart that looked great (she didn’t share).
Villa Moreliana - carnitas taco specialist in Grand Central Market (sorry no pic), mixed carnitas taco, excellent as usual.
Fruit cup from Mexican street vendor near the Broad - top notch, ripe fruit cut to order with fresh lime and chamoy sauce.
Giant $6.50 bubble milk tea in from Boteaga in Little Tokyo. [no opinion, they all seem the same to me. Boba shops are like a license to print money]
SD
The Taco Stand in Carlsbad - fish and al pastor tacos. Both really good, they make the tortillas to order. Freshly carved from the trompo with pineapple.
Pizza Port Carlsbad [no pics], great beer selection but some of the worst pizza I have ever laid eyes on (wings were OK).

Popeye’s spicy chicken sandwich off the I-5 on the drive home.

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[Mr_Happy]

Thanks for the report and pics! Looks like you ate well. Holbox/Chichen Itza is on my list for next visit.