Food and Cooking

5 Great L.A. Restaurants for Lunch When The Boss is Paying

It's rare, but sometimes the planets align and your chakras are glowing (or whatever), and your boss steps out of her office and asks you where you'd like to go eat for lunch. Maybe she really screwed something up and she knows it, so she'd like to make it up to you with a mea culpa and an appetizer ... More >>

6 Favorite Italian American Delis for Cold Cut Sandwiches

On May 28, the FDA will lift the USDA ban on imported Italian cured pork products. This means we'll finally get to enjoy artisanal salami from parts of Italy like Emilia-Romagna and Piedmonte. Although according to The New York Times, it remains to be seen how much will be made available to us, give ... More >>

Third Street and Western: Live Octopus, New York Slices A Patio Party Upstairs

In the land of strip malls, Koreatown in king. There are stacks upon stacks of tiny one-off eateries that dot the landscape around Western Avenue as it cruises towards Wilshire Blvd., an untold number that speaks to just how well K-towners must eat. More often than not, these are the sorts of places ... More >>

Cinco de Mayo Food Drink Specials

Cinco de Mayo is on this coming Sunday, but some restaurants around town are offering specials in food and drink leading up to the day Mexico gained victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. We highlighted a few events in town for you to check out what's in store over the next ... More >>

World's 50 Best Restaurants List Announced: Noma Loses Its #1 Spot

You know how Noma is often referred to as the "best restaurant in the world"? That's thanks mainly to the World's 50 Best Restaurants List, an annual ranking compiled by Restaurant Magazine and sponsored by San Pellegrino. Well that list has just come out, and Noma is no longer on top. Spain retook ... More >>

Meatless Mondays: Susan Feniger A Burmese Gin Thoke Melon Salad Recipe

A three-week trip to an ashram in the Indian town of Ahmednagar in 1981 shifted Susan Feniger's (Street, Top Chef Masters, etc.) aesthetic and approach as a chef. Before then, her professional purview was almost exclusively located within traditional French restaurants on the East coast to the West, ... More >>

Hinoki and The Bird: If There's No Grilled Tofu Entree, Does That Mean It's Not Vegetarian Friendly?

Hinoki and The Bird (the subject of this week's restaurant review) came up as a possible option for a group dinner I was trying to organize a few weeks back. The group included one vegetarian. "I think this will be a great option for a vegetarian eater," I proposed, noting that the menu had a whole ... More >>

Hinoki and the Bird Review: The Sweet Smell of Success

David Myers' new Century City restaurant is a triumph of the senses

The 9-Year-Old Food Critic Strikes Again: Liam Loves Hart & The Hunter

Remember Liam, the 3rd grader who wrote a fantastic essay about his visit to ink. a few months back? Well, he's at it again, this time putting his efforts towards a review of Hart and the Hunter.

This Week's Review, The Condensed Version: Hinoki and The Bird

This week, the restaurant review considers Hinoki and the Bird, the new Century City restaurant from David Myers. We urge you to read the full review, but you can read the vital-stats-only version below:

Now Open: Osawa Brings Otsumami, Shabu Shabu and Sushi To Old Town Pasadena

At 11 a.m. yesterday, Osawa opened to the public in Pasadena. The restaurant is owned by Sayuri Tachibe, who is the wife of corporate executive chef Shigefumi Tachibe of the Chaya Restaurant Group, though he isn't involved in this project, nor is Chaya. The chef at Osawa is Norio Yoshikawa.

Top 4 Weekend Events: Food Truck Fest, Top Chef Pig Roast, Wine Dinner Food Truck Beer Dinner

Diamond Plaza Food Truck Fest Waffles de Liege, Slummin Gourmet and Dogzilla are among the food trucks gathering at the Rowland Heights plaza -- a convenient location given nearby options like Ten Ren's Tea Time, Tokyo Shabu Shabu and New Capital Seafood. WHAT: Diamond Plaza Food Truck Fest WHEN: S ... More >>

5 Restaurant Picks From Red Medicine's Jordan Kahn

Where The Chefs Eat is an ongoing series in which we ask a local chef to give us his or her favorite dining options. This week, we check in with Red Medicine's chef, Jordan Kahn. Jordan Kahn says he hasn't taken a regular day off since October. And since his restaurant is open until 2 a.m., that m ... More >>

Happy Hour: Hyperion Public in Silver Lake Happy Wings!

Place: Hyperion Public, 2538 Hyperion Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 761-6440. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Deals: There is a range of drinks at this Silver Lake gastropub, including three beer-and-shot combos from $8 to $10. Tall glasses of Pabst Blue Ribbon at ... More >>

Now Open: AltaEats, Chef Paul Ragan's New Altadena (Sort Of) Restaurant

Naming a neighborhood restaurant after its own neighborhood, or what's perceived to be its neighborhood, can be dicey business in greater Los Angeles. Take AltaEats, located on North Allen Avenue near New York, for example. Chef and co-owner Paul Ragan notes that the restaurant he recently opened ... More >>

Machneyuda Chefs Assaf Granit and Uri Navon Bring Israeli Cuisine Center Stage in L.A.

Check out Anne Fishbein's photo gallery of Assaf Granit and Uri Navon's Israeli dinner. On their first trip to Los Angeles, Israeli chefs Assaf Granit and Uri Navon wasted no time in getting to know some of this town's culinary habits. They shopped at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, partnered with ... More >>

5 Best Happy Hours for Craft Beer

For many bars, happy hour means rock-bottom prices for stiff well drinks that could peel paint off the walls. But plastic-bottle vodka isn't for everyone. Besides, any two-for-one deal on Kentucky Gentleman is likely to leave you stuck calling a cab. Instead, take advantage of beer-focused happy hou ... More >>

Pop-Up: Cordero Negro ART from the Ashes

Sandra Cordero has been presenting food with art in Los Angeles since her days at Royal/T. She moved from New York City to help open the now-closed art gallery café, eventually stepping away from the front as general manager to helm the kitchen as chef. This Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, Ap ... More >>

For Once, Someone Got An L.A. Food Show Right: Bourdain's Parts Unknown Koreatown Episode

For the second installment of his new CNN show Parts Unknown, which aired last night, Anthony Bourdain explored L.A.'s Koreatown. The show was insightful, revealing and pretty much spot-on, giving an accurate depiction of both the fraught history of K-Town and its current status as one of our city's ... More >>

LYFE Kitchen Review: This Would-Be Chain's Heart Is in the Right Place, But Its Food Isn't

LYFE Kitchen Review, The Condensed Version

This week, we turn our reviewing pen to LYFE Kitchen, the new health-conscious would-be chain in Culver City. We urge you to read the full review here, or look after the jump for a condensed version, plus some extras.

New Wine Region to Watch: China

In less than two decades, wine has gone from sideshow to main attraction at dinner parties in China. According to a The Wall Street Journal article, "China as a Vast Wine Market," wine sales grew by 20% between 2011 and 2012 -- to about $41 billion. Meanwhile, as highlighted by PRI's The World, a ... More >>

Checking In: Dinner at Cliff's Edge in Silver Lake

Patio season is upon us, and one of L.A.'s most beloved and loveliest patios is the one belonging to Cliff's Edge, a space that's more like a magical tree house hideaway than a traditional restaurant patio. A lot has been going on at Cliff's Edge in the last six months or so, so I decided to swing b ... More >>

10 Best All-Day Happy Hours in Los Angeles

By Sarah Bennett and Erika Bolden When we went looking for all-day happy hours, geographic diversity was a priority. But striking patterns emerged -- namely, the bars most likely to discount booze beyond the typical late-afternoon hours were located mostly in 9-5 work destinations. In fact, from Sa ... More >>

Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares Casting in Southern California

Gordon Ramsay's restaurant turn-around show Kitchen Nightmares is casting in Southern California, and they want your help finding restaurants that need Ramsay's help. Casting directors are looking both for restaurateurs who are seeking Ramsay's council and recommendations from members of the public ... More >>

Top Weekend 4 Events: Food Swap, Colombian Brunch, Olive Oil Tasting a Wolfgang Puck Cooking Class

SGV East Food Swap The SGV East Food Swap is hosting a community exchange of homemade and homegrown food -- including fruit, baked goods and sauces -- for the public. No money is accepted at the food swap. Pre-registration is required and can be made at the organization's Eventbrite page. WHAT: SGV ... More >>

6 Lessons From "Guts and Glory": Anthony Bourdain and Roy Choi on Paula Deen, The Taste Authentic Food

Anthony Bourdain greeted a packed house at the Pantages last night. The Los Angeles installment of Bourdain's "Guts and Glory" tour took place in the opulent 1930 theatre with a crowd that was more academic than hip, and fiercely local as demonstrated by any reference to L.A. -- and especially durin ... More >>

5 Best Happy Hours on the Beach

It can be easy to forget that L.A. is an oceanside city. Brutal traffic and busy schedules prevent regular visits to the coast. But having a destination in mind makes the Pacific more accessible -- and when that destination also features a happy hour discounting wine, cocktails, beer and the occasio ... More >>

Fishing with Dynamite: David LeFevre's Manhattan Beach Seafood Restaurant Opening Soon

It looks like an April opening date for Fishing with Dynamite, David LeFevre's seafood restaurant in Manhattan Beach. The restaurant hasn't yet given an exact date, but confirms that doors will open by the end of the month. The diminutive restaurant -- it's 1,100 square feet and will seat only 36 ... More >>

Brunch Pop-Up: Salt Honey

Beverly Hills-based private chef Ronnie Woo's culinary education began as a child growing up in Washington, with parents exposing him and his two older sisters to different restaurants at home and around the world. Later as a model for brands such as Banana Republic, Nordstrom's and K-Swiss, mixed w ... More >>

A Dim Sum Crawl in Chinatown

Chinatown was a main hub for dim sum before San Gabriel Valley earned its destination status. Now, the Chinese Business Improvement District is about to reintroduce the neighborhood's eats with a crawl designed strictly for grownups. This Thursday, April 18, the non-profit organization will host a ... More >>

10 Best Breakfasts in the West San Fernando Valley: Neighborhood Grub Crawl

The phrase "breakfast in the west San Fernando Valley" may not have quite the same ring to it as, say, "springtime in Paris." But if you're bleary-eyed, hung-over or just plain hungry, the suburbs can provide some great meals to start your day. Whether it's a classic dish like eggs and hash browns, ... More >>

Women and Beer: The Ladies at Ladyface and Women's Beer Forum Celebrate 2 Years of L.A. Beer Education

Are you a woman in Los Angeles who loves -- or wants to love -- craft beer beyond Lindeman's Framboise but don't know where to begin? Don't worry. You're not alone. In fact, as this sprawling metropolis has been slowly changing its beer-drinking habits away from the fizzy yellow stuff, both men and ... More >>

Tax Day Food and Drink Specials

There are few days of the year that we dread more than Tax Day. Sympathetic to our plight, there are several local restaurants and national chains offering specials on food and/or drink, ranging from appetizers to a rib meal to cocktails. Turn the page for coupons and specials. Except for Chili's, t ... More >>

Free Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ice Blended at Coachella

Year after year, Coachella draws a range of notable bands and performers. The weather, however, tends to stay one note: Staggeringly hot. For those headed to the music and arts festival, it might be useful to keep in mind Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's ice blended giveaway over the weekend.

John Sedlar's Critically Acclaimed Playa May Be Closed, But With Rivera and His Museum Tamal, He's Still Cooking

Strip Mall Rat: On the Corner of Venice and Hauser

There's not much going on around this stretch of Venice Boulevard. The bisected street hasn't quite hit Culver City, and isn't close enough downtown to simmer with Pico-Union's Central American spices. Sure, Tacos Leo is nearby and you can find a serviceable pupusa at Con Sabor down the street, but ... More >>

5 Cookbook Picks From Karen and Quinn Hatfield

The Chef's Library is a series in which we ask chefs around town to tell us about their favorite cookbooks. Today, we talk to Karen and Quinn Hatfield, chefs/owners of Hatfield's and Sycamore Kitchen. (From Karen & Quinn) Cooking My Way Back Home by Mitchell Rosenthall: "Our dear friend Mitchell R ... More >>

Le Grand Fooding Crush: From Paris to Los Angeles

There is a fine distinction between gourmet and gourmand in French, according to Anna Polonsky, the U.S. Associate Director of Le Fooding. "The whole idea of Le Fooding is to speak with people who like food but are not necessarily foodies. Gourmet is more foodie in a geeky way, whereas gourmand is j ... More >>

Adventures in Veganism: Soho Thai Fusion Bar & Grill in Lomita

Lomita is known for two things -- a railroad museum and as the place where Olympian Jim Thorpe died -- and veganism isn't one of them. But thanks to Soho Thai Fusion Bar & Grill, that might change. Soho's menu features a "Vegan Zone," which includes soy chicken, soy shrimp fish, soy crab, soy sal ... More >>

Jet Tila Appointed Thai Cuisine Ambassador

Jet Tila has been appointed the first Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine by the Royal Thai Consul-General in Los Angeles, tasked with spreading awareness nationwide and making official his unofficial -- and longstanding -- role as a guide to the cuisine. Tila was tapped for the position after a m ... More >>

Roadhouse L.A.: A New BBQ Concept From Umami Restaurant Group

Umami Restaurant Group, in partnership with Levity Entertainment Group, this is not a pop-up and chef Robbie Richter, will be opening a new restaurant this year at the Improv in West Hollywood. Roadhouse L.A. ostensibly is a barbecue concept, although the players involved hope to take barbecue to a ... More >>

3 Favorites From BierBeisl's Bernhard Mairinger

Where the Chefs Eat is an ongoing series in which we ask a local chef to give us his or her favorite dining options. This week, we check in with Bernhard Mairinger, chef at Beverly Hills' BierBeisl. BierBeisl's Bernhard Mairinger says there are so many great restaurants in L.A., he could start his ... More >>

Meatless Mondays: Becky and Kedist Tsadik, A Modern Ethiopian Supper Club A Yellow Split Pea Recipe

Becky and Kedist Tsadik's Ethiopian supper club Bereket began as a class assignment. In her second year of business school at UCLA, Kedist, 29, drew up plans for an upscale Ethiopian restaurant and entered the campus international food festival for empirical research. Her food kiosk ended up winning ... More >>

Q & A With Soul of a Banquet's Wayne Wang: Cecilia Chiang Why the Best Chinese Food in the World is in the SGV

Back in 2011, when it seemed like the entire Bay Area was seized with Chez Panisse 40th anniversary fever, Hong Kong-born, San Francisco-based filmmaker Wayne Wang (Chan Is Missing, Joy Luck Club, Smoke) asked Chez Panisse's founder, Alice Waters, if there was a role he could play. Waters suggested ... More >>

Israel's 65th Independence Day Dinner with Suzanne Tracht and Machneyuda Chefs

In celebration of Israel's 65th Independence Day, Suzanne Tracht will open her kitchen to Assaf Granit and Uri Navon, chef-owners of Machneyda restaurant in Jerusalem, at Jar for a collaborative one-night dinner on Saturday, April 13.

Q & A With David Miscimarra: The Hollywood Pies Owner Talks Deep Pizza What to Expect at Their New Dine-in Location, Now Open

If you drive by the new Hollywood Pies dine-in location, which officially soft opened this past weekend in West Los Angeles, you just might miss it. Taking up a humble 26-seat residence that fittingly used to house former pizza dive Pizza Mania, the location now sports a modest square sign of their ... More >>

The Undercover Vegetarian: Allumette

During my last visit to Allumette, the Echo Park restaurant featured in this week's restaurant review, there were exactly two meat-free items on the menu. Chef Miles Thompson serves a short, ever-changing menu, and there are times when I've seen perhaps one other salad on offer as well, but the brie ... More >>

Allumette Review: Miles Thompson's Echo Park Restaurant Is Outrageously Ambitious

The Vagrancy Project founder has talent to spare

This Week's Restaurant Review, The Condensed Version: Allumette in Echo Park

This week, our restaurant review considers Allumette in Echo Park, the new spot from young chef Miles Thompson. To get the full rundown on this somewhat astonishing restaurant you should read the full review. Or turn the page for a synopsis.