Gowri Chandra We’re not sure if Pedialyte is still a thing for hangovers, but if it is, the best thing about it is probably telling your friends about that one time you were so hungover you drank Pedialyte. For the slightly less desperate, here’s a roundup of our favorite grown-up foods that offer you the best chance of chasing away that headache, be it by the power of broth, grease or spice. Any regret from texting your ex, however, will need additional remedy. So don those crappy old sweatpants, put on those sunglasses and chase down one of these healing balms.
Pork belly hash at Herringbone
If you’re that person that can never decide between the hash or the Benedict and are always trying to combine dishes to taste a little bit of everything, this one’s for you. Featuring the decadence of Hollandaise smothering a house-smoked, salty pork belly and poached eggs, this is all of our favorite breakfast dishes coming together and having a party. The meal’s not overly greasy, but it’s definitely rich enough to blot out last night’s poor decisions.
1755 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 971-4460.
Seonjiguk, one type of haejangguk, or “hangover soup”; Credit: SJ Yang/Wikimedia Commons
Haejangguk at Yangji Gamjatang
No hangover meal list would be complete without a dish that literally translates as “hangover soup,” obviously. There are several varieties of haejangguk, some deep red with soybean paste and red pepper, others milky white with stewed ox cartilage. The kind that you’ll find at Yangji Gamjatang is a grounding beef broth with cabbage, beef rib and — cover your ears, vegans – congealed ox blood. While this might be new territory for those of us unused to offal or blood, its soul-renewing properties must be experienced for oneself.
3470 W. Sixth St., Koreatown; (213) 388-1105.
Chile relleno burrito at La Tortilleria Azteca; Credit: Javier Cabral
Burritos at La Azteca Tortilleria
Nothing punctuates a night of heavy drinking as efficiently as the humble breakfast burrito: filling but not overly greasy, it contains just the right proportion of chewy carbs to unctuous cheese to rib-sticking meat. Unlike most burritos, where the tortilla is just a necessary impediment to its contents, the flour tortilla at this Eastside spot is freshly made and crisped on the grill; it steals the show. Load it up with your choice of cheese, bacon, rice, beans and eggs. The chile relleno burrito is also excellent here, and is what this place is known for.
4538 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave, Boyle Heights; (323) 262-5977.
Beef noodle soup with knife-cut noodles at JTYH in San Gabriel Valley; Credit: Clarissa Wei
Beef noodle soup at JTYH Restaurant
If you’re mad hungover on the Westside, the last thing you want to do is drive to the SGV. But we promise you that these noodles will make the trip worth it. Extra wide and knife “torn,” they’re actually close to dumplings in density and texture, and utterly chewy and delicate. Served in a dark, salty broth and accompanied by tender beef chunks, bright green spinach leaves, pickled vegetables and cilantro, this Sichuan dish is as delicate as your favorite pho but, dare we say, more satiating.
9425 Valley Blvd., Rosemead; (626) 442-8999.
Red velvet pancakes at Larchmont Bungalow in Larchmont Village; Credit: Kara Brugman/Flickr
Red velvet pancakes at Larchmont Bungalow
If savory's not your thing and you're craving the comfort of sweets, there's no better way to have dessert for breakfast than the red velvet pancakes at Larchmont Bungalow. The lurid crimson carbohydrate structure dissolves quickly in your mouth; the syrup on the side is only for the truly insane. The dish is best shared or elected as a side portion with eggs, unless you’re looking to trade your hangover for diabetic leg cramps.
107 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont; (323) 461-1528.
A comforting huge bowl of menudo; Credit: Noah Galuten
Menudo at La Abeja Restaurant Don’t go here because Jonathan Gold or L.A. Weekly told you to, go here because it’s one of the best bowls of menudo you’ll slurp in Los Angeles. The recipe was passed down from the owner’s grandmother, and has been unchanged for the past 50 years: chewy hominy, tender tripe and a slightly smoky broth glistening with just a few drops of grease. Smother it in a confetti of cilantro and onion, and you can check off all the taste and texture boxes.
3700 N. Figueroa St., Mount Washington; (323) 221-0474.
The brisket gravy fries at the Bowery
If you’ve woken up well past noon and have missed the brunch cutoff, make sure you’re wearing pants with an elastic waistband and get thee to the Bowery. There you can order a huge plate of fries topped in cheddar, roast brisket and all that gravy: an American poutine, if you will, and definitely fork-worthy. It’s so rich it’ll put you right back to sleep, which is probably what you need anyway. Poor thing.
6268 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; (323) 465-3400.
Chicken kalgooksoo at Hangari Balsarik Kalgooksoo; Credit: Christine Chiao
Chicken kalgooksoo at Hangari Bajirak Kalgooksoo
Everyone has their go-to sick-day remedies; after tasting this chicken soup, we’re wagering it’ll be yours. Although we have already included a good selection of broths and stews on this list, we would be remiss if we didn’t include this chicken soup. The namesake of the restaurant, it features hand-torn wheat noodles that float in a milky broth, nearly opaque from the bone-in chicken being stewed so long. There are notes of garlic; the broth is buttery; pumpkin and potato make appearances; and it’s all topped off with a generous helping of green onion. The bowl is large enough to share, but you probably won’t want to.
3470 W. Sixth St., Koreatown; (213) 388-2326.
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