Besha RodellWhere 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 Ernesto Uchimura, chef at Plan Check Kitchen + Bar.
At Plan Check, chef Ernesto Uchimura offers up comfort food in the form of burgers, pastrami, and one heck of a fried chicken sandwich. So it's no wonder that many of Uchimura's favorite places to eat when he's off work serve up international comfort food. Here, in no particular order, are 6 of his favorite places around town.
“A hole in the wall on Pico Blvd in Mid-City area — I just recently discovered this Guatemalan style ceviche spot and am hooked on the Chapin Ceviche. I usually seek it out on a hot day after a morning surf, pop some habanero sauce and I'm sweating.”
“A small unassuming eatery on Western Ave. in K-town that serves up the best chicken around. I love the smokey flavor of the Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken that's cooked over wood. It's so juicy and delicious especially when paired with their aji verde sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.”
4. Tsujita L.A.
“I live close by, not to mention work a few blocks up from this place, so this is a staple for me. I absolutely crave the ajitama tsukemen. It's an intensely flavored dipping ramen dish and that ajitama egg is magical. I usually order an extra egg.”
“I grew up close to here, and this place has a nostalgic feel to me. I like to chill next to the fire pit and grind on a big old hot pastrami dip on a french roll with some childhood fave crinkle cut fries and a coke.”
2. Apple Pan
“Pure nostalgia at this west side institution. Sit at the counter and watch them cook your food. Hickory Burger with fries and a can of coke hits the spot every time. I'll have a banana cream pie to finish when I'm going big.”
“Another spot on Sawtelle Blvd. that hits the spot. These guys serve up some chronic-ass sausages and rice balls, not to mention they are rad bros. I like the spicy pork sausage with the apple slaw. They also serve up a very crave-able fried chicken dish called Da KFC.”
See also: Where The Chefs Eat Archives.
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