Food Finder: Where to Eat Around Town, Sept 2023
Food Finder: Where to Eat Around Town, Sept 2023
Highlight Of The Best Places I Ate Around Town
Los Angeles is full-on embracing autumn with marine layer mornings, refreshingly cooler nights, and daytime temperatures hovering at a delectable 72F. It's the time of year when I shamelessly unearth my favorite lounging-around-the-house sweater (no judgments, please!) and started mapping out our holidays. Meanwhile, Trader Joe's and Starbucks wasted no time in launching their pumpkin-flavored menu, and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm savoring every moment of this (very subtle but welcome) seasonal transition!
In the spirit of celebrating the changing seasons, I'm here to share with you my recent, fave dining experiences. So be inspired to enjoy a delicious meal at one of these fantastic local establishments in the heart of LA. #staycation #nottouristyfoodie
Two Hommes
Afro-Centric Fare in Inglewood
Jollof rice with shrimp (garlic sauce), black beans, plantains and arugala salad
Two Hommes name is a play on words - it’s combo of French (two men) and English with the accented è where' it’s pronounced homies. So I’m imagining these owners dance to their own tune. I like it already. It’s located in the heart of Inglewood (near the SoFi), catty-corner to the also popular, Italian darling, Sunday Gravy, in an unassuming storefront.
I enter into a wood-filled, bar-vibing restaurant with mid-sized communal tables, benches, and bar stools. Bar counters lined the walls, and a blazing red neon “TH” sign in the window, confirmed I had arrived.
Their food offerings span the globe from Ghanian (Jollaf rice), Mediterranean (Za’tar zucchini), Ethiopian (berbere chicken bites), Tropical (Passion fruit!) and Southern (BBQ jerk chicken)! My eyes scan the menu and I want to try it all! Alas due to limited tummy capacity, my college friend and I opted to split dishes in hopes of stretching the experience.
It’s the perfect place to eat family-style on a casual Friday night. Intentional surroundings without trying too hard. By the time we left, every table was full, and a large family party clustered around the center communal table. I got the feeling everyone was a local, and we just discovered a new staple.
Za’tar zucchini with shito crema, our favorite dish as it was so unique
The Jollof rice and za’tar zucchini more than exceeded any expectations (nice plating too!), showcasing its excellence with a concise menu that truly does justice to its culinary offerings.
I couldn't help but make a mental note to revisit this spot with my partner, eager to shine the spotlight on new, South LA restaurant gems. Go, before they become too popular ;)
Two Hommes at 902 N La Brea Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302 (Inglewood)
Bar Ama
For Tex-Mex, Happy Hour, and my all-time favorite DTLA bar-restaurant
Mole Dorados (off the happy hour menu) - melted in my mouth. Favorite dish of this visit.
My personal, all-time favorite place to eat in the core Downtown LA because it has everything I want including:
Unfailingly good cocktails (both creative and classic)
Happy hour (yassss!)
Food that has a humble appearance, yet astonishing flavors. I’m still thinking about it now (drool). Must. Go. Back.
Casual, welcoming atmosphere #comeasyourare or #datenight without trying too hard
Bar seating AND table seating
It’s in the heart of DTLA, so wandering around and basking in the gritty nightlife afterward is optionally required
Jicama and papaya salad, tangy, spring and refreshing!
Pesco pockets with batter fried shrimp (perfection) and a cheesy exterior
We swung by on a Friday night before Yom Kippur so the night seemed surprisingly chill. No complaints here. Walked in during peak happy hour to a relatively empty restaurant, no wait. Subsequent diners all seemed to have been before (perhaps regulars?), as they enjoyed quiet conversations with family and friends [with incredible food].
My partner ordered the mezcal pineapple cocktail which was perfection in a glass with sweet, tangy, and smoky altogether - it was balanced as hell. The bartender wore a scarf around her head like Rosie the Riveter and rolled up her sleeves to make a bomb unassuming cocktail. I chose my tried and true go-to - red wine which today was Spanish tempranillo. Mental note, to order a cocktail next time!
We dined anticipating our upcoming trip to Mexico City, and basked in the joy that perhaps all meals there would be like this: the perfect balance between comfort and perfect execution. Seemingly simple dishes unlocked new textures and flavors. For instance, their Mole Dorados was a revelation of unexpected experiences. The combination of creamy, cheesy filling with its crispy tortilla exterior melted in my mouth. I exclaimed, “Whoa!” It’s a testament to the chef’s mastery of the delicate mastery of science and temperature. Reminding me that exquisite food, is as much a science as an art.
In short, definitely hit up Bar Ama when you want perfection on a lovely evening with friends and family. It’s the place I’ve been time and time again, but remember how good it is every time. As my memory is a sour beast. The experience is better than the memory.
Bar Ama on 118 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (Downtown Los Angeles)
Gjelina
For immaculate LA interiors and savoring rustic, California cuisine
European-esque interiors, and bomb lighting
Soft scrambled eggs, smoked black cod, mushrooms and scallions
I had a friend in town; wanted them to enjoy the Venice beach vibes and partake in the fresh, Californian fare aka LA”s restaurant scene at it’s finest. So I immediately booked a lunchtime reservation at Gjelina. It’s a toss-up between the warm, casual sit-down and the frenetic deli/sandwich rush of Gjusta. I figured the sit-down would be more enjoyable for a first-time (less vying for a place in line or a place to sit!).
Early afternoon, a crowd was gathered in front of the hostess stand, vying for a last-minute opening; not a spare table in sight!
Japanese sweet potato, jalapeno yogurt (foreground); red-skinned and firm but creamy insides!
Butterscotch pot de creme, their most popular sugar fix. I loved it. My friend thought it was too sweet LOL. Dessert lovers only.
I wish I could say, after more than a decade in Los Angeles, that I’m over Gjelina. But once I return, I am reminded how it captures LA, and Venice cuisine as how locals think of it, and how outsiders dream of it. Casual, rustic without being uptight. It’s quiet luxury, which LA is so good at capturing. It’s as much as a vibe as it is about the food. It’s the people and the hype. To my right sat a younger couple who took immaculate photos, and savored their food quietly. Then to my left, and older couple who caught up on industry gossip.
So I keep going because it captures a piece of my LA soul and it offers a little something of LA for visitors to take with them.
Gjelina at 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice CA 90291 (Venice)
About Linhda
Linhda loves being a tourist in her own city and sharing her 10+ years of Los Angeles knowledge with others!
She is an avid bike-to-work cyclist (aka commuter), and has recently taken up roller skating. If you have any LA questions drop her a line or say HELLO! I love meeting new peeps. Cheers, linhdy@outlook.com
