What I Ate in LA - long weekend in July 2023
I just got back from a few days visiting my sister in Los Angeles and here is everywhere we ate! We tried a lot of new places this time around and it was super fun!
Dues ex Machina: this coffee shop/cafe/store/motorcycle shop is only a few minutes walk from my sister’s place so we ended up there for coffee and pastries a few times. The flat white was so good and so was the strawberry matcha. Their pastries were quite nice too. It is a such a cool space with a lot going on, so definitely worth checking out.
Pijja Palace: Pijja was the highlight of the eating trip for me! This is an Indian Sports bar serving up great food with an Indian twist. Honestly everything was delicious and the environment was super fun, but the rigatoni pasta was a clear winner for me. I am going to need to figure out how to make this dish at home!
Cha Cha Matcha: Cha Cha Matcha is an obligatory stop for us while walking Abbott Kinney for a bit of shopping. Their iced matcha lattes are so good and well made, it is definitely worth a stop!
Tar & Roses: Tar & Roses is a trendy spot in Santa Monica with a cool vibe. We had a lovely glass of wine and started off strong with a great grilled little gem salad and chicken liver mousse. We really loved our first few dishes, but our next course was just ok. The lamb kebab was a bit chewy and the gnocchi was overcooked. I would recommend this place for a glass of wine and a quick bit versus anything else.
Hong Kong Dim Sum House: HK Dim Sum House in San Gabriel was another favorite meal of the trip and we stumbled upon it when our other plan only did take out. I am so glad we did! This dim sum spot was packed to the brim and looked like it was family owned. The staff was so sweet and we had some of the best dim sum (the har gow was unreal).
Oyabun Seafood: Oyabun was another new place on the list and we were excited to try some Korean-style seafood and sashimi. The place was big and trendy looking (looked like it would be a good place for a group). We thought the food was just alright but they did have a ton of options. If we were to go back, we would have ordered more of their Korean food versus their Korean take on Japanese food. I will say they knocked it out of the park on presentation and Instagramable-ness.
Superba Food & Bread: We were to Superba for another early morning meal before work as it is also right by my sister’s place. I really liked the vibe in here, it was all open and very Californian. My coffee was great and the highlight of the meal for us was the pastries. Our mains were fine, we honestly probably just ordered wrong, but the kouign aman pastry stole the show!
Taverna Tony: Taverna Tony is located in the beautiful Malibu mart, so if you are in the area, I would recommend this place. Was it the best Greek food I have ever had? No. BUT it is a gorgeous place with a lot of nice options. We opted to split some dips and a sampler plate and there was so much food. Overall very nice meal, but would perhaps order a bit differently next time.
Wanderlust Creamery: We stopped at Wanderlust after dinner one night and we were super excited to try their global/Asian inspired flavors. We love the matcha sesame most but honestly, everything was nice!