LA July- August 2019

It is always nice to go back to LA. although this time was the longest i have stayed in america, the time still flew by. i never have enough time.

First Meal once upon arriving in LA, In N Out

Malibu Pier

Breakfast Burrito at Malibu Farm

Fishing Rods at the Malibu Pier

Surfers Rancheros at Malibu Farm

Tan Hua Flower or Queen of the Night

Six Weeker Burger at Stout Burger

Tan Hua Flower or Queen of the Night

Yellowtail with Sweet Potato Fries and Quinoa Salad at Lure Fish House

Trout with Cilantro Corn Salad and Pineapple Coleslaw at Lure Fish House

Pool Day

Carnitas Tacos at La Villita Catina

Black Sesame Shaved Ice Cream with Toppings at Blockheads Shavery

Strawberry Cheesecake Galette

Malibu Farm Restaurant and Cafe

23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

https://www.malibu-farm.com/malibu-pier/

If you are looking for a great breakfast spot with a nice view then head to the malibu cafe. it is a bit pricey but you do pay for the locally sourced products and most importantly the view and location. the cafe is located right at the end of the pier and if the weather is nice you can sit up on their rooftop deck to enjoy the view. The cafe is open early to serve breakfast and is open until the late afternoon, it is closed for dinner. however the restaurant is open later for lunch and as well as dinner. you are able to make reservations at the restaurant for dinner but for lunch or anytime during the day it is first come first serve. it is worth it to go once either to the cafe or restaurant especially if the weather is nice.

Lure Fish House

259 W Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA 93010

https://www.lurefishhouse.com/

if you are at the camarillo outlets and looking for something nice to eat then this a great place to have some DELICIOUS seafood and fish. the menu is extensive, there is a large selection of dishes to choose from. UNFORTUNATELY if you do not like seafood or fish there aren’t so many options as even their salads and sandwiches have some kind of fish or seafood in it. it has a nice atmosphere and it is also a good place for large groups or even parties.

La Villita Cantina

1917 N Bronson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

https://www.lavillitacantina.com/

i had requested to have a mexican dinner as it is hard to find good authentic mexican food in germany, and this place hit the spot. they have tacos, burritos, fajitas, ENCHILADAS, and much more. simple, straight-forward and DELICIOUS food. they also have a vegetarian and vegan menu and gluten free options. so they have something for everyone.

Blockheads Shavery

11311 Mississippi Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025

https://blockheadsshavery.com/

a SHaved ice cream spot with some asian flavors and toppings like black sesame, grass jelly and mochi. it is one of the many dessert places on sawtelle blvd. we like to just go there and walk around and decide which dessert we want to have. i saw that there is a delivery option, which i might try next time as it is getting harder and harder to find parking near sawtelle blvd.

well It seems like all i do in LA is eat, which is true but i got to feed myself and the best way to catch up with friends and family is around food and eating. i tried a few new spots which were mostly recommended to me, as i haven’t lived in La for almost 8 years so i wouldn’t know any new places to go and try.

Lunch Time at Gjusta

Portobello Mushroom Fries with Mimosas at Great Maple

Fried Chicken with Maple Bacon Doughnuts at Great Maple

Lobster Popover Benedict at Great Maple

Beautiful Red Sunset

Hummus at Naan Hut

Combo Plate of Chicken and Kebab at Naan Hut

Pet Pop Up in Downtown LA

Pet Pop Up in Downtown LA

Sambal Tasting at Kasih

Ayam Rujak or Fried Chicken with Yellow Rice At Kasih

Jagung Bakar or Grilled Sweet Corn at Kasih

Perch

View from Perch

Beef Combo Set at Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong

Beef tartare, smoked egg cream, pickled mushroom, and radish sprouts at Destroyer

Chicken confit, heirloom grits, sugar snap peas, and roasted strawberry

Spelt porridge, roasted mushrooms, poached egg, and hazelnuts at Destroyer

Dim Sum at Tong Tak House Seafood Restaurant

Sheng Jian Bao at Tong Tak House Seafood Restaurant

Bye bye LA

Gjusta

320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291

https://gjusta.com/

It was a commissary kitchen for Gjelina but now it is a bakery, deli and, cafe serving delicious food from locally sourced produce and ingredients. you can buy freshly baked BREADs and pastries to take home or you can order from the deli to also take away or you can eat there either at the counter or the outside patio. they have everything from sandwiches to salads to soups to large plates. they are open from breakfast to dinner. you can’t go wrong with anything you order from there, everything is really good.

Great Maple

300 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101

https://thegreatmaple.com/pasadena/

a great brunch place with a few twist on some american classics. this place is super popular so i would make a reservation or expect to wait for a table, but at least you are in the paseo mall so you can go shopping while you wait. there were too many delicious options to choose from, I will definitely be coming back to try some other dishes.

Naan Hut

11551 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

a super simple restaurant and take out for delicious persian food. there are several persian restaurants within a few blocks but i have not tried them for a comparison. this place is very low key with only a few tables, you can also order the food to go if the place is full.

Kasih

200 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

https://kasih.la/

an old colleague of mine has opened this modern indonesian restaurant. they had spent several months all over indonesia learning the different regional dishes and techniques. they brought what they had learned and create their own interpretation of the food, you will find some traditional dishes but many of the dishes will be not what you expect. the chefs Don’t want you to expect truly authentic indonesian food. some flavors are familiar and some not, but the spice and sweetness was definitely there. sambal is one key element of indonesian cuisine and there is even a sambal tasting which you can order and try, but be aware that some of the sambal and dishes don’T hold back on the chili. a great place to try out if you are in the downtown area, they also have a lovely bar and drink menu if you just want to stop by for a drink. but go and try some different indonesian food.

Perch

448 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

https://www.perchla.com/

a nice rooftop restaurant and bar for a great view of downtown la. if you want to have dinner there definitely make a reservation in advance as it is always crowded. as for drinks it is first come first serve, so sometimes you are lucky with quickly grabbing a spot.

Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong

3465 W 6th St #20, Los Angeles, CA 90020

one of the many korean barbeque spots in koreatown. the first time we went we had to wait almost two hours, but this time there was barely a wait. as they do not take reservations it is first come first serve, but if the wait is long and you do not want to wait then there are plenty of other options nearby. the food is good, they have combo sets which it easy for first timers and groups but you can also order a la carte.

Destroyer

3578 Hayden Ave, Culver City, CA 90232

http://destroyer.la/

a cool and interesting new restaurant, at least for me. i had not heard of this place let alone been in this area of culver city before. the dishes are extremely beautiful and delicious, they use a lot of different grains and sprouts with unique flavor combinations and textures. the menu is mostly plant based but there are a few meat options. later i found out that the restaurant is by jordan kahn, i was already quite a big fan of his from his red medicine days. it is well worth a visit to try these beautifully crafted dishes. and if you want to splurge, verspertine is the fine dining option nearby that is said to be one of the top restaurants in la.

july 2019, august 2019, los angelesJackie Wongmalibu pier, malibu cafe, lure fish house, shaved ice cream, stout burger, gjusta, kasih, destroyer, jordan kahn, great maple, perchComment