Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.
For a sushi picnic: Yama Sushi Marketplace
Yama Sushi has three locations strategically placed across Los Angeles in San Gabriel, Koreatown, and West Los Angeles, making it an ideal spot to pick up stacks of prepared sushi whether you’re having a picnic at a nearby park, at the beach, or at the Hollywood Bowl. You can preorder platters of nigiri and sashimi for parties, but for a more lowkey meal I also love wandering in and seeing what selections are available in their grab-and-go fridges
(spicy tuna and spicy scallop have been particular favorites). Yama has been in operation for more than 40 years and what keeps me returning is its consistency; the expertly sliced fish has been fresh and life-affirming since my childhood. Multiple locations. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For superlative Persian ice cream: Mashti Malone’s in Silver Lake
Spring is getting its last licks in as temperatures steadily creep up and the days get longer. As the sun beats down over the city, Persian ice cream shops like Mashti Malone’s sing their siren song, beckoning Angelenos in for scoops of date ice cream or herbal snow sorbet. With locations across Los Angeles in Silver Lake, Hollywood, and West Los Angeles, there are plenty of ways to “accidentally” end up near the scoop shop, say, coming down from a Griffith Park hike or wrapping up a day of errands at the Century City mall. Plus, there are plenty of non-dairy flavors for those avoiding lactose. 1529 Griffith Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For an early start to hot dog summer: Earle’s On Crenshaw
Let’s just call it: hot dogs rule Los Angeles. The hot dog can be found in many forms throughout the region, with bacon-wrapped renditions stationed in front of bars and concert venues, the legendary Santa Monica–founded Hot Dog on a Stick, and the iconic Earle’s On Crenshaw. Earle’s has a dog for all: all-beef, turkey, chicken, spicy beef link, or plant-based with toppings that satisfy every preference with raw onions, hot mustard, chipotle mayonnaise, and jalapeños. The fast-casual service has become beautifully streamlined; staff will drop a healthy serving of turkey chili on any dog, burger, or bag of Fritos upon request. You will undoubtedly be full after the visit, so take a peach cobbler, coffee cake, bean pie, or banana pudding home for later enjoyment. 3864 Crenshaw Boulevard, Leimert Park, CA, 90008. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a perfect matcha latte in a flower shop: Project Bloom Coffee in Melrose Hill
I am very picky about matcha; since the LA fun-little-drinks market is currently swamped with both incredible matcha and all sorts of monstrosities desecrating its traditional qualities, I’ve experienced the good (Rōk, honestly), the bad [redacted but there are so, so many], and the is-this-even-technically-matcha-anymore?. But my absolute favorite matcha drink in the city is the Matcha Bloom Latte at Project Bloom Coffee, an understated cafe and flower shop tucked in the corner of a strip mall on Cahuenga and Melrose. The Bloom Latte is made with an unsweetened, wonderfully umami, grassy uji matcha base — I like to get mine with almond milk — then topped with a matcha-infused butterscotch cream top and dusted with even more matcha powder. The result: each sip tastes balanced, vegetal and earthy, creamy and savory but with a touch of rich, almost caramel-like sweetness. Project Bloom also has a friendly staff and a stamp-card loyalty system, makes custom bouquets, hosts flower-arranging workshops, and serves excellent pastries by Out of Thin Air (go for the almond yuzu croissant). There are no snaking lines here like at Community Goods and Damo, but the matcha is so good, it would be worth the wait. 5870 Melrose Avenue, Unit 6, Los Angeles, CA 90038. — Hilary Pollack, Eater deputy editor
