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 smoky tacos from a stellar taquero: Tacos Royale in Silver Lake
There are plenty of reasons to visit Tacos Royale. Just take your pick: First, Tacos Royale’s Hermosillo-style utilizes a unique preparation that trims the fat and nerves and cooks over a low flame, leaving tender and delightfully smoky meat. Second, there are ample deep-fried cracklings and a fire salsa bar. Owner Saúl Pérez García uses organic beef tallow flour tortillas. Finally, there’s a downstairs bar adjacent to the parking lot stand on West Sunset Boulevard near Coronado Street, where one can take an asada taco or burrito and down it with cerveza. Go with a crew, add a pile of chips with guacamole to your order, and everyone will depart satisfied. 2511 W. Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a weekend pancake flight: Bea Bea’s in Glendale and Burbank
I’ve long been singing the praises of Bea Bea’s, a diner-like brunch restaurant imbued with Asian ingredients with locations in Burbank and Glendale. The star of Bea Bea’s menu is their selection of pancakes — which includes (my personal favorite) the Green Tea Monster, a matcha pancake base topped with a fluffy green tea mascarpone cream, as well as a Thai tea riff, a nutty black sesame version, and cornbread pancakes paired with salted honey butter. The best part is you can order a flight of three pancakes — for the table, of course — so everyone can try their favorite. Pair the pancakes with something savory, like a breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros, or my go-to order, a loco moco with the burger patty swapped out for corned beef hash. Be sure to request a side of Thai chile fish sauce for added kick. 301 N. Central Avenue, Glendale, CA 91203. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a low-key sports bar with great hops: We’re Pouring in Glendale
I’m not a superstitious sports fan — I’m too much of a nihilist to imagine anything I do matters in that way. But I happened to spend both of the last two Saturdays watching my beloved UCLA football team at the laid-back pub We’re Pouringin north Glendale, and both weeks the Bruins have scrapped their way to monumental victories. We’re Pouring has a plethora of television screens; a great beer list featuring the likes of Green Cheek, Cellarmaker, de Garde, and Beachwood; an approachable menu of appetizers, burgers, tacos, and pizza; and a welcoming, low-key energy. Maybe the victories have something to do with it, but I’ve been very happy to settle in with a couple of excellent IPAs and a surprisingly good pizza — the crust is thin and crispy; the cheese blend, nicely salty — and post up at the bar for several mostly excruciating hours of college football. UCLA plays Michigan State this Saturday, and I may well head back to We’re Pouring. Better safe than sorry. 524 E. Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91207. — Ben Mesirow, editor, Eater Travel
For affordable grab-and-go sushi: Tiger’s Den in Koreatown
Los Angeles’s breadth of sushi options makes it easy to casually grab impressive chirashi, rolls, and more at affordable prices without doing a whole sit-down dinner. One of the newer entrants to that genre, the casual Koreatown sushi and Japanese restaurant Tiger’s Den, has an interior that looks like a minimalist home goods store. On the hot rack, which is constantly replenished with fresh dishes, find unagi dons and karaage; the chilled sushi section holds chirashi sets that come in at around $30, along with softshell crab rolls, yellowtail nigiri, and vinegary sunomono. With Tiger’s Den’s proximity to the Koreatown location of Yama Sushi, comparisons feel inevitable — luckily, they’re both outstanding options at similar price points. If you’re closer to the Wilshire side of Koreatown, give Tiger’s Den a shot next time the sushi craving hits. Plus, there is a small dining room in the back to eat on-site. 687 S. Hobart Boulevard, Suite D, Los Angeles, CA 90005. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
