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 massive brunch dosa: Almost Famous in Culver City
Newish Indian diasporic restaurant Almost Famous in Culver City has a menu that can appeal to the masses: Oreo pancakes and cheeseburgers (yes, really) moonlight on the same slate as vada pav and fig papdi chaat. If you come to the minimalist cafe on a lazy Saturday and Sunday, the surest bet will be the benne dosa — a paper-thin crepe filled with fork-tender, spiced turmeric potatoes served alongside coconut chutney, masala, and sambar — which arrives golden, butter-infused, and ready to tear into. This may be the best dish on Almost Famous’s brunch slate, but the table won’t hurt from an order of peppery Tellicherry shrimp and grits: just ask them to turn up the heat level and add more chiles if you thrive on spice, like I do. 6001 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232. — Nicole Fellah, Eater editorial manager
For a Malaysian-Chinese barbecue feast in Orange County: Smoke Queen Barbecue in Garden Grove
I have had a lot of fantastic barbecue in my life and regional specialties in Texas and Tennessee, but what Smoke Queen’s pitmaster Winnie Yee does feels entirely new and unrivaled by anything else in the Southland. Find Malaysian and Chinese specialties — like crunchy siu yuk with a crackly, blistered skin and glazed char siu burnt ends — alongside barbecue classics like wagyu tri tip and buttery soft brisket. Smother everything with the gochujang barbecue sauce to complete the experience, and be sure to add sides like mapo chili and spicy pickled cucumbers (a necessary addition to cut through the richness of Smoke Queen’s many meaty options). 12941 9th Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For old-school pastries on the Central Coast: Renaud’s in Santa Barbara
For almost two decades, Renaud’s has been a local favorite in Santa Barbara for its consistent traditional French pastries and intricate tarts. Although the bakery now operates a few locations across the seaside city, along with two deeper in Southern California, the quality has not slipped. The pastry case remains full of glistening fruit-crowned tarts; a lemon tart arrives pleasantly tangy. The basic butter-heavy croissant pairs well with a morning cappuccino or double espresso, or go for the almond-crusted version filled with almond cream. 3315 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a heaping plate of juicy barbecue: Saulitos Barbecue at Smorgasburg
I just saw a recipe Reel for grilled cheese and tomato soup, a routine indicator that autumn’s cooler temperatures have arrived. Los Angeles residents experience early fall differently, with upper 80s and even some 90-degree days in the forecast. For this reason, I plan to keep chasing food that helps extend the summer — especially barbecue. We have stellar barbecue in Los Angeles, with myriad regional styles and a hybridized Angeleno style that feel all our own. After teaching children during the week, owner Saul Rodriguez Jr. prepares Saulitos Barbecue offerings at Smorgasburg and pop-ups throughout the region. Saulitos remains one of the many reasons why Los Angeles barbecue feels so embedded in the culture. Get over to Smorgasburg on Sunday, talk to Rodriguez, grab a plate, and enjoy. 777 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90021. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
