Hello all!

For the second part of my recap of LA, I’ll be talking about the food. One of my favorite things about traveling is eating local cuisine and going to hole-in-the-wall restaurants that the locals love.

I can definitely say that during my time here I had a really diverse array of food that gave my taste buds a treat!

For my first day in LA I dove right into authentic Mexican food. Lotería in The Grove has delicious enchilada suizas, seasonal agua fresca, and spiced coffee that is *to die for* (and also inexpensive)!

That night my family and friends took me to Spartina, a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant off melrose. They’re only open for dinner and brunch, so make sure you get a reservation beforehand because it will fill up!

Recommendations: the cauliflower antipasti, endive insalata, burrata ravioli, and Stateside specialty drink.

Next up is The Village Idiot on Melrose Ave which had amazing iced tea – the perfect way to cool down from the hot LA sun. I was skeptical about how their fish and chips would compare to the East Coast version, and it definitely held its own! The vibe of the restaurant was that of a chill pub. I honestly would have loved to come back for drinks or dinner if I had the opportunity.

For brunch on Saturday, I went to the AMAZING PYT in downtown LA. My friend recommended it to me and when we went I was blown away by their delicious selection! We devoured everything instantly!

Recommended: the green piri-piri rice with egg over easy, healthy Maitke mushroom, and delicious lemon ricotta pancakes with added fruit and cream. Those pancakes gave me life!! Also, the matcha tea with rice crisps was a lovely switch up from my typical matcha latte and I highly recommend it to any tea or matcha fans!

For Sunday brunch I went to Canter’s, a Jewish deli that makes a mean avocado toast, latkes, and serves unlimited coffee. It was the perfect fuel for heading to a flea market afterwards. This diner has great retro vibes that are perfect for a nostalgic 1950s style brunch.

One of the best meals I had was at the fabled The Nice Guy in West Hollywood. There were no pictures allowed inside the restaurant, but I can attest that every single part of this meal was absolutely delicious.

Recommended: the kale salad, cacio e pepe, Tony’s agnolottis, truffle fries, amazing roasted brussel sprouts, marscapone panna cotta, and chocolate budino. So basically everything we ate.

For my final meal in LA, I returned to some authentic Mexican food before heading back to the East Coast. El Coyote is a West Hollywood staple and the epitome of southwestern kitsch. The decor with tiny Christmas lights and old fashioned posters made me so happy!

And I must say, the enchiladas were pretty darn good, too!

BONUS EATS:

There were two treats in particular that I adored during my time in LA. First, the ice cream from Sweet Rose Creamery. The perfectly bitter (dairy free) dark chocolate and sweet potato with seasons cracker bits are an unusual, savory change from your typical flavors.

I saved the best for last: Cheese tea. Cheese. Tea. Yes, you read that right. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard about it, but it truly is a combination of my two favorite things. Little Fluffy Head in downtown LA brings a unique twist to the usual iced tea. By combining unique flavors such as rose and lychee oolong with sweet icing-like creamed cheeses on top.

I tested out the rose oolong and my friend snagged a matcha camouflage. We both agreed that the unexpected flavors made for an spectacular combination! I will definitely be searching for a cheese tea shop on the east coast!

This ends my recount of my favorite LA eats! Next up is what I did during my vacation. Stay tuned!

xoxo

Parisa