By james art Suffering from mealtime slumps? LA Taco Los Angeles contributor and foodie Memo Torres is back with five suggestions for where to eat right now.
Aunt Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant
“Some of the best Hawaiian food, probably in all of LA,” Torres says. He recommends ordering a mixed plate of kalbi short ribs and chicken furikake. “They’re sweet, they’re sour, they’re barbecue,” he says, noting that almost every meal comes with a small bowl of macaroni salad. Don’t miss SPAM musubi.
19106 Normandie Ave., Unit 2, Torrance, CA 90502
Ozzy’s girlfriend
Located in north Glendale, this place specializes in New Haven-style pizza with extra-thin crust, a slice of chewy dough, and “magnificent” tomato sauce. Ozzy’s also has a great outdoor space.
357 Arden Ave., Glendale, CA 91203
Expect plenty of dishes made with beets at Grandma’s Deli, a Ukrainian/Russian deli in Valley Village. Photo by Memo Torres.
Grandma’s delicacy babushka
Expect beets (lots and lots of beets) at this Ukrainian/Russian deli where most of the food is for takeout. They make a great beet salad and if you ask, they’ll bring you a bowl of borscht (beetroot soup) out back. Torres loves the cone-shaped deep-fried chicken, which is stuffed with cheese and vegetables and served on a stick.
4818 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607
Bub and grandma
Torres, who says he’s addicted to “anywhere with fresh bread and fluffy eggs,” likes to stock up on chorizo and eggs or bacon and eggs for breakfast.
3507 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90065
Tacos La Rueda
Praising Los Angeles’ Sonoran renaissance, which he says began with Sonoratown, Torres notes that La Rueda’s tacos, dressed with onions, shredded cabbage and a bit of tomato broth salsa, have more of a Sinaloan influence. He also praises their Sonoran hot dogs, which are served on soft bread.
16900 Lakewood Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706