Five Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles

Every week, Eater editors offer spots to eat at over the weekend.

September 11, 2015:

For super fresh sushi that won’t break the bank: Sugarfish Hollywood

There’s a lot of exciting things happening in Hollywood these days, what with news that New York’s ultra sceney Beauty & Essex will land in the upcoming Thompson Hotel and plenty of developments happening in the mixed-used Columbia Square. The first to open shop is the newest branch of Sugarfish, slinging the same beloved “Trust Me” menu. With pristine fish and decent star watching, there may be no better power lunch spot in this neck of the woods. 6115 West Sunset Blvd. #170 Los Angeles —CC [Photo: Wonho Frank Lee]

For a meal that’s truly fit for an Angeleno: Ray’s and Stark Bar

You know what’s really fun about LACMA’s duel dining option Ray’s and Stark Bar? It’s not the food. Or, well it is the food, from chef Viet Pham and his team, which is inventive and flavorful and not so stuffy that you feel like the only people enjoying themselves are the billionaire art donors dining around you. But it’s also the place: right in the middle of LACMA’s campus, outdoors in the shade, faint traffic noise piped in from Wilshire. The place is at once classic and timeless and modern, mixing together a lot of what it means to be an Angeleno, and putting it all in one place. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles — FE

For exactly the kind of no-frills American Chinese food you want: Wah’s Golden Hen

Silver Lake American Chinese food specialist Wah’s Golden Hen knows exactly what you want: lots of fried rice, tons of sticky, almost sweet proteins like Mongolian beef, and fortune cookies detailing your life’s wishes at the end. And for that alone, Wah’s delivers in a big way. It’s especially perfect for those long nights sitting next to the AC unit watching reruns of M*A*S*H on Netflix. 709 N. Virgil Ave., Los Angeles — FE [Photo: Yelp]

For a fun early weekend snack, or solid Spanish fare with a pan-Latin twist: Smoke.Oil.Salt.

Perfecto Rocher might not be here, but another expert chef in Ricardo Zarate has stepped in to oversee the kitchen at Melrose’s Smoke.Oil.Salt. While the daily happy hour “tapas” menu might be the best reason to go right now, with a selection of three tapas for just $19, the rest of the menu is an ideal meld between upscaled Spanish fare with a little bit of that Zarate touch. 7274 Melrose Avenue —MK [Photo: Elizabeth Daniels]

For an exciting weekend drinking spot with the perfect drunk food: Seoul Sausage Company Little Tokyo

If you’re into dining with a fun crowd but don’t want to spend too much cash, take an Uber or Lyft to Seoul Sausage Company. Order up a few bottles of soju, maybe some Dad beer, and heck, a cocktail called the Makgeoli Culkin. Then munch on some sausage dogs, fries, and a slew of other creative pan-Asian/Korean dishes from chef Chris Oh. If you can remember to do anything else at this point, try and share a bowl of the terrific rappoki, a meld of ramen noodles and spicy Korean rice cakes. 236 S. Los Angeles St. —MK [Photo: Wonho Frank Lee]

September 4, 2015:

For Chinatown’s newest coffee shop, as made by a biochemist: Endorffeine

Forget Breaking Bad, this is Jack Benchakul’s top-secret lab, featuring erlenmeyer flask light fixtures and lots of unique brews. His new Chinatown shop, Endorffeine, is as outwardly simple as it is inwardly complex, the result of Benchakul (a former biochemist) and his love for all things coffee. The shop is open every single day this whole month, so use the excuse of the long weekend to go see the mad scientist himself. 727 N. Broadway # 127, Chinatown — FE

For late night al pastor without the long wait: Tacos Tamix

Head to Mid-City, and the taco talk is all about El Chato and Tacos Leo. Rightfully so — both are stars in their own right. But the world is still catching up to the likes of Tacos Tamix, which rocks a mean al pastor trompo just about every night of the week on Pico Boulevard, across from the Ralph’s parking lot. Simple, satisfying, and with a quarter of the wait of Leo (even on the weekends), you’d be hard-pressed to go wrong at Tamix. Now all you’ve got to do is show up and dig in. Pico Blvd. at Tremaine Ave., Mid-City — FE

For the girls night out hotspot you may have forgotten about: Gracias Madre

There’s no better way to cling to the last few days of summer than by spending an evening on an expansive patio with plenty of friendly vibes. Gracias Madre is the place to enjoy an al fresco meal with something to please just about anyone. More so than the brightly flavored vegan dishes though, you’re here for the outstanding cocktail program that hails from beverage director Jason Eisner. Sip on an archetype of a margarita or go for something a little more creative, like the bong-inspired Up in Smoke cocktail. Either way, it’s destined to be a great night. 8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood —CC

For a lovely patio in the heart of 90210: Scarpetta

The outdoor patio just outside the main dining room at Beverly Hills’ Scarpetta is the ideal place to soak in the soft late summer breeze and elegant energy of the Golden Triangle. Pair that with fantastic cocktails like the barrel-aged white negroni and fine wine pairings by sommelier Roberto Loppi, and you have the recipe for a terrific al fresco dinner. Chef Freddy Vargas is touting a special four-course Blackboard Eats menu with lobster “fra diavolo,” wild mushroom risotto, and yellowfin crudo (plus a butterscotch semifreddo for dessert), including wine pairings, for $78 per person. If you can swing it, don’t skimp on the legendary spaghetti. 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 —MK

For another amazing patio to soak in the last weekend of summer: Eveleigh

An underrated West Hollywood farm-to-table restaurant, Eveleigh still packs them in despite sitting on a bustling stretch of Sunset Blvd. The nighttime environs are phenomenal, with good views down the hills and great people-watching. The fare, which might include in-season heirloom tomatoes spread over burrata, or a plate of house-made charcuterie, won’t necessarily surprise you, but they’ll be all the comfort you need. The hangar steak is a little smaller (and pricier) than you’d want, but it’s expertly grilled and sided with blistered sweet corn and a rich horseradish cream to round it out. Despite barman Dave Kupchinky’s departure, the cocktails are top-flight. 8752 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069 —MK

August 28, 2015

For a soju-fueled start to a night out in Ktown: POT

There’s something so undeniably hip about The Line Hotel. This is perhaps most true within the revamped version of POT. There’s still that same blaring music and stylish crowd, but now the merriment is enhanced by a bar within the restaurant and a menu that refreshingly doesn’t focus on small plates. Order your pick of a soju-infused fresh juice, dig into a steaming pot of instant ramen and Spam-laden soup, and stumble out with a full belly and just enough booze in your system to hit a Korean karaoke bar or two. 3515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles —CC

For a messier-than-expected meal in Santa Monica: Cassia

Bryant Ng’s newest gem in Santa Monica already fits well into the Zoe Nathan/Josh Loeb string of shimmering successes, pulling in locals and anyone willing to make the drive. The menu is a sharp-eyed look at Southeast Asian cuisine, from Singaporean chili crab to kaya toast, and doesn’t skimp on the spice or the messiness, despite the upscale surroundings. 1314 7th St., Santa Monica — FE

For an ocean-y getaway with a classic seafood feel: Malibu Seafood

Quickly approaching the 45-year mark, Malibu Seafood on PCH still reigns supreme as a simple ocean side snack shack for families and thru-travelers alike. The fish & chips are as iconic as ever, but don’t skip on the fried fish sandwiches or simple seafood salads, either. 25653 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu — FE

For a great pizza in West Hollywood: Prova Pizzeria

The stretch along Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood can be a bit of an affordable food desert. Sure you have Cousin’s Maine Lobster, which isn’t necessarily “cheap,” though still reasonable for what it is. And you have Shake Shack opening some time next year for burgerphiles. But until then, if you haven’t stepped over to Prova, helmed by veteran Vito Iacopelli, then you’re missing out on truly great Neopolitan-style pizza all at a very reasonable pricepoint. The margherita, which is almost big enough for two, runs just $10, while the larger pies with more toppings won’t run you more than the cheapest pizza at places like Sotto, Jon & Vinny’s, and Bestia. 8729 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 —MK

For sampling a trend in the making: Matcha Box

If you haven’t tried the terrific (and often very creative) matcha drinks at Matcha Box on West Third, get ahead of the curve. Along with delicious toasts using Lodge Bread Co. loaves, sip on an iced matcha latte or a “matcha bitch,” mixing ginger and maraschino for a tart/spicy concoction. The minimalist environs make for a nice meeting spot or afternoon pick me up. 8036 West 3rd Street —MK

Source: LA Eater