Yama Sushi Sake Attitude - Los Angeles

 

I don't quite get the name, but I totally get the setup. It's a small "shop" with a sushi counter, selling slabs sashimi in styrofoam, poised to be sliced. 

Choose whichever cuts you want, and the chef will make you a plate. This one has Chutoro, Salmon, and Salmon Belly, and every bite tastes like it's made of butter. 

The Uni is creamy but has a bit of a bitter end, but this pre-cut white Sea Bream is smooth. 

Scallops are added on a second visit. This unforgiving shellfish is so fresh, with a sweet finish you won't soon forget. 

Reach into the fridge for sides like this cold, marinade-soaked Calamari Salad or a classic Seaweed to start.

Try not to be put off by the staring eyes. This little fish (is it smelt?) packs a formidable flavor. 

My favorite roll is Spicy Scallop, little dollops with a little spicy mayo. 

Pair with a Negitoro to double your pleasure. 

I didn't think I'd like it cold, but this Portabella Katsu is to die for.

Their Karaage is so differently delicious, with a sauce based in sweet soy that has notes of fish sauce to finish. 

The location is kinda random, with not too much in surrounding Mar Vista, but it's a peaceful place to grab a quick bite and even better for a meal to go. Either way, they don't disappoint. They carry good, clean cuts of quality fish, they offer a variety of foods both cut and cooked, and their skill shines in every bite.

Fish King - Glendale

 

Gliding through Glendale after a rare trip to Burbank, it's too easy to pop into Fish King for some first-class poke.

The Dynamite Scallop is my favorite by far, tender little bay caps, super fresh, super succulent, super sweet. Doused in a spicy mayo that stings but doesn't scorch, best eaten over tostadas to balance a heavy sauce. 

LA Weekly proclaimed the Hawaii Style Tuna LA's best, and I confirm that it rivals the best of the island itself. The tuna is just perfection, and the sauce is so simple, seasoning and sesame seeds with seaweed for umami. I love that it's not overpowered by sesame oil or oversalted by so much soy. 

If you're looking for something to slowly eat, the Octopus is your dish. It's cooked like you'd use in salad and another simple seasoning with ginger and strips of mushroom and bamboo. I was warned it was on the salty side, but it's just right over rice. 

It's pretty ballsy to call yourself a king, but Fish King proves itself with just the poke alone. Super fresh, simple yet sublime, this little shop will always slay. 

Banh Cuon Luu Luyen - Garden Grove

Hand spun rice sheets don't sound so special when you say it, but they taste so different on the tongue. The texture is finely pleated, practically paper-thin, soft but springy. 

Get the #1 for a sampler of three - pork, shrimp, and plain. The pork is savory, the shrimp comes in salty-sweet specks, but the plain lets you truly appreciate the mastery of minutiae. Toppings include a crunchy egg roll, and a plethora of protein; ham cakes both steamed and fried, tofu, shrimp fried bread, and a healthy helping of bean sprouts. 

The sheets are better by themselves, but the wraps have their own appeal. #11 - Banh Buon Thit Nuong 3 Cuon holds a lemongrass pork,

and #13 - Bahn Cuon Cha Ca has crispy-cover fried fish cakes, all perfect for dunking in chili fish sauce.

An appetizer of Banh Duc Tom Chay is a strong starter or dessert, as the steamed coconut rice cake adds a sweet fragrance, and it adds a surprising savor to the pork and shrimp topping. 

Food is good, portions are generous, and in these days of crippling inflation, their prices are still dirt cheap. Don't order too much - this stuff is better eaten on the spot, but it will hold up for a few more hours, even if it's better fresh. Enamoured, addicted, obsessed. 

Maria's Rico Tacos - Inglewood

Real street tacos made fresh, nothing frozen, everything prepped by hand. These tacos will remind you of the value of human effort and time. 

Asada Tacos come flame-kissed, tender tidbits with a crunchy crust. 

Square chunks of Lengua sit so soft you barely need to chew. 

Al Pastor is saturated with seasoning and spice and they're really very nice. 

And if you're feeling some nachos, spring for Asada Fries, topped in a mix of everything gooey, a slurry of sour cream, cheddar, and guac. 

Their street tacos come hot from the streets, and both their salsas will scorch. The tomatillo is tart and cold and the red has a little smoke. Support small businesses - this one is worth your time. 

Coppelias Bakery and Restaurant - Los Angeles

Tres Leches Cake is the legend, and I love the subtle perfection of this slice. It's sweet but it's balanced and it's so moist it tastes wet, like it's been soaked through with milk and sugar.

Bread Pudding with a Peruvian fruit (I think it was lucuma?) is not my fave, but I'm glad I got to try it. There's a dense, bread-y quality added by the fruit, and it's a bit more mealy and savory than purely sweet.

The Flan is my favorite, a little bit of gelatin adds bounce to the texture. It's simple but simply perfect. 

If you're looking for a few bites, the sweet things here will satisfy. If you're looking to make a birthday memorable, the tres leches will transform it. There's a reason they've lasted so long in the brutal competition that is Los Angeles food, and if they can keep up that cake, I think they're there to stay. 

Chicken Chick UPDATE - Torrance

Still the best Hummus I've ever had. I can't even describe the satisfaction of the texture and the depth of the flavor. 

Best eggplant I've ever had. The Persian Eggplant is like a baked cake of sweet,  deep-roasted slices lattice-worked with creamy garlic yogurt.

Feeding multiple families is a cinch with the Combination #4 Platter. The Juicy Chicken drips with juice and a perfectly-balanced marinade with savor and a little acid. Beef Koobideh is perfectly seasoned, and the Chicken Koobideh is a strip of golden grind. 

Chicken Shish Kebab is similar, served with so much chargrilled veg.

Salmon is a flame-kissed fish. Not my favorite but good enough all the same. 

There are hot peppers to heat things up if you choose, and lots of onions to add some acid. I usually hate tomatoes, but their flame transforms them into something warm and welcoming. Lots of choices, but their Cherry Rice is the real MVP. They'll substitute it for the regular rice at no extra charge, and this slightly sweet, hint of fruity tartness is an ideal balance for the slabs of salty, fatty meat. Like everything else at this lovely local mom-and-pop, it's absolutely flawless. 

Sweet Wheat - Redondo Beach

I'll admit I was put off by the large-scale look of the former Chipotle. I thought it would be more bread-factory than French-bakery, but my fears were somewhat allayed. 

They make a legitimate crispy-crust Baguette and a pretty but pricey Charcuterie platter, perfect for a picnic on the beach. A mix of meats and not-so-cheap cheeses accompany several sweet and salty condiments. 

A box of baked goods to go will make your morning. Rip into a flaky croissant, chocolate or plain, or opt for a denser almond bostock. There are caneles for dessert too, if you like your sugar concentrated. 

They make Macarons aplenty, and this box holds almost every kind. All the common fruits included; chocolate, vanilla and even a rose. They're fresh and delicious, but eat them fast - they'll melt away within a day. 

At the end of the day, Sweet Wheat is a big bakery, but it's not without its charm. All bases covered, and with a mild hint of mass production, they have quite the selection, and they're less likely to quickly sell out. 

Kanpai UPDATE - Los Angeles

Look no further for the best lunch in LA. 

Everything is fresh, the quality is fantastic, and they give you a dizzying quantity, especially at this price point. Even the simple set salad has a ginger dressing that is to die for, and their pickled cucumber is a dish you can't stop eating. 

The menu is long and overwhelming, but I don't know if any choice is wrong. The Fried Octopus app is already a favorite. The batter is perfect, the fry is crisp, and the tentacles are soft and chewy. 

Try the 3 Hand Roll set for starters. Go for the blue crab because they use the real stuff, but both the spicy tuna and spicy scallop also pull their weight.

Surprise me with a Sashimi Lunch; 12 pieces, 4 types, an assortment of salmon, tuna, and yellowtail that day. 

You can get a Mini Una Don as an add-on, one I highly recommend. It's a rather small rice bowl with general chunks of warm, tender eel, and many comfort-food chunks of sweet tamago. 

The Poke Don is a rich mix of assorted fish, and it looks like the same cuts as they use for sashimi. The special poke sauce is strongly sesame oil and soy, and it has a delightfully gooey give. 

There are heartier hot bowls if it's food coma that you seek. the Katsu Don is a crisp cutlet topped with spirals of egg. 

A Pork Cutlet Curry Lunch has pork and panko, topped with a rich, meat-broth slurry. 

I could go elsewhere to eat, but I never do. The deals are unbeatable, and the quality is unbelievable. Kanpai is only a short drive away now, and it's become my go-to for lunch, my happy place away from home. 

Sutadonya UPDATE - Torrance

You only come here for one thing; the namesake Sutadon. 

It's the garlic pork bowl that all other garlic pork bowls aspire to be, with a thick layer of pillow-soft, paper-thin pork with stir-fried onions and the most perfectly poached egg to break into a yolky sauce. 

There's a ginger version if garlic is too much for you, and there are fried chicken options too, if that's what you're feeling. I've only tried the Spicy Sutadon, same thing with a coat of sweet red chili sauce. I prefer it plain, but this one will work if you're trying to spice things up. 

It's the battle of the bowls at Sutadonya, and they have one for every comfort craving. Hot, fresh, and simply satisfying, these bowls will warm you to your soul. 

Sweet Salty Poke - Gardena

I heard they were once a Pokebar that chose to rebrand. I haven't been inside, but the menu looks the same. 

The shrimp is good, the salmon is fresh, and the spicy tuna is truly spicy. I got my usual, with fresh veggies and some pineapple, all doused in a spicy mayo that'll make you sweat. Seaweed salad and crab are sides, same as they've always been. 

I don't know why they rebranded, but I don't think they've changed. It's good quality for the price point, it's fast-casual poke that tastes pretty good.

Scardino's Italian Restaurant - Torrance

The carb craving hit hard, and we had to find a way. 

Highly rated, touted for their Lasagna, Scardino's saves the day. This meat-mash, tomato-tang, casserole, pasta-pile is hearty, gooey goodness, and it hits the spot so good. 

The Penne Vodka, however, is both a yes and a no-no. The sauce is swell, but pasta is only so-so. The vodka sauce is creamy and complete, but the penne clearly came from a box. 

I liked it, I didn't love it, but I wouldn't refuse more of it. Their pizza looks like it's worth trying, and I would give other pasta sauces a go. I'd still go to Fatto a Mano first for the fresh and hand-made, but Scardino's could serve as a back-up if I ever had the need.