Serving Spoon - Inglewood

It's 11:45 AM on a Wednesday, and there's already a one-hour wait. And judging by the placement of benches in every occupiable space, this is the scene here. Every single day. 

The seater confirms this, saying she arrives on time every morning to push through the already-forming throng of hungry souls at the door. 

Alright, I get it. It is ALL about the ambiance. The big circular booths just radiate laughter and joy, and the counter is full of people coalescing over coffee and devouring their dinner while reading the morning paper.

I love me some chicken wings, and the lunch entree comes with five. The meat is tender, and the fry is right, but I'm not sure they're quite as good as Pann's. The sides, though, the sides you have to try.  The collard greens are great, especially for those who can't stand the pulpy texture. Theirs leaves the leaves cooked, but the light touch keeps them leafy, and they also lack the bitter aftertaste that can often follow. 

Grits are good, and they go great with the Wednesday Oxtail special. The meat is impossibly tender, cooked so long that even the stuff on the bones is gooey goodness made to be gnawed right off. Sadly, the gravy is SO salty, so much so that I have to scrape it off the meat, and the tablespoon of hard rice beneath is hardly going to balance. This is where the grits will save you as they provide the starch you need to soak up the salt. 

The mac and cheese is just what you want - soft without being mushy but has a little chew to it. Candied Yams came highly recommended, and they're just so satisfyingly sweet. 

The Cornbread is super buttery but mine was a little bit dry.

Serving Spoon has had a lot of hype on Eater, and with this visit, my curiosity has been sated. I think that publicity is causing them to overextend themselves a bit, and it shows in the seasoning, but I appreciate them all the same. Just being there is a happy thing, and I would still go back just to eat up some more of that joy.  

Sunday Gravy - Inglewood

Any way you slice it, Sunday Gravy is sweet. A classy-casual, semi-diner serving Italian with some southern, even the name evokes something soulful to set the stage.  

Staples like Shrimp & Grits are substantial, and this one is all sorts of special. Looking like spilled tomato sauce over grits, this dish is the ultimate ugly-delicious. The shrimp are succulent, and the Calabrian chili collaboration adds a bit of sweetness, a dash of spice, and a whole lot of depth. 

Use generous slices of the city's best Garlic Bread to sop up the extra grits for a little extra wow. 

Beet & Citrus Salad is bland, but it serves me right for ordering it here. Pistachio adds an earthiness that falls flat without any acid. Labne has some tanginess but not enough. Even with oranges inside, the citrus is seriously lacking. There just needs to be a sharp squeeze of lemon on top to make it all more tolerable. 

The Ragu, however, is alright, a softer sauce with a tinge of tang. It's exact what you'd expect from a slow-cooked meat sauce, rich stuff that gets stuck in the little penne pasta grooves. 

Most memorable is their Crab Mafalda, crinkle-ribbon pasta so thick you'll need to use the tongs. The crab carries a breeze sting of the sea in an ample amount to add texture and adorn. 

A lovely meal. All rich and filling, heavy in a way that is heavenly. One of several interesting finds from Inglewood, this is one I wouldn't skip. 

Harriet's Cheesecakes Unlimited - Inglewood

For the South Bay's best cheesecake, ring this bell. 

The loveliest lady will step out shortly and take your order. One board list the available whole cheesecakes, and the other has quite the selection of slices. 

Each cheesecake is creamy but also light with a beautiful balance between sugar and subtle cheese. The cheese is very present lest you forget what you're eating but is restrained so every bite is pleasant.  

Banana Pudding tastes like the real thing, the ooey-gooey pudding and wafers come in layers, contrasted by coin-sized banana slices, fresh and firm. 

Their signature Sweet Potato is a southern dream, a fluffy core of the sweet and nutty starch. 

Apple N Spice is perhaps the most unique, viscous apples like a pie, spiced like a Christmas cider.

I would have eaten more cheesecake if I knew cheesecake could be this good. Harriet's makes an exceptional slice, simultaneously subtle and spectacular. 

Betty Market & Restaurant - Inglewood

The "market" is just a bookshelf, stocked with spaghetti and spices, bag of ingredients most interesting. If I were a better cook...okay a competent cook at least, I'd want to buy and try. 

Instead, we let them cook for us, this lovely, kind, welcoming family, and it is the kind of food a friend would serve you if they wanted to treat you, to warm your soul after a difficult week. 

Kitfo is barely-cooked beef, though we opt for medium rare. The butter and the herbs bring out the gamey, beef savor, with dots of cottage cheese adding those rich, milky notes. 

 

Jalapenos give Nech Ribeye Tibs some spice. Onion is aromatic and garlic gets some attitude. The bits of beef are tender, and the sauce soaks deep into the injera. 

Great food at a super-casual quick-lunch cafe. It's a hole in the wall for sure, and it happens to be next door to the South Bay's best cheesecake. Come one and come all for a most satisfying sequence of food and sweets.

Carnitas Al Artista - Inglewood

So this is what carnitas can be. Pork shoulder in lard, cooked long and slow until undeniably tender with a deceptively simple savor. I never thought carnitas could have depth until I came here. 

The only mistake I made was not ordering more carnitas. A generous portion tops the Chilaquiles Rojo, with a salsa that really pops. I usually hate nachos and anything nacho-esque, but this bed of tortillas has a real crunch, but one that still stays soft and warm. Add a runny fried egg with a river of yolk, and you'll only pause when the plate is empty so you can order another plate. 

What's wrong with this picture? It's not carnitas. It's a pretty good al pastor, seasoned so the chili gives some heat, chopped so finely that every little porky bit is a crispy crust with a biting mix of spices. It's a pastor that can compete with some of the good ones in LA, but at a place like this, there should only be carnitas.

The Wood Urban Kitchen - Inglewood

I rarely see such a disconnect between the Eater opinion and the public opinion,and their abysmal 3-star average on Yelp should raise a few eyebrows. 

The barbecue itself isn't bad. In fact, it's pretty good. The Ribs have some solid smoke, and the meat comes off (but doesn't fall off) the bone with minimal gnawing. It's the sea of sauce that's baffling. I know ribs get basted in sauce, but this is half a squeeze-bottle on top. There's more sauce than meat and I had to scrape SO much off.

The sauce itself has a Sweet Baby Ray’s vibe, a little sugar, a little tang. It wouldn't make a lasting impression by itself so I guess they made sure you remembered it by sheer volume. 

Onto the Brisket, which California rarely does right. This one has a proper smoke in it, and the slices are quite tender, but again with the sauce. HARD PASS on the Chicken Links because they are inexplicably mealy and DryDryDRY, compressed sawdust in the shape of a sausage. 

The Pulled Pork is great, and it makes a strong, sauce-soup sandwich. But it does suspiciously resemble the ribs in both appearance and texture...

The sides are all good here, baked beans, slaw, etc. Mac n' cheese hits, and street corn is a SoCal signature. 

I don't hate the meat, but the way they did that sauce-slop, it was like they were trying to cover something up. Overall not bad, but the prices are quite concerning. 

Emma Habesha - Inglewood

Another Ethiopian place within doordashing range?? Just when I think my life can’t get better, here comes Emma Habesha. 

Their Doro Wot is delicious, some sweet and sour nuances, plenty of depth to the sauce. I do wish it was a bigger portion, but two drums and an egg seems standard - I just want more of the good stuff.

Awaze Tibs are alright as well, tender beef but not quite the punchy, memorable burn that you get from Queen of Sheba. 

The Veggie Combo is so fresh and so clean, the collard greens in particular. The other items are as expected, straightforward lentils and whatever. A bit bland but not a bad option for lighter sides. 

At the end of the day, I think I prefer Queen of Sheba. The flavors of Emma are mostly faultless, but a bit too clean so that they feel almost sterile.

Little Belize Restaurant - Inglewood

I took a trip to Belize many years ago as a single lady, in the company of another single lady and had the time of my life. Zip lining, diving, yoga poses for pictures atop majestic temples; it was a celebration of a friendship that I hope will last forever.

I learned a lot about myself too on the trip, falling into the kind of introspection that only happens with travel. I have only amazing memories of Belize, many of which are all about the food, their colorful combination of Latin and Caribbean,  memories I will never hesitate to eat. 

For starters, I love starters. Their Sampler Platter is a selection of important classics, including panades filled with fish encased in crispy corn, garnaches of fried tortillas garnished with beans and a tomato and onion semi-jam, and salbutes with a thicker base and juicy shredded chicken in the same sweet tomato and onion sauce. All are hearty, none too heavy, and every bite tastes better when it’s shared.  

There was also a Plantain Boat, which didn’t seem like it should go together. The plantain is sweet and deliciously fried, but the tangy-savory chicken-tomato-onion filling is far better served on a simple tortilla or something similar as they simply didn’t go with the sweeter, fruity plantain notes. 

The Oxtail is a decent entree, doused in a heavy brown gravy that tastes like viscous beef. A bit on the salty side for me but not so much that it’s off-putting, especially over rice. The oxtail itself requires minimal coaxing to abandon the bone. A solid stew overall, but it’s the actually the rice and beans I can’t forget. Stewed and spicy, the savory flavors run so deep that it could be a stand-alone dish. The cole slaw is mayo soup - opt for literally anything else as a side.

Desserts are nice but not a necessity. Milk Cake is simply sweet with a thin layer of dulce de leche, a bit dry overall.

Lemon Pie is lovely, with a custard-y filling of zesty lemon.

Nothing tastes better than nostalgia, and I like Little Belize for it. Are they the best Caribbean cuisine in Inglewood? Probably not but that’s okay too - competition is keen. I plan to try the other options before I decide which one to stick with, but as of now, I’d gladly order Little Belize again.

Country Style Jamaican Restaurant - Inglewood

Don't be fooled by the no-frills appearance, this complex may be one of Inglewood's best. Queen of Sheba has proven herself a formidable contender on the Ethiopian stage, and Country Style is a no-tables take-out counter that makes island aliments with attitude. 

The women at the counter are energetic and smiling, and business is good as they assemble to-go bags non-stop at Monday lunch. Styrofoam takeout boxes are loaded with a generous entree on a bed of hearty rice and beans. Dark brown gravy seeps from a silky Oxtail that slides right off the bone, a flavor both dense and full. Size small is more than enough for a full meal as you get a side of veggies and sweet plantains to boot. A small puff of fried festival bread is a lighter, airier hush-puppy-johnny-cake morsel and arguably the best bite in the box. 

I suspect there are no bad choices here, and the Jerk Chicken is pretty great. You get half a chicken with a spice rub that doesn't mess around. It is perky, it is peppery, and it leaves a sharp sear that makes you burn for more. 

A "side" of Curry Goat is an entire entree's worth, and it seems all their meats are fall-off-the-bone tender. Each bite is a soft, tendinous texture in a rich and savory curry. 

Everything you order is almost enough for multiple meals. Even a long slice of Sweet Potato Pudding will fill you up in just a few bites. This sweet, nutmeg-y wedge is like a marzipan pie, with a smooth but grainy texture and a fragrant, nutty finish.  

Great food, savor-bomb stews with meat so tender it must have cooked for days. Affordable containers of take-away comfort, every bite as heavenly as the tropical paradise they came from. 

Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant - Inglewood

It's not so easy to pop over to Little Ethiopia when the injera craving hits, but from Inglewood's Queen of Sheba, Doordash will deliver. 

The injera is airy and sour-fresh, and the presentation is neat and clean, even in a styrofoam take-out box. 

Longtime staple Doro Wot hit the spot, and what's not to like about a buttery, sweet and stewy chicken leg with a spice-soaked egg? 

Doro wot was what I wanted, but what I needed was the Lamb Awaze Tibs. The pepper sauce is sweet and red-hot, and there's a buttery fragrance to finish with a flavor that lingers long after you've swallowed. And something about that buttery pepper sauce with the rich gameyness of the lamb makes you want more and all you can do is eat until you can't. 

The Vegetarian Combo is great for a variety of solid sides so you're not just eating meat. Red lentils are rich, and a yellow split pea is hearty and sweet. Collard greens are a much-needed leafy break between meaty bites, and a stewed cabbage and carrot are a comfort. 

Good food overall, great tibs that are actually better than Messob. I love the location as it's closer to the South Bay, but I do think they could hold their own in Little Ethiopia as well.

Cadoro Bakery - Inglewood

Drive slowly as you weave your way through back streets of warehouses, slow down when you see the sign they sat in the middle of the street. Park along the curb and head up to the bright yellow take-out window, a stark contrast to the sterile white of the warehouse. 

Their sliced bread is probably the best thing since sliced bread, full and half-loaf options cut fresh for your order. The sourdough is to die for.

The cafe menu has a selection of sandwiches, also a few offerings of salad and soup. The Short Rib Panini will set you back $16, but it's worth it for the melt-in-your-mouth shreds and caramelized onion. 

Oh man, this is good. Come for lunch and get some bread to go. No place to sit, and the view isn't picturesque, but the sandwiches are all you need to see. 

Aduke Nigerian Cuisine & Lounge - Inglewood

Aduke has been on my bucket list, and a free Friday had me meandering up to Inglewood. I've always wanted to try Nigerian food, and I'm told their takeout was fabulous...last year. 

A lot can happen in a year, and things started going south here immediately when we stepped up to order. We stared, wide-eyed, at the overwhelming menu and asked whether a tempting-looking dish of baked chicken gizzards was supposed to be an app or an entree. The young man at the register squinted in confusion, mumbling, "We have a chicken gizzards dish?" as his eyes frantically scanned the menu behind him. 

Conventional wisdom dictates that if the staff aren't even aware of the dish, you should order something else. So we asked what we should order and complied with the suggested combo plates. One was white rice, plantains, and Curry Goat, chunks of miserable meat like rubber with a watery yellow sauce that can only be described as an approximation of curry. It's like a person who has never seen, smelled, or tasted curry described curry to someone else who then tried to make it.

The Jollof Rice combo had potential - the red sauce, a tomato-based spicy almost-gravy, had such flavor and the side of greens was fresh. Unfortunately, the beef and the fish looked the same and both had turned to jerky from sitting in the warmers for what was probably several days. We arrived around noon and I can't imagine anything could get so dry in a single morning.

We also tried the meat patties, which were honestly no better. The beef patty was very bland with a pale, cooked but not browned crust, and the fish was mostly dry dough with a small swipe of salty stuff in the middle. 

I don't know what happened between last year and now. I've only heard good things about Aduke, and even Eater LA has heaps of praise. That said, I am deeply disappointed with the very poor quality of the food and felt like we got handed a bunch of leftovers that should have been thrown away. I just can't imagine this is the best Nigeria has to offer, but after my experience at Aduke, I'm hesitant to find out further.

Sweet Red Peach - Inglewood

The photos are ugly, and the taste is anything but. Step into Sweet Red Peach if you want your cake or cobbler without the side of nonsense. The prices are reasonable, the flavors are fun, and it's never a bad time to grab a slice. 

The 7-Up Pound Cake is their signature. Love that lemon-lime lilt to the icing on this soft and sweet slice of pound cake. 

I don't know if I prefer the Peach Cobbler or the Cake - the cinnamon cake does add more substance. 

as the cobbler is like a cinnamon soup, full of peaches waiting to be scooped. 

The Butter Pecan Pound Cake is another good one, but there's a mildly alcoholic aftertaste, which I attributed to the vodka in vanilla. The Sock it to Me is a smooth, sweet, simple slice of cinnamon, sugar, and pecan. Both are covered in a thick layer of icing. Great icing, but not necessary - the cakes are perfect the way they are. 

I don't know if I loved it, but I sure did like it. Lots of fun to be had with their impressive selection of slices, and I imagine their cookies and cupcakes are also great. Would definitely consider them for my next birthday cake, though I'd probably rather try something new. 

Banadir Somali Restaurant UPDATE - Inglewood

Keep it simple and do what you do best. That's what Banadir is doing, and Banadir is the best. 

Meat and rice with a side of salad and a banana. A bottle of water instead of tea. The Goat is falling off the bone, it's rich but it's lean and clean. 

Lamb looks like goat, but it's more gamey and equally great. 

Tilapia is a new venture, and these thin and flavorful slabs of fish are a safe adventure. 

The salad is mixed greens, covered in a creamy white dressing. The real standout is the rice. It's fragrant and flavorful, so savory as well. Firm yet tender long grains create the perfect texture, and it's good enough to stand alone. Smear on the green sauce. It stings skillfully and lightens the heavy meat.

Did I mention these generous practically 2-people portions are only 15-17 dollars? It's hard to get anything good for that price in this economy, but if you're looking for exceptional and exceptionally cheap, Banadir is where it's at. 

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.