Crustees Eatery - Los Angeles

A bad name for a fantastic place. I get it, there's crust on pies, but it's hard to take a place like this seriously at first. That said, there's also the "Pie Hole" and "Fat + Flour" to contend with, and I can only conclude that the pie places want you to think they're gross. 

The polar opposite of gross is Crustees, which churns out, obviously pies, but not so obviously chili and a Seafood Gumbo that tastes like it was scooped straight from the bayou. The shrimp and crab bring on the seafood savor, and chicken and sausage make a meaty mix. You get more chunks of sausage than any other meat, but don't worry, this is the opposite of a problem.  

A simple Apple Pie that still tastes like apple is an underrated thing. I love that they make theirs tart rather than sugaring it to death, so it still tastes like a pie full of apple. 

All the sugar they didn't put in the pie went right into their famous Banana Pudding, on the other hand, has all the sugar they didn’t put in the pie. I love me a good banana pudding, but I can't tell you which is better than the rest. This one's good. Super sweet for my taste, but it's good so get it to share if you caught a craving.

I'm not going to lie, nine dollars per pie is pretty steep when the pie's only 5 inches wide. But they are family owned, and good ingredients and rent are never cheap so if I'm supporting anyone nowadays, I'm glad to be supporting them. 

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop - Gardena

 

I hate bowling. I don’t know what size ball I need, I don’t know how to throw it, and yes, I will still bowl a 63 with gutter guards. 

I will NOT go bowling. I will NEVER...wait a minute... Did you say cafe? Well a bowling alley cafe is right up my alley. 

This cafe serves Japanese-Hawaiian soul food, some of the South Bay’s best. Hearty heaps like the Hawaiian Royal are EXACTLY the kind of food I would eat at a bowling alley...because I would have to be very drunk to there, and there is no better hangover prophylaxis than this. The colors are brighter than a lei, and the radioactive-red chashu chunks are as delicious as they are suspicious. It’s a beautiful mess of a scramble, a literal green eggs and ham as chopped scallion perks up a fluffy mix of eggs, chashu, and sausage over rice.

They have sandwiches if you’re more about lunch than brunch. Bonus points for the Chicken Katsu Sandwich cutlet for overhanging the bun, and an extra point for toasting the bun like this.

The Loco Moco is truly loco. That slab of hamburg is half the size of the box, and a fried egg runeth over. Plenty of smothered onions and a thick brown gravy to cover the rice and keep you eating. 

Don't get your hopes up about me bowling, but if you go to Gardena Bowl I’d go in a heartbeat. And I’d cheer you on...with my mouth full. 

The Pie Hole - Hollywood

Pie Hole in preparation for the hell hole that is Love Never Dies. Really, we were just looking for something quick, easy, and affordable near the Pantages, but I think we're onto something.

The Steak n' Ale is h-ale and hearty. It's a more solid beef stew that tastes like beef stew and Guinness in your stomach...after you consume both and shake your stomach to mix the two.

The Chicken and Cornbread is more of the comfort food. I don't detect much cornbread, otherwise it's a great chicken pot pie.

For dessert there is a Strawberry Lavender Hand Pie. Shaped like a large half-dumpling, a flaky crust and a thick layer of icing enfolds a fragrant strawberry filling that finishes surprisingly smooth.

Pie Hole is a place that snuck up on me. I expected a few steps above fast food, a fun but quality quick experience, and a carb-loaded alternative to Tender Greens. I got just that, but there is something so fun and fulfilling about filling up with pies both savory and sweet, and I guess I'm not the only one because Pie Hole has already gone global!