Got Kosher? - Los Angeles

Its name conjures the image of a Manischewitz mustache and a vat of gelfilte fish...which is really tasty, BTW. I wasn't dying to go in, but passing it by would have been my judgmental loss because once you get past the cheesy name...and the lack of cheese on your burger, the food is worth a stop for those who keep Kosher, and even more so for those who don't.

The Tajine, for example, is a great stew, full of thick, gamey gravy, flavored with chunks of lamb, stewed silky. Plushy prunes add earthy sweetness, and savory roasted almonds break up the gooey texture with a little crunch. It's not about being Kosher, it's about being a really good stew.

Dietary restrictions are supposed to be...well...restrictive. No gluten means no delectable carbs, vegan means no anything-that-tastes-good, and no nuts screws over every other snacker on the airplane. 

Kosher is a different story. Instead of being a restriction, Got Kosher opens a whole new world of not-so-different dishes that taste good within an imperceptible guideline. Even the Royal GK Burger, topped with long cuts of crispy pastrami, aka beef-bacon, and a soft avocado with mushrooms and onions that swim in chipotle mayo, is a blend of savory flavors and serious skill. You don't notice the no-milk-and-meat rule because the mayo brings the whole meaty mix together, and the chewy-skin, soft-center, house-made pretzel bun is enough to make hater-me stop hating pretzel buns.

The name is cheesy but cute, the location actually has street parking, and the food is undeniably delicious for both Jews and gentiles alike. Great bread, juicy meat, simmering stew. Got Kosher has got my blessing.

Meshuga 4 Sushi - Los Angeles

Have you heard about all those Japanese Jews that have moved to LA? Oh you haven't? Well you shouldn't have...they don't exist.

Now that we got that out of the way, you know not to come to Meshuga expecting the kosher sushi to be authentic. But unauthentic doesn't mean Meshuga is without a little charm and a small sense of humor.

Japanese Pizza isn't actually a thing, but they definitely make it their thing. It's hard to hate on spicy tuna over crispy brown rice. The pieces are a little too big to fit into one bite, but the precarious balance of a fish on a slab of rice that crumbles beneath your teeth forces you to stuff your face lest you let it fall apart.

When the pizza starts to get heavy, the Shishitos are a welcome break. A generous helping of grilled greens will always re-whet the appetite.

Start back up with the Salmon Lover Roll, a fresh red roll of salmon avocado topped with black-edged spicy slices.

Since shrimp just can't be kosher, why not just make it from scratch? The Spider Roll has a satisfying crunch, and texture aside, the enclosed shrimp tempura tastes pretty scarily close.

What does kosher sushi taste like? Turns out, kosher sushi tastes pretty much just like regular sushi and it's delicious. Meshuga may not be the most authentic sushi you'll ever have, but it's guaranteed to be fresh and fun and I'm guaranteed to go back for more.