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.