Earlier this week, we put out a piece on ‘New Los Angeles Food Spots Worth Checking Out’, but L.A. is a town with so many chefs, cuisines, curations, and choices that we simply could not help but double-down. Here is a brief list of five additional happening Los Angeles joints definitely worth a visit:
El Ruso
@elrusola
“Pura Calidad!” is the motto at El Ruso. Translating to “pure quality,” this slogan truly represents what El Ruso is all about: the flour tortillas are always freshly hand-made, and from the tacos to the burritos, to the chorreadas, all the food is cooked fresh-to-order, and all ingredients are purchased daily to maximize freshness. Try the Carne Asada Tacos Stuffed with Beans and Salsa! El Ruso is open Mondays through Saturdays, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm. Make sure to bring cash!
Pisces Poké & Ramen
@piscespoke
Craving poké? Pisces Poké & Ramen is the #1 highest rated restaurant in Los Angeles on Yelp! Owner and Executive Chef Joshua You spent over a decade as a specialized sushi chef, perfecting his own recipes and skills. With a large variety of options available, from poké bowls, salad poké, ramen, and handrolls, Pisces is the place to go. The service is quick, and takeout is easy. You definitely get a lot for what you order here, so make sure you go on an empty stomach!
HiHo Cheeseburger
@hihocheeseburger
An absolute must for all the burger lovers out there, HiHo Cheeseburger was included in The Thrillist’s‘Best Burger Joints in America’ article, published in 2018. Every patty is unbelievably rich and decadent as a result of the clean-tasting wagyu beef used for protein. An upscale, environmentally conscious burger franchise, HiHo’s particular claim to fame is being the only burger chain in the country to feature exclusively 100% grass-fed beef. The menu has three different burgers to choose from, as well as a selection of fries, shakes, pies, beers, and wine. Locations exist in both Santa Monica and Los Angeles proper.
Noble Bird Rotisserie
@noblebirdrotisserie
Head on down to Long Beach to sample Noble Bird, specializing in down-home, family-friendly rotisserie chicken meals. A venue that manages to specialize in environmental-consciousness without sacrificing in terms of flavor, all Noble Bird “birds” are exclusively pasture-raised, extensively brined for 24 hours, and finally slow-roasted on the rotisserie. Every chicken is raised free of both soy and GMOs. The focus at Noble Bird is not only “tasty” and “healthy”, but also “sustainable” – some restaurant proceeds go towards helping to rebuild healthy, regenerative soils and grasslands. Go with the Traditional, made with thyme, sage, and lemon, or try out The G Chicken, which has more of a kick, made with Korean chili pepper flakes, citrus, soy sauce, and honey.
The Vegan Joint
@theveganjoint
A Los Angeles institution, The Vegan Joint is one of the oldest and most successful vegan restaurants in town. With four locations in the greater-LA area, and a versatile menu that offers up breakfast burritos and pancakes in the morning hours, with an eclectic mix of soups, salads, wraps, and burgers available the rest of the day, not to mention a Thai-focused menu for lunch and dinner as well!