I came across My Lai on Yelp which appeared to have just opened as it only had eight reviews, all 5 stars. It’s located across the street from Mar Vista on Venice around the corner from Little Fatty and Rasselbock.
As one of the reviews previously mentioned, it has a Chipotle vibe where you can create your own bowl or order one of their specialities.
I was immediately drawn to the garlic fried rice which I paired with grilled chicken, cilantro, sliced cucumber, sesame medley, crispy garlic and miso sesame sauce. The chicken was moist and tender with a bit of char, and the cucumber added a bit of freshness and lightness while the cilantro added a layer of earthiness to the dish. The miso sesame sauce was light and tangy, and the crispy garlic added texture and bite, but the star of the dish was the garlic fried rice which appeared to have been cooked in a savory chicken broth or stock resulting in a glutinous sticky rice.
The rice was reminiscent of what is traditionally served in Filipino restaurants but more potent and richer in flavor. Though the bowl I ordered was not an authentic Vietnamese dish, it was quite enjoyable.
The restaurant is quite clean and modern with both an indoor and fairly decent sized outdoor space for dining. It would be very easy to have a quick, easy and healthy meal here or spend an hour or two lounging on the patio with friends. This new find is a solid winner!
My Lai
12222 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
https://www.mylaikitchen.com
I had first read about Sushi Beluga on one of my Yelp searches for new and noteworthy restaurants in the area. Since I had the day off, I decided to give them a try on MLK, Jr. Day.
I checked their opening time which was 11:00 a.m. and headed down to Playa. I arrived around 11:26 a.m. and saw the sign by the door that their soft open business hours were not as advertised, but they were set to open in 4 minutes so I decided to wait it out in my car until 11:30 a.m. and was the first customer through the door.
My server was absolutely lovely and welcoming. She explained that they had only been open only a month and a half and not all the items on the menu were available yet. She went page by page and identified those selections and mentioned that they expect to have the full menu available and be fully operational by the end of January or beginning of February.
I ordered the salmon sample which had 5 pieces of salmon for $15.95. For those doing the math, each piece cost $3.19. It was definitely not a cheap plate, but I was hopeful that the 5 star reviews on Yelp were on point.
I was sold on my first bite of the aburi miso salmon. It was tangy, complex with varying layers of flavors. The salmon tasted like it had hints of mirin, soy, sesame oil and citrus. It turned out to be my favorite on the plate.
That first bite set the stage for the rest. Next was the salmon with yuzu which had a smoky, citrus flavor. The third sample was the salmon truffle which was a bit oilier than the first two and had a slightly earthier aftertaste.
The next two samples were both king salmon as the restaurant was out of ocean trout. The texture of the king salmon was akin to the butteriness of the sashimi I had at Sushi Katsura which was located a couple hundred meters from the famous Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. King salmon #1 was Rey light, citrusy and quite refreshing while king salmon #2 had a bit of crunch and a slight tartness which tasted a bit like mango salsa on top contrasted by the salmon which had a more subdued flavor.
I didn’t believe I would ever taste quality even remotely close to what I indulged in during my visit to Tokyo in 2018 but at long last, I think I found a restaurant that is a much closer than Tokyo and likely a less expensive substitute.
Sushi Beluga is not your cheapest fare but the quality of the food they serve demands a slight upmarket price. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and having been spoiled with the freshness and exemplary cuts of fresh fish in Tokyo, I can wholeheartedly recommend Sushi Beluga as my new local go-to sashimi, sushi and nigiri spot in Playa Del Rey.
Sushi Beluga 207 Culver Blvd. Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 https://www.sushibelugaca.com
Many moons ago, the Manchester was the local Loyola Marymount haunt, the Fireside. It’s where fake ID’s were honored and where staggering drunkards whittled their time away. Since then, the location has been reinvented into a few other iterations, but it wasn’t until it morphed into The Manchester that I finally decided to return. Long gone are the dark, dank walls where I walked between for my 21st birthday and was nearly forced to drink a disgusting shot of Jagermeister. What emerged was a contemporary, dimly lit, very popular spot with the locals and millennials alike.
Fortunately, I was able to get a last minute dinner reservation on Resy on a Friday night. When we came in, the place was packed. We were a few minutes early so we had an opportunity to look around. The space is not that large, but it didn’t feel oppressive. It took a few minutes for our table to become available but once that freed up, we were taken care of the rest of the evening.
Fernando, one of the owners, had set us up with our cocktails before our table was ready, which arrived just as soon as we were being whisked to our table.
After reviewing the menu, we opted for the burger and fries to start and the chicken and salmon from the large entree menu. Our appetizer was quite savory.
The burger patty was slightly salty and the meat was fairly tender. The fries were crispy, per my request and the aioli dip hit the spot.
Our entrees also were quite good. The salmon was moist and flaky. The accompanying vegetables, the eggplant and baby bok choy, were lightly seasoned and perfectly cooked.
The chicken had a surprisingly crispy skin and moist, tender meat with a savory and a slightly crispy broccolini as its accompaniment.
We ended our meal with a very chocolatey pot de creme. It was quite creamy and could possibly cause one to stay up all night.
All in all, the food and service were quite good. Truth be told though, the prices were high for what we ordered. I’ve eaten at other restaurants like Prospect Gourmand on La Cienega or Lunetta All Day on Pico where comparable entrees are closer to the $18-$22 range so we felt the prices were a bit inflated. Other than that, the service, ambiance, vibe and the food were quite enjoyable. Though we would likely not return as there are better values for the experience, the Manchester would definitely be one to try.
The Manchester
8522 Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
https://themanchester.la
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, the links provided above provide a referral fee for any qualifying purchases you make.
We recently returned to the Beverly Hills location for my husband’s birthday dinner. As I had previously reviewed this restaurant before, I hadn’t anticipated writing another review but the exemplary service, the sensational quality of the food and the generosity of the manager warranted an update.
The morning before our reservation, I emailed the manager, Michael Hudson, who we had met on our last visit for our anniversary. I mentioned that it was my husband’s birthday and we were looking forward to seeing him again.
I didn’t hear back but sensed he had received my email as I did not get the usual confirmation phone call from Phillip. We arrived a few minutes late but didn’t wait long to be seated. We sat against the wall in the front section of the second floor close to the singers and pianist. It was the first time we sat in that specific section and it dawned on us that we could hear the music much better in that area so we’re making a mental note for future visits.
Our server, Summer, was likely the best server we have ever had at the restaurant. She was attentive but not overbearing. Her timing on refreshing our beverages was impeccable.
We started with the spinach salad which was split in half. It was perfectly dressed, not oversaturated with dressing.
The kitchen was slightly heavy-handed with the blue cheese but the bacon and crumbled hard-boiled egg was served in more equal proportion.
Next to arrive was the creamy, decadent lobster bisque which had chunks of lobster with each delectable sip.
The bisque always has the pleasure reflex, where one’s eyes roll to the back of the head on first taste. It just hits all the right notes, and no visit to Mastro’s is complete without this bowl of amazing goodness.
After the empty plates from starters were whisked away, our filets arrived. They were cooked perfectly, a bit charred on the outside with a warm, pink center. The filet was so tender I’m not sure a steak knife was even necessary.
The smell of sizzling, buttery beef wafting through the air was curtailed by the savory side dishes’ arrival.
The green beans were cooked just right, crispy but not overly oily.
The Gorgonzola mac n cheese had a slightly smoky top layer which enveloped a steamy, gooey, dense center.
The lobster mashed potatoes had very generous chunks of lobster intermixed with the luxuriously creamy potatoes.
Last to arrive was the trio of birthday cakes, courtesy of the restaurant. We were served with the mind numbingly decadent butter cake as well as a slice of the super rich chocolate cake.
New to the mix was the key lime pie which was a bit of a palate cleanser from the richness of the entire meal.
All in all, it was an amazing experience. The combination of dishes with the attentive staff made it the best night we have had at Mastro’s Beverly Hills. Thank you to Michael, Summer, your kitchen and staff for an impeccable evening.
Mastro’s Steakhouse
246 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
https://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/Locations/CA/Beverly-Hills-Steakhouse/
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, the links provided above provide a referral fee for any qualifying purchases you make.
For many years, I had driven by Marty’s Hamburger Stand and had seen the tiny blue stand with people hovering around it, ordering or waiting for their food. A week or so ago, after running a lunchtime errand in the area, I told myself that if I could easily find parking, I would finally stop by and try their burger and fries. Lo and behold, there was a metered parking space right in front! Taking the cue from the universe, I parked and ordered my first meal.
I had a hankering for a double bacon burger lettuce wrap and was torn between tater tots and curly fries. It was a good omen when I was told I could get both. I watched as the burger patties were grilled and as the bag of packaged fresh lettuce wraps were brought from the back of the stand.
Everything came out perfectly. The lettuce was crisp and fresh, the burger patties were juicy and lightly seasoned and the bacon was crispy but not oily.
The tots had a fluffiness and lightness to them while the curly fries were enveloped in a delicious seasoning coating each curl.
It wasn’t the cheapest casual meal but considering the quality, it was totally worth the cost. I can’t believe it’s taken me 20 years to try out Marty’s Hamburger Stand, but if it makes things right, I’ll definitely be coming back for the next 20!
Marty’s Hamburger Stand
10558 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
https://www.restaurantji.com/ca/los-angeles/martys-hamburger-stand-/
I had been to Simpang Asia once before but back then, more than half of the space was a grocery store and a small portion was a restaurant. I don’t recall what I ate, but I was not very well versed in southeast Asian cuisine at the time. Now that we have traveled to various parts of Asia, our palates have been sufficiently educated to appreciate the variety of food that Simpang Asia had to offer. Full disclaimer: we did not realize how large the portions were so we took all the entrees home after eating a few bites.
For starters, we ordered the roti paratha. There were four servings of a delicious, crispy, flaky wrapped bread roll which came with a savory chicken curry dipping sauce.
We also ordered the lemper which were sticky coconut rice rolls wrapped around tender juicy shreds of chicken.
The soto ayam arrived next which was a chicken turmeric soup with noodles, soft boiled eggs, cabbage and bean sprouts. The broth had a a bit of an oily layer on the surface indicating that it had been cooking with the various ingredients for a long period of time.
Next was the seafood laksa soup which was a curry broth with noodles, shrimp, squid, fish cake, boiled egg and bean sprouts. It had a creaminess to it with a bit of heat, tempered by a hint of lemon.
We followed that with the nasi goreng with salted fish. The rice dish was exquisite as teeny bits of the fish were interspersed throughout and the fried egg on top helped to subdue the intense flavor. We also ordered a savory chicken skewer with the dish.
The nasi mantep, a combination platter of chicken curry, egg curry, beef chili, kale curry and green chili relish was served next. The chicken was so incredibly tender, the meat practically fell off the bone.
Last to arrive was one of their seasonal specials, the ayam goreng kremes, an Indonesian fried chicken with rice, vegetables, tofu and tempeh. Simpang Asia’s version was surprisingly light and had a layer of crunchy tempura flake batter giving it a doubly crispy texture.
I was quite pleased at how each dish was executed and the service was exemplary. As the evening went on, the restaurant continued to fill up with predominantly Asian customers which was a true sign of an Asian restaurant’s legitimacy. We thoroughly enjoyed our feast from the “southeast” and have every intention of sampling more of Simpang Asia’s other offerings.
Simpang Asia
10433 National Blvd, #2
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://simpangasia.com
As I’m prone to do on weekends for lunch, I explore and sample different ethnic restaurants that are in close proximity to home. I initially looked for Turkish or Persian food after discovering that Shawarma Land in front of the Turkish grocery had been replaced by a not-yet-opened Hot Nashville Chicken Restaurant. Nothing struck my fancy so I researched the adjoining restaurants to the unopened space.
I had passed by Coppelia’s several times on my previous jaunts to Shawarma Land and recalled that their breakfasts and Lomo Saltado looked interesting. Surprisingly, Coppelia’s has a much more vibrant interior than its previous neighbor. The walls are painted in mustard and pumpkin hues with framed artwork and photos of what I can only assume is a representation of Peruvian towns and life in Peru. The fans seem to cool the space quite a bit so it’s very comfortable dining in as opposed to necessitating takeout.
Fernando quickly greeted me with a menu after I seated myself. I ordered the half Peruvian rotisserie chicken with crispy fries and black beans. It took about ten minutes or so before I received my entree. It was piping hot. I started with the thigh as all foodies do because if that’s not tender and moist, all hope is lost for the white meat portion of the chicken.
It did not disappoint. The meat practically fell off the bone. The chicken had a unique tangy marinade mixed with black pepper and a hint of citrus. The skin was slightly crispy and savory. Surprisingly, the breast was equally tender though obviously not as moist since it’s a leaner and denser part of the chicken. The beans and rice combo seems like it would have been better suited for the roast chicken rather than the fries that I ordered but I still enjoyed them.
All in all, for the amount of food, it’s definitely a good value. I’ve eaten at other Peruvian restaurants like El Pollo Inka and Lonzo’s Restaurant as well as a few other Peruvian pop-ups at Farmers Markets. What I’ve discovered is they each offer a unique take on the cuisine. Coppelia’s rotisserie chicken is quite delicious so I will definitely be back to sample more from their menu. Stay tuned!!
Coppelia’s Bakery & Cafe
10825 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://www.coppeliasbakery.club/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=Coppelias%20Bakery%20&%20Restaurant&utm_term=5c991267eea1da0001a9301a
When I worked at Trailer Park, the company participated in a subsidized lunch program for its employees with Eat Club. When Phorage was an option, I quickly and eagerly placed my lunch order and waited with great anticipation until the day arrived when I would finally be able to taste the tasty morsels that came in the special Eat Club package with my name on it.
It’s been a few years since my time at Trailer Park and since my last in-person meal at Phorage. As I’m currently on a Vietnamese bun kick due to our upcoming trip to Vietnam, I decided to place an order for lunch pickup.
I’m sad to say that the flavor of the food has declined since my last visit. I ordered the grilled chicken with imperial roll and vermicelli noodles. I can understand that the egg roll would have lost its crispy texture during the car ride back to work. However, the flavor of the chicken was disappointedly lackluster. From what I recall, a prior iteration of this dish had a citrusy, lemongrass flavor marinaded into the chicken. That’s what gave it a more authentic Vietnamese flavor. Now it’s just grilled chicken on a bed of vermicelli noodles, shredded carrots, lettuce and bean sprouts with a side of very mild sweet & sour sauce sprinkled with a dash of fish sauce.
What I always fear with Asian restaurants is how the quality and flavor of their food diminish and decline over time, as a cost saving measure or perhaps under pressure to Americanize their dishes. I haven’t followed Phorage so I don’t know if they have a different chef or are under new management.
I was so hopeful that it would be my go-to for my Vietnamese fix on the Westside but alas, so far, Saigon Dish in Lawndale has checked off most of the boxes on what an authentic bun ga nuong should taste like. Guess a trek to South Bay is still closer and cheaper than a trip to Vietnam.
Phorage
3300 Overland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
http://phoragela.com/
Having booked our Christmas trip to Vietnam earlier this week, I was in the mood to get my palate warmed up for their food and a friend had recently recommended an inexpensive restaurant in Lawndale which had received 1673 reviews, mostly 4-5 stars on Yelp. Fortunately, I found myself in the South Bay around lunchtime so off I went.
The restaurant is in a strip mall with lots of parking spaces available behind a Spires restaurant. The interior is very casual. Each table has a number assigned to it. I had one guy seat me and another person take my order which was #28.
The bun tom cha gio thit nuong offered a sampler platter of sorts. It was a room temperature thin vermicelli noodle salad with grilled shrimp, grilled pork, a crispy egg roll, sliced cucumbers, sliced carrots, shredded lettuce, mint leaves, peanuts and bean sprouts with a side of fish sauce per the menu. Having cooked with and eaten fish sauce recently in Chiang Mai, the sauce in my dish looked and tasted milder, much like a sweet chili sauce which was the perfect sauce for the very crispy egg roll.
The bowl was massive with a lot of noodles. There was a decent amount of protein but by the time I finished eating, I likely had at least half a bowl left. The food was tangy, tender, subtly flavored, slightly charred but light. It was a very healthy dish, no oil, just raw vegetables, previously boiled noodles and grilled shrimp and pork and for $8.75 plus tax and tip, it’s a serious bargain. I strongly recommend a visit if you’re even remotely close to the area.
Saigon Dish
15725 Hawthorne Blvd., Ste. 108 (cross street Manhattan Beach Blvd.)
Lawndale, CA 90260
http://saigondish.info/?section=main-menu
More often than not, my husband and I are in town on Labor Day, enjoying our local sites and unwinding after a busy summer. This past weekend was focused around our favorite past time second only to traveling.
The foodie adventure began early on Friday afternoon for a late lunch at an Indian restaurant in Marina del Rey. New India’s Oven had an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $10.95. I sampled the white basmati rice, the yellow rice with veggies, tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala and chickpeas. Despite my late arrival, the rice was still quite fluffy and light, the tandoori chicken and chicken tikka masala were relatively moist and juicy. The chickpeas were mealy and flavorful. The lunch also came with two piping hot crispy naan which was the perfect vehicle to soak up the delicious tikka masala sauce off the plate.
For one of our weekend dinners, we ventured off to Rush Street in downtown Culver City. We ordered their special summer BBQ baby back ribs special, Mary’s pan seared chicken which sat on a bed of risotto and a side of Mac n cheese.
The ribs were fairly moist and juicy with a rich tangy sauce on the outside of the meat, the side of truffle fries were delicious and flavorful as always and the mac n cheese was gooey and rich.
Mary’s pan seared chicken was quite moist on the inside, with a crispy outer layer complemented by a large serving of savory risotto.
Manhattan Beach was our chosen location for weekend brunch with the girls and MB Post was the host of our delicious feast.
We started off with the very decadent bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits. With each bite, you could taste the teeny bits of crispy bacon separating from the flaky crispy exterior of the biscuit.
Next to arrive was the market fruit platter which looked like a gilded work of art, almost too pretty to eat. The slices of peaches had a light drizzling of a simple syrup which enhanced the natural sweetness of the fruit.
The crispy red bliss potatoes were absolutely divine and added a bit of heartiness to the meal.
The beautiful plate of egg and mushroom crostini was a light and savory addition as was the crispy rosemary flavored bacon.
To finish off the meal, MB Post treated us to a gorgeous delicious sticky bun dessert.
For a mid afternoon treat, we headed off to Fiesta Hermosa.
Although the vendors are typically the same year after year, it’s always fun to go and have a drink at the local bar, listen to some tunes, catch up with some friends and have a nice dinner by the beach.
We started off our afternoon at one of our favorites, Abigaile. They have their own brewery so it’s always nice to sample some of their recommendations.
After about an hour, we headed to Rok Sushi kitchen for some dinner. I ordered the baked salmon over garlic fried rice with vegetables. The salmon was perfectly moist and the rice was slightly crispy with a healthy helping of garlic and soy sauce. The vegetables were cooked perfectly with a light soy marinade.
To end the Labor Day feasting staycation, I came back to Culver City and visited Dot Saigon. It was my first time trying their food so I opted for one of their recommendations, the lemongrass beef bun which is a cold noodle salad with slices of tender marinaded beef and crispy onions on top with a fish sauce dipping sauce on the side. I added a crispy veggie roll for a $1. Considering how quickly I was served my lunch and how large the portion was, Dot Saigon was a great value of time and money.
Our holiday staycation in Los Angeles took us on a foodie journey to various parts of Asia as well as to certain areas of the South and Midwest without having the usual expense of travel. Trying new restaurants and cuisines is the easiest and cheapest way to experience what the world has to offer. We consider ourselves fortunate to live in such an ethnically diverse city which affords us the luxury to try out new cuisines in the comfort of our “backyard.”
Grace Gambin
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