This past year was a phenomenal food year in LA. So much so that it was quite a difficult task to pick just ten things for this list. But after much mulling over and agonizing, here’s my annual list of the ten best things I consumed and posted about during the past year. I suggest you make it your New Year’s resolution to try them all!
10. Maizhongo from Carnal Cocina Artesenal. Carnal serves the best Oaxacan Mexican food I’ve ever consumed, and this vegan mushroom dish is a particular stand-out.
9. Edna’s Sour Milk Cornbread from Dunsmoor. This Southern-inspired restaurant is one of my favorites in the city. Their cornbread is served hot in a cast iron skillet and is spectacular.
8. Beef Short Rib from Cobi’s. I love this Southeast Asian fusion restaurant and their buttery short rib is in a league of its own.
7. Dan Dan Noodles from Pine & Crane. If you’re not ordering this bowl of vegan awesomeness at my favorite uber-cool Taiwanese joint, you are massively missing out.
6. Dosa Onion Rings from Pijja Palace. There are many things to love about Silver Lake’s own Indian-Italian fusion hipster sports bar, but these insanely good onion rings are at the very top of the list.
5. Spicy Fusilli from Jon & Vinny’s. This consistently excellent local Italian eatery with multiple locations (includiung a new one in Studio City) and its signature dish of perfect pasta have been around for a while, and for good reason. These spiral noodles in spicy vodka sauce are mouth-wateringly sensational.
4. Lechon Kawali from Kuya Lord. Chef Maynard Llera just won a prestigious James Beard Award for his exceptional Filipino cuisine, no doubt due in part to this juicy, crispy-skinned magnificence.
3. Sushi from Sushi Gen. People often ask me what my favorite sushi bar is in LA. This is it. Make sure to order the Albacore and Fatty Tuna. You’re welcome.
2. Pork Hui Tou Dumplings from Hui Tou Xiang. These are my favorite Chinese dumplings in the city. And if you don’t want to drive to San Gabriel for them, a second location of this incredible dumpling and noodle joint recently opened in Hollywood.
1. Wagyu Cheesesteak from Matū. At night, it’s a posh Japanese steakhouse. But at lunchtime (and only at lunchtime), at the bar, they serve a ridiculously amazing version of a cheesesteak on a fresh-out-of-the-oven sesame seed roll. It’s the best thing I consumed and posted about in 2024.
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