Caring is sharing so it’s time again to share my annual year-end list. With the new year about to begin, I wish you all a year of good health, personal and professional fulfillment and, of course, next-level eats. So without further ado, here is my list of the top ten things I consumed and wrote about this past year.
10. Squid Ink Xiao Long Bao from Little Fatty. If you’re not eating at this super cool Culver City eatery with amazing craft cocktails and awesome Taiwanese soul food, you’re doing it wrong. I love everything I’ve had there, especially this version of soup dumplings.
Basterma Brisket Sandwich with hand-carved Basterma Brisket, Pickled Persian Cucumber, Chaman Spread and Swiss Cheese on freshly baked Pita Bread.
9. Basterma Brisket Sandwich from Iii Mas Bakery and Deli. Until they open their planned brick and mortar space serving their insanely good Armenian brisket sandwiches, you can only order to go, drive to a parking lot in Glendale and wait at a bright red door until someone emerges from their ghost kitchen to bring you your sandwich prize. But definitely worth it.
8. Original Japanese Cheesecake from Uncle Tetsu’s. Japanese cheesecakes are way different from their American cousins. They’re much lighter, fluffier and delicate. I’m obsessed with the ones from Uncle’s Tetsu.
7. Pork Spareribs from The Mulberry. With its hip and cozy vibe, cool cocktails and elevated Korean dishes, The Mulberry on Sawtelle is my favorite new restaurant in LA. When you go, make sure to order these perfectly grilled and mouthwateringly delicious pork spareribs.
6. Scallop Crudo from Budoknoki. This modern and intimate Japanese Izakaya does everything right and has incredible food. My favorite dish is their perfect scallop “snack.” It’s one of the best crudos I’ve ever consumed.
5. Mama Chang’s Marinated Bone-in Ribeye from Super Peach. David Chang (of Momofuku fame) is my favorite chef in the world and has recently opened Super Peach, his second LA restaurant after Majordomo, in Century City Mall of all places. This phenomenal juicy ribeye steak is my favorite thing on the menu.
4. Shawarma Rubbed Oyster Mushrooms from Mazal. With a good friend who is vegan, I’ve had to up my game on finding vegan fare for the past couple years and have made many awesome food discoveries. The Israeli vegetarian cuisine at Mazal is across-the-board excellent, but the best of all is their phenomenal air-fried Shawarma Rubbed Oyster Mushrooms.
3. “The Prent” Pastrami Sandwich on a Roasted Jalapeño Bagel from Uncle Stevey’s Bagels. There are many impressive bagel joints right now in LA, but none are on the level of Uncle Stevey’s. Their thoughtfulness and attention to detail is staggering. The Prent, which is only served on weekends and only from 10:30am until they close at 1:30pm and is made on your choice of bagel (I highly recommend the Roasted Jalapeño), is unbelievably delish.
2. Mala Lamb Sausage Pizza from Pizzeria Sei. This is a pizzeria for foodies and my current favorite in the city. They serve individual-sized Neopolitan-style pizzas on some the best chewy crust I’ve ever tasted. The spicy Mala Lamb Sausage Pizza is especially extraordinary and a must-have if it’s on the menu when you go.
1. Meat Jun Plate Lunch from Broken Mouth. Three things to know: 1. This Korean-Hawaiian homestyle food counter is in a low-rent food court downtown; 2. Ordering should ideally be done online in advance to avoid a long wait; and 3. The Meat Jun is transcendent and will change your life. It’s the best thing I consumed in 2025.
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