LA Weekend Eats: Recommendations for Food & Drinks

Discover 4 top LA spots for weekend dining, including poke bowls, refreshing shaved ice, delicious shawarma, and affordable Chinese American cuisine. Plus, cocktail recommendations!

Every Friday, our editors assemble a trusty listing of recommendations to respond to the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?” Here are four places to look into this weekend break in Los Angeles.And if you need some ideas on where to consume, right here’s our listing of the best areas to get mixed drinks in town.

Fresh Poke Bowls

The warm wood-clad dining space is focused around a marble ordering counter the shade of a matcha cappucino prior to it obtains mixed. Poke bowls– readily available with established options or the option to develop your own– make up the majority of the menu, enhanced by Spam musubi and sides like seaweed salad and kimchi cucumber. The build-your-own dish comes with an option of one or 2 poke like shoyu tuna, chile garlic shrimp, spicy tuna, or vegan beet poke.

Cooling Shaved Ice

Delighted Ice is not cut ice. Los Angeles appears like the excellent place for such a cooling import, offered our 263 ordinary days of sunshine. When you go to Happy Ice, take time to study Mitchell’s water ice tastes: Every option seems like a flavor desire from Gen X and millennial youths, ranging from watermelon, sour apple crush, strawberry lemonade, and cherry bomb (or you can blend and match them for added strike).

Delicious Wagyu Shawarma

Last weekend break, I got off a plane at Burbank’s airport around lunchtime with one point on my mind: shawarma. And what much better way to have shawarma than to take pleasure in the juicy wagyu beef performance from Avi Cue in Studio City? A whole wagyu pita appear at $25 yet really feels greater than worth the heftier rate point– the pita gets swiped with tahini and amba and stuffed to the border with trickling beef, sliced tomato, onion, and parsley. (For lighter cravings, you can buy a half portion for $15.) I extremely suggest getting a side of matbucha, a roasted tomato and bell pepper hot sauce that tasted a little fermented and packed a welcome punch of warmth. For something a lot more floral but still spicy, attempt zhug or green warm sauce (better yet, simply obtain both and alternating). The dish is insufficient without a side of hand-cut french fries, which show up hot and generously sprinkled with flaky salt. 11288 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604.– Kat Thompson, target market editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest

Affordable Chinese Cuisine

The most alluring aspect of Santa Monica’s new Jade Bunny isn’t the neon eco-friendly rabbit LED light that bids diners from its corner perch near a busy health center facility. It’s that prices right here are really inexpensive– not jigsaw budget-friendly wherein you pay less by getting far much less than typical– with the majority of combination plates turning in at $12.90; original plates with a lot more pricey proteins could climb to $17.90. A $12.90 mix gets you a huge dish with two bases (white, brown, or fried rice; chow mein; or crunchy salad); two veggies sides (go for the pickled Chinese cabbage and spicy broccoli medallions); and one protein (orange mango hen is an enjoyable riff on the traditional Chinese American recipe). The tongue-in-cheek fast-casual restaurant from chef Bryant Ng and his partner and service partner Kim Luu-Ng hits all the notes: quickly, friendly service; streamlined, light-filled inside; and smart approaches to deeply acquainted, comforting Chinese American price. Go on Fridays and Saturdays for easy family members suppers or solo takeout; the restaurant near to recharge on Sunday and Monday. 2301 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA.– Nicole Fellah, Eater content supervisor

Last weekend, I obtained off an airplane at Burbank’s flight terminal around lunchtime with one point on my mind: shawarma. A whole wagyu pita clocks in at $25 however really feels more than worth the heftier price factor– the pita gets swiped with tahini and amba and packed to the brim with trickling beef, chopped tomato, onion, and parsley. I very recommend obtaining a side of matbucha, a roasted tomato and bell pepper hot sauce that tasted slightly fermented and loaded a welcome punch of warm. For something a lot more floral but still spicy, attempt zhug or eco-friendly warm sauce (far better yet, just get both and alternating). A $12.90 combination obtains you a huge dish with 2 bases (white, brownish, or fried rice; chow mein; or crispy salad); 2 vegetables sides (go for the pickled Chinese cabbage and spicy broccoli medallions); and one protein (orange mango poultry is an enjoyable riff on the traditional Chinese American recipe).