Credit: Tommaso Boddi via Getty Images.
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Staff Writer
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April 22, 2026
Los Angeles dining spans from velvet-roped tasting rooms to late-night street carts, but the city’s real culinary rhythm often shows up in its everyday neighborhood spots. These are the places locals rely on between shifts, auditions, and long commutes, where comfort and consistency matter more than exclusivity.
That dynamic came into focus during the premiere of Normal at the Hollywood American Legion, where actor Bob Odenkirk spoke about his go-to meals in the city.
Instead of pointing to a flashy celebrity hotspot, he named Same Same, a casual Thai restaurant in Silver Lake. His order of choice? A traditional Pad Thai. As the actor puts it, “It’s a pretty common thing, but they make it really good.”
Alongside his tasty noodle recommendation, Odenkirk acknowledged a ubiquitous West Coast institution. “I like In-N-Out too,” he added. “Everyone likes In-N-Out. So that’s not shedding any light on anything,” he joked with a smile.
Normal: a small-town crime story with a big twist
Normal is an action crime thriller directed by Ben Wheatley and written by Derek Kolstad, based on a story co-developed with Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk also stars and serves as a producer, playing Ulysses, a temporary sheriff sent to the snowbound town of Normal, Minnesota, where a routine bank robbery quickly unravels into a much larger criminal conspiracy involving corruption and organized crime.
The film also features Henry Winkler as the town’s mayor and Lena Headey in a key supporting role, blending small-town mystery with stylized, high-intensity action.