Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.
For diner food done well: Clark Street Diner in Franklin Village
Although Angelenos will probably always mourn the loss of the iconic 101 Diner, Zach Hall’s Clark Street Diner has not missed a beat in keeping the space alive. The 1970s touches, like the camel-colored booths and jagged stone wall, received some much-needed attention in the changing of the guard without losing their charm. The menu brings updated versions of nostalgic diner classics, like fluffy buttermilk pancakes made with Sonoran flour and avocado toast on Clark Street seeded sourdough. Clark Street Diner doesn’t rely on just nostalgia to keep the lights on; it’s made a new name for itself among the great diners of Los Angeles. Weekend lines can get long, so be prepared for a wait if you go during peak hours. 6145 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90068. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a delicious take on a Caesar salad wrap: Mini Kabob in Glendale
This recommendation isn’t specifically for this weekend, but more for Los Angeles diners to start plotting their next delicious visit to Mini Kabob as soon as possible. Chef and co-owner Armen Martirosyan has been obsessively experimenting with this chicken Caesar wrap, which starts with a chicken thigh saltwater brine for two days before the meat continues to marinate for 24 hours. He ensures that the chicken cools to the right temperature so the Romaine lettuce doesn’t lose its crunch, then adds a bright and zesty dressing. The Burritos La Palma tortilla brings everything together. This wrap can only be ordered on delivery apps or through Mini Kabob’s website; eat it as soon as it’s in your hands. And don’t mistake those delightfully crispy falafel bits throughout the Caesar wrap for bacon — they’re just full of flavor from one of Los Angeles’s best. 313 1/2 Vine Street, Glendale, CA 91204 — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For pho that will cure a Halloween hangover: Golden Deli in San Gabriel
I’ve been visiting Golden Deli for steaming bowls of pho and blistered egg rolls for nearly two decades now and the family-run Vietnamese restaurant has yet to fail me. It doesn’t matter if I’m feeling sick, hungover, or just hungry — whatever ailment I have, Golden Deli will cure me. My go-to is the pho tai nam, which has thin slices of both ribeye and brisket that get gently cooked in the hot bone broth. The bowls are generously filled with vermicelli noodles and thin slices of white onion, which provide both sweetness and bite. I also typically order a banh mi to go (the barbecue pork with pork loaf is my favorite); my future self always thanks me. If you’re anticipating a wild Halloween, keep Golden Deli in your back pocket for a restorative meal. 815 W. Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776 — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For “evil eye” coffee and immaculate vibes: Yala Coffee in Studio City
Valley dweller or not, you should jolt yourself out of your usual coffee routine and make your way to Yala Coffee in Studio City. The coffee shop, which takes Iraqi influences from its owner’s family history, offers unique sand coffee preparations — where coffee gets brewed on hot sand and includes extra-fine grounds — in sometimes irreverent forms. Take the Evil Eye, for example, a cortado-sized sand coffee drink with a drippy brown sugar rim and pupil formed from grounds at its center. Other drinks include the cardamom cream top–crowned Yala, espresso tonic with apricot-cardamom preserves, and fig-and-vanilla matcha lattes, as well as blood orange and orange blossom–infused cold brew. If you can tear yourself away from the stellar drinks menu for a moment, you can give attention to the pastry case, which has gargantuan pistachio croissants and savory za’atar-inflected pastries. 11824 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604. — Nicole Fellah, Eater editorial manager