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 garlicky stuffed bagels: Calic Bagel in Koreatown
I don’t know how people can complain about the bagel situation in Los Angeles when we have something as unique — and undeniably delicious — as Calic Bagel in Koreatown. For the original Calic bagel, picture a soft and gently sweet dough packed with mountains of cream cheese loaded with garlic. The garlic is definitely intense; it might overwhelm first thing in the morning but, as a garlic enthusiast, I appreciated the punchiness. The bagels at Calic arrive steaming hot and tearing into them reveals a feathery crumb. For a bagel that feels closer to a baked potato, try the bacon and scallion bagel. The shop also slings versions inspired by pepperoni pizza and elote, as well as bagel sandwiches and standard bagels with schmear. Pair the bagels with a cream-topped banana matcha or a biscoff latte to complete the meal. 2748 West 8th Street, Suite 107, Los Angeles, CA 90005. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For bold sandwiches available all day: Archies Deli & Mini Mart in North Hollywood
Every neighborhood needs its own Archies Deli & Mini Mart. At its North Hollywood store, there’s a constant stream of customers buying drinks, lighters, or something to eat with a few small tables outside. It’s a perfect people watching spot on Magnolia Boulevard, so order something, and settle in for awhile. Take a moment to peruse the shelves holding potato chips and snacks from all over the world. (The Rap Snacks brand is available but you might find a bag of Thai barbecue pork Lays or Japanese steak Cheetos to munch on.) As with the chips section, Archies’ sodas are wonderfully stocked with the pineapple Canada Dry, Minute Maid watermelon punch, and Faygo cotton candy flavor. This is the type of sandwich shop that has a long menu and sandwiches that will require diners to use both hands to hold. Try a tuna melt on sourdough; meatball sub; classic cold Italian layered with salami, mortadella, capicola, and provolone; or, my new favorite, a honey barbecue chicken sub with cheddar, ranch, avocado, and Funyuns for added crunch. Eat it while at Archie’s; soggy Funyuns simply will not do. 11044 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA, 91601. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For steak, seafood, and fun wines: Rory’s Place in Ojai
Rory’s Place is the type of restaurant where you want to be a regular. Warmth emanates from the narrow dining room as groups clink glasses of natural wine or IPAs before splitting trays of briny oysters whose provenance changes daily. On some nights, fish and chips coated in a thick, almost pancake-like batter and served in checkered paper appear on the menu, while dishes like a tender hanger steak and wood-fired kale remain more constant. Rory’s Place can be whatever you need it to be, whether it be an easy stop for caviar and bubbles, a special occasion restaurant for birthday dinners that end with a candle in a scoop of sorbet, or a spot for a solo dinner of broiled oysters and miso butter–topped Japanese sweet potato. 139 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For the best phở on the Westside: Blossom Vietnamese in Santa Monica
I can’t get enough of Blossom Vietnamese and its next door Blossom and Friends coffee shop; the pair make for an ideal Westside weekend hang when you don’t feel like doing anything over the top. I’ve written about the coffee shop experience, too, but my recent visit to its sister restaurant deserves attention. During this last outing, I devoured Blossom’s phở gà to alleviate a cold I couldn’t shake. There’s something about this sliver of a restaurant on a soft gray day — muted light pours through the front windows offering a filmic glow as you take in a large, steaming bowl of heavily aromatic phở. Go hard on the accoutrement and siphon yourself back to health while low (good) music hums behind you. Those going to Blossom for dinner will be delighted by the deep wine list, too. 2821 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405. — Nicole Fellah, Eater editorial manager