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 a Japanese wagyu omakase in Torrance: Wagyu Butcher
According to the New York Times, wagyu is everywhere, but few places give the Japanese beef the care and attention needed as a strip mall yakiniku gem in Torrance that opened last year from a prolific Japanese restaurant group. With only counter seating surrounding the large open kitchen, diners essentially grill their own pieces of freshly sliced beef at a time in two price tiers: $50 and $70. We picked the lower tier and found it to be more than enough food, though add-ons are always possible. You start with an array of banchan, including kimchi and seasoned vegetables, followed by a profound cup of beef broth. Then, various cuts of American wagyu like chuck roll, outside skirt, and beef tongue that display the breath of the beef’s fatty, tender, and iron-rich complexity grilled over the tabletop. The omakase is punctuated by non-grilled meats, like soy-braised short rib. Finish with the oxtail soup and dessert of the day — in our case, a black sesame panna cotta. Given the cost of steakhouses and wagyu dinners, this one cannot be beat for price-to-quality. Pro tip: Be sure to book a seat at the counter on Tock the day of. 2104 Artesia Boulevard, Torrance, CA. — Matthew Kang, correspondent, Eater
For classic steaks and even better vibes: BLVD Steak in Sherman Oaks
The last time I walked into BLVD Steak, it felt like a dining room full of friends. People visited other tables to say hello. That feeling of familiarity makes sense: the owners shared that more regulars live blocks away. While digging into my tomahawk steak and sipping a Caprese-inspired martini shaken with Grey Goose, Campari, tomato simple syrup, and sherry vinegar, and garnished with fresh mozzarella, I noticed the diners around me seemed more joyful than usual. BLVD is just one of those places where people embody a good time: smiling at other diners, inquisitively asking what steak cut just landed on an adjacent table (usually a selection from chef Adam Titze’s wagyu menu or petit filet with lobster mashed potatoes). If the Sherman Oaks location is fully booked (it always is), head to Calabasas instead. 13817 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91423. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For the best thing to eat near the Grove: American Beauty
Mall food can sometimes feel tragically standard, but I think American Beauty at the Grove succeeds in melding just enough Los Angeles culture and top-tier cooking. The original in Venice has a relaxed Westside feel, but occupying the former Wood Ranch next to the Grove has given American Beauty’s sophomore location more of a chain restaurant feel. Don’t let that deter you, because the food here is fantastic — and reasonably priced. Start with the beautifully dressed frisée Caesar and smoky bacon for something that feels like the beginning of a Peter Luger dinner. (Unlike the Brooklyn steakhouse icon, they take credit card.) Steaks here are well-sourced (with name checks like Flannery, Creekstone, and Niman Ranch), and portioned to sensible sizes. They’re expertly seared over almond wood — which I prefer for its rustic flavor over the classic steakhouse broiler. Those still pining for Luger’s can get a $170 dry-aged prime porterhouse, but my pick will always be a dry-aged rib-eye, which only runs $69 (you would probably pay $45 just to buy it from a butcher). If you don’t do beef, there’s superb grilled lamb chops with tzatziki, and the roasted vegetable sides wouldn’t be out of place at Gjelina. I find American Beauty really hits that balance between the familiar comfort of steakhouses with that funky, artsy feel of a Venice Beach hot spot, placed in the tourist heart of Los Angeles. 189 The Grove Drive, Unit Y-80, Los Angeles, CA, 90036. — Matthew Kang, correspondent, Eater
For a steakhouse where you can bring the kids: Taylor’s Steak House in La Cañada Flintridge
You, specifically, can’t order the best thing here, unless you’re a precocious child. The place is an institution — vintage red leather booths, vintage wine, and vintage crowd — and there are plenty of other good things on the menu, but the kids’ steak dinner is the real delight: sharply marinated London broil, served with fries and milk for an insanely good price. It’s easy to be cynical about well-trod places like this, where maybe the cooking isn’t always precise and the drink list is frozen in the wrong decade, but watching a picky kid’s eyes widen as she inhales a steak — seeing her experience the charms of a classic steakhouse as if it’s new — casts the meal in a whole new light. On this matter of taste, at least, my five-year-old daughter and my mid-70s father-in-law are aligned: Taylor’s is the best. 901 Foothill Boulevard, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 — Ben Mesirow, associate editor, Travel