4 Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Los Angeles: July 25

Eater

2 days ago

Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: 'Where should I eat?' Here now 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 party atmosphere with equally vibrant food: Lucia
A dimly lit room with a central bar with palm-shaped structures emerging at Lucia. Wonho Frank Lee
Walking into Lucia, a vibrating new restaurant on Fairfax, begins with a funhouse mirror effect. But entering the space from the column-glass vestibule entrance moves the experience from a fractal one to one of integration — an experience that deals in high-concept design and unmitigated Black joy. Scalloped structures behind the bar mirror that cave-like banquettes that line the main dining room, where the mood lighting gets even moodier come 8 p.m., the time when Lucia's early-dinner energy turns into a more party-like late-dinner atmosphere with louder music and bigger groups vying for tables or bar seats. (The okra martini beckons.) Don't miss the vegan lychee ceviche, wine red from its sorrel infusion; the wagyu patties with mango scotch-bonnet sauce; the dripping jerk chicken; or the verdant snapper swimming in a coconut-culantro sauce. Bed it all in the equally coconuty rice and peas to sop up the sauces — and let the boisterous room be your entertainment for the night. 351 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90036. — Nicole Adlman, Eater cities manager
For Los Angeles's most beautiful sourdough: Hasi Bread in Mar Vista
A cut loaf of colorful blue and yellow sourdough bread from Hasi Bread. Matthew Kang
Farmers market regulars Hasi Bread finally has a space to call its own. The sourdough bakery has settled into its first permanent space in the Del Rey/Mar Vista area in the former home of Hotcakes Bakes. Here, Hasi's signature yellow-and-blue sourdough bread, tinged with turmeric and butterfly pea flower, lives on full display. The rest of the pastry case comprises croissants, challah, English muffins, and more from baker Matias Barang. The bread is excellent in sandwiches, or as next-day French toast, but its best form may be with just a pat of salted butter. 4119 S. Centinela Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90066.— Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a comforting meal in the heart of Old Pasadena: Agnes
Cornbread eclais with chicken liver mousse, chives, and Luxardo Cherries. Matthew Kang
Thomas and wife/partner/cheesemonger Vanessa Tilaka Kalb have really put together one of Pasadena's most appealing restaurants of the past few years. Opened in the early days of the pandemic and navigating a challenging location in a mostly chain restaurant area, Agnes has managed to become a mainstay in Old Pasadena. The versatile space, with a cozy main dining room that overlooks an open kitchen, as well as the airy back patio, offers different experiences depending on the occasion. Soaring ceilings, open skylights, brick walls, black and white family photos, and grandma-print upholstery convey a place to relax and enjoy a meal. Most people will want to start with the cornbread eclairs topped with piped chicken liver and topped with marinated cherries. It's such a postcard of the Kalbs' Midwest sensibility with mid-century elegance. Hazelnut hummus acts as a spreadable pillow underneath the beet-Asian pear salad, a vegetable interlude before more substantial mains like the baked potato gnocchi, a truly brilliant dish that rejiggers the steakhouse side. Thai-inflected grilled skirt steak gains the smokiness of the wood-burning grill, while crispy Thai-style fried chicken would warm any grandmother's heart. Even the child's chicken tenders, long pieces of chicken cutlet, are one of the best kid's menu dishes in Los Angeles. The only caveat is that the cavalcade of rich cheese and heaviness from so much of the food will start to accumulate, so don't over order and leave room for either a cheese plate for dessert or the inventive s'mores choco taco to finish. 40 W. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91105. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
To support two young hot dog entrepreneurs: Glizzy Street in Long Beach
Hot dog, or 'glizzy' from Glizzy Street Mona Holmes
If you're in Los Angeles and scroll through Instagram or TikTok regularly, then you know about Glizzy Street. In late June, the 16-year-old Chazz and Chaze Clemons opened their hot dog cart in their family's gas station parking lot. In less than one week, Glizzy Street went viral, and supporters drove in from neighboring regions, waiting up to an hour to try one of their bacon-wrapped hot dogs topped with onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, and barbecue sauce. The duo were recently flown to New York City to appear on NBC's Today with Jenna & Friends, upgraded their equipment with additional grills, gifted custom hats, and, well, you get the drift. The Clemons twins and Glizzy Street have hit the big time. The twins spend their morning prepping, then from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., they serve their dogs, blue raspberry Kool-Aid, and aguas frescas. It's not as if one can't find these ubiquitous bacon-wrapped staples anywhere else in Los Angeles, especially when exiting a concert venue. But the Clemons brothers encapsulated something that the embattled region needs right now: Being part of a massive community that supports two young locals operating a budding business on the border of Long Beach and Compton. American Oil Gas Station, 6850 Long Beach Boulevard. Long Beach, CA, 90805. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
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