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 Korean baked goods and mid-day bites: Concerto Bakery
Housed in what I think of as the H-Mart-plex in Koreatown, Concerto is a low-key Korean bakery and cafe that makes for the perfect post-shopping snack. The bakery is open on the mall side, with glass cases full of cream-stuffed buns, chewy rice doughnuts, and all manner of croissants. Venture in to find a table of bread, mochi, and bagged cookies, plus a refrigerated cake section. As much as the sweet treats lure me in, my go-to here is actually the bakery’s sandwiches, which start at about $7. I regularly go back for the chicken salad sandwich, served on a lightly sweet, soft wheat bread and topped with a generous handful of greens. While most people take their pastries to go, the cafe has a few tables that tend to get quite busy during the lunch hour. 3500 W. Sixth Street, #117, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor
For a mighty soup and salad deep in the San Fernando Valley: Uncle Bernie’s Deli
The wood-lined skylight at Uncle Bernie’s Deli is a marvel of interior architecture. The Encino Jewish deli hasn’t gotten quite the attention as Studio City’s excellent Art’s Deli, but the daytime experience at Uncle Bernie’s is worth the trip. I asked our server how this deli, which says it was founded in 1929, came to be. It turns out that’s the birth year of the owner, who took over the space that was once a branch of Fromin’s. The $20 soup-and-sandwich makes for a gut-filling lunch. A massive bowl of chicken noodle soup has enough vegetables to make a grandmother smile while the pastrami sandwich, unimpressive compared to Art’s or Langer’s, does a nice job of scratching the deli sandwich-itch (the turkey and roast beef sandwiches are better options). Still, the big windows and throwback ambience make Uncle Bernie’s a fun and affordable weekend spot. 17615 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91316. — Matthew Kang, lead editor
For a neighborhood pizzeria that’s obsessed with the Dodgers: LaSorted’s in Chinatown
Depending on what happens over the next few days in New York, it’s likely that the Dodgers will come back home for games six and potentially seven at Dodger Stadium. Whether going to the stadium or watching on TV, LaSorted’s makes for a terrific stop just a few miles away in Chinatown. Owner Tommy Brockert is an LA sports obsessive, with memorabilia covering nearly every square inch of the walls. The pizzas are fantastic too, balanced and carefully assembled, with a crust that has the depth of artisan bread. The Anthony Bourdain-inspired fried mortadella sandwich is delicious, though the Philippe’s-sourced hot mustard would be something dabbed on afterward, in my humble opinion. The place gets loud during games, so wear all your Dodgers gear and get ready to yell. 984 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. — Matthew Kang, lead editor
For soul food less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean: Soul Bites
There are many excellent reasons to venture to Santa Barbara this weekend. First, is the weather. The conditions appear ideal as it’s set to be in the low to mid-70s with ample sun through the weekend. Plus, there’s always something fun to do and a delicious meal to find throughout the region. Though it might be tempting to stick with the area’s bounty of seafood or some of the longest-standing old-school Mexican spots, venture beyond the expected by heading to a two-year-old spot serving excellent soul food with a venue that just might have a DJ, live music, or game night. Stirling Nix-Bradley and wife Rose Bradley run Soul Bites which dazzles diners with soul food classics like maple-brined fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and a hearty fish dip. The restaurant also serves fantastic options for the plant-based crowd with fried grit sticks, a vegan portobello sandwich, and crab cakes made with artichoke hearts. You just can’t go wrong with fresh juice, a glass of frosé, a sake bomb, or a classic michelada a mere blocks away from Stearn’s Wharf. 423 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. — Mona Holmes, reporter