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 trek-worthy Indian food experience in Orange County: Kahani

Matthew Kang

After 10 months, I made another visit to Kahani down in Orange County. Tucked deep in Dana Point at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, it’s a gorgeous property, especially right at sunset with the last folks mingling on the beach and surfers catching a few more waves. Kahani’s presence there doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense given the overall cookie-cutter luxuriousness of the resort, but it all makes sense once settled into the wood-paneled dining room. A surprising number of families dine on the upscale Indian menu from chef Sanjay Rawat, the former Indian wedding catering chef who was allowed to operate a full-time restaurant in what was once the hotel’s steakhouse. Seeing kids take their meals in, iPads and cell phones playing the necessary visual entertainment to keep them behaved (my son included), helped what would’ve otherwise felt like a stuffy room relax a bit.

The food leans American in plating and construction with Indian flavors, like a scallop sliced into thirds swimming in cauliflower crema and okra masala, or an arresting whipped yogurt sauce built into a dreamy pavlova covering crisp pakoda chaat (spinach fritters). The curry sampler offers a wide range for the indecisive, with either a meaty or vegetarian selection of six shareable dishes. The rack of lamb could be the best entree, hulking riblets held up like lamb prime rib over forbidden rice and tomato-based handi sauce. There are still some refinements in terms of beverage, service, and menu design that would tighten up the experience, but for what I consider best-in-class Indian food in Southern California, I’ll make the hour-plus drive to Kahani. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629 — Matthew Kang, lead editor

To beat the heat with frosty and refreshing drinks: Simply Wholesome

Pull up to Simply Wholesome at any hour of the day, but always during a heatwave. Ask for the drink menu and behold over 50 options that include fresh juices, smoothies, and non-alcoholic drinks that help considerably on a steamy 100-degree day. Simply Wholesome is one of LA’s longest-running Black-owned operations that’s also a casual counter-service restaurant in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood. The historic building is impossible to miss; it opened over 30 years ago on the corner of Slauson Avenue and Overhill Drive. (A note for Insecure fans: Simply Wholesome was featured in an episode of HBO’s groundbreaking show.) Special options are always available for the drinks, but one can’t go wrong with the tropical milkshake with pineapple, coconut juice, and ice cream, or the triple fruit delight smoothie with papaya juice, banana, and fresh strawberries. The Nipsey smoothie (named after hip-hop legend Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered in 2019) tastes strikingly like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, but without a drop of dairy. The line always moves quickly, but bring a book or a podcast and keep cool in the lush air-conditioned dining room. 4508 W. Slauson Avenue, View Park-Windsor Hills, CA, 90043. — Mona Holmes, reporter

For modern Taiwanese mooncakes: Sunmerry Bakery

Cathy Chaplin

Mid-Autumn Festival season is neigh and Los Angeles’s Asian bakeries have lined their shelves with marvelous mooncakes for the holiday, which falls on September 17. For those who celebrate or are curious to do so, there’s likely a mooncake for every taste. Although I grew up eating the Vietnamese variety, chock-full of preserved meat, nuts, and fruit, their density can overwhelm some palates. The line of petite Taiwanese mooncakes produced by Sunmerry Bakery (multiple locations around LA) strikes a fun balance between traditional and modern with nearly a dozen flavors to choose from. The red bean with a salted egg yolk center is classic and timeless, while the ube milk and oolong matcha varieties offer a contemporary spin. The chocolate lava mooncake is perfect for those dipping their toes into the tradition for the first time. 5728 Rosemead Boulevard, Temple City, CA 91780. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

For a mid-day slice in the Arts District: Pizzeria Bianco

Matthew Kang

I often find myself out and about in the Arts District during the middle of the day, searching for a quick and filling lunch, that doesn’t require a reservation or much of a wait. On these occasions, I head to Row DTLA to grab a slice or two at Pizzeria Bianco. While the restaurant may be better known as a dinner spot, the mid-day menu offers the choice of a few slices including a red slice with cheese and tomato sauce, a salami slice, and my personal favorite, a green slice with spinach-cream sauce and parmesan. In addition to the pizza, find sandwiches with burrata, mortadella, and more alongside rotating salads. On a nice day, grab a table right outside and dig in. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor