The editors at Eater LA dine out several times a week, if not per day, which means we’re always encountering standout dishes that deserve time in the limelight. Here’s the very best of everything the team has eaten this week.
Breakfast burrito at Open Market in Koreatown
A breakfast burrito makes for the ideal start to the day. I like to kick things off with something savory in the morning (or a croissant) so it doesn’t get much better than eggs, bacon, cheese, and a potato of some sort wrapped in a pliant tortilla. I’ve eaten breakfast burritos all around town, but I was still excited to see when one of my go-to cafes, Open Market, put one on the menu. The burrito here is simple — scrambled eggs, smashed potatoes, bacon, and cheese — but that’s usually just about all I want. It doesn’t fall into the pitfalls of being too damp, or too oily, and the tortilla holds it all together without buckling under the filling. 3339 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor
Dan dan mian at Mala Class in Highland Park
It’s hard to miss Mala Class on York Boulevard in Highland Park with its bright green facade and large windows. The Sichuan restaurant by Kevin Liang and chef Michael Yang has been slowly catching on with the neighborhood, and beyond, for its deft cooking that balances tradition (Yang grew up in Chongquing and returns often to research culinary trends) with innovation. The chicken wings and french fries, both dusted in flavorful ground spices, make for fantastic starters before digging into all the noodles one’s table can handle. The best one is the dan dan mian. The noodles, handmade to spec at a nearby facility, cling onto the punchy sauce while a bit of ground pork, preserved vegetables, and fresh scallions add interest in every bite. The late, great Lucky Noodle King in San Gabriel served my ultimate dan dan noodle, and I have not found a bowl that satisfied me quite like that one until now. 5816 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor
Frozen thin-cut pork belly at K-Team BBQ in Koreatown
The most exciting new Korean barbecue specialist to open in Los Angeles in years, K-Team has completely captured my appetite in recent weeks. The old-school charm and swift service make this an easy weeknight choice (the place gets packed on weekends). On every visit, I order the frozen thin-cut pork belly, a technique that results in a crisp, almost bacon-like cut that pairs with the griddled kimchi and bean sprouts. Add on some minari, an herbaceous and slightly bitter green that withers under the heat of pork fat on the grill. The vegetable, made famous by the Steven Yeun-led indie film, Minari, about an immigrant farmer in Arkansas, provides the perfect hit of nostalgia. It’s not easy to quantify what makes K-Team so special, but I think it’s all about the small details, the pinpoint flavor of the ssam, the way each piece of pork belly is cut into a uniform shape, and the even cooking of the grill. 936 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006 — Matthew Kang, lead editor
Pierogi at Bar Sinizki in Atwater Village
When a neighborhood spot hits, it truly dazzles. Neighborhood joints are the type of places where one can easily settle in a seat and appreciate every detail without fuss. Bar Sinizki achieves this with its custom marble bar, deep blue accents, outdoor tables, eight-item food menu, and varied drinks list offering everything from an Aperol spritz to a glass of wine to a cocktail — all in the center of Atwater Village. On Sinizki’s menu are pierogies, a delicious Polish dumpling filled with potatoes, mushrooms, beef, or sauerkraut. Last week’s was stuffed with potatoes and cheese, and doused in browned butter with crispy sage. The pierogies, which use a recipe from co-owner Scott Zwiezen’s grandmother, along with an impressive bistro-like burger with a glass of chardonnay, might just be one of the best ways to enjoy summer, or while bundled during cooler months. 3147 Glendale Boulevard, Atwater Village, CA, 90039. — Mona Holmes, reporter