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 family-friendly hangout near LAX: The Proud Bird

Matthew Kang

Considering how close I live to the airport, I’m not sure why I’ve never made it out to the Proud Bird, an aviation-themed food hall and events space near the airport. But a family birthday party finally prompted a visit, and it turned out to be a big hit with the under-10 crowd in our group. The food situation was better than it needed to be, with hefty double cheeseburgers and fried chicken and waffles big enough to share. The best part for me was seeing Bludso’s Barbecue as one of the vendors. The smoked meats here aren’t quite as good as the preparations at Bludso’s on La Brea and in Santa Monica, but they are perfectly adequate for this kind of venue. Afterward, the kids can frolic around the huge astroturf area or hit the playground while massive jumbo jets land a half-mile away. A lot of places claim to be kid-friendly, but I can’t think of an easier gathering spot in Los Angeles for bigger groups where everyone can be catered to. 11022 Aviation Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

For incredible wines at an incredible corner in Inglewood: 1010 Wine & Events

1010 Wine & Events

Those who know completely understand why the area surrounding Centinela and La Brea Avenues is stellar for dining. Slightly west is old-school Italian favorite Sunday Gravy, 2024’s busy newcomer StormBurger, and decades-old Fiesta Martin. There’s plenty more, but today’s exercise includes a sleek and bright wine bar called 1010 Wine and Events. Sisters Leslie and Le Jones opened their wine bar in 2021 because they simply wanted to stay in the neighborhood and not have to drive to adjacent communities to drink good wines. It’s easy to see why 1010 Wine is such a draw; chef Mo Marvel’s Sunday brunch and nighttime menu includes oysters, charcuterie, black-eyed pea fritters, and a piri piri half chicken for those coming with an appetite. The siblings boast one of California’s most extensive Black-owned wine selections and one hell of an eclectic playlist. Simply put, this Inglewood wine bar is the room to be in. Make a reservation, especially on the weekends, and if parking is tricky, make use of the valet out front. 1010 N. La Brea Avenue Inglewood, CA, 90302. — Mona Holmes, reporter

For a delightful afternoon tea experience: Dahlia Lounge at Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel

Cathy Chaplin

Dahlia Lounge on the ground floor of the Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel is quite the chameleon. While the space serves as a moody and intimate cocktail spot in the evening, during the daytime it transforms into a tranquil oasis offering some of the best afternoon tea service in town. The format hews closely to tradition, but the execution by chef Suzanne Goin, beverage expert Caroline Styne, and their teams is refreshingly contemporary. Start with a cocktail if time and company allow before moving into freshly brewed teas — the herbal ginger yuzu is a solid caffeine-free option. The highlights of the occasion are the delicate sandwiches, pastries, and scones that arrive on tiered towers. There’s something irresistible about lingering over sweets and savories while sipping hot tea, all while Downtown’s bustle whirrs softly in the background. 1100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

For a mid-day meal at one of LA’s most exciting new restaurants: Leopardo

Rebecca Roland

While dinner tends to be the go-to time to hit some of Los Angeles’s most exciting new restaurants, it always feels special when something that’s generating buzz adds a lunch service as well. The latest edition to this category is Joshua Skenes’s Leopardo, which has become the talk of the town for its puffy pizzas, fresh oysters, tilefish crudo, and cocktails. Recently, Skenes added a new lunch service that offers a small menu of breakfast-ish items, alongside sandwiches made on massive machetes (crackly loaves of well-fermented dough). The Big Griddle with polenta waffles, boar sausage, and American cheese feels like the platonic ideal of a fast-food waffle breakfast sandwich, while the Cali-prese turns a dinner menu favorite into a sandwich with buffalo mozzarella and honey vinegar. While dinner at Leopardo tends to run on the pricier side, the most expensive item on the lunch menu is the wild boar meatball sandwich at $20. 460 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor