Moussaka at Ela Greek Eats in Venice. | [Official Photo]
Modern Greek fare in Venice and Viet-Cajun in Covina
This is a weekly compilation of noteworthy restaurant openings throughout Los Angeles. Take note of these under-the-radar places from the Valley to the South Bay, from the Westside to the San Gabriel Valley. Let’s dive right in.
August 14, 2019
Venice— Ela Greek Eats serves fast-casual fare in a brightly lit room on Lincoln Boulevard. The menu is easy to navigate with salads, gyros, dips, as well as more traditional Greek offerings like moussaka. Most dishes are served with a choice of lamb, chicken, steak, salmon, or tuna, which means there’s something for everyone. 307 Lincoln Blvd., Venice.
Monterey Park— The former owner of Delicious Food Corner is serving up more Cantonese fare at Alice’s Kitchen. With congee, clay pot rices, and curries on the menu, the Hong Kong hits keep coming. 580 E Garvey Ave., Monterey Park.
Little Tokyo— With locations in West Covina and Cerritos, The Noypitz Bar and Grill is poised to bring traditional Filipino cooking to Downtown denizens. There’s live music and a full bar to accompany all that hearty Pinoy fare. 333 S. Alameda St., Ste. 115, Los Angeles.
Palms— Upon watching George Motz’s documentary “Hamburger America,” Mark Tripp set out to create the perfect burger. Now at his Westside pop-up Tripp Burgers, Tripp serves smashed burgers simply dressed with American cheese on a toasted Martin’s Famous Potato Roll. For the latest updates, see Instagram. 3458 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.
Covina— Look no further than Cajun Crawfish Stop the next time a craving for Viet-Cajun strikes. In addition to the usual spice-rubbed shrimp and crawfish are a number of Vietnamese specialties including bun rieu, a crab and tomato noodle soup, and chicken pho. 405 N. Vincent Ave., Covina.
August 7, 2019
Larchmont— The Filipino food movement shows no sign of slowing down. Rice Guys serves up rice bowls gussied up with an array of Pinoy proteins including grilled pork belly, coconut-poached chicken thighs, and glazed adobo chicken wings. 615 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles.
Downtown— Look for Burritobreak on the corner of Figueroa and 7th on weekdays from 7 a.m. until noon. This mobile food stand serves up moderately priced and petite burritos filled with things like eggs, cheese, and potatoes. 888 W. 7th St., Los Angeles.
San Gabriel— Straight out of Guangzhou is Yin Ji Chang Fen, a Cantonese congee and rice rolls specialist. The porridges here come topped with preserved eggs or pork blood, while the rice rolls are filled with pork kidneys or shrimp. 227 W. Valley Blvd., Ste 118-A, San Gabriel.
Koreatown— There is a new gopchang specialist in town for those who prefer innards when it comes to Korean barbecue. Hak San serves up a number of combinations showcasing large and small intestines, but also offers plain ol’ beef and pork for those less inclined toward offals. 3101 W. 8th St., Los Angeles.
Redondo Beach— Local chainlet Kalaveras opened its third location by the water. The Day of the Dead-themed restaurant brings together dependable cocktails and Mexican staples in festive fashion. 228 Ave. I, Redondo Beach.
Source: Eater LA – All – Cathy Chaplin