The hottest spots to eat in Los Angeles
Trips to the States traditionally lead to tales of jaw-droppingly unhealthy food. But at this trendy hot spot, you’ll find the opposite.
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It would be near impossible for even the most staunch of meat and potato eaters to return from beachside Los Angeles without having broadened their health food horizons.
In fact, you would be hard pressed to find your way around a menu at any restaurant here without a vague idea of which food groups chia and kombucha belong to.
If it’s not cold-pressed, fermented, raw or sustainable you will struggle to find it on this new-age food scene.
It’s about 3km from Santa Monica to Venice Beach; you can walk, take the bus or do what the locals do and hire a bike and ride along the South Bay Bicycle Trail.
To refuel after the short trip, wander to the perennially packed Cafe Gratitude in Venice, which lures a healthy, hip crowd with its raw and cooked food. When dishes have such self-affirming names as “I am complete” (Mediterranean plate), “I am elated” (enchilada) and “I am extraordinary” (BLT sandwich), you can’t help but walk away feeling nourished and Zen.
And it would seem the locals would agree, with five locations having opened in the US in the past 12 years.
Former MasterChef contestant Dan Churchill, who swapped Sydney for LA a year ago for a change of scenery and to immerse himself in the US food community, says it’s clear locals are striving to eat healthier and fresher produce, and vegan, vegetarian, raw and organic cafes and restaurants are taking the city by storm.
“Santa Monica has such a gorgeous environment that it lends itself to the health-conscious individuals of LA while integrating a social vibe,” he said.
“It is common for me to hear of people hiking Runyon Canyon before travelling down to the beach for a nourishing bowl of awesomeness.
“The cafe and restaurant scene design themselves to reflect the appeal of the local market and organic trends.”
The allure of these lifestyle fads has much to do with the proximity to Hollywood’s biggest stars, many of whom are the first to adopt the newest food and lifestyle trends.
If new superfoods such as teff flour and matcha powder scare you and you’d like to stick to mainstream health foods you’re familiar with, the Acai Bowl from Flake (Rose Ave) and Avocado Toast from Gjelina Take Away – or, as the locals like to call it, GTA – (Abbot Kinney Blvd) will undoubtedly hit the spot.
Celebrity haunt and hipster hangout Urth Cafe, on Main St, is the perfect hot spot for lunch, with organic green tea Boba the perfect post-lunch drink. And celebrities agree, with Jessica Alba, Jessie J, Katy Perry and Hayden Panettiere regulars at the buzzing “it” joint.
If you can’t decide what to eat or where to do a spot of shopping, a burgeoning movement branded Abbot Kinney First Friday gives you the chance to try all that Venice has to offer in one night.
In an Instagrammer’s playground, the mini festival takes place on the first Friday of every month along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, known as Venice’s glitter strip, with food trucks and trendy restaurants trading until late.
Created in 2008 to spread brand awareness for Venice shops, it’s described by locals as a “van epidemic” and spread on social media using the ##AKFF. “I’d liken first Friday to a PM version of the market days in our northern beaches suburbs ... just sub the sausage sizzle for a taco truck!” says Kendall Sargeant, who moved from Sydney to Los Angeles a year ago.
“It’s a great way to bring the community together. We all ride our bikes down to AKFF and bounce from food stall to food stall, enjoying whichever local artist is performing. The night always ends up at the beach or back at someone’s house.”
While burritos and enchiladas are an everyday staple in LA, a new element to the cool Cali food scene is Mexican fruit. An excitable man chops cucumber, watermelon, coconut and pineapple before they pour chilli powder, lemon juice and salt over it – a huge California thing.
I recommend the cart on Hampton Drive and Sunset Ave.
If you’re up for something sweet, there’s a ridiculously delicious organic ice-cream truck on impossibly cool Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck set out to “revive the classic American ice-cream truck and the art of traditional ice-cream making, using ingredients perfected by nature not science”.
But who drinks or eats full-fat milk anymore? Not many in LA, it seems. In addition to standard alternatives such as almond, rice and soy milk, other guilt-free, non-dairy options consist of cane sugar and egg yolks, while the vegans can opt for organic coconut milk, cashew milk, coconut oil, cane sugar, pure cocoa butter and carob bean.
The writer was a guest of Qantas and Visit California.
ESCAPE ROUTE
GETTING THERE
Qantas is offering return flights from Sydney to Los Angeles from $1637 return. qantas.com.au
STAYING THERE
The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows on Wilshire Blvd has mesmerising views of Santa Monica beach and provides easy access to the area’s hottest haunts. The hotel, a widely celebrated local landmark.which dates from 1921, provides the ultimate centre-point for immersing yourself in the cool Cali vibe. A big hit was the personalised shampoo, conditioner and body wash containers. fairmont.com/santa-monica/
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Originally published as The hottest spots to eat in Los Angeles
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