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Lauren Bethke

Blending her time in the kitchen as a line cook with her passion for storytelling, Lauren Bethke writes about community, inclusivity and the city she loves the most—Los Angeles.

L.A.’s 12 Best Old-School Italian Delis

From Chinatown to the Valley, L.A.'s home to sandwiches that will make you forget all your problems for however long it takes you to put it down.

January 21, 2026

L.A.’s 13 Most Memorable Desserts

Los Angeles pastry chefs work a quiet kind of magic, turning butter, sugar, and cream into desserts that linger long after the last bite. From nostalgic bites to transformative modern takes on classics, this guide walks you through some of Los Angeles' best little treats.

January 12, 2026

Goodbye, Horses: Notorious Sunset Strip Restaurant Closes More Than Two Years Since Animal Abuse Controversy

At its peak, Horses was doing more than 375 covers a night. Reservations were nearly impossible to snag.

January 5, 2026

What 94-Year-Old Canter’s Deli Means to These Legacy Staff Members

Canter’s staff shaped the deli into what it is today: a place where a stranger is treated like a regular, and a regular is treated like family. Here we speak with three employees with a combined 133 years working at the Fairfax landmark.

December 15, 2025

This Pop-Up Is Reviving OG Filipino-Style Clay Pot-Baked Coconut Rice Cakes

Otto Markel is tradition-obsessed. He soaks the rice, and eventually plans to cook it over live fire, evoking the communal feel of Christmas midnight mass in the Philippines, where bibingka is traditionally prepared and enjoyed outside the church. 

December 10, 2025

Your Favorite Jumbo’s Clown Room Dancer’s Favorite Meal

Once the Jumbo’s pizza oven disappeared and the poles showed up, its legacy as an adult entertainment hub for off-duty chefs, line cooks, celebrities in the food world looking to blow off steam after service was sealed.

November 25, 2025

Ten L.A. Restaurants Where Toddlers Are Welcome, From Casual to Fine Dining

L.A.'s insane food scene isn't reserved only for adults. If parents can't take their kids out to eat without judgement, we risk losing the messy, joyful humanity that makes sharing a meal special in the first place.

November 13, 2025