Welcome back to L.A. TACO's weekly roundup of food and event finds! For members' eyes only...

Wax On HI-FI ~ Downtown

Wax On HI-FI is a fun destination now open across from the Last Bookstore in Downtown, from Atlanta transplant TJ Johnson. At this Tokyo-inspired DJ bar, chef Yukari Matsushita prepares a rare fusion of Japanese and Creole food. There are also cocktails and DJs playing all vinyl sets, with an emphasis on blues, soul, hip-hop, and funk. 

The menu includes wagyu patty melts on toasted milk bread, tempura po' boys, pork belly jambalaya, curry with karaage and andouille sausage, chicken biscuit sliders, and miso mac-and-cheese, while you'll have sake highballs, drat beer, and sake flights to drink.

212 W 5th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 

Arcane's Last Drop Bar At Boba Bear ~ Koreatown

To celebrate the new season of the streaming animated epic Arcane, Boba Bear is turning its Koreatown space into the show's Last Drop Bar from November 18 through mid-February. The all-ages event will have completely immersive decor and themed cocktails like the "Knuckle Sandwich" with soju, habanero, jalapeno, and mango. 

There will also be limited edition merch like the show's brightly colored "Shimmer" vials featuring non-alcoholic boba drinks, and activities like Vi's Punching Game, a Jinx-themed photo booth, and exclusive events like cocktail classes and cosplay contests.

Tickets are $10, which includes 1 drink. Reservations here.

414 S. Western Ave. #C Los Angeles, CA 90020

Grandma's Kitchen ~ Delivery

Grandma's Kitchen prepares "Lebanese street food" for delivery throughout L.A. and pick-up at its West L.A. ghost kitchen. A large menu of options includes spiced chicken rolls, charcoal-grilled lamb and chicken skewers, falafel plates, spaghetti with Lebanese ground beef, kafta-stuffed pitas, kafta smashburgers, falafel burgers, stuffed grape leaves, tabbouleh salad, and more.

2352 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 

Tacolina ~ Silver Lake

The team behind Blue Plate Oysterette and Blue Plate Taco have just opened Tacolina in Silver Lake. The upscale, Baja-inspired restaurant features a big, palm-filled outdoor cocktail bar, gorgeous jungle patio, and a stage for live performances, along with handmade tortillas, farmers market ingredients, custom furniture from Jalisco and Michoacan, and coastal Pacific Mexican vibes.

At brunch, you'll find chilaquiles verdes, bacon breakfast tortas, frijoles con pollo, and Bloody Marias. For dinner, a wide range of dishes includes taquitos with Mary's Chicken, portobellos, and Chihuahua cheese, plus tacos with cochinita a la plancha, skirt steak, fried velvet shrimp, and grilled or battered red snapper. 

There are also entrees like shrimp a la diabla with salsa macha, a fish of the day, and skirt steak to pair with orange, pink, red, sparkling, and white wines, plus cocktails like a tobacco old fashioned, carajillo, and guava daiquiri. An agave list includes G4 Tequila and six expressions of Mal Bien mezcal.

Today, the restaurant also opens its Jaguar Room, a sexy cocktail haunt draped in Jaguar print, jaguar statues, and with its own cocktail menu.

2815 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

Brewjeria's 5th Anniversary Weekend ~ Pico Rivera

Pico Rivera's Brewjeria Company is "chela-brating" five years with different special guests, live music, and exclusive barrel-aged beer, craft ale, and merch releases every day, starting yesterday and going through November 17. Here's the schedule of events:

Friday, November 15 - La Fiesta Continues 3pm

Doobie Burgers x Tortas el Aguila special takeover with live music showcase featuring three local bands.

Saturday, November 16 - Street Food Celebration 2 pm

No Mambres, Los Dorados L.A., and The Basket Taco  special takeover, with DJ Residual Funk & Friends and limited barrel releases.

Sunday, November 17 - Grand Finale 2 pm

A's BBQ feast with live performance by Rafa & Porque Si, and final anniversary beer releases.

4937 Durfee Ave. Pico Rivera, California 90660

Maison Kasai x Huneeus Wines ~ Downtown

On Wednesday, November 21, Michelin-starred chef Josh Gil's Maison Kasai will prepare a six-course wine dinner paired to vintages from Northern California's Huneeus Wines, which will include those from their llumination, Flowers, and Faust labels.

Dishes include Santa Barbara spot prawns with kushi oysters, sorrel and apple; artichoke katsu with a rich chicken glaze; A-5 wagyu and scallop pasta with truffle consomme; tea-smoked duck breast and swordleaf and cherry gastrique; prime ribeye and cap; and a dessert of persimmon and buttermilk.

$150 per person reservations can be found here.

1254 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90015

November 8, 2024

Thai Curry Pan Con Pollo ~ Mid-City

Blue Boy, a pop-up acclaimed for its pizza, will make Thai-inspired, Salvadoran panes con pollo with a braised chicken yellow curry, ancho mayonnaise, cucumber, red cabbage, and fried shallots on beautiful bolillos, with a Thai chile and Aleppo pepper oil and spicy curtido served on the side. The fusion sandwiches will only be offered this Saturday and Sunday only at Convi in Mid-City, from 12 PM to 4 PM.

5001 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016

Fuegos ~ Exposition Park

An Argentine restaurant named Fuegos is now open in Exposition Park. The business sells rustic-looking, handmade empanadas, frozen to go, or to eat hot on the spot.

There are also chicken milanesa sánguches (sandwiches), tortillas de papa, choripan, and medialunas on croissants. Empanada varieties include hand-cut beef, chicken, ham-and-cheese, vegan beef, caprese, corn, and onion-and-cheese.

3957 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90062

Bomba Yucateco Delicacy ~ San Pedro/Lawndale

Bomba Yucateco Delicacy is a self-described specialist in cochinita pibil, the achiote and naranja agria-marinated, banana leaf-wrapped, slow-cooked pork from Mexico's Yucatán state. Owner Freddy Estrella is originally from the city of Merida.

Find the pop-up this Saturday at Brouwerij West in San Pedro and Sunday at Far Field Beer Co. in Lawndale, serving dishes like  tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and tortas with your choice of cochinita pibil, asada made with recado negro, and portobello mushrooms.

Made Burgers ~ Lawndale

Made Burgers is open in Lawndale with a tight menu of fun burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. There's a take on the Western Bacon Cheeseburger, for example, featuring applewood-smoked bacon and a big ol' onion ring on a brioche bun, plus the "Colossal Burger" with two patties and pastrami. You can also expect sandwiches with ribeye steak,  BBQ brisket, and pulled chicken, as well as tater tots, skinny fries, and hot dogs in the fashion of Seattle, L.A., and Chicago. 4 out of 6 of the burgers are priced under $10, too.

14916 Hawthorne Blvd. Lawndale, CA 90260 

Jin Cook ~ Santa Monica

Jin Cook is open in the mostly Korean cooking-bereft Westside. An extensive menu offers traditional, hot stone-cooked dishes such as galbi-tang, sundubu, bulgogi, galbi, garlic suyuk, tteokbokki, and deep-fried shiitake mushrooms, as well as a side menu with cheese curry katsu, sweet pumpkin cheese curry katsu, fish katsu, and other styles of katsu. For dessert, there's hotteok pancakes with black sugar syrup. Mmmm...

3001 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. C Santa Monica, CA 90403

November 1, 2024

Orla ~ Santa Monica

Orla is now open in Santa Monica from multiple James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina. The menu taps Mina's Egyptian heritage for an innovative fine-dining Mediterranean menu that includes phyllo-crusted Dover sole, salt-baked sea bream, a pasta section with toasted orzo-and-spicy duck and a macaroni bechamel with black truffles, plus prawns wrapped in kataifi, flaming black truffle saganaki, and black harissa-grilled lamb chops. Dessert includes table-side baklava service. 

From a beautiful, steeped, brass-accented bar, you'll be served cocktails like "Arabian Nights," a negroni with Darjeeling tea, toasted coconut, cardamom, and ginger spices, or a gin-and-tonic made tableside. A robust wine list features wines from Corsica, Macedonia, and Lebanon, including the renowned Chateau Musar.

In addition, Mina is serving many of the recipes here found in My Egypt, his new cookbook that released in October.

1700 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica, 
CA 90401

Sabor Chapin USA ~ Van Nuys

A blue Guatemalan food truck named Sabor Chapin USA is running in Van Nuys and Lake Balboa, offering all the fish and shrimp tostadas, bistec de carne, chaomin, pollo frito, platano con mole, tacos, and garnachas one could desire.

6300 Balboa Blvd. Lake Balboa, CA 91406 

Takos Rios ~ Vermont-Slauson and Boyle Heights

Check out Takos Rios, a locally loved street stand specializing in tacos al vapor (steamed tacos) and tacos de canasta (basket tacos), with locations in Boyle Heights and Vermont-Slauson on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu is simple, with offerings of tacos with beans, potato, chicharrón, or beef, along with a tub of escabeche offered on the side.

6121 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044; 1114 S. Lorena St. Los Angeles, CA 90023

Luke's Lobster ~ Santa Monica

Luke's Lobster is now open in Santa Monica for New England-style lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls built with sustainably sourced crustaceans, on toasted buttered buns with mayo, lemon butter, and a secret seasoning blend.  All three rolls are available in a flight, while additional dishes include chowder, lobster bisque, poppyseed slaw, and kettle chips. Plus there's local beer and a patio with sea breezes. 

Open daily, 11 am - 9 pm, 200 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401

Kitten Kafe ~ Hollywood

Kitten Kafé, a coffee business paired with erotic dancing, is now open every Saturday inside of Hollywood's Cheetahs. The concept promises Vietnamese coffee, along with mochas, latte, cappucinos, and a selection of food items, from 1 -9 pm, at which point, you can transition to cocaine if you really need to stay awake at the strip club so badly.

4600 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027

Plantas y Calaveras ~ Northeast L.A.

Plantas y Calaveras, a cannabis-friendly Dia de Los Muertos celebration, is going down this Sunday in Northeast L.A from 4-8 pm. Ivan Vasquez of Madre will be doing an educational mezcal tasting, there will be an "Indigenous charcuterie board," plus Catrina-style face painting, tamales and pozole from chef Jennie Flores, a bong bar from Mota Glass, and gift bags from Cannabiotix, plus guests are invited to bring a photo of a departed loved one for the ofrenda. 

A $50 per head donation is optional and appreciated. RSVP here.

October 25, 2024

Tacos Los Palomos ~ El Monte

Next Tuesday, October 30, Indigenous-owned Tacos Los Palomos will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant space in El Monte. This will bring the taco truck's celebrated papas rellenas and al pastor to a seated experience, along with meats including tripas, cabeza, lengua, buche, carnitas, asada, suadero, and more, found in tacos, burritos, tlayudas, alambres, nachos, tortas, and quesadillas.

Opening at 2 p.m., 11725 Garvey Ave. El Monte CA 91732 

Zizou ~ Lincoln Heights

Zizou is a captivatingly beautiful French-Moroccan restaurant and bar open in Lincoln Heights, serving a tight menu with a soundtrack of eclectic international tunes and a transporting backyard patio made for lingering. The restaurant's owners, lifelong friends from France and veterans of Figaro Bistro, built the impressive space themselves.

Dishes include ribeye steak with frites, almond and apricot tagine, servings of black and green olive tapenade, mariniere mussels in a broth of white wine and herbs, samourai calamari with harissa aioli, and a dessert of tarte tartine with caramelized apples. A DJ'd  dance party called Fete Francaise is planned for this Saturday night and welcomes costumes.

2425 Daly St. Los Angeles, CA 90031

Mayumi Filipino Market ~ Hawthorne

Over 15 Filipino food vendors will amass at Mayumi Market this Saturday at Common Space in Hawthorne. In addition to food stands like Masa Catalina, Full Send BBQ, Ube For U Bae, Papa's Polvoron, and Sedap Serap, expect  handmade crafts and goods, DJs, dancing, tattoos, clothing, tooth gems, a photo booth, and more in honor of Filipino Heritage Month. The first 100 guests also get free goodie bags with proof of RSVP or a presale ticket.

Oct. 27, 11 am - 6 pm ~ 3411 W. El Segundo Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250

8 Nights At Birdie G’s ~ Santa Monica

Tickets go on sale today for "8 Nights at Birdie G's," in which chef Jeremy Fox will collaborate with a number of awarded chefs and restaurants at his Santa Monica restaurant from December 2-5 and 9-12. Each evening will find two chefs uniting with Fox's team to create unique, seasonal dishes together, along with offering some signatures.

Participating chefs include Grant Achatz of Chicago's Alinea, Shaina Loew-Banayan of Cafe Mutton in upstate New York, Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit, and Aisha Ibrahim of Seattle's Canlis, among others.

Local chefs coming to the party include Jihee Kim of Perilla, Miles Shorey of Pijja Palace, Linden's John Harris, Chad Colby from Antico Nuovo,  Kwang Uh of Baroo, Mozza's Nancy Silverton, and Yangban Society's Katianna and John Hong.

See the full schedule of participating chefs and tickets here.

2421 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404 

CookUnity NYC ~ Delivery

Ever get tired of reading about New York's hot restaurants without having the ability to instantaneously beam yourself over there? While science works on that, CookUnity is offering Angelenos a taste of New York with its Restaurants Exclusives collection, which brings dishes from other cities straight to your place for you to warm up and serve. 

Starting this Sunday, October 27, you can order dishes like the beef bibimbap from Esther Choi's Mok Bar or the short rib ragu from Ambra, as well as dishes from chefs Akhtar Nawa, Einat Admony, and more. The offering stretches through November 17. Meaning long after the Dodgers have routed the Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

Launching October 27 at CookUnity.

Jumsim ~ Downtown

Jumsim is now open for traditional Korean cuisine just a block away from City Hall in Downtown. Dishes, served at lunch and dinner, include ddukbboki, bulgogi, pork duruchigi, yukgaejang, beef or egg bibimbap, galbi, and more.

206 S. Spring St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lucky Chick ~ Venice

Lucky Chick, a Turkish halal stand, is open in Venice, Monday through Saturday afternoons and evenings, outside of the Whole Foods on Lincoln Boulevard. 

Here you'll find a simple menu and two-man crew from Turkey, slicing döner-roasted chicken shawarma into pitas and rice plates, while another prepares lamb kebabs on the side. In addition, the stand offers daily changing Turkish specials.

225 Lincoln Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90291

October 19, 2024

Ek' Balam Yucatan Cuisine ~ Echo Park

Chef Juan Chan and Rocio Rodriguez's Mayan-inspired pop-up, Ek' Balam (which L.A. TACO's own Memo Torres claims has some of the city's best cochinita pibil), will make a rare appearance at Echo Park's Bar Flores this Saturday evening. 

The pop-up sesh will have a three-item menu featuring a trio of panuchos with black beans and chicken adobo, plus two tacos with that good, good cochinita pibil on handmade tortillas, and the classic Mayan dish known as of polcan, served sans meat and stuffed with a blend of different beans into a fritter of masa de maiz.

In addition, Ek' Balam will offer a la carte servings of its poc-chuc taco, cochinita pibil, polkanes, and panuchos.

4 P.M. - midnight, 1542 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

Churro Chica ~ Arleta

Churro Chica is a small puesto set up at Arleta's Good Times Farmers Market on Sundays, as well as weekend nights on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. The bakery sells freshly fried churros, along with mini churros, hot donuts in flavors like blueberry, glazed, and churro-spiced, plus milk teas made with assam black tea and donut holes.

Sun. 9 am - 2 pm, 9968 Bordeaux Ave. Arleta, CA 91331

Taste of Soul ~ Crenshaw Boulevard

The 19th Annual Taste of Soul, one of the biggest family-friendly festivals in Southern California, returns to Crenshaw Boulevard this Saturday, October 19. 

In addition to a ton of live jazz, DJs, gospel, and a performance by Tony! Toni! Tone!,  there will be arts, crafts, activations, shopping, and culture. 

Over 150 food vendors will be selling food, too, feeding an estimated crowd of 500,000 attendees. Just a few of the many include Slap Ur Mama Margarita, Uptown Style Jamaican, Ingrid's Guyanese Cuisine, Ptrains BBQ, Angela's Taste of Soul, Flavors of East Africa, Mussels and Pearls, Taste of Joy, and Taco Zone. 

Entry is free ~ Oct. 19, Crenshaw Blvd. between Obama and Stocker.

TropiKiKi Pop-Up ~ Long Beach

Ramiro Guerrero, founder of Woven Warrior apron studio and a veteran of Bavel, Ronan, and Bazaar by Jose Andres, is organizing TropiKiKi, a feast at Roxanne's in Long Beach on Saturday night, where he'll be cooking with L.A. chefs Mario Alberto (of Olivia) and Edgar Nava (of Correas Mariscos/Market).

Alberto will be supplied by the Long Beach Mushroom Farm in preparing wild mushroom tamales made with chiles guajillo and chipotle, while Nava will make a shrimp-mango ceviche and grilled mahi mahi tacos. 

For vegans, Guerrero will be making a plant-based taco dorado with butternut squash, pomegranate, and salsa habanero, while additional vegan options include a cauliflower ceviche.

Tamales will be available for takeout by the dozen, while Roxanne's mixologist will be pairing tropical, Dia De Los Muertos-inspired cocktails, and former Bavel bartender Bree Ciocan will make non-alcoholic drinks.

Oct 19, 6 to 9 pm, $29 per person, $35 the day of. RSVP here.

Chefs United For a Cure ~ Venice

On October 29, chefs Mei Lin, Antonia Lofaso, and Brooke Williamson will come together at Scopa Italian Roots to celebrate L.A.-based food writer Simon Majumdar, who recently disclosed that he is in remission for Oligodendroglioma, a rare and incurable brain cancer.

The night is being held to raise funds for treatments against this disease, while recognizing researchers and advocates who are working to advance brain cancer research.

The 21+ event will begin with a reception and canapes like Williamson's Peruvian scallops on the half shell, Lin's French onion caviar cones, and Lofaso's fig toast, before continuing onto a four-course family dinner with options such as cumin lamb ribs, cavatelli, and corn and crab raviloi, and then finish on affogatos and cannolis.

Tickets for the event can be obtained, and donations made, right here.

OCTOBER 12, 2024

Squidward ~ Little Tokyo

If you see skewers of squid flying by on a tuk-tuk, that's most likely Squidward, which sets up nightly in Little Tokyo to sell small and giant skewers of grilled chile-marinated squid, Sichuan bobo chicken, and scallion pancakes with toppings like egg, bacon, cheese, and pulled pork from a motorcycle-towed food cart.

Found next to 332 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

BeachLife Nights ~ Redondo Beach

BeachLife Nights comes back next Friday and Saturday (October 18 and 19th) to Redondo Beach, offering two nights filled with great live bands and, this year, a new live barbecue and dining component led by hunky Aussie chef Curtis Stone.

Friday night will be headlined by the great Michael Franti and Spearhead, with openers The English Beat, reggae band Soja, and The Rookies, while Saturday night finds Santa Barbara reggae band Iration taking the top slot, backed by Fortunate Youth, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Maui singer-songwriter Anuhea. And it's all going down on the beach!

If that doesn't sound irie enough, Curtis Stone will be offering a VIP barbecue experience from 4 to 6 PM with dishes like fried chicken, smoked brisket chili, and parmesan espuma mac-and-cheese while plentiful food trucks and bars will also help keep everyone loose. Tickets here.

Oct. 18 and 19, 3 -10 p.m. ~ 239 North Harbor Dr. Redondo Beach CA, 90277 

Black Lagoon ~ Koreatown

Cocktail bars don't typically blast enough heavy metal or contain a sufficient number of severed limbs laying around, nor the presence of a ghoul with glowing red eyes in a gimp suit yukking it up with customers. In our humble opinion.

Black Lagoon is not your typical cocktail bar, though. It's a Halloween-driven, horror-themed mixology pop-up from hospitality veterans Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes in the back of Normandie Club.

It serves timely drinks like the "Memento Mori" (mezcal with coffee liqueur and rum) in a spooky, fun dungeon atmosphere filled with creepy props, songs by White Zombie, Tool, and Metallica, and one deep-in-character scare actor who just wants to be friends.

3612 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, CA 90020 

Falafel Queen ~ El Segundo

The second location of the well-regarded Falafel Queen is now open in El Segundo. The business, which comes from a 30-plus-year employee of now-shuttered Westwood favorite Falafel King, serves steak, koobideh, chicken, and salmon kebab, along with chicken shawarma and lamb-and-beef shawarma plates and wraps, plus Greek salad, and of course, falafel.

130 E. Grand Ave. El Segundo, CA 90245 

Off The Hook Festival ~ Santa Monica

More than 22 restaurants will rally on the Santa Monica Pier at the Off The Hook Seafood Festival on Sunday afternoon, showcasing their ceviches, fish tacos, freshly shucked shellfish, and other fresh seafood forms. Participating restaurants include Marelle, Boa, Layla, Michael's, Tiato, The Surfing Fox, Xuntos, and many more.

In addition, expect a live band covering yacht rock tunes, an oyster shucking contest, photo ops, and a sustainable seafood VIP lounge, all with a backdrop of the beach, Ferris wheel, and the Pacific Ocean behind you.

Proceeds benefit Heal the Bay, while Off The Hook promises to be 100% free of single-use plastics.

4-7 p.m. (3 p.m. VIP) ~ Santa Monica Pier, tickets here

Union's Kamayan Dinner ~ Long Beach

Everyone should experience a Filipino kamayan at least once in life, in which a banana leaf-layered communal table is absolutely covered with traditional dishes meant to be eaten by hand.

Union at Compound is preparing one on October 16 in Long Beach. The event will feature a five-course menu and wine pairing, including collaborations with chefs from Gemmae Bakeshop and Buvons Long Beach. The meal is meant to pay homage to chef-in-residence Eugene Santiago's Filipino roots.

Oct. 16, 5:30 p.m. ~ 1395 Coronado Ave. Long Beach, CA 90804

OCTOBER 4, 2024

There's good news if you enjoyed this week's L.A. TACO guide to the best 69 tacos in L.A.! You can try two of the included vendors, our #5 pick Mochomitos and #7 La Carreta, at tonight's First Friday party from I Love Micheladas at The Beehive in Florence!

But still, we can't be stopped, so we're giving you six more things you've got to try in the next few days, including saucy wings from Jalisco, woodfired pizzas with unbeatable views, Oktoberfest-ready blood sausage gyoza, and weed-infused Halloween candy that will only make you want more candy!!

Alitas Jalisco ~ Whittier

Alitas Jalisco, which makes Mexican-style Buffalo wings, begins a weekly Friday night pop-up tonight at The Cellar Bottle Shop in Whittier. Flavors include jerk, mojo de ajo, caguamera, and original barbecue, and the pop-up is also known to serve tacos dorados and papas "moe-jo." 

Caguamera wings come from Los Volcanes, Jalisco, and include a zesty spicy garlic sauce made by mixing lime, ajo, and chile de árbol. The blend was originally meant for shrimp before it became a local sensation on wings, which made people want to reach for a caguama of beer after eating them. This recipe comes from one of the pop-up's partners, Neyda Anaya.

If you miss it in Whittier, Alitas Jalisco will be in Hawthorne tomorrow evening at L.A. Ale Works.

Friday, 7 -11 pm, 6531 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA 90601

Saturday, 5 pm -12 am, 12918 Cerise Ave. Hawthorne, CA 90250 

Dante ~ Beverly Hills

There may be no better perch for a beautiful celebratory weekend brunch right now than at Dante in Beverly Hills, which just launched a new daytime menu to enjoy on Saturdays and Sundays under the hand-painted ceiling of this rooftop restaurant with live music and gob-smacking views of the city and Hollywood Hills.

The new brunch menu starts with housemade banana bread from owner Nathalie Hudson's recipe, and breakfast burrata served with ingredients like burnt honey, apple butter, roasted squash, sage, and pomegranate seeds. There's also a woodfire-grilled flatiron steak and eggs, live oysters shucked to order, a delicata squash and endive salad, bucatini al pomodoro, pizzas from a wood-fired oven like the "Rosa" with mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio, and rosemary, and morning cocktails such as seasonal Bellinis and a mini bloody "Maria," with Codigo Tequila, cold pressed vegetables, fennel salt, and pickles.

10 am - 4 pm, Sat. & Sun. ~ 225 North Canon Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Tamales Olmeca ~ Venice 

For the first time, Yunia Funes Mata is bringing her celebrated tamal cart, Tamales Olmeca, to the First Friday festival on Abbot Kinney in Venice tonight. Funes Mata, who also works in the kitchen at Bestia, will be selling her unique salsa-and-crema smothered tamales at Venice's venerated 27-year-old interior design and home-goods store Tumbleweed & Dandelion. 

Her tamales include "A La Bestia" with duck and Bestia chef Ori Menashe's mole, "Chicken Little" with Jidori chicken and salsa guajillo, a tamal with short ribs and jocoque, one with carnitas and salsa verde, a tamal with beef birria and cheese, and more.

5 p.m., 1502 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291

I/O Rooftop ~ Hollywood

Starting this Wednesday, Hollywood's Godfrey Hotel will begin showing horror films for both guests and locals at its I/O Rooftop bar, beginning with A Nightmare on Elm Street. Then there will be Dawn of the Dead on October 16th, Death House on October 26th, and Insidious on October 30th.

Entry to the movies requires a minimum food and drink spend of $40, which includes valet parking and a menu with themed drinks, such as the vampire-friendly concoction in an I.V. bag you see above.

October Wednesdays, 1400 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 

Lustig's Oktoberfest ~ Culver City

Starting October 7, Austrian chef Bernhard Maingher's Lustig will offer a menu of traditional and modern Oktoberfest classics at his Culver City restaurant through October 20. Dishes will include blood sausage gyoza, venison tenderloin, poached weisswurst, and beef bone marrow, served with cheesy pretzel dumpling bites, bone marrow, and chives.

3273 Helms Ave. Culver City, CA 90232 

THC-Infused Halloween Candy

Razor blades in Halloween candy? Bad.

Weed in Halloween candy? Good. You know, as long as it stays out of the hands of children and stuff.

Cannabis brand Swifts is riffing off mini Butterfingers and Milky Way with its THC-infused Crunchy Munchies and Stellar Bites. Both come individually wrapped with vegan chocolate and 10mg of THC in each piece.

Perfect for anyone with big plans to go out into the night on October 31, as well as the couple who says "fuck it" and stays in on October 31 to watch a few slasher flicks while occasionally getting up to answer the door for trick-or-treaters. Just don't get your bags confused.

Available at California and Washington dispensaries.

SEPTEMBER 29

Downtown

We love mole. You love mole. This weekend is the 17th annual Feria de Los Moles at Downtown's Gloria Molina Grand Park. Held on Saturday and Sunday, this will be your chance to purchase and taste traditional moles made by 13 different chefs and restaurants. In addition, a Poblano chef will make timely chiles en nogada, and a giant mole ofrenda will be served to honor the upcoming Dia de Muertos. You'll also find mole ice cream, a market of vendors selling crafts, art, and different foods, plus a "flying" demonstration by the legendary Voladores de Papantla, and Chinelo Dancers from Morelos. Come through!

200 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Beverly Hills

Michelin-starred L.A. chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee are bringing their awarded, omakase-inspired concept Sushi By Scratch back to SLS Beverly Hills for just 90 days starting October 2. The tasting menu experience is famously immersive, creative, and beautiful, offering 17 courses of nigiri at an intimate, 10-person sushi counter and focused mostly on fish and shellfish flown in biweekly from Tokyo's Toyosu Fish Market. In addition to new dishes, signature Lee sushi dishes like roasted bone marrow nigiri and an ensuing bone marrow fat-fried unagi, plus sourdough breadcrumb-sprinkled sweet corn pudding-painted hamachi, and albacore-wrapped in sake-soaked nori will be served. Three tiers of sake and whiskey pairings from a dedicated sommelier will also be available—reservations available Wednesday to Sunday at 5 pm, 7:15 pm, and 9:30 pm through Tock.

465 La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048 

Downtown

Lost, a rooftop taco-and-cocktail bar from Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, the co-founders of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, is now open in Downtown. Inspired by the energy of Mexico City, the open-air spot has an Airstream trailer turning out tacos on organic Masienda tortillas, quesadillas, and ceviches from Broken Spanish and Bouchon veteran Geter Atienza. The short food menu features tacos with Berkshire pork carnitas, guajillo-marinated chicken, and carne asada, plus quesadillas with guajillo chicken or forest mushrooms made in the style of carne asada, and a tiger shrimp ceviche with chile serrano and avocado mousse. Drinks include "Lt. Dan" with chamomile-infused bourbon, black pepper honey, and lemon juice, as well as non-alcoholic drinks like the magically delicious "Lucky Charms" with hemp-infused Aplós Calme, apricot puree, pineapple juice, and lime juice.

718 S. Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90014

North Hollywood

Chef Tiana Giron is holding her second Pupusas Y Vino pop-up at Haley's Wine in North Hollywood this Saturday starting at 3 pm. Four pupusas will be offered, including a Peruvian-inspired revuelta filled with chicharrón, mixed cheeses, and Peruvian refried beans with a salsa criolla curtido; a Mexican-inspired pupusa with nopales and elote; and a Salvadoran-inspired pupusa with platanos and frijoles, and another with braised beef shank entomatado with a charred tomato curtido. Wines will be offered at the bar.

5124 Lankershim Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 91601 

West Hollywood

A new izakaya and sake spot named Kamado is now open in West Hollywood. The restaurant's specialty is kamameshi, Japanese dishes of soy or mirin-seasoned rice mixed with veggies and meats, and traditionally cooked inside of an iron pot-stove known as a kamado. Kamameshi choices include those with uni-and-wagyu ribeye steak, snow crab, and shrimp, mussels, and squid ink. 

Additional offerings include artful sashimi, simmered miso black cod, karaage fried chicken, kanpachi carpaccio, dashi omelets, anchovy butter French fries, and Jidori chicken bleu cheese katsu rolls.

521 N. La Cienega Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90048