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

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

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