Best of Kosher in LA!!!

Rather then talk about one particular restaurant, I though it would be fun to compile a personal “best of” list of Kosher foods, restaurant dishes, etc. that I think are great. Try out my picks and see if you agree.

Best (restaurant) at what they do
1) Jeff’s Gourmet Sausage – New Yorkers drool over this LA jem. I can’t think of a bad thing they make
2) Fish Grill – there’s a good reason why there are now 3 of them, such a simple concept – grill super fresh fish over real coals (not gas) and complement it with quick tasty sides
3) Pat’s – best run restaurant I’ve ever seen. Want to substitute something? No problem. Send it back? No problem. Awesome desserts, friendly service. David is amazing. If only they'd update the menu a bit more...

Dessert
1) Pat’s Chocolate Decadence – I’m not a huge chocolate guy but this is hands down the best desert in town, nothing is even close including dairy
2) Pat’s Chocolate Bread Pudding – amazing, ask anyone who has had it
3) Pat’s Strawberry Tart – I know it doesn’t seem fair but Pat’s sweeps the category

Meat / Steak
1) Tierra Sur (winery) Aged Ribey – If you taste it, you know it is different then any other kosher steak in SoCal
2) Pat’s Baca Grande – When it’s good, this prime rib for two is awesome. The onions and 3 dipping sauces are perfect additions
3) Shilo’s ribeye – solid, solid, solid

Pizza
1) La Pizza – arguably the best kosher slice in America, New York doesn’t come close
2) Pizza Maven – damn good pizza, perfect crust, ample cheese, could use a bit more flavor
3) Shalom Pizza – read my review

Pasta Dishes
1) Pat’s Bolognese – a delicious homey dish that will make you feel like curling up next to a fire place
2) Milk n Honey cheese ravioli in pink sauce - my wife’s obsession, very tasty
3) Pizza Station Baked Ziti – you might think I’m crazy but it is very good, with crusty cheese generously coating the top and a tasty marinara sauce inside

Sushi
1) Café Bonjour crunchy white fish roll – mortgage brokers drive from West LA weekly for this dish, need I say more?
2) Shanghai Caterpillar Roll – takes forever but is worth the wait

Kosher Markets
1) Kosher Club – best shopping experience, wide aisles, good meat section, best wine selection in the city
2) Western – best and freshest meat
3) Elat Market – possibly the cheapest produce in the country

Israeli Restaurant Dish
1) On Fire Grill Shakshuka – I’ve had it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Freakin delicious!
2) Haifa Beef Shishlik – tender chunks of beef flame broiled to perfection, not sure why nobody else makes it as good
3) King David Shwarma – generous ratio of lamb to turkey, you’ll think you’re at the bus station in Tel Aviv

Fish
1) Fish Grill Sea Bass – my favorite from a menu where you can’t really go wrong
2) On Fire Grill Mahi Mahi – super fresh, lightly seasoned, fish they way it was meant to be eaten
3) Fish Grill Fish n Chips – classic, shmeared with tartar sauce it is soooo good yet soooo many points

Bagel
1) Bagel Factory
2) La Brea Bagel
3) Western Bagel

Danish/Pastry
1) Delice Butter Croissant – not consistent (the owner attributes it to the weather) but when they are good, there is no better pastry in LA
2) Elat Custard Danish – very large amount of custard on soft pillowy pastry
3) Schwartz Cinnamon Crumb Danish – not to be mixed up with their other cinnamon danish that isn’t that good, only available on select days, must be fresh

Chinese Dish
1) Kolah Farangi Sesame Chicken – delicately battered in sweet sauce that is not nauseating
2) Shanghai Diamond Mandarin Chicken – delicately battered in slightly spicy sauce
3) Shanghai Diamond String Bean Beef – typical stirfry in brown sauce but the string beans are great without any of the annoying vegis you find in Chinese dishes

Burger
1) La Gondola Mushroom Onion Burger – a delicious ½ pound patty overflowing with sautéed mushrooms and onions. Add some ketchup and mayo and you’ll be rocking
2) Pat’s Burger – perfectly shaped, consistent, juicy. It could be on TV
3) Greta Burger OB”M – thick patty topped with a sunny side up egg and spicy harisa, it is missed by many

Salad Dressing
1) Pizza Maven Green Dressing – possibly pure nostalgia but I’ve never had another dressing like it… what makes it green???
2) Circa Balsamic – thick, creamy, tasty… could be bottled and sold at retail easily
3) Pizza World Creamy Italian – tastes a bit like tehini, very original flavor, excellent on cheese topped salads

Appetizer
1) La Gondola Avocado Egg roll – so good that numerous other restaurants copied them yet theirs is still by far the best (sorry Chani)
2) Shanghai Garden Minced Chicken in Lettuce Cup – doesn’t sound good but tastes great. It’s kind of a lettuce burrito filled with tasty chicken and hoisin sauce. Atkins friendly.
3) Bonjour Stuffed Mushrooms – deep fried and covered with mayonaise, a total artery clogger

Chicken Soup
1) Bravo Bistro – first time I had fresh chunks of juicy white meat chicken that were added to the soup after it was made, incredibly good
2) Magic Carpet – kind of odd for a Yemenite restaurant to excel at such an Ashkenaz dish but it is one of their signature dishes
3) La Gondola – solid soup made the real way, no mix or cubes in this puppy

I’m gonna end it here as there is more then enough to generate a few comments and I need to get to bed. Enjoy.