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5 New LA Finds

Anzu - Cassell's - Papa Cristos - The Mar Vista - The Wallace

We can live in a city full of so many diverse eats and still stumble upon something new to us worth exploring. The following five restaurants are places with some serious regulars but also proxy to brand new customers hearing about it for the first time.

Places Never Heard Anzu Front

Anzu

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Karaage plate

Anzu is a tiny window hidden off Sawtelle where we get our Japanese fried chicken or "karaage" fix. It's available either in a burger style or bento with rice. We love their fries and simple mini salad, too. It's delicious Japanese casual street fare worth looking for in the middle of west side J-town.

places never heard Cassells Pie

Cassell's house made pies

places never heard Cassells Burger

Hamburger and fries

Cassell's is a burger joint started in 1948 by Al Cassell (famous for grinding fresh beef daily) offering breakfast & classic American fare in a diner setting in the middle of Koreatown because it now resides in the historic Hotel Normandie. We highly recommend their 1/3 lb. cheeseburgers but leave room for a milkshake, some house made pie, and a craft cocktail from their fully stocked bar.

Places Never Heard Papa Cristos Menu

Papa Cristos menu

Places Never Heard Papa Cristos Skewer Plate

Kebab plate

Papa Cristos is a Greek family style restaurant and market across the street from Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Cathedral in the Pico-Union part of Los Angeles. It started in 1948 as in importing/exporting business for goods from Greece and opened its taverna in 1985. We love perusing the aisles full of olive oils, spices, and culinary goodies after enjoying a full plate of marinated chicken skewers served with greek salad, lemony roasted potatoes, pita, and tzatziki. Always save room for a piece of their seragli, rolled baklava topped with ground pistachios.

Places Never Heard Mar Vista Sign

The Mar Vista

Places Never Heard Mar Vista Burrata Bowl

Pot O' Burrata

The Mar Vista is a boon to the Mar Vista neighborhood. This restaurant from chefs D. Brandon Walker and Jill Davie features an open kitchen, a buzzy bar and a fold-down Murphy Bed–type stage for live music. The seasonally changing, California-centric menu plays to the diverse cultures of LA. We like the torn potatoes and the pot o' burrata for a quick and tasty lunch in a contemporary but casual setting.

Wallace Seats

The Wallace

Pork Belly Nacos Wallace

Pork belly nachos

The Wallace is a true California restaurant serving seasonally inspired shared plates focusing on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. We go for their elevated happy hour menu, paired with a glass of sparkling rosé champagne. Great for an easy date night too!

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Contributors

Krystal Chang

Krystal Chang is a writer, architect, floral and landscape designer. She lives and works in Santa Monica, over the hill from where she grew up in the San Fernando Valley reading books for the food bits.

We would love to give a big thanks to Karen Palmer, Michael Karnow, Triana Cristobal, Cory Jones, Lauren Taler and Enter The Pom, Genie Hwang, Taylor Kohtala, Jessie Plotkin (RWU), Heather Sperling and Emily Fiffer (Botanica), Jered Standing (Standing's Butchery), Alex Gallindo (Hourglass), Ricardo Ciseros, Raoul and the Big Time, and always Nick Noble.