All Episodes

Why Does LA Keep Dominating the James Beard Media Nominations? Plus, Enrique Olvera's New Venture, The Pop Up To End All Pop Ups, and Unhinged Steakhouse Behavior.

Our Worst Episode Ever | NYT's Updated Best LA List, Noma Should Cost More, Infatuation Under Attack & How Sushi Lost Its Soul

The 2026 Food Media Boom: Bubble or Breakthrough? Plus, Yang's Kitchen's Chris Yang's Next Big Bet.

A Tí vs. Broken Spanish Comedor. James Beard "Scandal." CPK's Cringey Cease & Desist. And An Interview With Tomat's Natalie Dial & Harry Posner.

COUCH POTATOES: Is America's Culinary Cup... Better Than Top Chef?

Tom Schwartz on Vanderpump, The Valley, and How Restaurants Almost Broke Him. Plus, Recent Eats at Bar Di Bello, Sqirl & Bianca Sicilian.

LA’s James Beard Surge, Fine Dining on Trial, and Brian Bornemann on 5 Years of Crudo e Nudo

Q&A: Full-of-Sh*t Influencers, Bad Restaurants That Stay Packed, and How to Find a Wife + Pizza Lies with Daniele Uditi

Noah Galuten Co-Hosts: LA Chef Mount Rushmore & Noma Art vs Artist Debate. Plus, LA Taco Enters The Chat (Finally).

Noma-Gate in LA: The Timeline, The Fallout & The Protest Press Conference

COUCH POTATOES: Top Chef Is Back & The 2026 Top Chef Fantasy Draft

Matt Rodbard Co-Hosts: Sqirl By Night, More Noma Thoughts & the Food Media Startup Ignoring the Algorithm

Is Michelin Wrong About SELINE? A Gloomy James Beard Industry Report & The Guys Disrupting the Wine Club

Eater Takes Max & Helen's Heat, New York Times Declares LA's "Essential" Dishes & Echo Park Survives The LA Food Pod Bar Crawl. Plus, Mirate/Daisy Margarita Bar's Max Reis on Mezcal & More.

Alison Roman on AI, LA Dining & Reinvention. Plus, Major Noma Drama, @ComfyWithKerry Episode Fallout & a Major RVR Apology.

The LA Dining "Scam" Debate Breaking People's Brains: @ComfyWithKerry, Influencer Hype, and Why Dining Out Feels So Fraught Right Now

LA's James Beard Supremacy; Noma Silences the Haters (Kind Of); Plus, Revenge of the Neighborhood Restaurant with Adam Weisblatt (Last Word Hospitality) & DK Kolender (Hermon's).

Keeping Up With Kato: Why Jon Yao & Ryan Bailey Never Stop Evolving

In Defense of Noma's $1500 Price Tag (Not Really). Plus, Jason Lee of Expense Account.

New Year, New Laws for California Restaurants. Plus, RIP Horses, Welcome Back Bäco, and Sorry Bill Simmons.

Food Resolutions, What’s In & Out for 2026, and Luca’s 2026 Countdown Announcement

Building Budonoki: From USC Apartment Pop-Ups to One of LA’s Buzziest Izakayas

The 2025 LA Food Awards

Inside the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants List With Bill Addison and Jenn Harris. Plus, Biggest Drops, Rising Stars, and Notable Exclusions with Father Sal.

James Beard Awards Controversy Explained, Wagyu Wars, and LA Dominates Esquire’s Best New Restaurants. Plus, 2025 Gift Guide Feat. My Wife.

New York Dining in 2025: NYC's American Bistro Boom, Reservation Crisis, Credit Card Wars — and Why LA Should Care

3 LA Restaurants Make Eater’s Best New Restaurants, Bay Cities’ Fall From Grace, Recipe Brain Rot, and Eric Greenspan’s Tesla Diner U-Turn. Plus Recent Meals at Wilde’s and Camphor.

Eater/Resy Founder Ben Leventhal on Blackbird and the Future of Dining. Plus: Good News for Food Media, The Infatuation’s Best New Restaurants, Michelin Demotions, and Recent Eats at Betsy & More.

Ludo Lefebvre Just Wants To Be Free. Plus, David Chang's Super Peach, Garibaldina Society, And The SoCal Kabob Chain Taking Over America.

150th episode mailbag: Peer-pressured meals, LA food media blindspots & what we’d do as mayor. Plus Katie Parla on Rome, Italian food, and why to avoid Eataly.

NYT savages Spago. Plus, Next Gen Chef hot takes and recent meals at Republique, OyBar and Ototo.

The dark side of "enlightened hospitality," with Adam Reiner. Plus, Great White's racist controversy, LA Taco's "best" Mexican restaurants, and thoughts on Quarter Sheets Pizza.

66 years of wild, wonderful stories at Chez Jay. Plus, Hermosa Beach's culinary rise, Taylor Swift's Hollywood haunt, and our 3 favorite classic LA restaurants.

A Frankly Psychotic™ Analysis of North America's 50 Best. Plus, Baby Bistro impressions, Bub & Grandma's Pizza, New York eats, and Zohran Mamdani the foodie.

Is Santa Barbara California’s most underrated dining city? Plus, an interview with the Dom’s Taverna dream team.

Boycott brewing at Enrique Olvera’s Damian? Plus, 2 LA restaurants win Bon Appétit honors, 4 endangered LA restaurants find lifelines, and the NYT dunks on Alinea.

And Dave Beran took that personally. Plus, Food & Wine snubs LA, three LA restaurants score major NYT praise, and our favorite CA pizzas outside of LA.

Nancy Silverton, y’all. Plus, did our first visit to Kato live up to the hype?

The ultimate Las Vegas food weekend featuring MY WIFE !!! Plus, Cracker Barrel in crisis, restaurants face new allergen legislation, and an interview with La Fontaine's Laetitia Rouabah.

Is food media... dying? Eater's race to the bottom and the fight for local food journalism. Plus, hot people restaurants, Italian sandwich fatigue, and Top Chef’s biggest competitor.

Michael Voltaggio on legacy, LA’s fine dining rise, and why he won’t slow down. Plus, restaurants pivoting “for the right reasons” and a preview of LA Chef Con 2025.

Unpacking the Joshua Weissman scandal. Plus, Daniel Patterson opens up on mental health, Michelin, and his next big move.

How should food writers cover Elon Musk's Tesla Diner? Plus, the influencer who closed a restaurant, the taqueria that scored national headlines, and a ray of hope for Cole's French Dip.

Palm Springs' culinary coming-of-age, featuring MY WIFE (!!!). Plus, Elon Musk's Tesla Diner opens, In-N-Out's owner steps in it, and LA Chef Con returns.

Inside the Closure of Cole’s French Dip with Owner Cedd Moses and IHC's Eddie Navarrete. Plus, the Trends Defining LA Dining in 2025

Santa Monica legend Raphael Lunetta on food, friendship, and feeding Larry David. Plus, RIP Cole's, goodbye to The Angel, and apologies to Evan Funke.

Has Michelin rewired LA fine dining… for good? Plus, Chef Daniel Patterson’s Jaca Social Club, Tejal Rao’s first review as NYT critic, and a taste of Let It Rip, our companion pod for FX’s The Bear.

Bill Addison on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants in California. Plus, Top Chef Season 22 recap, a trailer for our new podcast, and flowers for LA’s 3 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Unsolicited James Beard takes and an interview with Evan Algorri and Andrew Lawson of Etra and Cafe Telegrama

The gourmand’s guide to San Diego, featuring Addison, Tribute Pizza, The Lafayette Hotel and more.

How AI is infiltrating fine dining. Plus, Evan Funke’s back at it, Jonathan Gold under fire, and Father Sal tries the Erewhon Hailey Bieber smoothie.

Could “entertainment zones” save LA restaurants? Plus, Matu’s Scott Linder and Ryan Gianola on expanding their wagyu beef empire.

Is Thomas Keller losing it? Plus, Found Oyster's Ari Kolender on cooking the finest things in the sea and Queen’s savvy rebrand.

Condiment Claire, the LA-raised content creator taking over the world. Plus, burger love/hate, oyster economics, and Nobody Wants This bagels.

Are LA diners too hard to please? Survey results from The Angel, Top Chef progress report & big news from Bill Esparza

Meteora Rising: Is Jordan Kahn's Melrose restaurant ready for 2 Michelin Stars? Plus, Opening Cafe Esca Part 4, AKA the ins and outs of designing a menu.

Inside Lele Dinner Club, LA’s hottest reservation. Plus, Pizza City Fest preview with Steve Dolinsky.

From border town to Beard semifinalist, with Barra Santos’ Melissa Lopez. Plus, Jenn Harris on tariffs, Khushbu Shah on influencers vs. experts, and a hot LA restaurant survey making the rounds.

How will the tariffs impact LA restaurants and diners? Plus, RIP middle class restaurants, wagyu beef heaven in Brentwood, and Glen Powell’s BLT boo-boo.

The Curious Case of Eric Greenspan and Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner. Plus, 5 SoCal restaurants score James Beard noms, Taco Madness’ notable omission, and notes from the Pizza Expo field.

BONUS: Live from Family Meal – Restaurants in Times of Crisis with Lien Ta, Alycia Harshfield, Alexa Rousso, and Stephen Poux.

Inside the mind of a food critic, with The LO Times’ Ryan Sutton (formerly of Eater NY and Bloomberg News)

Why are restaurants still facing a labor crisis? Plus, new Michelin Guide additions, LA’s street food supremacy, pizza-coded romantic drama, and a Chinese hot pot nightmare.

Scouting report of the hottest culinary talent in America (A.K.A. The 2025 Fantasy Top Chef Draft). Plus, a one-man tasting menu in DTLA and the most controversial restaurant in the world.

Hainan Chicken & Hard Lessons: Chef Johnny Lee’s journey to Rasarumah. Plus, LIVE from New York, it’s Taco Bell’s Live Mas LIVE.

Can anyone save The Original Pantry Cafe? Plus, drama at The Ruby Fruit and a round-up of recent eats feat. Stir Crazy, Calabama and Hiho Cheeseburger.

Why are LA pizzerias receiving cease and desists? Plus, OpenTable’s resurgence, reflections on dinner at Baroo, and Father Sal gives his mom a daughter-in-law (kind of).

Why restaurants are petitioning the city, with The LA Times’ Stephanie Breijo. Plus, Rashida Holmes on Bridgetown Roti’s journey from pop-up to permanent.

BONUS: Are nonalcoholic cocktails the real deal? With The Lonely Oyster's Philip Ross

We can’t stop thinking about Vespertine. But did we like it?

Boulud & Waxman & Goin, oh my! Previewing the epic Chefs Love LA wildfire benefit dinner. Plus, why Ricardo Zarate’s The Hummingbird is way more than a comeback.

Another (frankly psychotic) analysis of the 2025 James Beard semifinalists. Plus, Opening Cafe Esca Part 3 with Luke Reyes and Reilly Cox.

Restaurants rise to the wildfire challenge - but the job’s not finished. With Cafe De Leche’s Matthew Schodorf, Fiorelli Pizza’s Liz Gutierrez, and Inclusive Action for the City’s Rudy Espinoza.

3 ways to help LA restaurants during the wildfires

Announcing the 2025 Countdown. Plus, more doom and gloom in store for LA restaurants in 2025?

The Best New Restaurants of 2024, with The Infatuation’s Brant Cox and Sylvio Martins. Plus, 2024 trends, 2025 predictions, and food-related New Year’s resolutions.

The 2nd annual LA Food Pod Holiday Party. Plus, Christmas at Genghis Cohen with Marc Rose and Med Abrous.

What do the Eater layoffs mean for LA food media? Plus, Part 2 of Opening Cafe Esca with Luke Reyes and Reilly Cox.

A (frankly psychotic) analysis of The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list

A very LA Food Pod gift guide. Plus, the case for gatekeeping restaurants per TASTE, in defense of LA dining's "ebb" year, and solving the future of food media in one conversation.

100th Episode Live Show with Mona Holmes and Jackson Kalb

Brooke Williamson talks Top Chef, longevity in the LA restaurant scene, and her debut cookbook, Sun-Kissed Cooking.

Langer’s future on the rocks, why Martha Stewart hates her doc, and Karen Palmer thrives in the Father Sal chair - hardly a shock. Plus, a chat with Richard Pink on the eve of Pink’s 85th Birthday.

Opening Cafe Esca Part 1, with Reilly Cox and Luke Reyes. Plus, Jenn Harris puts the NY vs. (World Series Champ) LA food debate to rest, can food help Kamala win, and Father Sal is moving to LA.

The influencer debate heats up. Plus, political burritos, immortal mochi, and a cheesy conversation with The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills' Dominick DiBartolomeo.

Did Evan Funke’s Chef’s Table just give us the ick? Plus, food criticism chat, LA County does something good, El Moro displaces Patra, Erewhon kids’ meals, and more.

Is Eater's Essential 38 the GOAT or the most chaotic list of all time? Plus, Jaca's talent pipeline, Tom Colicchio's memoir, and an interview with The Lonely Oyster's Dominique Crisp.

An honest conversation with ex-Otium employees. Plus, reactions to L.A. Taco's Taco 69, Ina Garten's media tour, California's octopus ban, and Paul Hollywood's extracurriculars.

The future of Wolfgang Puck with Wolfgang Puck and Byron Lazaroff Puck. Plus, Azizam's hot streak, Owen Han's sandwich crown, and the most embarrassing Yelp review of all time.

Bon Appetit honors an LA hotspot, Josiah Citrin reflects on 25 years of Melisse, and Laurie Ochoa has had it with guest chef dinners. Plus, an olive oil masterclass with Corto's Lisa Pollack.

High and lows as we bid Poltergeist farewell, but celebrate Holy Basil's big Food & Wine win. Plus, a sneak peek of two exciting concepts coming this Fall to Ojai and Montecito.

Joe Sasto blesses the pod with pasta wisdom, Top Chef lore, and his glorious moustache. Plus, decoding LA burgers, Evan Funke gets the Chef's Table treatment, and fast food jobs soar.

Is Langer's actually closing? Plus Father Sal unleashed at. Si! Mon, Cobi's, Horses, Petramale and more. And an interview with Avner Levi of Cento Pasta Bar.

The best tacos in LA, work-life balance in fine dining, and postmodern beer with LAist's Gab Chabran. Plus, how Snibbs' Daniel Shemtob developed the perfect shoe for chefs.

Is Bill Esparza revolutionizing food criticism? Plus, a Bourdain biopic, the rise of restaurant robots, and a beefy interview with First Light Farms' Jason Ross.

LA earns 5 new Michelin stars. Plus, Tim Walz is a foodie, Pete Wells yells at clouds, and Part 2 of our interview with Botanica's Heather Sperling.

The gourmand's guide to visiting (or hosting visitors in) LA. Plus, Botanica's Heather Sperling on her unique journey and the state of food media.

Hot girls eat pickles, with Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar of Good Girl Snacks. Plus, it's rainin' taco guides as we pick up the pieces of the Esparza-Villa's fallout.

Bill Esparza vs. Villa's Tacos. Plus, why New Zealand real fruit ice cream is the sweet treat of the summer. With Creamy Boys' Duncan Parsons and Joe Wedd.

Baroo is the LA Times' Restaurant of the Year. Plus, Eater's Mona Holmes on what makes LA food (and food media) great.

The Bear Season 3 Recap - Part 2. Plus, service fees here to stay, street vendors win big, and Gorilla Pies needs our help.

The Bear Season 3 Recap - Part 1: Does it still have the special sauce?

Live from Holbox: Lunch with Santiago Lastra, chef of London's Michelin-starred KOL

Top Chef Season 21 Recap. Plus, service fees live to fight another day, reservation resale platforms get the axe, and Luca gives vegans free political advice.

What the James Beard Awards and World's 50 Best tell us about dining in 2024. Plus, is Little Tokyo "endangered?" And what the heck is up with Joey Chestnut?

From Boulder to Bourdain, the many lives of Checker Hall's Gabe Kennedy. Plus, Infatuation pans Vespertine, the problem with "shoppy shops," and The Best Restaurant in Town.

Lunch with the Infatuation's Brant Cox at Mae Malai (P.S. EEEEEATSCON is upon us). Plus, The Bear Season 3 trailer, mental health and burnout in the industry, and R.I.P. Always Pan.

Fast Eddie: Can Eddie Navarrette save California restaurants? Plus, Something About Her blues.

Molly Baz and lactation-gate, restaurant finances dissected, and Michelin goes to Mexico. Plus, Top Chef midseason check-in with the hosts of Compliments to the Chef.

Bill Esparza on his journey, "taco bros," David Chang and much, much more. Plus, World's 50 Best recognizes Kato, 5 So Cal restaurants added to the Michelin Guide, and Sweetgreen embraces beef.

James Beard loves LA media, the future of reservations, and serious questions about LA's croissant game. Plus, Chef Jonathan Harris of Linden, LA's most underrated new fine dining concept.

Chefs of Coachella, feat. Eric Greenspan, David Kuo and many more. Plus, Sage Vegan embraces meat, Matthew Kenney still sucks, and Eddie Navarrette doesn't.

Yes We Cannabis: Wendy Zeng is the LA chef exploring cultural heritage (and much more) via food and cannabis

Daniele Uditi and Los Angeles' pizza renaissance. Plus, David Chang's chili crunch controversy, the 5 most anticipated bites of Coachella, and L.A. Taco needs our help.

James Beard snubs LA (kind of), Trader Joe's trader woes, and a Father Sal food crawl feat. Yangban, Felix, Poltergeist and a Chris Bianco cameo

High Steaks: Matū's Scott Linder on the wonders of wagyu. Plus, the Walk of Fame gets a face lift, LA Health Dept in crisis and Brant Cox comes for Lisa Vanderpump.

Ladyhawk's Charbel Hayek on winning Top Chef and a new era of Lebanese food in LA. Plus, The War on Pizza, Vespertine 2.0 and the return of Cafe Tropical.

The 2024 Fantasy Top Chef Draft. Plus, 9 LA restaurants added to the Michelin Guide, Roy Choi's new taco concept, and how to party correctly in Valle de Guadalupe.

PIE 2 PIE crossover with Hot Tongue Pizza's Alex Koons

Chang-a-Palooza: Dissecting David Chang's empire (but mostly just Chrissy & Dave Dine Out)

Sneak preview of the inaugural LA Wine and Food Festival. Plus, Sacramento's star turn, smashburger fatigue, and junk fee trouble ahead.

For Sake's Sake: Tsubaki and Ototo's Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba on sake, success, and striving for more

BONUS: Valentine's Day for procrastinators, with Jada Montemarano

The LA restaurant Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Superbowl spreads. Plus, Found Oyster in hot water, Jenn Harris slams All'Antico Vinaio, and LA street vendors win big.

Immaculate Vibes: The ins and outs of restaurant design with Preen Inc's Alexis Readinger

Whiplash as 19 LA restaurants named James Beard semifinalists, but 94 LA Times reporters lose their jobs. Plus, the art of fast casual, with My Lai Kitchen's Traci and Shad Davis.

Who are the Justice 8? With L.A. Taco's Janette Villafana. Plus, The Bear wins big, certain restaurants behave badly, and Luca does Seacrest

The Dreamer: Danny Castillo's journey to opening Heritage Barbecue and becoming one of So Cal's premier pitmasters

Announcing the 2024 Countdown. Plus, holiday recap, our food-related New Year's resolutions, and a Father Sal birthday surprise.

The Best of The LA Food Podcast 2023, featuring Gilberto Cetina, Courtney Storer, Gustavo Arellano, Lien Ta, Jeremy Fox, Diego Argoti, Farley Elliott and more

The Holiday Party! Feat. the definitive list of the best food lists of 2023 (look out, journalists!) and Merry Margaritas courtesy of Hornitos

The Infatuation LA's Best New Restaurants of 2023, featuring Brant Cox and Sylvio Martins

Stop hating on The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list. Plus, we argue about The Great British Bake Off, and why so many influencers are opening restaurants.

Why Chef Jeremy Fox won't serve lamb to Alain Passard. Plus, stories on Rustic Canyon, Birdie G's, and earning a Michelin star.

Thanksgiving Special: Meals we're grateful for in 2023. Plus holiday gift guide "cop or drop," Pakistani excellence, Tate McRae mediocrity, and a GOAT-level list from the New York Times.

Negroni-palooza with Virali Dave. Plus the latest on legal street vending, with Inclusive Action for the City's Doug Smith.

Why LA3C may be the coolest food (and music) festival ever. Plus Bar Chelou's star turn, Erewhon's dark underbelly, and fried chicken drama.

Why Farley Elliott is leaving Eater for SF Gate. Plus poutine, hamsters eating tiny burritos, and more.

Musings on mole with Guelaguetza's Bricia Lopez. Plus Victor Heights gentrifies, legislators doom service fees, and LAist trolls Luca.

Paul Feinstein wrote the book on Italian cocktails. No, really.

Uptown Provision's Aaron Melendrez: Veteran, master mixologist, and maker of the best damn sandwiches you've never had

Getting kava-curious with Kavahana's Hannah Wilen. Plus a flurry of new restaurant laws in California.

Dissecting The N.Y. Times' Best Restaurants in LA list. Plus nude dinners, trouble at Erewhon and another Nobu lawsuit.

How to nail the LAFC eating experience, with Forking Around

Takes and Tortillas: Gustavo Arellano joins the pod and we talk about, well, everything

BONUS: Dave Portnoy vs. Dragon Pizza

The Farmers' Market on Wheels: Prosperity Market is tackling LA's thorniest food access issues and economic inequities

Behind the curtain of Gilberto Cetina's Holbox, The L.A. Times' 2023 Restaurant of the Year

Five Star Chef is good... but is it Five Star!? Plus the LA Times loves NY, and another big LA restaurant bites the dust.

Here's Looking At Lien: Lien Ta's journey to becoming one of LA's best loved restaurateurs

Is David Chang's "Secret Chef" any good? And what's the deal with LA's pork crisis?

Who curates the food at music festivals? With Outside Lands' Tanya Kollar

Love and Lasagna: Ceci's Gastronomia is the closest you can get to Italy without leaving LA

Diving into natural wine with Ian Asbury, while Michelin gives LA the finger

Kat Turner's highly unlikely road to Highly Likely, and Kristen Kish's Top Chef takeover

Forks and Fishes: The Bear special with culinary producer Courtney Storer

LAist's Gab Chabran knows food (and also how to make a mean mixtape)

What makes an L.A. Times Restaurant of the Year, and San Jose food recs with Brian Lerner

Why Karen Palmer is LA food's Kevin Bacon, and the definitive Top Chef postmortem

Top Chef World All-Stars finale recap with Daniel "Forking Around" Wargo

Top Chef Exec Producer Doneen Arquines previews the Season 20 finale, and LA wins the James Beard Awards

Stories to sink your teeth into with L.A. in a Minute's Evan Lovett

Helicopters and Hallucinogens: Diego Argoti's winding road to Poltergeist, LA's best new restaurant

James Beard accused of "wokeness," while Hollywood hot spots wade into hot water

Valerie Gordon is LA's queen of confections

The Infatuation's Brant Cox on EEEEEATSCON, and a Father Sal food crawl recap

Benson Tsai on leaving SpaceX to make robot-powered pizza

Controversy at Silver Lake's Salt & Straw, hot takes on Coachella's food set-up and more with Father Sal

4 recent meals that have blown my mind (and why I don't like magicians)

Jessie "Eats" Evans on how NOT to be a "pump and dump" influencer

What would the quintessential LA wedding menu look like?

The Perfect Rec with Michael "Fat Phuck" Cannata

To Live and Street Vend in LA with Rudy Espinoza

Top Chef Season 20 Fantasy Draft

The Dough Daddy Story with Kyle Davidson

Amiga Amore's Danielle Duran Zecca talks elote agnolotti, and Forking Around joins me to challenge ChatGPT to a duel

LA's outdoor dining debate with Casa Vega's Christy Vega, and creating food competition show GOLD

Steve Dolinsky talks Pizza City Fest LA plus The 2023 Draft of Best Birthday Spots in LA

Embezzling chicken wings and reviewing "The Menu"

ORIGIN STORY / Why should we care about the James Beard Awards?

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