Aftertaste LA

The restaurant has positioned itself as THE neighborhood ⁠bar & grill; a place that does the simple things right. Easy on paper, but a tough feat to actually pull off. ⁠A classic bar & grill MUST nail specific essentials to be great. A burger, a steak, fries, a martini, comfortable seats, and a staff that knows how to make you feel like you're in your living room. It seems they have done their homework.⁠⁠For 122 years, Hermon - a small, largely overlooked neighborhood of northeast LA-went without a single restaurant. But in this tiny hamlet, Last Word Hospitality saw something worth betting on. It took some persuading of the little enclave to get the green light, but naming it after the neighborhood sealed the deal. Chef DK Kolender and Last Word have made Hermon's one of the toughest tables in town to get. Why? The food and beverage program shines, with signatures like the Vongole Two Sheet Lasagna, Ode to Chez Cheeseburger, and Potato Fritters, which have the most appropriate amount of shaved parm we've seen on an appetizer anywhere (i.e. a LOT). ⁠⁠The restaurant itself lives in a converted church banquet hall with a large U-shaped bar at center stage and a semi-open kitchen behind it. The place feels cozy with lots of warm tones, natural wood, and classy decor. Last Word really knows how to dress up a place. ⁠⁠Oh, and did we mention $10 martinis and yuzu margs before 6?⁠ Our Meal At Hermons | Hermon | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2025 https://www.hermonsla.com/ @hermonsla 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

When the pandemic caused the original Broken Spanish to close, Los Angeles lost an absolutely outstanding restaurant. https://brokenspanishcomedor.comBroken Spanish Comedor continues the ‘authentically inauthentic’ philosophy of Chef Ray with a more approachable price point and clear nod to Mexico’s comedores: small, typically mom-and-pop restaurants and stalls serving home style cuisine. Chef Ray Garcia, a born and raised Angeleno, has triumphantly resurrected an evolved version of the original in the former A-Frame space in Culver City. The bar program is heavily tequila and mezcal based, with some premium Mexican wines available by the glass. With a brand new patio space and daily happy hour, Broken Spanish Comedor is a cozy, welcome return of an LA favorite. Broken Spanish Comedor | Culver City | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2025 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #BrokenSpanish #BrokenSpanishComedor #ChefRayGarcia #CulverCity #CulverCityRestaurants #MexicanFood #ModernMexican #LAFoodie #LAFoodScene #LADining #LosAngelesRestaurants #RestaurantReview #AftertasteLA #LARestaurants #MexicanRestaurant #CulverCityFood #LAEats #SoCalFood

“Sool jib” translates literally to “drinking establishment,” and that is exactly what Jilli is. The vibe here is drinks come first, but incredible food is a close second. ⁠ ⁠ The team behind Chimmelier — the Korean fried chicken spot that blew up in Ktown — took over the former Kinn space and turned it into one of the most fun places to eat and drink in the neighborhood. The dining area at Jilli is a small, purple-twilit room, with 2000s hiphop pounding on the speakers, the perfect environment for everyone at the bar to have a great night. ⁠ ⁠ The food is mostly small plates designed to share while you drink. The Rigatoni alla Kimchi Vodka is the dish everyone talks about (kimchi and guanciale in a vodka sauce over rigatoni), and believe us, it’s hyped for a reason. On the drinks side, they're pouring natural wines alongside soju cocktails and locally brewed makgeolli —Korean rice wine — including labels you won't find anywhere else in Ktown.⁠Our Meal At Jilli | Koreatown | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2024 @jilli.la 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Avner Levi, a Bestia alum, started Cento as a pasta pop-up inside a downtown LA bar. Now he's got a permanent home in West Adams — and two very different restaurants to show for it.⁠⁠Cento Pasta Bar is the concept that put him on the map: a modern and sleek room built around handmade pasta and a chef's counter where you can watch every bowl come together. The food is Italian at its core, but Levi isn't precious about it — global influences creep in at the edges in ways that feel natural rather than forced. Remind us to always put chili crisp on carbonara going forward.⁠⁠\Cento Raw Bar, which opened in 2025, is right next door and is one of the most visually arresting dining rooms in the city, and it knows it. It masterfully transports diners into a fantasy seacave grotto, with bleached coral walls and whimsical pops of color. The raw bar deals in oysters, uni, seafood towers, and crudos with a few large format items like whole branzino and squid ink pasta rounding out the menu. ⁠ West Adams | Los Angeles | California Opened 2019 (pasta bar) Opened 2025 (raw bar) https://www.cento.group/ @centorawbar@centopastabar 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Lucia on Fairfax is owner Sam Jordan's vision of a restaurant that feels like an event the moment you walk in. ⁠⁠The European influence drives the room: a late-night party atmosphere complete with a live DJ, but never crosses into tacky clubstaurant territory. (They do have a dress code — no hats, no sleeveless shirts — though enforcement is...flexible.)⁠⁠The food and drinks take you on a trip through the Caribbean, dressed up in European fine dining techniques and plating, with a touch of Los Angeles woven in. The menu evolves constantly with the seasons, but some dishes seem to have stayed the course, like the delectable wagyu beef patties.⁠⁠ https://www.luciala.com/ @lucialosangeles Our Meal At Lucia | Fairfax | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Electric Bleu is a brand new French Bistro in Mar Vista by husband-wife duo chef Craig Hopson and creative director Mai Sakai.⁠ ⁠ Chef Craig's resume is truly impressive with stints at Troisgros, Guy Savoy, Le Cirque, and Picholine — absolute titans of the French dining world. Don't let that scare you away from trying the food here because the prices are some of the most reasonable we have seen in town for the level of food coming out of that kitchen.⁠ Electric Bleu boasts elite-level cooking and a fantastic wine list in a relaxed environment that is a perfect and welcome addition to a neighborhood that frankly does not have the strongest dining scene in LA.⁠ Mar Vista | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025 https://electricbleu.com/ @electricbleula 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Daisy Margarita Bar | Sherman Oaks | Los Angeles| California | Opened April 2025 https://www.daisyla.com/ @daisy.losangeles Daisy is a Northern Mexico–inspired cantina from the team behind Mirate in Los Feliz.⁠⁠Come to Daisy if you covet flawlessly executed, high-craft cocktails and margaritas. The beverage program is unapologetically focused on showcasing Mexican-made spirits and ingredients, with all the liquor on the menu imported from our neighbors to the south.⁠⁠The food program is equally well-crafted, with an emphasis on snackable small plates, ceviches, tacos, and a few larger format grilled options. They also offer brunch on weekends, as well as a late night menu of small snacks and bites.⁠⁠ 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon→https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de3c4c40a2b549f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Bar Benjamin | Bar Review | Melrose | Los Angeles | California | Opened May 2025Bar Benjamin sits above The Benjamin on Melrose, delivering a modern day Hollywood cocktail den built for date nights and lingering rounds. The space feels classic, with wood tones, Art Deco style, and mohair banquettes. It’s intimate, it’s elegant, and that’s before you even get to the drinks.The drinks are where Bar Benjamin flexes: technique-forward originals and clever riffs that pull from culinary flavors as much as cocktail tradition.The food program is mostly bar snacks that read like serious bar food, not an afterthought. There are also few larger ticket items that you can use to upgrade your experience, but it isn’t necessary, as the drinks are the real stars of this show.🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Firstborn | Restaurant Review | Chinatown | Los Angeles | California | Opened March 2025 https://[email protected]⁠Chef/Owner Anthony Wang took over the former Pok Pok space and transformed it into his vision of a modern Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. The menu is a journey through Chef Anthony’s biography—both personal and professional.⁠The food is whimsical in execution and traditional in flavor. Classic dishes like Mapo Tofu, Chongqing Chicken, and Beef with Broccoli are reinvented while always maintaining their foundation.⁠The bar is helmed by Kenzo Han and has garnered plenty of praise for creative spins on classic cocktails, combined with Chinese tea culture.⁠🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535 Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/ 📱 Connect with us here: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela 🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds): 1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it 2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood 3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek 4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss #AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Cobi's | Restaurant Review | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2021https://www.cobis.la/@cobis.laCobi’s began as a pandemic pop up called Cobi’s Curries started by Chef Cobi Marsh. Its popularity was enough to open a brick and mortar in the former Dhaba space on Main Street in Santa Monica.The food is heavily inspired by Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian, and Indian cuisines with big bold flavors, spicy sambals, and a large array of regional curries.The beverage program is mostly wine, with shochu cocktails and some tasty mocktails to tame the heat of some dishes.Cobi's has received high praise, including a third consecutive Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide.🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Alba | West Hollywood | Los Angeles | California | Opened February 2025https://www.cucinaalba.com/@cucinaalba (NY AND LA shared)When Cucina Alba opened in New York in 2022, it became an instant classic. Earlier this year, its sister restaurant, simply called Alba, opened in West Hollywood and has garnered positive reviews, quickly becoming one of the premier classic Italian destinations in Los Angeles.The space is large, with an outdoor patio that feels grand, lively, and a bit like a Las Vegas version of a European vacation. There are also several private dining rooms and party rooms available.Alba has a party-like atmosphere, aided by its impressive wine and spirits list, which runs more than 30 pages. The luxe beige marble bar greets you as you enter the patio, with stiff variations on martinis, Negronis, spritzes, and a few house specials on offer.The food is very traditional Italian-American cuisine, focusing on fresh-made pastas, local vegetables, and main-course staples such as grilled branzino, large-format steaks, and roasted chicken diavola.🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Baby Bistro | Victor Heights | Los Angeles | California | Opened April 2024https://babybistrola.com/@babybistro.laWhat happens when you take a Victorian-style house with alush courtyard and convert it into a small dining room? BabyBistro. It's supposed to feel like a dinner party at a friend’s housecomplete with tons of natural wine and a concise menu ofeccentric combinations.The menu is only 6-7 items and is evolving constantly with thechanging availability of local produce. It is offered à la carte butdesigned to be ordered and experienced as a makeshift prix fixe.Chef Miles Tompson started Baby Bistro as a pop up in 2023 and finally found aunique space to showcase his culinary talent and creativity. Thedishes are eclectic but familiar, never shy on flavor, and alwaysperfect for sharing.Andy Schwartz, a partner in the restaurant, curates all the naturalwine offered, mostly from France, and usually under the radar bottlesthat are low-intervention.🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Budonoki | Restaurant Review | Virgil Village | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2023https://www.budonoki.la/@budonokilaBudonoki is a modern Japanese Izakaya that serves mostly snacks as well as traditional pressed Japanese sushi and a few entrees, pairing perfectly with the sake-forward drinks menu. If you want to be transported to a cool-clubby underground bar in Tokyo then this is definitely the place for you.This is a perfect restaurant for Los Angeles and a great neighborhood addition to Virgil Village. The energy is party-like and relaxed. The food and drinks are flavorful and punchy, making for a perfect refuge from the world outside this dimly lit, and cyberpunk-esque bar. 🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

Our Meal At Dunsmoor | Eagle Rock | Los Angeles | California | Opened June [email protected] is the namesake restaurant of chef-owner Brian Dunsmoor and is his years-in-the-making vision of heritage cooking. The restaurant is housed in a 1929 Spanish revival-type building that has been converted into a rustic restaurant, which is centered around a large hearth that provides all the coals used to prepare their hearty menu. You will find no blenders, food processors, mixers, or gas stoves here. All of their cooking and preperations are done using knives, hand tools, and wood-fired coals. The philsophy Chef Brian has been developing for years forces him to think more deeply about how something will be made, thus giving more opportunities to make decisions along the way.Aside from the main dining room, they also have an outdoor space as well as a wine bar. The wine bar is first come, first served, with a limited menu of raw and larder provisions--all made in-house of course. The wine program at Dunsmoor is also quite dialed in with a fantastic array of small production reds, whites, and beer on hand. Dunsmoor is an ambitious restaurant and has climbed from #55 on the 101 list to #10 in 2 short years. All signs point to years of success as long as Chef Brian is at the helm.https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2023-05-11/dunsmoor-restaurant-recipe-pork-and-green-chile-stew-los-angeles🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Alto | Studio City | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025www.Alto.la@altolosangelesAlto in Studio City a "fire to table" restaurant showcasing the cuisine of Rio de la Plata, which borders Argentina and Uruguay. Chefs Esteban and Juana have brought their culinary roots and fine dining experience from Michelin restaurants to their first restaurant together.The menu highlights asado culture, with grilled meats being front and center. The beverage program showcases classic Rio de la Plata drinks with a modern flare. The combination of deeply rooted tradition and modern techniques creates a truly unique restaurant, hailed as LA's first open-fire restaurant inspired by Argentina and Uruguay.@blackforager Alexis Nikole, Find her on Instagram🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Manuela | DTLA | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2016https://manuela-la.com/https://www.instagram.com/manueladtla/Manuela is located inside the Hauser and Wirth gallery complex in the Arts District of downtown LA and is surrounded by contemporary art, restored industrial architecture, and lush green courtyards.The food is bolstered by an in-house garden nestled inside the Hauser and Wirth courtyard which provides fresh herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables for both the kitchen and the beverage program. They have their own chickens that guests are welcome to visit as well as a compost program in partnership with “The Hungry Gardens,” who oversee the management and operation of the garden and live chicken programs.The menu is seasonal and ingredient-driven, with a distinctly Southern California feel—approachable yet full of flavor. Dishes come and go with the seasons and the menu is always evolving with only a few mainstays like the biscuits and the chicken.The open kitchen complete with a wood-fired grill at center stage allows diners to sit at the bar and watch the action.🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

Our Meal At Kurrypinch | Thai Town | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2025https://www.kurrypinch.com/https://www.instagram.com/kurrypinch/Wine featured during the episode:https://www.villagepopwine.com/Originally opened in Van Nuys as a mostly takeout operation, Kurrypinch, and its Chef/Owner Shaheen Ghazaly have just reopened with a more modern dining room in East HollywoodKurrypinch's cuisine leans traditional Sri-Lankan with some fun and creative twists. The food is flavorful, spicy, and deeply reliant on heavy spice blends, coconut, and of course, rice. There are influences in the cuisine from southern India, Malaysia, and southest Asia, as well as colonial Dutch, Portugese, and English.🎧 Listen to the Podcast:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-laRSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/📱 Connect with us here:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastelaThreads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastelaTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela🍴 About Aftertaste LA:Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything elseNicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special. ⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Butchr Bar | Echo Park | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2024https://www.butchr.bar/https://www.instagram.com/butchr.barButchr Bar is a combination wine bar + retail butcher shop showcasing beef and lamb from Australia alongside natural wines, charcuterie (all made in-house), and small bites. Their aim is to offer a more relaxed alternative to a traditional steakhouse without sacrificing quality.The space is cozy and stylish with some kitschy decor with a large concrete bar, some small tables, and an outdoor space with a few patio seats. The steaks are all dry-aged in house and on full display, being grilled on Japanese charcoal for guests to see.The retail butcher program has weekly specials, steaks and charcuterie for purchase, as well as, homemade sausages and their own custom burger blend.

Chef Johnny Lee, previously with Pearl River Deli, is behind the stove bringing his extensive experience eating and traveling through most of the Malay archipelago along with him, with a little bit of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cantonese techniques thrown in the mix.This is the type of restaurant that you wish would open next to you. Its cuisine is filled with unique and powerful flavors without being too intimidating. Perfect for sharing whether you are on a date or with a big group. The exceptional restaurant design and service is a testiment to the efficiency of restaurant group Last Word Hospitality who's other notable restaurants include the likes of Found Oyster and Queen St Raw Bar.Opened: November 2024 Filipinotown (rampart village technically)Type: Cantonese-MalaysianExecutive Chef: Johnny Lee “the prince of poultry”Awards and Recognition: Michelin Bib GourmandSpecialties/Signature Dish: Ayam Berempah Wings, Beef Cheek Rendang, Ulam Bendi (okra)Ambiance: Penang Inspired Decor with checkered floors and wooden banquettes

Our Meal At Pasjoli | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept 2019https://www.pasjoli.comhttps://www.instagram.com/pasjoli.smOpened Sept 2019 in Santa Monica, Open Daily 5pm-10pmType: Focusing on Classic French Cuisine with Californian Flare and IngredientsExecutive Chef: Dave BeranAwards and Recognition: Michelin Star 2021, Michelin Plate 2022, James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding RestaurantSpecialties/Signature Dish: Duck A la Presse Tableside $350Ambiance: Business Casual, Well suited for dates, celebrations, and special occasionsRecently, Pasjoli has undergone a revamp to a fun, neighborhood french bistro with emphasis on elevated-Californian produce. This likely change was due to the opening of Seline and the macro-economic climate plaguing greater Los Angeles.Pasjoli has remained at the top of the LA dining scene and is considered one the best restaurants in the city. Early reports indicate that it has not missed a beat with its changeover to a more casual menu and dining room.Another fun note: It has also been used as a training ground for the cast of the Bear with Chef Dave Beran himself providing his expertise to the likes of Carmey and Co

Lasita started off as Lasa in 2017 by brothers Chad and Chase Valencia and was a fine dining, tasting menu restaurant before covid. They re-launched as Lasita in 2021 focusing on a more casual approach to their modern filipino fare.Lasita has done a great job of bridging the gap between fine fining and casual with its modern take on filipino cuisine, centered around a rotisserie, and natural-wine bar program that is hailed by many as delicious, unpretentious, and authentic to its Filipino roots.

Ronan | Fairfax | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept. 2018https://www.ronanla.com/https://www.instagram.com/ronan_laRonan is helmed by couple duo Daniel and Caitlin who both worked at now-closed Sotto as well as Alimento before opening Ronan.The pizza is Neopolitan-style with leopard crusts and sourdough tang that's become a mainstay in the ever-evolving pizza scene in Los Angeles. One thing that sets Ronan apart is its focus on local produce and chef-driven small plates in case you want something other than pizza. There is something for everybody at Ronan.

RVR | Abbot Kinney | Venice Beach | California | Opened Oct. 2024https://www.instagram.com/rvr.venice/https://www.rvr.la/RVR has become one of the hardest reservations to get in Los Angeles, with Travis Lett making his triumphant return to Los Angeles.RVR's cuisine is a continuation of Letts’ love letter to California produce and Izakaya-style dining, a concept he explored at his former restaurant, MTN. The menu showcases seasonal, locally sourced vegetables often prepared simply but vibrantly.