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Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Langers is excellent. The bread is wonderfully crisp on the edges yet soft, while the pastrami succulent.. having visited Canters i must say that i am truly bewildered by anybody who even considers their pastrami on the same level...how is that possible? the bread is mediocre in comparison, and the pastrami is by no means distinguishable from the stuff you could get at any average diner/market. although as an institution that is 24/7 I enjoy it, the food...not so much.
I Ate L.A.
Great commentary on langers...its an absolute shame that this place isn't frequented more often and packed, even by angelenos.
Langers meat is succulent enough that more meat on the sandwich wouldn't hurt- but I find the proportion just right. And the delicious bread...
How Proposition 2 Will Affect California's Chicken Cages
i have considered the arguments pro and against prop 2 ..and have ultimately decided i'm for it...
certainly local californian eggs are ideal, but of course one must remember the fear of even more imported eggs only become reality if indeed californians aren't willing to dish out probably a couple more cents for californian eggs...and i'm optomistic californians will. Organic milk from what i've last read though more expensive, is gaining popularity due to both enviormental/animal concerns... so indeed i don't think the fear of
"drving out" really local egg producers is much of a problem.
Of course the californian industrial egg producing system isn't what people are worried about in terms of importing...its about trying to reduce our carbon foot print which is why we don't want to kill california's egg industry...and again i think the argument of people willing to pay extra even in econmoic cris holds water....less carbon foot print...better safer californian eggs..i
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Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
although i will add i only tried canters pastrami once...perhaps somehow some inconsistency? but to attest to Langers' deliciousness, not once has their pastrami been anything short of delicious.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Langers is excellent. The bread is wonderfully crisp on the edges yet soft, while the pastrami succulent.. having visited Canters i must say that i am truly bewildered by anybody who even considers their pastrami on the same level...how is that possible? the bread is mediocre in comparison, and the pastrami is by no means distinguishable from the stuff you could get at any average diner/market. although as an institution that is 24/7 I enjoy it, the food...not so much.
I Ate L.A.
Great commentary on langers...its an absolute shame that this place isn't frequented more often and packed, even by angelenos.
Langers meat is succulent enough that more meat on the sandwich wouldn't hurt- but I find the proportion just right. And the delicious bread...
How Proposition 2 Will Affect California's Chicken Cages
i have considered the arguments pro and against prop 2 ..and have ultimately decided i'm for it...
certainly local californian eggs are ideal, but of course one must remember the fear of even more imported eggs only become reality if indeed californians aren't willing to dish out probably a couple more cents for californian eggs...and i'm optomistic californians will. Organic milk from what i've last read though more expensive, is gaining popularity due to both enviormental/animal concerns... so indeed i don't think the fear of
"drving out" really local egg producers is much of a problem.
Of course the californian industrial egg producing system isn't what people are worried about in terms of importing...its about trying to reduce our carbon foot print which is why we don't want to kill california's egg industry...and again i think the argument of people willing to pay extra even in econmoic cris holds water....less carbon foot print...better safer californian eggs..i
Why Isn't Chinese Food Hip?
I also strongly disagree with you Ed that authenticity doesn't have anything to do with hipness. Look at italian food...For years...its been spaghetti and meatballs, and it was a time when italian food wasn't particualry hip as in "haute" upper class refined cuisine. (Although in large part thats b/c historically unlike in china, italy didn't have the concept of refined "royal" cuisine)
Now that italian cuisine has become part of hip style cuisine, there s a trend to disscoicate the cuisine with its americanized style. These days it seems people are so worried about whehter or not they're eating their pasta al dente b/c its how the italians do it, not because they may or may not prefer al dente pasta. And there are more examples.
People like hte idea of eating something that is not only foreign and authentic, but also really enjoyable.
Why Isn't Chinese Food Hip?
The problem is the ignorace, such as the ignorace displayed by HARLAN.
I understand the lack of interset or understanding as i'm not exactly preaching to the choir here in America.
There is a differnece b/n say bistro french food, and then haute cuisine french food. One is obviously more geared toward casual eating, the other being a dining expereince. The same goes with chinese. To suggest chinese food is limited too chopped displays the problem. Its just not true.
Its a differnt type of beauty, which is why classicaly chinese/french have been consdiered worlds greatest cuisines..
Look to Steingarten, Reichl. They understand, and they're probablywondering the same thing too about chinese food in america.
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
lets not forget though....in terms of overall burger....regardless of stytle...the best burger in CA is supposed to be FATHERS OFFICE.
I've never been....how is fathers office burger?
Why Isn't Chinese Food Hip?
And also, for anyone questioning if the grandness ( the equivelency of what would be "haute" cuisine) of chinese food ever existed...
well the question wouldn't be posed in the wsj at all if chinese cuisine wasn't or hasn't been grand.... It is a real wonder why this hasn't happened earlier, but it is going to happen soon.....
Being a nation in large part of western palate, we seek to identify ourselves with the hipness, that is the rediscovering of offal cooked in western style .. It is now "hip" to cook roasted marrow bones and serve it with toast. I don't doubt very soon instead of braised cockcombs, we're going to be clamoring for swallows nest....braised chicken feet...etc.
Why Isn't Chinese Food Hip?
Regardless of how you feel towards these two cuisines...chinese and french have always been considered classically the two greatest, most influential cuisine in teh world.
Chinese cuisine has been "hip", particularly in the asian countires so greatly influenced by it. In america, i simply attribute the lack of hte great, grand chinese restaurants that exist in other countires, simply because the fact is the chinese restaurant fad was at its peak in the eighties...
But i suspect thats all going to change.I really bleieve.. as even ruth reichel says, grand chinese cuisine is going to be making a big impact in the american dining scene
Los Angeles Area Burger Roundup
to the contrary...i find
ricks burgers thorougly dissapoiting and not worth noting- the fries actually had an acrid smell (although i'll forigve hte fries) The burger on the other hand has a less than satisfactory gummy bun like carls junior, with sesame seeds (i reallly believe sesame seeds destroy the texture top texture of buns) I don't like shredded lettuce ( i prefer to have a crunch) as the lettuce becomes soggy from the heat, and the burger was overall sloppy and too big.
Fat burger is also rather sloppy.
I do agree with in n out though...i prefer the single, (in terms of fast food burgers, the less meat the better) its compact, neat, everything is in the right proportion. And i love how the onions stay compact, and that they toast their buns on the flatop so that its crispedon the edges.
Tommy burger isn't overrated- it is what it is. But again, it doesn't warrant a "full review." If you don't like their thick goopy chili, you won't like the burger. My only complaint is that the patty is too thick, and dry hamuburger meat is never a good thing. Their pickles and i believe mustard are overdone too. "Tomato is good.
In the end, these "fastf'ood" burgers are all essentially compromised of the same ingredients. Its how those ingredients are put together that makes all the differnce. Of the above, i'd say in n out comes out top.
Rare Chicken
i for one am suprised by the ignorance of the majority of comments posted here. Jeffrey Steingarten writes about chicken sashimi in one of his articles in his books-
the fact that the chicken could be eaten raw only speaks very highly of the chef and his products, and the fact that he isn't using the industrial salmonella ridden chicken. Remember trichinosis in pigs, which is no longer such a big deal, was the result of extremely dirty and poor rearing processes especialy in diet.
as for those who are turned off by raw chicken- i'm sure it isn't an "alternative" to chicken fully cooked, as rare steak is eaten to well done, but a dish in itself. Just realize that it is possible to eat rare chicken that isn't contaminated with salmonella, and that our food preferences change over the years for the better. Ie rare steak to well done.
Alan Richman Slams Les Halles: Payback for Anthony Bourdain's Golden Clog Awards
he sounds so bitter and angry...its kind of funny
Alan Richman Slams Les Halles: Payback for Anthony Bourdain's Golden Clog Awards
Bourdain worship is certainly frowned up...worship of anybody is. But the fact remains that Richman's 'review" was more of a personal attack against Bourdain, probably because of the golden clogs. Criticism of hte food is certainly fair, but the restaurant doesn't seem to pretend to be somthing that it isn't. The snarky and vicious tone certainly suggests that Richman wasn't really talking about the food...
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
I'm feeling a pretty heavy "basin bias" in these comments. Langer's and Canter's are certainly delicious. But it's tough to beat LA's #1 deli for the last 15 years -- Brent's in Northridge. Of course, it does mean braving the 405 (and the Valley). But trust me... it's worth it.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Hmm. Arts is still #1, maybe Cantors.....Nate n Als? Juniors? No way...mass produced drek
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Langers tops NYC delis - i've tried them all
no whining from new yorkers - it's fact, sorry.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
I live in San Francisco. I have nothing to add. It's sad. A town steeped in a Jewish past, not one decent Jewish deli. A shanda!!!!!!!
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Well, I was born in L.A. so I have been to Canter's. My husband and I would go there all the time for everything. I have lived in Phoenix and they had a really good Jewish deli, but I can't remember its' name. I live in Raleigh, NC and they don't have anything that comes close. No kishkas,
no motza ball soup, no good brisket. Being a college town, one would think by now they would have come up with a decent deli here, but so for not so. Oh, and my mother was from Brooklyn so she was a deli maven herself!
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
I live in NY, and Langers is as good as anything in NY and certainly cheaper. So many of NY delis the are culinary equivilent of "I heart NY" t-shirts anyway, which is to say overpriced and uncomfortably stuffed with tourists. Langers on the otherhand doesn't suffer from too much walk in foot traffic...
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Sorry, but what the heck is a 'Jewish deli'?
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
What are you all, Galitzianers? The taste test for delis has always been corned beef sandwiches, but suddenly pastrami has come to the fore. When Woody Allen sent up Gentile tastes in Annie Hall, it was a corned beef sandwich he used for the gag (white bread and mayonnaise). MMinNYC is absolutely right, that the NY deli is disappearing, but a good NY deli is still head and shoulders better than an LA deli. There are exceptions, like the pastrami at Langer's, but the rest is pretty mediocre. In NY, it was always the bread and the water--and hand cutting. My last sandwich at Junior's in Westwood was inedible, so now I go up the street to the Persian restaurants. I've lived in both places for years and years, and my vote's for the Apple.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
As a lifelong New Yorker, I hate to admit that I agree. Good, old style kosher delis are rapidly becoming an endangered species here. Ben's on Queens Boulevard is OK, but I still schlep from Queens to the Carnegie when I have a Jones for corned beef - a sad testament to the status of old style deli in the city. Growing up in the Bronx, there was a deli within walking distance just about anywhere near the Concourse. For anyone that might remember, Stenzler's on 198th Street was my family's favorite.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
Well, I havent tried them all, but having grown up in NY, I'd say that Canters was probably the last deli I'd return to..Art's definitely nothing to write home about(or blog), Nate and Al's is better..Brents, though, definitely can compete with the best...Pastrami is delicious! I have to get downtown one day soon and check out Langers.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
I've only been to Canter's but I was impressed. Their matzoh balls were excellent, a bagel with lox and cream cheese ethereal, and a black-and-white cookie rivaled Zabar's.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
I'm not sure I'd pick LA over NYC but LA does have some good delis. I'm partial to Canter's myself. A lot of the other delis are overrated in my opinion - Factor's and Junior's in particular.
Is Los Angeles the Best Jewish Deli Town?
But do any LA deli's hand carve their pastrami? No matter how good the meat is, the slicing method can play just as much of a role in sandwich quality.
I Ate L.A.
I just emailed this to Stan Berman of Stan's Donuts. He will get a big kick
of it.
I Ate L.A.
Love this post! Glad that you covered a diverse range of eateries that makes up multicultural LA. Makes a great itinerary for LA eats :)
I Ate L.A.
wow well done!! you did a great job of spanning a pretty large range of locations and types of food. agree on the dodger dogs -- i just don't get the hype, and i'm perfectly happy eating a street vendor hot dog instead. at least they have grilled onions instead of raw!
I Ate L.A.
Really enjoyed reading this - sounds like a fantastic trek through a lot of really good food. Thanks
I Ate L.A.
well done, next time check out brooklyn bagel factory on beverly blvd and just a few blocks down have a chiliburger at tommy's. i suggest having the chili on the side and dipping.
I Ate L.A.
As a native socal resident, loved your reviews. We do have serious great eats here, despite some easterners comments to the contrary. My thought about the Dodger Dogs: it is part of the Dodger game experience - I personally would not eat one anywhere but at Dodger Stadium, but NEED one when I'm at a Dodger game. Go figure.
I Ate L.A.
WE LIVED IN L.A. (WOODLAND HILLS) FROM 1975 TIL 1986, HAD SEASON TICKETS FOR DODGERS. WE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE DODGER DOGS WITH A BEER AT EVERY GAME. IT WAS A PART OF IT! NOW WE LIVE IN LITTLE ROCK , HAVE A AAA TEAM AND IT'S NOT THE SAME. NOT EVEN CLOSE! I MUST BE GETTING OLD!
I Ate L.A.
as an LA resident i think this is one of the best LA "casual dining" primers i've ever read. i may not have agreed with all of your takes, but you pretty much covered all the bases for anyone that is coming to LA and wants to know what places to try in order to get a decent cross-section of the cities "eats scene". well done.
I Ate L.A.
There's a wonderful little diner in Van Nuys called Beeps - great burgers, hot dogs, french fries, milkshakes, and terrific breakfasts. It's tiny and not near anything other than the Van Nuys Airport, but it's a great place for a quick meal.
I Ate L.A.
Wow, you really dug into the junk! Great job!!!
I love the Apple Pan, and I had the exact same donuts at Stan's a couple of weeks ago!
Also, Cielito Lindo is my favorite stand at Olivera Street, although I haven't been in YEARS. I love those taquitos, and the squeeze bottles of salsa on the tables. I used to stop there whenever I took the Amtrak "Coaster" train from the gorgeous Union Station across the street down to San Diego (the Coaster is probably the most picturesque way to travel the California coastline - fyi).
Here are some recommendations (along the same lines) for your next trip:
Hotdogs - Let's Be Frank
Donuts - Randy's
Tacos - Tito's Tacos
Pastrami - Johnnie's Pastrami
Empanada's - Tiendo Rincon Chileno
Cuban - Versailles
Enjoy!
~ Paula
I Ate L.A.
Great report. I only lived in LA for a year and missed a lot of the "supposed to visit" places though I did get to Pink's and Stan's. Is Langer's really better than Canter's? I thought Canter's was some of the best deli food I'd eaten. Would be good to know for my occasional, return trips.
I Ate L.A.
Fabulous review! This should be mandatory reading for any food lover who visits LA. It's wonderful to see someone who really did their homework before coming to town as opposed to going to the same, tired places. You ate like a native, and as an LA denizen, I pretty much agree with your assessments.
A few notes...the Luck Devil's shake is toasted pecan, not almond, and it is awesome.
The Hollywood Farmers Market is pretty similar to the Santa Monica except Hollywood has more prepared food and a bit more local color; many of the vendors are actually the same; both are great and we do appreciate them.
Dodger Dogs suck. If you're a hot dog lover, next time you're in town, try Skooby's in Hollywood or Carney's, with locations in West Hollywood and Studio City.
Next trip, you've got to hit some Thai food and some of our Korean BBQ.
Thanks for writing.
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although i will add i only tried canters pastrami once...perhaps somehow some inconsistency? but to attest to Langers' deliciousness, not once has their pastrami been anything short of delicious.