TRIFECTA OF FLAVORS IN DOWNTOWN LA!

The Palate Punks have been very busy.  Our weekly food adventures have branched out of the OC and we have been sampling delicious food in LA.  My review today will cover THREE unique and very tasty eateries in Chinatown, Commerce, and Downtown proper.

POK POK!   

Glass Noodles and Prawns

Whole Sea Bass

Fish Sauce Wings

Andy Ricker's, Pok Pok originated in Portland, Oregon.  This LA eatery brings Thailand to your table.  With an extensive menu, we decided to let our darling waiter Ian create a lunch for us where we could really sample some of the restaurants great dishes.  I think my favorite dishes would be these three. The wings were insane.  Being a wing snob, we started with them.  All I can say is WOW! They were just sweet enough to punch up the deep caramelization, a little spicy glazed, enough fish sauce to remind you that you are not at Fridays eating fried bar wings.

The whole Bass was floating in a Thai version of tomatillo green sauce that you had to slurp up with some sticky sweat rice.

The glass noodles were cooked in a clay pot with fresh prawns, bacon, and thai basil.  The flavors exploded in our mouths.

They have quite a few locations in Portland, New York, and luckily in LA.  Ian watch out, we are coming for round two.  It is just 45 minutes from the OC and well worth the trip.  Enjoy exploring and shopping in Chinatown.   After a most delicious Iced coffee, we headed to Central Market for a little adventure.

POK POK, LA . 978 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012 . 213 613 1831

• 12PM- 10:30PM Mon-Thurs
• 12PM-Midnight Fri-Sat
• 12PM-9:30PM Sundays
• 213 613 1831
• [email protected]

BESTIA!  

At Bestia, Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, LA locals work alongside each other to create a true husband and wife restaurant. Bestia is a multi-regional rustic Italian restaurant focusing on a “from scratch” approach, offering house-made charcuterie, in addition to handmade pastas and pizzas.

 On the pastry side, Gergis’s desserts are clean and simple. She creates a daily changing menu that is centered on the freshest, most local ingredients possible.

Ori has worked in some very important kitchens since  2001. Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza,  and under legendary chef Gino Angelini at Angelini Osteria.

Bestia . 2121 E. 7th Place 
Los Angeles CA, 90021

T: 213.514.5724

OPENING HOURS                  
Sunday – Thursday 5pm – 11pm
Friday – Saturday 5pm – 12am

Reservations are a MUST!!  Be patient, it is worth the wait in GOLD.  

GREAT FOOD, LIVELY ATMOSPHERE, FULL BAR!!!

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Favorite Things I ordered:

Little Gem Salad
Mussels
Pasta, for sure!

AQUI ES TEXCOCO!

           Crunchy Grilled Cheese                               Barbecue Lamb Tacos                                     Grilled Quail

After a really fun adventure to Abel Auction house in Commerce, we built up a huge appetite and decided to try a really special and very delicious spot that one of our Punks read about from Jonathan Gold.

Aqui es Texcoco brings pure authentic Mexican-style lamb barbecue to the US, while respecting and maintaining the authentic flavors, recipes and traditions. The lamb is prepared as it has been for hundreds of years.  The salsas blew our socks off.  The meats were so tender.  Everything we ate was better than the next. Next time I will be down for a Mitchelada for sure. 

Texcoco

5850 Eastern Blvd . Commerce . 90040 . 323 . 725-1429

13043 Broadway . Chula Vista . CA . 91911 .  619 . 427-4045

Open Mon - Friday 8am - 9pm