Every time I visit my hometown, Los Angeles, I make a mental list of restaurants and bars to check out. But let’s be real—once I’m there, plans tend to fly out the window. One thing’s for sure though: I always get my In-N-Out fix. My parents’ place is a short drive from one, and while it’s walkable, who really walks in LA? A two-minute drive in my PJs to the drive-thru is much more my style.
During this trip, my friend Matt from New York was also in town visiting his brother, Chris, in Los Feliz. Since I’m familiar with the area (shoutout to the Gastrobus at the Los Feliz Farmers Market), I was excited to explore some local eats.
Umami Burger: Brunch Goals
We started the day starving and headed straight to Umami Burger for brunch. This spot has been hyped for ages, and my friend Sophie is a die-hard fan, so I was curious. Matt suggested the signature Umami Burger for my first visit. I ordered that, along with Kombu #1, fries, and a beer.
When the food arrived, I was a bit let down by the burger’s size—it felt more like a slider than a meal. But the flavor made up for it. The baked parmesan crisp inside the burger was a great touch, and the bun was that perfect Japanese-style soft and squishy bread I love. The fries came with house-made ketchup and were good, but the standout for me was the tater tots with spicy dipping sauce. I’m a sucker for tater tots!
Fish Tacos at Best Fish Taco in Ensenada
After a dive into tiki drinks at Tiki-Ti, we passed Best Fish Taco in Ensenada. Despite being full, I couldn’t resist. For $1.50, I got a freshly fried fish taco with customizable toppings from their DIY salsa bar. I added salsa and pickled veggies and took a bite. Bliss. While I can’t confirm if it’s the *best* fish taco, it was fresh, flavorful, and worth every penny.
Mandoline Grill: Banh Mi Heaven
Later, we visited Mandoline Grill, a food truck run by my friend Mong Skillman. She’s amazing, and so is her food. Chris ordered the grilled tofu banh mi, Matt got the Hawaiian BBQ chicken, and I, of course, went for the pork banh mi. Each bite was a perfect balance of tangy pickled carrots, flavorful meat, and soft yet crusty bread. Chris and Matt couldn’t stop raving, and I wholeheartedly agreed—this was one of the best banh mis I’ve ever had.
We wrapped up the day with Lord of the Rings on TV and banh mis in hand—a perfect ending to a day of culinary adventures.
Our Verdict
Addresses
– Umami Burger: 4655 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA (multiple locations)
– Best Fish Taco in Ensenada: 1650 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA
– Mandoline Grill: Find them on Twitter.
