5 Los Angeles Versions of Regional Favorites

If you ask somebody from Kansas City what to eat, they’re probably going to recommend a local BBQ joint. A Chicagoan might give you directions to Gino’s East for deep dish pizza. New Yorkers will probably help you find their favorite pizza joint too, or maybe they’ll wax poetic about a neighborhood deli. But if you ask an Angelino what his town is known for, you are as likely to get a blank stare than the name of a restaurant. So for the sake of settling the argument once and for all, Los Angeles is best know for hamburgers, and we have 20-30 of the best in the world. There I said it. It’s over. Now let’s move on.

There is no doubt that Los Angeles’s foodie scene is an eclectic one, but that’s what makes this city such a foodie’s paradise. Yeah, we have awesome burgers, but we also have our own great versions of regional specialties from all sorts of far-flung locations. Here are my top five favorites in no particular order…

5) New York thin crust pizza: Mulberry Street Pizza in Beverly Hills.

It’s thin, it’s crispy, and it’s just floppy enough to fold. Given its location, you might suspect a snooty experience, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, it’s quite similar to what you might find on a street corner in Manhattan (though probably a little bigger).

4) Angetine empanadas: Empanada’s Place in West LA.

Empanadas get their name from the Spanish verb Empanar (to coat in bread). Look it up on Wikipedia. I did. My favorite part about Empanada’s Place is not the full-size empanadas, which are awesome, but rather the “party size” smaller ones that they’ll box-up for you like a dozen doughnuts to-go.

3) New York pastrami sandwich: Langer’s Deli in downtown Los Angeles.

Get the #19. Oh, and everything else is good too. The pastrami is remarkable – the best I’ve ever had anywhere. That includes Carnegie Deli and Katz’s in New York. Sorry east coast, we’ve got you beat. Don’t believe me? I have backup from Jewish Journal, and deli cred doesn’t get much better than that. One you get over the initial taste bud rush from the pastrami, you’ll notice that the double-baked rye bread might also be the best you’re ever had too.

2) Kansas City style barbecue: Phillip’s Bar-B-Que on Leimert Blvd. near Crenshaw and Vernon.

Kansas City style barbecue is eclectic just like the food of Los Angeles. It smokes pork, chicken, and beef with no prejudice, and its sauces are tomato-based and slightly sweet. The flagship Kansas City barbecue joint is the world-famous Arthur Bryant’s. If you visit the previous link, be sure to watch the video clip entitled “Don’t Forget My Fries.” It’s only a few seconds long, but it really captures the Bryant’s experience. Phillip’s doesn’t claim to be Kansas City style, but it is. It has alegiance to no specific barbecue style and worries only about making good food. The first runner-up to Phillip’s is The Kansas City BBQ Company in North Hollywood. And, what the heck, you might as well try J N J Burger & BBQ while you’re at it.

1) Best Philly Cheesesteak: Great Western Steak & Hoagie Company on Lincon Blvd. in Santa Monica

This spot belongs to Markie D’s, but sadly they closed up shop last year. Great Western is hilarious because when you drive by, you think to yourself, “Well, surely that place is out of business.” It looks like a broken shack, but look closely enough and you’ll see an “OPEN” sign in the window. The bread is the tiniest bit crunchy, and the steak is tender. The only problem I have with their sandwiches is that they take forever to cool down enough to eat.