LA’s Best Brazilian Spot Serves Lunch Plates Instead of Grilled Meats | Eater LA

"Since expanding into a much larger space in Redondo Beach, I've found Panela’s has become one of the South Bay’s most popular Brazilian restaurants — not because of churrasco but because of its commitment to traditional lunch plates and daily specials that stay true to Brazilian flavors. Leticia Barth opened Panela’s in a tiny spot in 2013 and in late 2017 partnered with Marcia Delima to take over the adjacent larger space; business has been booming, with most customers Brazilian and a large contingent of local, many of them Korean-American. The menu highlights everyday comfort fare and regional dishes: Monday’s virado à paulista (tutu de feijão, rice, a fried banana, couve, a fried egg, farofa and a lightly breaded fried pork chop), salgadinhos and petiscos like bolinhos de bacalhau, porções such as mandioca frita, traditional sandwiches like bauru and prato feito, and one of the most requested plates, carne de panelas — a tangy pot roast served with beans, rice and yucca fries that Barth says reminds her of Porto Alegre. Specials also draw on Brazilian classics Barth cooked while operating a branch of Sancile in Porto Alegre — frango à parmegiana, bobó de camarão and moqueca de peixe — and the iconic feijoada is served on Wednesdays and Saturdays (and they add Sunday feijoada as well). Small touches like native fruit juices (cashew, graviola and cupuaçu) and Barth’s maionese (potato salad), which moved Delima to tears for its homelike taste, complete the experience and explain why regulars are so devoted." - Bill Esparza