A-Frame Review - Culver City - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. No longer just a saying under that terrifying motivational poster of a dehydrated marathon runner hanging in your dentist’s office, A-Frame has taken this motto fully to heart. It’s no secret that the Culver City spot has had some ups and downs from the start. When it opened, the much-hyped Roy Choi restaurant seemed pretty confused, not really knowing what it was or how it was supposed to act. Fine-dining with some casual influences? Picnic food that was also pretty fancy? Just a sh*tty restaurant? We couldn’t quite put our finger on it either. Well, take a deep breath and throw open the curtains because we are happy to report A-Frame seems to have finally found itself. Eliminating pretty much every vague element of the operation, A-Frame decided to become the full-on Hawaiian luau it was always meant to be. The impressive interior has been redone to reflect a more casual, tiki bar vibe, and the once meandering menu is now comprised entirely of Hawaiian/Polynesian staples that actually fit the intention of the place. Hello, loco moco, we will eat you always. And on top of an aesthetic and flavor upgrade, the revamp most importantly clarified what the hell you could actually come to A-Frame for. And the answer is pretty much anything. A big group birthday, dinner with your parents, a first date, happy hour with co-workers, or brunch on the patio with the girls. It doesn’t much matter, A-Frame is now ready for you. It’s not always easy to admit something you created isn’t working. But the A-Frame team took a step back and realized it needed a change. Thank you dentist’s office poster, it actually IS how you finish and not how you start. Now somebody get that runner some water. Food Rundown Loco Moco We’re not even a little bit scared to say this is probably the best loco moco in town. It’s pretty hard to screw up hamburger, rice, and fried eggs, but it’s that curry gravy that makes this Hawaiian staple stand out at A-Frame. Cracklin Beer Can Chicken They are not kidding about that cracklin, this might be the loudest bite of chicken you’ve had in awhile. Plus with kimchi and two types of Polynesian salsas for dipping, this is a must-order for the table. O.G. Ribs Praise Jesus, these taste exactly as good as they look. It’s the Hoisin chile sauce that takes this whole thing to the next level. Also, get there early for happy hour (they call it "luau hour") and snag these little meat dreams for 50% off. Pork Belly Lechon Ssam Now with a similar (and fantastic) version over at POT as well, think of this as your personal pork belly taco building station. Except no tortilla here. Bibb lettuce and all the island chimichurri sauce your heart can handle. Poke (Of The Day) A-Frame wasn’t going to miss out on the hottest current food trend in LA. So they smartly added a rotating poke option and made this traditional Hawaiian appetizer a must-get to pass around the table. Kalua Pork Ramen A-Frame’s take on ramen is certainly good, but it doesn’t quite hold up to the immensely high standard we now have for the dish. Chu Don’t Know Mang Certainly the best named dish on the menu, make sure you leave room for this pound cake treat from heaven. The pound cake itself is goddamn delicious, but the real secret lies in that cup of malted chocolate milk on the side. Can we get a gallon to go please? Malasada Bites If you left room for the Chu Don’t Know Mang, you might as well leave a little bit more for the Malasada Bites. Because this is fried dough with lemon custard filling, and that should answer all your questions." - Brant Cox