BROKEN MOUTH | Lee's Homestyle

"Broken Mouth is located in the middle of the chaotic Fashion District, but it’s the kind of calm, high-quality lunch spot this part of downtown could use. You’re coming here for fantastic Hawaiian and Filipino food: the garlic shrimp plate is simple, buttery goodness, the teri chicken sandwich is huge and juicy, and the bread pudding is worth saving room for. Plus, everything falls at or below the $15 mark. Broken Mouth offers sit-down service, but the place is quite small, so full team lunch outing this isn't—use it for takeout or a solo meal. " - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins

"Here’s a quick lesson in Hawaiian Pidgin, the wonderful, idiosyncratic syntax spoken in Hawai’i (also referred to as ‘Ōlelo Pa’i ‘Ai, or “pounded but undiluted taro language”): “Broke da mouth” roughly translates to “so incredibly delicious, you might need to see a dentist.” And what an apt name for this charming Hawaiian Korean counter spot in Downtown Los Angeles. The garlicky, butter-laden fried shrimp served with purple rice, Korean greens, and a generous lemon squeeze is the specialty here, as well as a Korean take on the classic plate lunch found at food trucks on O’ahu’s North Shore." - Kat Hong

"Broken Spanish is hosting a B.S. Taqueria taco night this Cinco de Mayo. On the menu are some of the now-closed restaurant’s greatest hits including the mushroom and garlic tacos. Order ahead and pick-up from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m at Broken Spanish." - Cathy Chaplin

"Unlike many of the places on this list, you’re not coming to Broken Mouth to leave your busy LA life and escape into a tropical-themed paradise. You won’t wax poetic about how much it reminds you of your vacation to Moloka’i or swear you almost heard the ocean’s roar. No - you’re here because you only have 20 minutes for lunch, and this place serves filling food, fast. Located in the chaotic Fashion District, this manini-sized shop has a small-but-formidable menu with twists on local faves, from a spicy chicken sandwich on brioche to refreshing and crunchy cucumber kimchi. But our go-to order is always the Kahuku-style shrimp plate. Battered and fried to perfection, just like the ones from the trucks on the North Shore, the shrimp comes with a healthy dose of butter and lemon, plus a scoop of mac salad and heukmi bap (Korean purple rice)." - Kat Hong

"Thoughtfully prepared Mexican dishes are the name of the game at Ray Garcia’s brainchild. Its cheeky location (across the street from LA institution El Cholo in Downtown) serves as a modern and refined contrast to the kitschy (and wonderful) El Cholo and its famous Nacho Table. At Broken Spanish, tamales of lamb neck and king oyster mushroom warp one’s conception of the perfect autumn dish, while hulking rolled porchetta “chicharron” come crispy-yet-meltingly tender and adorned with opaque slivers of elephant garlic." - Euno Lee