Marc L.
Yelp
Yelp Reviews: Quarantine Edition #25
The best place to eat in Los Angeles during COVID-19.
Yes, I know this may seem to be a ballsy assertion, but after traveling across the county over the last few months, I can definitively say that the perfect balance of safety, convenience, and deliciousness finds its epicenter in Chinatown on Broadway between Alpine and Ord.
Ever since Roy Choi's Chego first landed in Far East Plaza back in 2013, it was the beginning of a seismic shift not only for Chinatown but the whole of Los Angeles itself. While Andy Ricker's Pok Pok, Eddie Huang's Baohaus, and even Chego are no longer in the plaza, they all helped lay the groundwork for the chef-driven food revolution people all over Southern California now associate with FEP.
Current favorites include Johnny Lee's Pearl River Deli, Alvin Cailan's burger palace Amboy, Chad and Chase Valencia's award-winning LASA, Jack Benchakul's Endorffeine, and of course, the world renowned phenomenon Howlin' Ray's by the incomparable Johnny Ray Zone... regardless of whether it's fried chicken or cold brew, you're bound to find something not just tasty but often PHENOMENALLY DELICIOUS in the middle of Chinatown.
Rest assured, the cutting-edge locus when it comes to food in LA County is not found in the Art's District, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica or Silverlake... it's Far East Plaza in Chinatown!
Of course, I'd be remiss not to recognize places like Qin West Noodle, Scoops Ice Cream, and the legendary Kim Chuy Restaurant whose connection and history in FEP far exceeds many of the new tenants... Still, why can't we have both the classics AND the new school? Chinatown is surely big enough for all of these players in the LA food scene and once things settle down I hope even more amazing places start to open up!
Coming from OC, it's comparably difficult to find safe, socially distanced "al fresco dining" in an area with a lot of options... without breaking the bank, a la Melrose and Santa Monica Boulevard. In Chinatown, however, you can partake of Los Angeles' past, present, and future eating culture with great bang for buck... all at Far East Plaza!