Peter M.
Yelp
For the hungry devotee, there is no better destination substitute than a well planned food hall. If it is set up right, by choosing an eclectic group of food merchants, the location can be an irresistible salivating magnet. The LA Chefs Kitchens, in Panaroma City is a welcome addition to the ever expanding list of food halls, in the LA area. It is also a source for pop ups and new businesses to showcase their culinary talents. When I was there, the place was mostly empty, with merchant stations trying to attract customers. Some of these booths had nobody, with just menus on the counter. I settled on ordering the Oaxacan Chicken Tamale with Mole (to go), from Nantli. It comes wrapped in a banana leaf. I requested hot sauces and was provided with both a verde and a rojo (both excellent). The mole in the tamale was too sweet and, in my opinion, overwhelmed the other contents of the dish and its ingredients.
This ambitious Panorama City food hall project took flight around September 2023, but does not seem to have gained much traction. It could be its location (ground floor in the Panorama Tower) that has only access on a very busy street (Van Nuys Blvd). And contrary to some posts, there is no free parking lot (I found out the hard way). Instead, you have to search on the adjoining streets, that are already always packed, before you can park and hike to the entrance.