Category: Eat & Drink

Uncommon Ethnic Foods in Los Angeles: Because Ethnocentrism is so 1990's

By chubbuni13
updated 2 months ago

Although Korean people are known for being notoriously ethnocentric when it comes to their dining options, my parents always made it a point for me to experience many different cultures and their food. When you're tired of Mexican or Italian, even sushi, it's always nice to know that you can drive out to just about any ethnic enclave in a 30 mile radius and enjoy some delicious grub.

Filipino Food

Have you ever watched a Filipino game show? It’s simultaneously the most surreal and yet strangely enjoyable programming on TV today. I have little knowledge of their culture and even less of Tagalog, and yet with their distinctive body language combined with their patois of Tagalog and broken English, I can kind of make out what they’re getting at. For example:

Host: (ending monologue) “Saladang, sila bitang, punta… big shout out to all d’ doctorrs and nurrrses at St. Bernadine’s for tekking carre of mi tita, saladang buang buang!

Me: (aside to my girlfriend) “I… I think.. she was giving a shout out to the hospital staff at St. Bernadine’s, babe.”

Oh yeah, the food is pretty good too.

Jollibee

2700 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Famous for trouncing McDonald’s in its home country, the Philippine based Jollibee has recently come to American shores. Expect uniquely Filipino fast food offerings such as spaghetti with hot dog chunks and mango pies. However, you would be disappointed in expecting things like good service and tasty food. Still, you have to give them props for beating Micky D’s at their own game, and for their strange and yet deviously clever branding.

Barrio Fiesta of Manilla

4420 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90041

This is a good example of tasty Filipino cuisine as opposed to Jollibee. My favorite menu item by far is the deep fried pork knuckle.

Ethiopian Food

Fairfax Avenue in between the 10 freeway and Pico Blvd. is the heart of the Ethiopian community in Los Angeles. Despite many of my friends snarky comments when I suggest Ethiopian cuisine, (I’ve heard them ask many times, “What do they eat, air?”) I really enjoy the experience every time I go. It’s sort of like Indian food, but with a different assortment of spices. Lots of goopy sauces and stews that you sop up with pieces of flat bread. Delicious!

Nyala

1076 S Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019

A very exceptional ethnic restaurant where the cheap prices and toothsome dishes are supplemented by excellent service. Nyala’s servers are kind, efficient and each seems to possess a working knowledge of five or six languages.

Rosalind's Ethiopian Restaurant

1044 S Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019

I’ve only been here twice and both times I partook quite liberally of the honey wine, so I can’t say I remember much… except that honey wine is very, very good.

Malaysian Food

During George Bush’s ill-advised invasion of Iraq in 2003 I happened to be traveling through Malaysia, one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. While routinely seeing Bush being burned in effigy in the streets, I would skirt past Anti-American demonstrations to go and sample all of the fine culinary fare of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and I have to say… religious hatred sure breeds some tasty vittles!

Yazmin Malaysian Restaurant

27 E Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801

Whenever I’m in the mood for Nasi Goreng or my favorite, murtabak, I head over to Yazmin in Alhambra. For Muslims they are wonderfully ecumenical when it comes to serving alcohol, and the service is traditionally Malay. That is, they check on you when it’s convenient for them.

Versailles Restaurant

10319 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Long renowned for their famous garlic chicken, Versailles is famous for their large portions, reasonable prices and extremely lascivious waiters that always eye female patrons and make whisper hushed sexual comments. But that just makes the food more delicious, doesn’t it baby? slap

Persian Food

Every culture approaches conspicuous consumption of goods differently, but I find it strangely admirable that 99% of the Iranians in the Southland take it to another level. Thus, when you enter a Persian restaurant, you are going to see some flashy shit, man! Crazy ass chandeliers, gaudy tapestries lining every inch of the wall, gold trim be everywhere! But where this would take away from the dining experience at an American restaurant, it just seems right here. Go fig.

Javan Persian Restaurant

11500 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025

While definitely not the most best restaurant in terms of food quality or service, Javan Restaurant has produced quite possibly the greatest commercial in the history of mankind. Palladio 1st Movement provides musical accompaniment for dancing vegetables cavorting on a table alloying their great sacrifice for the dining pleasure of Javan’s guests. Man, I would pay good money to get a hard copy of that commercial.

Shamshiri Grill

1712 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024

I don’t use the word amazing very often, but I will say without hesitation that the ground beef koobideh kabobs at Shamshiri Grill are the most amazing things I’ve ever put into my mouth… and let me tell you, I have quite an oral fixation. Calm down