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By Elizabeth Held
Whether you’re partial to the fluffy homestyle variety or one with flaky layers, it’s hard to turn down a good biscuit. Buttery and substantial, this soulful pastry is an ideal accompaniment to both brunch and dinner. The below list highlights some of our favorite biscuits in Los Angeles; you can find them at comfort-food cafes, local bakeries, and restaurants specializing in Southern cuisine. While the biscuits may come from different settings, they're all guaranteed to be a gratifying bite.
(Photo courtesy of Manhattan Beach Post/Facebook)
MANHATTAN BEACH POST
Is this the South Bay’s best biscuit? It very well could be. Studded with generous chunks of bacon and cheddar, the buttermilk biscuits at Manhattan Beach Post are a perfect start to your meal no matter the time of day. The savory, fluffy rounds are served with a side of heavenly maple butter for that ideal salty-sweet combo.
Manhattan Beach Post is located at 1142 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. (310) 545-5405.
(Photo by Manuela/Facebook)
MANUELA
Executive Chef Wes Whitsell channeled his Texas upbringing when he created Manuela, and it makes sense that a restaurant dedicated to elevated Southern cuisine would have a fantastic biscuit on the menu. Biscuits here are soft and fluffy on the inside and slightly crisp and golden brown on the top. The brunch biscuit plate at Manuela is served with a slate of toppings that include salted butter, berry jam and honey; a trifecta to please every palate.
Manuela is located at 907 E 3rd St., Arts District. (323) 849-0480.
PLAYA PROVISIONS
Available at the Grain Whiskey Bar in the back, or in the main restaurant—Dockside—the biscuits at Playa Provisions are a surprisingly great accompaniment to your cocktails and your dinner. The petit biscuit bites are a perfectly sized snack, and come with a thick and flavorful dulce de leche (that's sprinkled with sea salt) to spread gently on top. Look for them in the “Breads” section of Chef Brooke Williamson’s Dockside menu.
Playa Provisions is located at 119 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey. (310) 683-5019.
(Photo courtesy of The Hart and the Hunter/Facebook)
THE HART & THE HUNTER
The “Butter Biscuits & Condiments” plate on The Hart & The Hunter’s menu costs $10, but you're going to want to order it. For a few more dollars, you can add ham and pickles, which you'll also want to do. Available in some iteration at every meal, this hearty plate comes with three oversized biscuits that are fantastically buttery with an ideal golden exterior and soft interior. The condiment combo includes items such as the restaurant’s housemade pimento cheese, preserves, and honey butter, allowing diners to make a meal out of their biscuit plate if they’d prefer not to share with the table.
The Hart & The Hunter is located in the Palihotel, 7950 Melrose Ave., Melrose. (323) 424-3055.
GOOD GRAVY BAKES
Available at Craft Beer Cellar, Maru Coffee and other locations across the city, Good Gravy Bakes’ biscuits are some of the best in town. You can almost taste the love that gets baked into these doughy rounds, along with the abundance of butter. Baker Beth Kellerhals pairs her biscuits with both sweet and meaty toppings at her various pop-ups around the city. Sometimes you'll find a glorious breakfast sandwich packed with eggs and avocado, or an indulgent snack slathered with cajeta. Follow her social channels to see where you can track down her fantastic pastry creations.
Good Gravy Bakes is available at pop-ups around Los Angeles.
(Photo courtesy of Division 3/Facebook)
DIVISION 3
Division 3 specializes in biscuit sandwiches—an entire section of their menu is dedicated to creative combinations. From a hearty corned beef and jack cheese combo to a lighter offering with seasonal veggies, avocado and eggs, the menu offers a variety of choices. The biscuits themselves are wide and flaky, offering an ideally shaped vessel for sandwich toppings. If you prefer something less hearty, a simple-yet-delightful biscuit with jam option is available, too.
Division 3 is located at 3329 Division St., Glassell Park, (323) 987-0500, and at 5907 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, (323) 745-0007.
EVERSON ROYCE BAR
When you’re craving a biscuit paired with that cleverly named cocktail, head to Everson Royce Bar. Crispy on the top and flaky on the inside, these square-shaped biscuits offer layers of buttery goodness. Though delicious on their own, these treats are even better when smeared with ERB’s honey butter, which comes served on the side. You’re probably going to want—or need—to order more than one plate for the table.
Everson Royce Bar is located at 1936 E. 7th Street, downtown L.A. (213) 335-6166.
(Photo courtesy of John O'Groats)
JOHN O’GROATS
John O’Groats is the veteran biscuit maker on this list—the restaurant had crowds lining up for weekend brunch before biscuits were a hip thing to have on your menu. The drop biscuits here aren’t as sky-high and fluffy as some others around town, but they’re a solid, consistent homestyle option on the Westside. John O’Groats now offers biscuits in a variety of flavors (such as lemon-blueberry and pumpkin-cranberry) but we’re still partial to the original buttermilk recipe that started the craze.
John O’Groats is located at 10516 Pico Blvd., Cheviot Hills. (310) 204-0692.
POPPY & ROSE
The biscuits at the nostalgic Poppy & Rose achieve the ideal biscuit texture: flaky on the outside, warm and moist on the inside. Great with the restaurant’s housemade jam, these towering treats are baked from scratch daily and are both beautiful and delicious. Round out your meal with elevated takes on classic American diner favorites like burgers and egg scrambles.
Poppy & Rose is located at 765 S. Wall St., downtown L.A. (213) 995-7799.
CHARCOAL
Charcoal’s menu is filled with smoky, hearty foods cooked over a live fire, but one of its standout dishes is a side that's not subjected to flame cooking. Available during brunch, the biscuits are a customer favorite, and rightfully so. Michelin-starred chef/owner Josiah Citrin created a restaurant inspired by the backyard barbecues he hosts for friends and family, and the restaurant’s biscuits fit perfectly into that theme. Flecked with cheddar and drizzled with pepper honey, Charcoal’s biscuits are uniquely delectable.
Charcoal is located at 425 Washington Blvd., Venice. (310) 751-6794.
(Photo by Winnie L. via Yelp)
PROOF
On Saturdays and Sundays only (though the spot is open daily), Proof brings some of the city’s best biscuits to Atwater Village. This charming local bakery offers a mean biscuit sandwich that’s filling enough for a light meal. The biscuits themselves are fluffy and flaky, made with chives and gruyere cheese. These are split open and stacked with French ham, housemade pickles and cultured butter for a fantastically savory treat.
Proof Bakery is located at 3156 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village. (323) 664-8633.
Elizabeth Held is a Los Angeles-based writer who will never grow tired of exploring this city's great food and restaurant scene. She's also an avid home cook and will travel anywhere for the promise of a great meal.
