With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
A James Beard nominee just opened a diner. And it's the coolest place to be
The lunch spread at Le Hut: a smoked chicken sandwich, patty melt and Caesar salad
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
[This is part of a three-part series on L.A.'s diner scene, (partly) inspired by the soon-to-open Tesla diner in Hollywood. Check out our story on Swingers on Fairfax, and the upcoming Max & Helen's in Larchmont].
When you're nominated for a James Beard Best Chef in California award, as Daniel Castillo was for his Heritage Barbeque restaurant in San Juan Capistrano, your future is pretty wide open.
Maybe open a high-end restaurant and show off your culinary expertise?
Instead, he's opened Le Hut Dinette in Santa Ana, his homage to diner culture, partnering with his head chef, Ryan Garlitos (Taco Maria, Irena).
Support for LAist comes from
The Quonset hut-style building.
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
The restaurant is housed in a Quonset hut, the World War II era semicircle-shaped structure made with corrugated steel. It brims with a certain retro charm.
Inside, old and new come together. Castillo pours glasses of natural wine from behind the counter while serving serving tuna salad sandos on vintage-inspired dinnerware. The retro hi-fi system spins old country classics, while his wife, Brenda, greets people warmly at the entrance.
Brenda and Daniel Castillo owners of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano and now Le Hut in Santa Ana.
(
Brad De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
For Castillo, opening Le Hut was very personal. Growing up in Whittier, he spent much of his youth obsessing over old-school Americana, like shopping at vintage stores and hanging out at the local diner, Rocky Cola Cafe. He also wanted to evolve as a restaurateur while keeping the approach fun and straightforward.
"I've always felt more connected to things from the past. That was it. It was just allowing me to do something fun and not overcomplicate things," Castillo said.
Support for LAist comes from
The laid-back atmosphere of Le Hut is a draw for its loyal customer base, who have been supporting the Castillos since their pop-up days selling smoked briskets by the pound out of their backyard in Garden Grove.
" We are a true mom-and-pop restaurant in a land of corporate restaurants where the owners aren't there," Castillo said. "[Our customers] have followed this story and seen our success. And people want something like that. It's something that you almost don't see anymore."
Brunch includes smoked brisket and eggs, and breakfast tacos.
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
A good place to start is the chili fries, made with Wiser Farms potatoes fried in beef tallow. They're stunningly crisp, sprinkled with a signature seasoning, and topped with mounds of ground brisket chili.
It's also an exquisite accompaniment to their patty melt made with caramelized onions, a ground brisket patty, melted American cheese, pickles, and slathered with special sauce, between two pieces of milk bread made from 6100 Bread next door.
The hint of soft textures, the sweetness of the milk bread, and the ultra savory flavors from the burger patty, onions and melted cheese intermingle perfectly, like the rhythms of a classic Johnny Cash recording.
Le Hut exudes its own unique charm.
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
Behind the counter at Le Hut.
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy Le Hut
)
Support for LAist comes from
Even Le Hut's version of Caesar salad is leveled up. It's made with a combination of little gem lettuce and chicories bathed in a creamy Caesar dressing mixed with crispy shallots and crumbles of anchovy. There's an option to add avocado and smoked chicken for a couple more bucks, which I encourage you to do, especially since it's the smoked chicken from Heritage, which exudes the signature flavors Castillo has built his name on.
Other quality takes on diner food include an 8-ounce smoked brisket with two eggs and a pork and peas dish made with slow-cooked pork belly and Rancho Gordo split peas.
Sure, it doesn't come cheap — the patty melt costs $22 while the pork and peas cost $38 — but it's been crafted thoughtfully and carefully. Le Hut exudes creativity, reflecting Castillo's philosophy of innovating within a traditional framework.
"There are no rules," he said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist