Food

My 12 most memorable LA bites in 2024

LAist food editor Gab Chabran recalls some memorable bites he had throughout SoCal this past year.

A series of white ceramic plates are arranged on a medium-dark wooden tabletop. In the bottom left corner, overlapping slices of red and white cured ham cover one plate entirely. To the right, three small cheese slices display a range of colors: pale yellow, light mustard brown, and white, which is speckled with small black dots. Above this plate is a small dish containing a portion of yellow butter. At the very top, four slices of brown sourdough bread are positioned closely together on their sides.

Malaysian cuisine is ready for its close-up with Rasarumah in Historic Filipinotown

Chef Johnny Lee, formerly of the much-loved Pearl River Deli, has partnered with the group behind Barra Santos, Found Oyster, and opened a restaurant focused on Malaysian and Southeast Asian flavors.

A collection of plates in various sizes and shapes showcases a variety of Malaysian and Southeast Asian dishes, all arranged against a brown wooden surface. A single wine glass filled with a pale yellow liquid is in the back right corner.

Four specialty LA cheese stores help you elevate your New Year's spread

Why not make 2025 a cheesy delight?

A blackboard sign has various types of cheeses and charcuterie written in white: French, Spanish, Italian, and others

The smell of guavas is in Southern California kitchens. Here’s why lots of people hate it

Guavas are the main ingredient in the Mexican holiday drink ponche. The warmer weather is lengthening the season of the backyard crop.

The FDA restricts a psychoactive mushroom used in some edibles

The Food and Drug Administration has told food manufacturers the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria isn't authorized for food, including edibles, because it doesn't meet safety standards.

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We talked to 5 legendary LA delis to help you perfect your matzo ball soup

Sinkers or swimmers? We've gathered matzo ball tips and tactics to help you master the craft.

A bowl of matzo ball soup contains a dark rich broth, carrots and dill with three fluffy matzo balls. It's sitting in white dish with a black decorative rim, on top of another matching plate.

A tamalada tradition keeps my fourth-gen Mexican American family connected to our roots

A cultural staple, the tamal helps bring members of the Curiel family together.

A top view of a group of people assembling tamales with some spreading masa on corn husks and another prepping the filling.

These unique SoCal desserts will make you the holiday party MVP

Treats you might not have tried but will have everyone talking.

A two layer shredded phyllo dough and cheese dessert on a gold tray. A hand with red nailpolish painted on the nails lifts up a slice.

It's eggnog season! We tried some of the best in LA

We dive headfirst into a vat of the creamy good stuff.

Love All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ? It’s time to honor Choeng Wun Buffet’s history

Open since 1985, this Melrose Hill establishment and its family have been pivotal to shaping Korean Angeleno culture.

Various metal trays with metal tongs filled with green vegetables, kimchi, and bean sprouts

Phew! Outdoor dining in LA gets another extension

Many L.A. diners want outdoor restaurant seating to stick around forever.

The building has a well-constructed makeshift patio with potted trees and orange traffic barricades. To the right, a group of people wearing dark clothing and with dark skin is standing near the entrance. Above the patio space, there is a sign in Korean. Above that is a second floor with the words "PARKS BBQ" in red letters.

Kroger and Albertsons grocery megamerger halted by two courts

Two rulings — in federal and state courts — make it increasingly likely that Kroger might abandon its $24.6 billion plan to buy Albertsons. The merger aimed to combine two of America's largest supermarket chains.

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