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Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine!

by Nadeen
September 22, 2019
A A

It is time for another post in the Top 5 Restaurant Picks covering cities across America! This month we have Dana from Time Travel Plans sharing with us her top picks for Los Angeles International Cuisine. So, if you live in the LA area or planning a visit, get off of the usual touristy paths and use this post to try out some delicious and authentic global cuisine in the area.

From Dana:

While I often gripe, complain, and grumble about living in L.A., one thing I have to give my city credit for is the vast array of restaurant options at our disposal. Whether I crave Indonesian food one night and soul food the next, I find comfort in knowing that there’s a restaurant somewhere in L.A. that can satiate my taste buds. So narrowing down my Los Angeles international cuisine picks to a top 5 list is rather difficult, but here are my top 5 as of late.

Bao Dim Sum House

Prior to having a recent date night with my husband at Bao, we still hadn’t found our go-to restaurant for Chinese in L.A. Sad – huh? But our dinner at Bao changed all of that. Bao touts itself as an authentic dim sum restaurant. Considering that I have yet to travel to China, I can’t really vouch for its authenticity, but I can attest that the food at Bao is absolutely delicious! Menu highlights are the delicately steamed chicken and spinach dumplings, steamed BBQ pork buns, and the spare rib tips in black bean sauce with flavorful chunks of taro root. But the ultimate star of the menu? The spicy Singapore rice noodles with BBQ pork and shrimp. These savory noodles pack the perfect amount of heat. Be sure to wash your meal down with a homemade glass of ginger ale – it’s beyond good!

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
Dim Sum at Bao restaurant

Avenue Italy

Avenue Italy is located in the Golden Cove Shopping Center right off of Palos Verdes Drive in the picture perfect beach city of Rancho Palos Verdes. Once you step through the doors of Avenue Italy, you’ll be instantly transported from the beach to the Italian countryside. Faux olive trees dot the large dining room which quickly fills for dinner as locals make their way in for a good Italian meal accompanied by a glass of wine. As you watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen, order a tried and true classic like the chicken parmesan, or try one of the menu specials. When my husband and I dined there recently, my husband ordered the lemon linguine with chicken. It was one of the delectable specials on the menu at the time. For dessert, don’t pass up the super moist and light tiramisu.

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
Avenue Italy restaurant

Los Angeles International Cuisine:Wildcraft

Ideally situated on busy Culver Blvd. in downtown Culver City, Wildcraft is a modern Italian tavern that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve recently placed Wildcraft at the top of my ever-evolving list of favorite L.A. brunch spots. Angeleno brunchers enjoy bottomless mimosas and perfectly blended cocktails such as Wildcraft’s version of the Moscow mule that’s mixed with refreshing cucumber, ginger ale, Vodka, and lime. Brunch menu musts include the carnage hash with pork belly, bacon, ham, Italian sausage, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, and potatoes, as well as the frittata with kale, caramelized shallots, and pecorino served over a tomato jam. The French toast is a safe bet as well!

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
Delicious eats at Wildcraft

Akbar Cuisine of India

Although Akbar’s has locations in Hermosa Beach, Pasadena, and Marina del Rey, for convenience, I usually opt for the latter location for my Indian fix. As soon as you walk into the intimate Marina del Rey restaurant, you’ll be welcomed by the enticing scents of cumin, coriander, and garam masala – just a few of the spices used to create Akbar’s unforgettable dishes. Start your meal with an order of potato and pea-filled samosas or the shrimp pakora. For your main entree, try the chicken tikka, tandoori chicken, or the ginger lamb chop with a side of savory saag paneer (spinach with homemade cheese) or spicy gobi aloo (cauliflower and potatoes sautéed in garlic, ginger, and exotic spices). Be sure to order a refreshing mango lassi (or two) to cool your palate.

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
Akbar Cuisine of India

El Rincon Criollo

As a lover of Cuban cuisine, El Rincon Criollo, another go to Culver City haunt, always satisfies my Cuban cravings. Don’t drive too fast down Sepulveda Blvd. or you’ll miss this hole-in-the-wall restaurant that does an excellent job of setting the tropical mood despite its small size. You can’t go wrong with the lechón asado. This dish of perfectly marinated, juicy shredded pork and sautéed onions accompanied by flavorful black beans and rice will have you dancing in your seat as you eat. Another menu favorite is the arroz con pollo with yellow rice. Whatever you order, be sure to ask for a side of savory, ripe fried plantains, and wash it all down with a blended mango, guava, or guanabana fruit juice.

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
El Rincon Criollo restaurant

Thank you Dana for sharing these delicous restaurant picks on Los Angeles International Cuisine! I will add them to my LA restaurant list! On my last visit I enjoyed Los Angeles International Cuisine at Sky’s Gourmet Tacos in Mid City as well as upscale American & Southern food at post&beam restaurant in the Baldwin Hills area. I describe my experiences at both in my post “Discovering  5 New Things in an Old City: Los Angeles“. Of course I never leave Los Angeles without an In&Out burger or going to Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. In addition I have never had a bad meal at Spago’s in Beverly Hills! Be sure to catch up on the other blog posts in this monthly restaurant series! Read about restaurants in New Orleans, Charleston and New York City! Up next…San Francisco! Absolutely one of my favorite cities to eat in America!

Have you been to any of these Los Angeles restaurants? If so share your thoughts with us below!

Before you leave-follow Dana on all her social networking sites below and be sure to join her Time Card Express program for great travel deals!

Top 5 Restaurant Picks: Los Angeles International Cuisine! Dim Sum, Indian food, Italian food and Cuban food! Check out these delicious restaurants in Los Angeles California!
Dana Carmel Bell of Time Travel Plans

Dana Carmel Bell is a world traveler, cultural explorer, and the founder of Time Card Express™, a discount travel membership card that makes travel and leisure more affordable for the everyday traveler. Clock into savings at boutique hotels, tour companies, and restaurants around the world with Time Card Express™ membership. Visit www.TimeCardExpress.com to join!

Blogs: https://www.TimeCardExpress.com/blog and www.TimeTravelPlans.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimeTravelPlans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/timetravelplans

Instagram: https://instagram.com/timecardexpress/

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Tags: International cuisineLA restaurantslos angelesusa
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Nadeen

Nadeen

Dr. Nadeen White is a "Blogger by Day, Physician by Night". She is an award-winning travel blogger, Amazon bestselling author and speaker. The Sophisticated Life Blog covers affordable luxury travel, culinary travel and wine. Her domestic and international travel guides gets people to the destinations of their dreams. So, if you are living the sophisticated life or desire to do so, this is the blog for you!

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Comments 23

  1. Tiffani says:
    8 years ago

    These dishes look amazing & I am sure they are each delicious. I have never been to L.A., but would love to visit & get off the beaten path as you mentioned. I do love restaurants with character & trying something new always makes a trip exciting for me. Great post! 🙂

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      I agree Tiffani! I hope you get to LA soon!

  2. Heather says:
    8 years ago

    You are making me want to take a trip! Mouth watering.

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      lol hanks Heather!

  3. DaniElle says:
    8 years ago

    Yummy!

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Isnt it?! Thanks for reading!

  4. Holly says:
    8 years ago

    Kool, I will have to check a couple of these places out one of these days.

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Great Holly! I know there are many great places to choose from in LA!

  5. Stacie says:
    8 years ago

    L.A. has some great places to eat. I’ll keep these in mind if I ever come to visit.

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Thanks Stacie! I cant not wait to go back and try some of these!

  6. Mai T. says:
    8 years ago

    All the food looks marvelous! I’d love to try Akbar Cuisine of India the most. Thanks for sharing.

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Mai T. I agree it sounds and looks delicious!

  7. Tyra says:
    8 years ago

    How have I not been to most of these. Been wanting to hit El Rincon but now I want to hit all of these! Great post!

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Thanks Tyra! Happy eating!

  8. Dale Hunsberger says:
    8 years ago

    If I ever get to LA. I will have to try these places! Thanks for the review!

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      Your welcome Dale!

  9. Starla b says:
    8 years ago

    These all look so amazing. I have always wanted to visit LA and I would preferably love to go right now. Yum!

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      lol Starla! I do enjoy visiting and eating in LA!

  10. Sherry Keef says:
    8 years ago

    I would like to order the Dim Sum at Bao restaurant. I am hungry for Chinese food now!!

    • Nadeen says:
      8 years ago

      I agree! The dim
      sum looks so good!

  11. Steve T says:
    6 years ago

    They all sound amazing, but my mouth was literally watering when I read your descriptions of the dishes at Akbar. I haven’t had a good Indian meal in ages, will check this place out the next time I’m working in Santa Monica. Thank you!

    • Nadeen says:
      6 years ago

      That is great! Enjoy!

  12. kenmiller says:
    4 years ago

    I can’t wait to visit there, literally my mouth is watering while I am checking your blog.

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