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Welcome to the second part of my recommended restaurants in LA to try out this summer! My quest to keep discovering new places in Los Angeles continues. This time, I decided to incorporate new eateries from the East side of LA: the iconic hipster neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Echo Park. Very rarely do I venture east, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of amazing hidden gems that can be found in this area of the city.
I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I loved writing about each of them: here they are.
Speranza
2547 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Ask any It girl/hippie model in LA what her ideal romantic dinner spot is and chances are you will at least hear the name Speranza more than once.
I read a lot of blogs where models based in LA mention this place. If it wasn’t for this specific article I randomly came across last week, in which yet another model mentioned Speranza once again, I would have completely forgotten about it. If you read 2017 post of places to go in LA, Speranza was one of the top restaurants I was dying to go to. So as soon as I read the article, I decided to put an end to my procrastination and headed there straight after work on an empty stomach.
Although this neighborhood bistro is not really a secret among LA foodies and Silverlake/Los Feliz residents, it does a great job flying under the radar in a city where Italian restaurants are as abundant as sushi joints: Pizzeria Mozza, Jon & Vinny’s, Angelini Osteria, Gjelina are only a few of the top-rated. Then there are of course the upscale celebrity hotspots with paparazzis floating at the entrance like at the quintessential Craig’s, a rite of passage if you’re somewhat famous. Another neighborhood that you can’t ignore is Naples in Long Beach, where you will find an array of Italian restaurants at every step you take on 2ndstreet. I could easily spend 6 days writing incessantly about the best Italian restaurants in all of Los Angeles.
Speranza is so easy to miss—- no signs, just plastic tarps covering this Italian food oasis. When you enter, you’ll find a leafy, cozy patio intended to be a romantic hideaway from the busy Hyperion Avenue. Although there are a few tables inside, most of the seating is outdoors. Just a few minutes after I sat down, the server started me off with the most delicious tapenade I’ve ever eaten. I had to pace myself because the bread was scalding hot and I was starving! Everything here is house-made. Everything!
The main highlight of Speranza is the divine homemade pasta bowls. I decided to stick to the classic old-school pasta and ordered the rigatone bolognese. I was utterly impressed: the noodles were super fresh, cooked al dente and the bolognese was super rich and hearty. Simply terrific. The portions here are very generous and the price points are extremely reasonable. You can expect to have a good meal without breaking the bank. If you’re willing to venture away from the classic pasta dishes, the squid ink pasta (black pasta) is their most popular. In addition, they offer a nice selection of gluten-free and vegan options.
Despite the fact that this place has been around for years, Speranza has become my new favorite Italian spot to bring my friends and relatives visiting. If you’re looking to have a nice, intimate but casual dinner relishing Italian handmade classics in a snob-free atmosphere, Speranza is the perfect place. My server was super sweet and attentive the entire time. I would suggest to either go there super early at 6:00pm, which is when they open, or call ahead for reservations. The place is not super big, so it can easily get cramped and loud. I read the Yelp reviews and one yelper wrote that their lasagna is the best in the entire world. Is it true? I’ll have to wait and confirm it myself. I can’t wait to go back! The two only cons are the parking, which can be an ordeal in the early evening, and the opening time at 6:00pm.
Pollen, Echo Park
2100 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Another Australian breakfast spot to add to my list! If you haven’t already, check out my other breakfast spot posts about Roo Coffee and Bondi Harvest. Australians sure know how to up the ante in terms of décor.
What a beautiful restaurant! Pollen has only been open since December 2017, but it’s slowly making strides to become a brunch staple in Los Angeles. This Aussie spot serves up hearty breakfast items all day. If Pollen wasn’t your final destination, you would never ever drive around this area. It’s tucked away in the hilly residential part of Echo Park. Not surprisingly, the vibe of the place is very hipster. I headed there on a Saturday morning after my workout and was in the mood for something sweet, so I had the French toast alongside an iced almond milk latte. If my memory serves me right, the last time I had French toast was in 2012 so yes, it’s been a long time.
The French toast was scrumptious. If you like the combination of cream and strawberries, you will absolutely love this. The bread was super soft and fluffy. Besides the stunning patio with the bamboo pendant lamps, there’s a coffee bar framed by a gorgeous wall of painted palm leaves, a few barstools and a long bench to make your wait time more amenable.
A few tips:
Parking can suck, especially on the weekends.
Get there early! I arrived a little bit after noon and the wait time was 20 minutes.
They close at 3 pm every day.
It’s veeery dog friendly.
Bea Bea’s Burbank
353 N Pass AveBurbank, CA 91505
Pancakes can be found everywhere in Los Angeles: blueberry pancakes, chocolate pancakes, chocolate pancakes, Oreo pancakes.. but have you ever tried Matcha green tea pancakes? Bea Bea is a local favorite in Burbank.
I went there with a friend on a Sunday morning and surprisingly, we were seated super fast. The never-ending options on the menu is what makes this place so unique from your average brunch spot in West Hollywood. My friend spent almost 15 minutes trying to decide what she wanted to order. Yes, it was that overwhelming. I already planned out what I wanted to eat beforehand and thank goodness, because I’m the most indecisive person ever. We couldn’t stop gazing at the outrageously massive food portions being served around us —– one dish could have fed one entire family!
Bea Bea’s menu is so extensive; from pastas, to various types of French toasts, pancakes, crepes and wraps. This place is truly one-of-a-kind! My friend said she had never been to a place where they had so many food options, and she’s a pro when it comes to brunch places in LA. For the sake of this post, I ordered their Matcha green tea pancakes, also known as Green Tea Monster pancakes, which is their signature dish alongside a cup of hot matcha green tea. It was divine, so so so good. My favorite place in LA to get my matcha fix is Urth Caffee, where I always order the Japanese Green tea.
The green tea at Bea’s Bea’s was pretty identical to the one at Urth. It was very flavorful, as every matcha green tea should be. I never thought I would find a place that makes such good green tea. Regarding the pancakes, they were a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Super super filling. I was starving and I still could only eat half the portion! I told you the portions were big. The pancakes are topped with green tea mascarpone and a giant mound of house-made whipped cream. My friend and I loved Bea Bea’s. It truly surpassed our expectations. If you’re looking to have a different brunch experience, Bea Bea’s is the perfect place.
Side note: Bea Bea’s is located in an outdoor plaza that looks like it hasn’t had a remodel since the 80’s but that’s part of the charm of the valley. The atmosphere of the place is very relaxed. Do not expect to see people dressed to the nines Instagramming their food or girls in cool athleisure clothes ordering organic smoothies to go.
La Bamba Restaurant
2600 N Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, CA 91504
Every time I feel nostalgia for my mom’s rice and beans, I go to El Cochinito in Silverlake where they serve the most delicious $8 rice and beans with free rice refill. I found La Bamba through an IG foodie and the photos instantly had me salivating over the food. Last Friday, I had to run an errand in the valley, so stopping there was a no-brainer. This restaurant is deep in Burbank so it’s a little bit of a trek, but worth every single mile. I drove there from Studio City and on my way, I passed a few restaurants that were still empty and since it was very early, I was afraid of being the only one sitting there. I arrived to La Bamba a little bit before noon and there were already people sitting outside. By 12:15 the place was jammed. On a weekday. Yes. Unbelievable! It’s not like this place is located on a busy street with other restaurants where it’s easily accessible or within walking distance from the office. It’s in a residential area, which means people made the effort to drive all the way there from their workplaces. The island vibes of this place will transport you to the Caribbean or a beach in Mexico. They start you off with complimentary chips and salsas. I don’t usually eat appetizers, but the pico de gallo was so good that I ate the whole thing. Fresh is the best word to describe it. I hadn’t eaten at Chipotle in ages, so I decided to order the carne asada burrito. Loved it!!! If tacos are what you’re craving, the shrimp tacos are highly highly recommended. La Bamba also offers a wide range of dishes with shrimp as the star: shrimp tacos, garlic shrimp paired with the rice and beans, shrimp quesadillas… I mean, can it get any better than this?
La Bamba was yet another of the many surprise hidden gems in the valley. Don’t forget to order one of their refreshing agua frescas to help you combat the heat!
Ostrich Farm
1525 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
I found this place through Delilah Parillo, a model I’ve been following for a really long time. In all her interviews, she always mentions Ostrich Farm as her ideal brunch spot. Indeed, everything about this place is good: the food, the hipster atmosphere, the setup of the tables, the location… everything! The portions are generous and the food is cooked over a wood-fire grill, hence the freshness and the smoky flavors. The restaurant design is simply gorgeous: clean and modern yet cozy. The combination of the brown wood, greens and whites synergized flawlessly and will top off your overall experience. I loved the stunning white marble countertop, the green upholstered seats, and the rustic wall tapestries. I love this winding stretch of Sunset Blvd, where you can see the houses perched on the hills over with the palm trees in the background. At night, Ostrich Farm dims the lights and turns into a lounge bar for a more intimate experience with cocktails and tequilas. The menu here is very well-rounded and seasonal, which will make you curious to come back and try out different items. Additionally, they have different menus for breakfast, brunch and dinner!
Like Speranza, this is another hidden gem that does a good job flying under the radar.
That’s it for now! I didn’t want to end up broke trying too many restaurants at once, but expect another one of these posts coming very soon to the blog! If you have more recommendations, please don’t hesitate to comment.
