<p>This bakery originated in a cozy two-story house and has grown into a full-fledged artisanal panadería. Self-taught baker Arturo Enciso's approach to baking is deeply rooted in French and Mexican traditions, utilizing wild fermentation and masa madre (sourdough) to create breads and pan dulces​​. Not even throughout our travels in Mexico have we experienced a concha, Mexican sweet bread roll, like the sourdough ones at Gusto Bread. Just be sure to get there early before the goodies run out.</p>

<p>Golden Deli is a San Gabriel Valley favorite for Vietnamese comfort food, particularly its crispy <em>chả giò</em> and beef phở. The golden fried rolls come with lettuce, herbs, and fish sauce for wrapping and dipping. Follow them with a steaming bowl of phở with rib-eye and brisket. Expect a busy dining room and come hungry.</p>

<p>This Thai Town favorite is all about the noodles. Order the boat noodles, served in a deeply flavored, dark broth with beef, meatballs, tripe, liver, and tendon, or the jade noodles, made with spinach-tinted egg noodles, barbecue pork, roast duck, dried crab, and peanuts. A glass of sweet longan juice or Thai iced coffee rounds out the meal.</p>

<p>Breakfast is the main attraction at this Thai restaurant on La Brea Avenue, where the morning menu goes well beyond the usual eggs and toast. Try the <em>kai-kata</em>, Thai-style eggs cooked in a small skillet with savory toppings, or the crispy rice and grilled pork skewers. Otus also serves familiar Thai dishes throughout the day, but its breakfast specialties are what set it apart.</p>

<p>Mitsuru Cafe is a long-running, family-run spot in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo and a stop on our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://culinarybackstreets.com/food-tours/los-angeles/los-angeles-exploring-americas-culinary-frontier">Exploring America’s Culinary Frontier food tour</a>. Founded by Mitsuru Yamaguchi and now run by her daughter Rumi, the cafe is best known for its handmade <em>imagawayaki</em>, sweet azuki bean-filled cakes cooked at the front window. It also serves Japanese festival favorites like <em>mitarashi dango</em>, <em>takoyaki</em>, and <em>karaage</em>, along with homestyle lunch plates and comfort dishes. Set in the heart of Japanese Village Plaza, it remains one of the neighborhood’s enduring institutions.</p>

<p>For a taste of New Orleans in Los Angeles, head to this family-run Jefferson Park institution, which has been serving Creole cooking since 1969. The menu is packed with Louisiana favorites, from seafood gumbo and shrimp and crawfish étouffée to fried catfish and po'boys. Come hungry, bring friends, and make a meal of it.</p>

<p>For one of LA's most celebrated sandwiches, head to this Jewish deli near MacArthur Park, which has been serving pastrami since 1947. The signature No. 19 piles thick, hand-cut pastrami onto double-baked rye bread with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. Purists can order the hot pastrami on rye with mustard, but either way, the tender, peppery meat is the reason to come.</p>

<p>For some of Boyle Heights' best carnitas, head to this family-run market and carnicería, where the tortillas are made by hand and the pork is the main attraction. Order the carnitas tacos or the chicharrón, with crackling pork rind, pickled nopales, and guacamole. It's a casual, counter-service stop that's worth visiting for the tortillas alone.</p>

<p>Bring friends to this family-run restaurant on Little Ethiopia's Fairfax Avenue, where the best way to eat is to share. The Veggie Utopia offers a generous spread of lentils, greens, and vegetables served over injera, while the richly spiced doro wot and kitfo are also worth ordering. Finish with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony if you have time.</p>

<p>The reason to visit this Koreatown institution is <em>dongchimi guksu</em>, a cold Korean noodle soup made with the lightly fermented brine of radish water kimchi. Thin wheat noodles arrive in an icy, gently sour broth with cucumber, green onion, and tomato. It's especially refreshing on a hot day, and pairs well with an order of grilled meat.</p>

<p>For a generous plate of biryani, make your way to this small Little Bangladesh restaurant serving Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi cooking. The Hyderabadi lamb biryani is the dish to order: fragrant basmati rice seasoned with cumin, cardamom, and fried onions, topped with a tender lamb shank. Add a spoonful of green yogurt chutney, and order naan for the table.</p>

<p>For handmade Japanese soba, head to this family-run restaurant in Gardena. The noodles are prepared daily with imported Japanese buckwheat and are particularly good served chilled as <em>seiro</em> soba, with a dark dipping sauce. Come in the evening to explore the izakaya menu, which includes sea eel tempura, shishito peppers, and crispy jidori karaage.</p>