While restaurants across the country have been opening (prematurely IMO), I’ll be sticking to getting takeout and order to go, probably for the rest of the year. It all depends on when a vaccine gets developed.
Anyway, if you’re sticking to takeout as well, which I highly recommend, I wanted to create a list of favorites that I’ve ordered so far in LA and also San Gabriel Valley. And honestly everyone, please wear a mask when you step outside your house. 🙂
Wako Donkasu – for chicken or pork katsu
Wako’s chicken katsu and pork cutlet bentos are every bit as good to-go as they are in the restaurant. They’re always on the mark for generous portions and perfectly crispy katsu.
San Pedro Tacos – for fish tacos
For a really decadent fish taco, while you’re driving by the beach in San Pedro, this place definitely stood out. It’s a small joint in a small strip mall, but their fish taco is amazing. I honestly only needed one, it’s very filling.
La Bella Napoli– for really good pizza
For high-quality, made from scratch pizza where the owners are from Italy and the place smells like fresh pastry – go here. The Calabrese Spicy pizza is still the best pizza I’ve had since March and I went home with a packet of nice fettuccine to cook at home too.
Uzumaki – for high-quality nigiri
This is my favorite sushi restaurant in Culver City and their takeout is great. Essentially you get the same course meal you would in the restaurant. As always, my tip is to switch out the cut rolls into handrolls for an extra $2. So worth it.
Bianca Bakery – for delicious pastries
The Platform in Culver City has a pretty good curbside pickup set up for all the retailers located there. I ordered assorted pastries from Bianca Bakery that were so, so good. To me, their chocolate croissant is better than Dominique Ansel’s.
Ono’s Hawaiian BBQ – for a great deal
This chain is a favorite of mine regardless of needing to order takeout or not. If I’m looking for solid, Hawaiian fast food, Ono’s delivers every time. Also, I much prefer their pasta only mac salad to King’s Hawaiian Restaurant’s potato and mac combo. Ono’s also does a $5 shrimp or white fish plate which I don’t need to explain is a great deal.
Gu Jip – for Naengmyun
Not only were both the Mul Naengmyun and spicy Naengmyun both refreshing and delicious, but the galbi was also so tender, even after enduring the car ride home.
Golden Deli – for Vietnamese eggrolls
Golden Deli has the best eggrolls in the SGV. Luckily, their takeout setup is also safe and efficient. They have a plastic tarp set up in the entryway of the restaurant so you don’t even have to go inside and can pick up and pay from the sidewalk. Eggrolls as takeout are still phenomenal.
President Thai – for a lunch special
Takeout is easy at this restaurant and the portions are just as generous as they are dining in. The lunch specials are such a good deal, and I like ordering the softshell crab dish on occasion as an extra special treat.
Karuba’s Yardy Kitchen – for amazing Jamaican food
This is probably my favorite find during shelter in place, a Jamaican restaurant in Inglewood. My husband found it while researching online and we ordered the jerk chicken patty, goat curry, and oxtail. Everything is so delicious, and the textures of the side vegetables and sweetness of the plantains with the slow-braised meats are 100.
Emily Grill – for a comforting bowl of Sundubu (Korean soft tofu stew)
Emily Grill is another local favorite of mine, regardless of takeout. They have a comforting, generous bowl of Korean soft tofu stew that I love. The owners are so nice and the pick-up process is a cinch. They’re in a strip mall off of Venice so parking is usually easy.
JULIENNE CARROTS 