LA Restaurant Guide - chef Talia

​In a city as sprawling as Los Angeles, you truly have to find your neighborhood. I have always lived on the Eastside of the city where there is so much culture and delicious food. The Eastside is full of great little neighborhoods, each with their own personalities and amazing restaurants. From trendy Silver Lake to quaint Lincoln Heights, here are some of my favorite places to eat in the area.

Cafe Birdie (Highland Park)
            This new bistro first won me over with its beautiful decor and stellar cocktail list, and second with its tasty food. The menu features globally-inspired plates, rich pastas, and a variety of toasts and salads. 
 
Amara (Highland Park)
            This organic cafe is perfect for a unique breakfast or lunch and has options for any dietary restrictions. Also, the pastries are gluten-free! My favorite dishes are the purple eggs and the jalapeño-cheddar pancakes (only available on weekends). 
 
El Huarachito (Lincoln Heights)
            For a classic Mexican breakfast experience, check out El Huarachito. You can go simple with huevos rancheros and chilaquiles, or dive deeper and try their incredible mole dishes. And definitely get one of their vampiros, a giant serving of beet-spiked juice.
 
Flore (Silver Lake)
            There are many vegan restaurants on the Eastside of LA, but Flore offers an incomparable variety of options, all of which are perfect for vegans and non-vegans. They are famous for their tempeh reuben, but you can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches, burgers, bowls, or smoothies.  
 
Din Tai Fung (Glendale and Arcadia)
            For the absolute best soup dumplings in the city, go here. There is almost always a wait, but it is 100% worth it if you want to experience otherworldly dumplings and other Taiwanese dishes.
 
Pok Pok (Chinatown)
            From Michelin-starred chef Andy Ricker, Pok Pok offers authentic family-style Thai food including unique curry dishes, grilled meats, herb-filled salads, and their famous fish sauce wings. 
 
Elf Cafe (Echo Park)
            This organic vegetarian restaurant serves Mediterranean-style dishes that change with the seasons. Sit at the bar, let a server guide you through the wine list, and watch all the action happen in the open kitchen. Perfect for a quiet, romantic evening out. 
 
Union (Pasadena)
            Union in Pasadena is snug, cozy, and offers up some of the best pasta in the area. Their menu also includes delicious appetizers from braised octopus to duck confit and beautiful farm-fresh salads.