When I have visitors in town, I always have the urge to make sure my guests leave Los Angeles with an understanding that this city can be a foodie’s paradise. Los Angeles’ culinary scene is endlessly diverse and it would be difficult to showcase everything this city has to offer in just one visit.
This got me thinking: if time and distance were no issue, what would be the perfect Los Angeles food tour that would best showcase LA as a food Mecca? I put together the following list for a culinary adventure that I would love to be able to set up some day; the ultimate Los Angeles foodie excursion, the perfect food tour.
Stop 5: Din Tai Fung – Juicy Pork Dumplings
For the next stop, we’d need to venture east into Greater Los Angeles towards some of LA’s great ethnic neighborhoods. Our next stop would be at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia. Din Tai Fung quite possibly has the best steamed dumplings in the world. Each delicious dumpling has a perfect 18 folds, which seals in the flavor and optimizes the steaming process. Dipped in ginger and vinegar, the juicy pork dumplings burst with a flavorful broth with each bite.
Not Juicy Pork, but still amazing.
Stop 6: The Grilled Cheese Truck – Cheesy Mac and Rib
As we round out our savory tastings, we would be remiss not to include LA’s largest food trend: food trucks. While the iconic Kogi might seem like the obvious choice, I would instead take my guests to a personal favorite of mine, The Grilled Cheese Truck. With the success of the grilled cheese invitational, partners Dave and Michele created this delectable truck to serve the masses. At this stop, each guest would be able to sample their Cheesy Mac and Rib with BBQ Pork and Caramelized Onions. The sharpness of the cheddar pairs with the sweetness of the pork. Of course, the sandwich wouldn’t be complete without a side of tater tops.
Stop 7: Silom Market - Kanom Krok
To end our tour, we’d finish on a sweet note. For dessert, we would travel to Thai Town, which contains the largest population of Thais outside of Thailand. Here, we would head to Silom Market, where fresh kanom krok are made on a makeshift stand in the parking lot behind the market. These creamy coconut couplets are a mixture of flour and coconut cream cooked in a pan over a charcoal fire sprinkled with green onions. They have long been a favorite on our Thai Town food tour, and truly a hidden gem in the Los Angeles culinary scene.
I feel like each guest on this perfect Los Angeles food tour would better understand the amazing food this city has to offer. Although the distance between stops, and the sheer amount of food would make this tour difficult to pull off, perhaps someday I’ll be able to take some guests on this culinary adventure of EPICurean proportions.
