Best Mac and Cheese - LA

[love2chow]

Where do I find it? Where is the BEST mac and cheese in the city...I am craving this dish and wondering where to go, heard its great at Nook, any other recs, let me know --- thanx hounds!

[sdv231]

Mastro's Steak has a great mac and gorganzola. I just the stuff, oh they have steaks too.

[msmd310]

be forewarned, this is VERY blue-cheesy, not a classic Cheddar Mac'n'Cheese

[Senzinina]

LOL.. I"m with ya SDV.

[mollyomormon]

For a quick fix, the one in the frozen section of Trader Joe's in awesome.

[Emme]

It certainly has ricotta in it, which gets a yippee! from this girl.

[Hungry Girl]

VILE!! full of sodium. look at the label for salt content. far too much.

[mollyomormon]

I'm not exaclty eating mac and cheese for the meals I want to eat healthily. It probably has a lot of fat too, right? ;)

[bulavinaka]

C'mon - you've already hit on two of the four major food groups - salt, fat, sugar and artificial flavors... I grew up living on this stuff since the 60's and I'm okay... Oh sweet mercy - someone get the paddles - my heart's going into di-fib!!

[westsidegal]

all mac and cheese formulations depend primarily on butterfat and sodium.
so?

[wizardx]

M&M Soul Food on Crenshaw and MLK Blvd.

[Clare K]

The truffled mac & cheese at Blair's in Silverlake is amazing, but new-school (meaning no crispy crust, and they use a variety of white cheeses, not yellow). If you want old-style mac & cheese, try the ones at Luna Park (with or without ham) and Fred 62. O'Bar has lobster mac & cheese - yum.

[OCAnn]

I'm partial to YardHouse (they have great Happy Hour) and was surprised that their Mac & Cheese was pretty good.

[tony michaels]

Luna Park on La Brea has a really good version of mac & cheese with broccoli, and you can have it with or without Neuske Smoked Ham.

[brattenheimer]

I do so enjoy Luna Park's mac 'n' cheese.

[Jerome]

best? I don't know, but Kate Matalini's on Wilshire is pretty good.

[hrhboo]

Violet...hands down.

[westsidegal]

i'm pretty sure violet is no longer

[Servorg]

Violet (which of course was extant in 2007 when hrhboo posted her recommendation) went into the anagram (minus the V) of Violet - and was flushed away.

[kproq323]

Totally random, but the Belmont on La Cienega has a great mac and cheese with crabmeat and pancetta. Good stuff. Can almost eat it as a meal with a small salad.

[holybull]

My faves are Luna Park and Musso and Frank's

[lapchern]

kookoo roo or el pollo loco has good mac n cheese

[Dommy]

My vote is Koo Koo Roo for sure. The one at EPL is too 'plasticy' and artificial. We recently fell in love with the version at Nook... Excellent!! I also love Luna Parks because I like Brocolli in my Mac N Cheese. :)

--Dommy!

[Marvin]

Gotta agree with Koo Koo Roo. El Pollo Loco tastes like Macaroni and Cheeze Whiz - ok when you're desperate but otherwise no thanks. I also like the Mac and Cheese at the Outdoor Grill in Venice.

[rameniac]

here i always thought i was eating healthy at koo koo roo with their flamed skinless chicken. didn't think that the mac and cheese side i usually get could have been bad for me XD...

[brattenheimer]

Seriously???? Both KKR's and EPL's mac 'n' cheese is tasteless. I'd prefer a blue box of Kraft any day over these guys'.

[revets2]

duh...MIMOSA on beverly blvd.

although the recipe is widely published, not many people can get it to turn out. that includes me. so we just keep going there to eat it.

[russkar]

Concur

[EliAnnKat]

Another vote for Mimosa!

[cleanmyplate]

maybe not the best - but certianly the most surprisingly yummy: the VEGAN (!) mac & cheese at Madeleine Bistro, in Tarzana. Go figure.
p.s. thanks for the question - now I've got a BUNCH more places to try! :)

[highforpie]

Roscoe's has yummy mac and cheese if you're looking for a more traditional version.

[sarahvagaca]

I second Roscoe's!! I lived in Atlanta for many years and ate much delicious traditional Southern mac and cheese and their's fits the bill in the old school category.

[Will Owen]

It's like a rich, creamy mac'n'cheese soufflé. First time I tried it, I thought, "If you love mac'n'cheese and you're REALLY good, this is what you'll get in Heaven."

The Pasadena Roscoe's used to be the only one that had this every day. Is that still true?

[RaeRenee]

Thirded by from a girl from Memphis! :) Though, with my family recipe, I almost never buy mac n cheese. I have to make it for it to be right. :)

[bulavinaka]

Aunt Kizzy's brings back some memories of of good comfort food, especially their mac&cheese. Being that every bite makes me feel like I might as well slather it directly on to my belly, I've refrained from eating there for years. I can't see it even remotely resembling something from say, Mastro's or Violet, but It's really really rich, and tastes very down-home...

[kjs]

it's all about preference - do you like the basic ( aunt kizzy's for example ) or the modern - maestro's with the blue cheese ( it might be gargonzola...can't remember ) or with truffle oil ...personally, i like it with a crunchy/crispy top ( not by broiling with panko or other bread crumbs ) and a strong sharp, white cheddar/cream sauce ...but not the sauce not to thin....nook's was good....for awhile kings fish house made a decent m&c but last visit i was disappointed...had an interesting goat cheese m&c at casey's in downtown...not sure if they make anymore...when it's all said and done...i like mine the best !!! happy hunting !

[sdv231]

Mastros is def gorgonzola........delish

[Marianna215]

My vote goes for Lola's -- It's simple - no truffles, or whatnot, but it is incredible.

[BBB]

I second Lola's, there other food is pretty forgettable, but the mac & cheese is amazing, lots and lots of oozing cheese. YUM.

[radgirl]

Elf cafe at echo park has this awsome blue cheese mac and cheese.... yumm....

[aching]

SO and I just had lunch at Joan's on Third and drooled as someone walked by with a dish of mac n' cheese - we've never tried it, but vowed to upon our return. It looked fantastic (as is everything at Joan's)!

[aching]

As promised, I tried Joan's mac n' cheese this weekend - brought a piece home and heated it in the microwave. It was very very tasty - not unusual or inventive in any way, just good ole mac n' cheese, the way comfort foods should be. I would recommend it to anyone looking for the taste of homemade without the work.

[Bite Me]

We get it at Koo Koo Roo, bring it home, and put in the toaster oven to brown the top. Delicious!

[assassin]

Cynthia's on 3rd st. has by far the best mac n' cheese in the entire world.

[Emme]

What kind of cheeses does it have, do you know? Is it a creamy, less creamy, crusty, excess (useless) ingredients type, or just standard? I've never found a good entree to have while counting down the minutes to cobbler...

[therealbigtasty]

The Dive near Melrose and Highland has a pretty swell Mac n' Cheese...

[CEfromLA]

I like the jalapeno mac and cheese at Flemings.
Having said that, it used to have more of a 'kick' and I liked it better then, but it's still pretty good.

[RobertC]

The Mac and Cheese at the Tiarra Cafe downtown is the best I have ever had. Unfortunately they are only open for lunch during the week. Great vibe in there as well!

[jackattack]

We enjoy Mac & cheese from Koo Koo Roo but it seems to vary from location to location. When it's good though, it's REALLY good.
It's an easy food to make at home, so we usually don't eat it out. We like to experiment using various cheeses (thank you trader joes!) and my current fave is 2/3 sharp cabot cheddar and 1/3 jarlsberg swiss.

[Veggietales]

This may not sound refined but really like the mac n cheese at King's Fish House.

There use to be a restaurant on Hermosa Pier that had this amazing Mac n Cheese with oversized elbow macaroni and it was baked in individual ramekins with onion and cayenne pepper and nice crusty top. This was about 5 years ago. It's now a different restaurant. :-(

[choysauce]

-Nook
-Luna Park, no ham. Makes it too salty...
-Ketchup (surprisingly!) on Sunset - made w/ gruyere & Dungeness crab
-Cheesecake Factory, if you're into friend mac & cheese balls. Comes with marinara. I normally detest C.cake Factory, but this single dish makes it bearable.

[ipsedixit]

I just remembered ... I once really enjoyed the Mac 'N Cheese at Clifton's.

www.cliftonscafeteria.com

[SauceSupreme]

Traditional: Flossie's
Gourmet: Red White + Bluezz

[Minimang]

Amen, the fried Mac and Cheese at RWB with the tomato dipping sauce is the bomb!!!

[lillulu]

Simon LA - I had it a few months ago and still crave it again.

[aurora50]

If you ever want to stay at home, Stouffer's does very well in a pinch!

[Will Owen]

Stouffer's does EXTREMELY well. I used to keep a bunch of it in the freezer just for the kind of "emergency" that consists of a cold, rainy day and the sudden realization that it's lunchtime. A single-serving pan of that and a hot dog...YUM!

[Emme]

If you're gonna stay home, aside from bringing in Koo Koo Roo, Gelson's and Ralph's do pretty darn good versions; I like them better than Stouffer's as they do a crusty, browned version.

[jackattack]

Stouffers is 2 bucks this week at Vons!

[AquaW]

If you don't mind chains and some creative licenses -- the Mac 'n Cheese at Yard House is really good -- truffle oil, chicken breast & bacon pieces with mushrooms, I believe.

Agreed that Violets have a good version too.

I also remembered liking Luna Park & Lola's a lot - though been a while since I had either.

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

[velozo155]

Velveeta cheese...one of the secret ingredients to a baked three cheese mac and cheese made by a co-worker's mother. I nearly fell over in awe when I ate this and the rest of the plate lunch she brought me. Perfect mac and cheese, greens, baked beans, corn muffin, and pork ribs...one word, heaven! She told me the recipes were her mom's secret, but when I recognized the taste of Velveeta, she did admit to that. The other two cheeses was not given up. Believe it or not, that Velveeta made the jaw dropping taste!

[Jerome]

Has anyone tried Clifton's Cafeteria?
Their mac and cheese is famous but it's been years since i've been...

[ipsedixit]

Yup, I just did ... after suggesting it about 10 posts up on this thread.

[JordanL310]

This is great! So many new places to try out. I personally like the mac and cheese at petes cafe downtown on 4th and main. Its a white cheese dish with thick browned melted cheese on top that resembles a bowl of french onion soup when you get it.

[travistarr]

I lament that Cole's PE Buffet downtown is now closed (so I understand) and until the powers of gentrification open it once more, I fear that the Mac n Cheese will be gone. Not particualrily special by any means, but it just tasted good with the nice dark german beers at the sticky bar.

[therealbigtasty]

It's gone? I was meaning to try that place.

Man...

[Jerome]

the website is up. I called and the recording said that they are currently under construction, whatever that means.

[cakers]

The Kitchen! Blair's is good too.

[smonkey]

Second for the Kitchen's Mac & Cheese- lots of garlic with a crisped crust.

[tubsgirl]

My gf is a connoisseur in this dept, and the Kitchen is where her vote lays

[emilymm]

Has anyone mentioned Fred 62? Tasty Mac and Cheese and always open :)

[vfcastro]

She doesn't have it everyday, but the mac n' cheese at Delilah Bakery in Echo Park is delicious - bow tie pasta with lots of nutmeg, and of course very cheesy! Yum!

[MarikoDeVille]

I'm always trying to find the good ones too.... here's what I got so far.....

Blair's in Silverlake: I've had this mac n' cheese. The consistency was good, and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I think I remember wanting it to be sharper, but it did the trick and was is a pretty good deal for this somewhat expensive restaurant.

Fred 62's: Horrible. Oily. Not flavorful. Just sad, and so was I the whole time I ate it.

Cafe 101: Very good! Buttery, and kinda sharp. Pretty damn oily, but that didn't seem to matter. Only thing is that they never seem to have any available, especially in the evenings. I think they have a daily batch and once it's gone, it's gone for the day. I've gone here just for the mac n' cheese and was bummed to be told I couldn't have it.

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles: Not worth it at all. You'd think it'd be good! I think I always found the consistency unpleasant, and the flavor way too subtle. And it's a tiny portion for way too much money.

The Kitchen in Silverlake: Delicious! I was really blown away. It's a garlic mac n' cheese. Just so good!

Canters: Bad news.

If I can remember the others I've tried, I'll return. Thanks!

[sarahvagaca]

I went to Roscoe's yesterday and while I really like the mac and cheese, I agree that it's wayyyy too expensive for how much they give you. It was $4.25, I think, for a tiny bowl. I probably wouldn't get it again, just on principle. Plus, it just becomes a ridiculous amount of food when you add the mac and cheese, even with a small portion!

[MarikoDeVille]

I just remembered another mac n' cheese place! Lucky Devil's on Hollywood & Cherokee. It was really really good, even though I think it was kinda small. I wouldn't have expected anything else from a place like that though. Worth it in the end, you just can't make a full meal out of it or anything.

[rotto14]

Baby Blues BBQ on Lincoln/Rose in Venice-- their sides are non-trivially good.

[hrhboo]

I second this...their mac is excellent, you'll need two!

[Dommy]

Its pretty damn good, but for the BBQ joynt Mac and Cheese, I love Porkys....

--Dommy!

[trojandude]

+1 Baby blues. Also try the mac and cheese at phillips bbq - cheese insanity.

[Pesky_Humans]

Pete's Cafe in downtown has an exceptional mac & cheese, if you can hang with the atrocious service. So good it's probably worth the wait.

My recent full review of Pete's here:

http://www.laist.com/archives/2007/04...

Enjoy! ©

[barno]

Try FLEMING'S. great mac n' cheese dish, although pretty much all of their sides are worth it. try the beef flemington while you're at it...no one else makes it and it is outstanding. there is one in manhattan beach on rosecrans, but not sure where the others are.

[Emme]

Have to respectfully disagree. Was at Pete's at the end of last year. The mac was just a goopy mush lacking any real flavor. It just tasted arbitrarily overly creamy and cheesy, but with no specific flavor and tasted a bit rancid actually. Admittedly, I'm not a goat cheese fan to begin with, but we were so disappointed with the mac that we left basically left the whole pot. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to mac'n'cheese, so maybe that's why I didn't like it. For so-called purists, my guess is you won't find Pete's hits the spot.

[mollyomormon]

I completely agree with you. I was so excited to try Pete's after so many recs on this board and then was completely disappointed because there just wasn't that discernable cheese flavor that I was seeking. I felt kind of the same way about Blair's, actually. I did like the blue cheese fries at Pete's a lot, though. I'll have to try some of the other recs here for mac and cheese...

[teach]

I agree about being disappointed by the mac n' cheese at Blair's. It was okay, but I expected more based on rave reviews.

[ctowngal]

a third vote for Pete's mac and cheese being goopy and kinda icky. supposedly it's a favorite...but not from the one lunch experience i had a few months back. boo.

[lakeshow318]

just had the mac n' cheese at Chaya Venice on a whim last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. white truffle mac n' cheese but nice and crusty on top. mmm...

[elgordorocks]

I second this, a lighter version, not so traditional, but very tasty

[lovemacandcheese]

Cezanne in Santa Monica (at Le Merigot Hotel) has a Thurs. night mac 'n cheese tasting menu.3 different varieties are offered each week. You can get 1 choice for $12 or a sampler of all 3 for $14. When I went in Nov. they had Lobster w Black Truffle made with five cheeses – parmesan, mozzarella, Goat, Gouda, Brie; Garganelli with St André, Shrimp and Spinach and Truffle Tortellini Cream, Parmesan and Raw Milk Manchego Cheese. They were served on a great platter in 3 differently shaped ramekins.

[nosh]

Truffles, lobster, shrimp, truffle oil? Tasty, perhaps. Expensive, definitely. But it is now a different dish -- truffled pasta with cheese, seafood alfredo. This is NOT mac 'n' cheese. I'll go back to where we started: Nook. Mac 'n' cheese with a panko breadcrumb crust, about $6, served as a starter or side at dinner and with a nice Ceasar salad at lunch.

[lovemacandcheese]

That's why there's chocolate and vanilla. Different interpretation, a little bit country, a little rock 'n roll, is what makes LA dining so great. I loved the gourmet experience of it all, contrarian maybe but delish. $14 for dinner ain't bad, and a starter of mesclun, poached pears and roasted pecan salad was a perfect meal.

[nosh]

Well, I guess I could level the same analysis at Campanile's "Grilled Cheese" nights. $14 for samples of three variations of mac'n'cheese isn't too horrible, except you are mostly paying for the truffles, lobster, and truffle oil and not really tasting the mac'n'cheese.

[RaeRenee]

This might be the best thing I've heard all week. :) I know what I'm doing next week. :)

[orythedog]

BEST is kind of a loaded term. If you are looking for fabulous, consistent and sublime mac and cheese, let me steer you Boneyard Bisto on Ventura blvd. They perfectly deep fry their mac and cheese in 3inch by 3inch triangles and serve some hot sauce on the side. Imagine a perfectly brown crunchy exterior and a molten cheesey center. If you're going to go to the cardiac cath lab, this is the way to do it.

[augustus gloob]

I actually really like The Belmont's (La Cienaga) mac and cheese. With blue crab its a little different than the traditional style, but still amazing.

[la tache burger]

Had the mac and cheese at Comme Ca last weekend. Loved it. As did my two-year-old. As did the rest of the table. It tasted like mac and cheese.

[maxzook]

Yum. Linking ...

[maxzook]

And more links ...

[nosh]

Please note that the Porky's that Dommy, P, and I have raved about is the one on Manchester, east of La Brea and west of the Forum. I have mixed feelings about them opening another branch, which I'm not sure is operational yet, since despite the food being fantastic (pulled pork, pork ribs, mac'n'cheese, Golden Bird fried chicken) and the managers very friendly and trying very hard, they always seem to be having trouble holding their act together: rookies learning how to use the cash register, missing items that need to be reminded about... Still, by far my new favorite place for BBQ, and an amazing value quantity and price-wise.

[maxzook]

Noted.

[amela]

If you're in the south bay area, Bora Bora has amazing mac 'n cheese. Served in a skillet to get that crunchy topping!

[gsw]

The Brentwood Restaurant has an awesomely rich version of Mac and Cheese that's worth a try.

[dustin]

The mac n cheese at Buffalo Club in Santa Monica is outstanding. Says they use Vermont cheddar but its definitely a mix of other types of cheeses. Awesome.

[ausfrench]

The Mac&Cheese side dish at Nick and Stef's (Downtown) is to die for. I go there and just order sides sometimes I love it so much.

[maxzook]

Catching up on links ...

[ermoloff]

Beachfront Mac n' Cheese and BY FAR THE BEST!!! The Boxer Cafe serves a 5-cheese gourmet mac n' cheese that you can take to go!!!! They serve these great combinations including Burger Mac, Tuna Mac, Chili Mac and the most amazing dish called 'Love In a Bowl' which is mac n' cheese with pulled pork......to die for. They also have a mac n' cheese sandwich!!!!!

[thirstypig]

I love mac and cheese, too. . .. Anytime I see it on the menu i will order it - most of the time its a side dish. . .i know in NYC they have these all Mac N Cheese Restaurants - S'Mac - http://www.smacnyc.com/. I know LA has Paddy Mac - http://www.eatpaddymac.com/

I do like Ketchup's Mac N Cheese. I have had Kate Mantilini's Mac N Cheese - if I remember correctly with Broccoli. Grub's and Nook's Mac N Cheese is quite good, too. But probably, off the top of my head, I like Roscoe's as one of my favorites.

[russkar]

With Mimosa & Violet gone it's now up to Bandera in CDM to carry the torch.

[tissue]

I had the mac n cheese at Rush Street and I really enjoyed it. It was rich and creamy, no bread crumb on top, just covered in cheese.

[mdpilam]

Rush Street's Mac n Cheese is very good.

[californiaflame]

Just listened to Evan Kleinman's "Good Food" podcast on KCRW where Jonathon Gold reviews "Mac and Cheesa" (sp?) in downtown LA on 8th street! Apparently they serve ONLY mac and cheese (how great is that?) made with a standard 3-cheese sauce, with a variety of mix-ins (hamburger, sausage, swiss chard, jalapeno, bacon, etc) in sizes from baby size to football-team size. No crispy bread topping, just extra cheese broiled on.....unique sodas for a beverage and they're open late after the bars close. Cuz what's better for sobering up than a bowl of steaming hot mac 'n cheese?? :-) Anyway on my list to check out & will report back!

[aching]

I tried and reported on Mac n' Cheeza a little while back: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6914...

In summary, it was very tasty and very convenient for takeout - but my go-to mac n' cheese in DTLA is still Corkbar, as I mentioned above.

[cindybkorn]

KINGS Fish House, killer Mac N Cheese, and I'm NOT a huge fan of the Mac N Cheese!

[cleanmyplate]

Current fave? FORAGE, in Silverlake. But then, I'm seriously crushing on this restaurant, in general.

[elnora]

Just had the special mac and cheese on Thursdays at Bay Cities - to go with my Godmother - it was in the central middle area, not the orange-y mac and cheese they have every day.

This mac and cheese had tang, flavor, and these delicious buttery croutons with garlic baked on top - it was absolutely fabulous and creamy. And it only cost 3.50$ for a small container... wish I had more.

The orange mac and cheese they have every day is so-so- a little flavorless, could use some salt, and I'm not sure what cheese it purports to have in it. But this mac and cheese - the special one - was gooey and melty and I loved the buttery crusty bits.

[sarahvagaca]

Yes yes yes! The Bay Cities mac and cheese is THE BEST!!! I'm not a big meat sandwich lover, so while my bf was getting the Godmother, I picked out this mac and cheese and it was some of the most delicious mac and cheese I've ever had. As elnora says, make sure you're not getting the mac and cheese from the far right counter. This special mac and cheese is in a counter in between the hot foods and sandwiches/salads counter.

[Fryboy]

We just had some righteous Mac and Cheese at the 101 Coffee Shop on Franklin. The cheese was thick, not soupy, and stuck to the big pasta shells. For an extra couple bucks we had bacon added on and this took it to a whole other level. Worth a try.

[JR90021]

Blue Star....nothing else needs to be said!