Your single favorite dish in LA

[sillygoosedown]

Name the dish that has given you the most pleasure.

My answer: Zelo's spinach-pesto pizza.

[aceofcakes]

The burger at Comme Ca. Something that seems simple but is truly the work of a master chef.

[maxzook]

The Really Risque Rice at the late, lamented Chopstix on Melrose.

http://articles.latimes.com/1989-02-2...

[ankimo]

hard to choose, but definitely khao kanah mu grob at Pa Ord (crispy pork belly with chinese broccoli)

[mnosyne]

Gino Angelini's meatballs in tomato sauce!

[kauma]

Mine, too, changes from moment to moment, thanks to this wondrous city.

But overall I'd have to say: Grenadine of beef at Musso & Frank. Bliss!

[wienermobile]

The whole sizzling catfish with ginger and ponzu sauce at Chinois on Main Street.

[westsidegal]

i love that catfish too.
another fried fish that is terrific, and costs far less, is the mojarra frita (sp?) at mariscos chente.

[degustateur]

A “sticky-worthy” topic, silkygoosedown! Kind of a running sub-total of the essence of Chowhound LA. It would be great if we all had photos to attach and share.

As several have alluded, “favorite dish” is an ever-moving target for me as well. Currently, it’s a tie between:

Pied de Cochon at Church & State
Quenelles de Brochet at Le Saint Amour

Neither, however, can top the Calf’s Brains Omelet at Ray’s Redwood Kitchen (R.I.P, 25 years).

[jesstifer]

Tofu bowl with pork at Beverly Soon Tofu. With grilled squid, if I'm allowed to get the combination.

[Steve2 in LA]

Shredded Pig Ear in Chili-Lime sauce with a Fried Egg at Animal. mmmm!

[mdpilam]

I was going to say this too. Was my favorite dish there in our visit; the spiciness of the sauce with the porkiness of the pig's ear with the egg just combine for a perfect combination.

[Moomin]

It's day to day. I've presently got an unholy obsession with the Charcoal Smoked Cauliflower at both Samosa House and Bawarchi.

Of course, last year it would have been Pescado Zarandeado at Mariscos Chente... and before that kaeng khĩaw-wãan khài “mang-kon” at Jitlada... and five years ago it would have been Langers Pastrami...

[liu]

"It's day to day."

I so agree with you, Moomin! Just when I am sure that I have found my very favorite, another comes along! We have so much amazing food in this city!

[ipsedixit]

Day to day??

It's more like hour to hour for me ...

[bulavinaka]

Please keep us updated on your new favorites - I for one would appreciate this. TIA!

[ipsedixit]

Well, let's see, on Sunday, February 14, 2010, at around 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. my favorite single dish in greater Los Angeles would've easily been the sweet potato pizza at Pizza & Chicken Love Letter in Rowland Heights.

Here's the deal. You like sweet potatoes? The asian kind? Well, lookee here. Order up the Sweet Potato Gold Pizza.

Why, you ask?

First, the crust is filled with mashed sweet potatoes. Yeah, Pizza Hut you suck cuz all you've got is stuffed crust with cheese. These guys made the entire crust stuffed with sweet potatoes. PWND.

Second, the toppings on the pizza is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. You need more sweet potatoes? Diced and sprinkled liberally as topping numero uno. You want more sweets? Chunks of pineapples are also added. You want some savory to go with your sweets? Check. Sausages galore. You worry this ain't a pizza without the traditional toppings? Rest assured ... tangy tomato sauce and cheese are all there.

Yeah, for that one hour on that Sunday afternoon, this was my single favorite dish in LA.

Cheers.

[bulavinaka]

Such intriguing creations would almost have to come from somewhere in this Asiatic, as would a place named Pizza & Chicken Love Letter. And on Valentine's Day even? Pizza, Love and Valentine's day!

Rowland Heights is a stretch for me being from the Westside, but this place sounds interesting enough that I may have to make the trek soon. Keep those hourly updates coming. :)

[Servorg]

"Pizza & Chicken Love Letter"

Have you eaten at Mr. Pizza Factory http://www.mrpizza.co.kr/Global/En/ in K town. Sounds very similar (is the one in Rowland Heights also Korean owned)?

[ipsedixit]

No, I have not.

[JBC]

O.K. - It's 8:15 a.m., Monday morning - "What's your favorite dish right NOW ! "

[liu]

ipsedixit -- Oh, to be a teenager again and be able to consume those huge quantities!

[SauceSupreme]

There are medicinal herbs that might facilitate that consumption. All perfectly legal, of course. ;)

I've gotta pay a vist to any place called Pizza and Chicken Love Letter.

[goodhealthgourmet]

smoked cauliflower???? i'm drooling...and seriously tempted to rearrange my schedule this week to accommodate a drive up to LA so i can have some!!!

[Moomin]

I wouldn't drive too far unless this is a serious fascination... Samosa House is local to me, so I'm particularly partial...

Also... check the Samosa House Twitter feed before you set out! It's not an every day item and they regularly sell out!

[goodhealthgourmet]

well, i wasn't *totally* serious about it. i do have several reasons to be up in LA, i've just been avoiding it because i hate the drive...i figured the cauliflower might give me a little extra motivation ;) but i'll definitely check the twitter feed before/if i go - thanks for the heads-up!

[SauceSupreme]

While my previous post showed how much I missed the beef roll from 101 Noodle Express, I'm inclined to agree with Dommy: the boat noodles from Sapp.

[liu]

Steaming house sugar cake at Elite...so very simple and so perfect with a hot cup of their tea!

[nsxtasy]

Seared foie gras on a biscuit with maple sausage gravy, at Animal.

[rednyellow]

That's certainly the best I've had in a while.

[TravelPath]

Oh my ...yes!!!

[Dommy]

Boat Noodles at Sapp Coffee House...

--Dommy!

[Porthos]

May have to agree with that. Definitely 1 of 2 of all time.

[brandon g]

Any agnolotti at Angelini Osteria

[Jwsel]

The truffle egg at Melisse. $85 for the dish, but it is probably the best thing I have ever eaten.

[foodiemahoodie]

Hm. I haven't tried the truffle egg (maybe I'm just too damn cheap) . But I was torn between the coddled egg caviar (at Melisse) by I think it might be slightly edged out by the sweet corn ravioli with truffle jus (or is it truffle froth? Broth? Foam?). This is a seasonal dish, so you'll have to wait a month or two.

I also crave the charred octopus salad at Mozza Hosteria. I might have to go get some. Right now. Hm.

[Jwsel]

The truffle egg is unlike any egg I've ever tried. It's poached (or prepared in some similar fashion), but the white is incredibly light and airy, like the lightest omelet I've ever tried. The menu describes it as a "melting organic egg" and that description is apt. It sits on a sauce made from truffles and has a light truffle foam. I cannot really describe the sauce except to say that it was earthy but not heavy, and everyone at the table tried to sop up every drop. That alone would have made it one of the best dishes I've ever had, but then they brought out a large black truffle and shaved close to half of it over the top of the egg. I swear they put so much truffle on it that I almost wanted to tell them to stop.

[ipsedixit]

This sort of reminds me of L'Orangerie's famous egg caviar app -- scrambled eggs put back into their shell and topped with a spoonful of caviar.

[BubblyOne]

Same with The Ritz egg, still served in Newport, even though Hans Prager is long gone. Scrambled eggs with salmon, back in the shell, topped with caviar and served with a shot of vodka on the side. I believe I had it at the old Scandia as well, when he was chef there.

[NAspy]

I wonder if it's like the egg with caviar at Ortolan which seemed very much like the class one at L'Orangerie. We had this at Ortolan's VDay dinner and it was outstanding and the first dish that came to mind with this thread.

In a more prosaic vein, I would say Vito's pizza with mushrooms.

[dotrat]

Yes, Josiah's Truffle Egg is by far the best thing I've ever eaten and I've had the pleasure of enjoying it on more than one occasion. It's nothing like a scramble though. Instead it's more like a poached egg yolk surrounded by whipped (and maybe poached?) egg whites topped with shaved truffles & truffle sauce. When you take a bite the yolk from the center oozes & mixes with the sauce. It's accompanied by brioche toasts as well. Pure heaven. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before & is not always available obviously.

[conor610]

Osteria Mozza's bucatini all'amatriciana.