Whewww this one took some serious combing through my photos, Instagram and the interwebs! Here it is… the top 25 meals I ate in 2023, along with my top coffees and top LA experiences this year. It’s an absolute privilege to live in this city and do what I do - I’ve had so many incredible experiences this year, it was very hard to narrow it down! I kept the info pretty topline to avoid this turning into a dissertation, but will be sharing more about my experiences over on TikTok this week so be sure to follow along over there for even more content :)
Enjoy, and see you in 2024 ladies and lads! <3
Ticket to Sarahdise - Top 25 Favorite Meals of 2023
Location: Pasadena
Type of Cuisine: “Kinda-French bistro bar”
What I Ate: Crispy potatoes, clam toast, snap peas, and the most INCREDIBLE take on strawberry shortcake I’ve ever had!! Forever dreaming about it
Location: Chinatown
Type of Cuisine: Filipino rotisserie
What I Ate: Chicken inasal, mushroom sisig, prawns, green beans, calamansi cream pie
Location: Arts District (back alley behind Damian)
Type of Cuisine: Elevated Mexican street food
What I Ate: Fish flauta, suadero taco and a sandia agua fresca
Location: Alhambra
Type of Cuisine: Chinese fusion
What I Ate: Yang’s Set - pastured chicken thigh, organic multigrain rice, Omiso's awase miso soup, seasonal Farmers Market vegetables, house pickles, soy egg
Location: Highland Park
Type of Cuisine: American fusion-y sandwich shop
What I Ate: Yuzu Kosho Chicken Sandwich
Location: Melrose Hill
Type of Cuisine: Modern Filipino
What I Ate: Sweet Longsilog (pork sausage) rice bowl
Location: Frogtown
Type of Cuisine: Farm to table American fusion-ish
What I Ate: Matchstick potatoes, asparagus risotto, and purple clams *Please note their menu is seasonal and dishes rotate! I ate there back in April so it looks like all of these dishes have rotated out :)
Location: Mar Vista
Type of Cuisine: Asian specialty market
What I Ate: Lemongrass chicken banh mi
Location: Santa Monica
Type of Cuisine: Farm to table open fire grilling
What I Ate: Ate here 2x so I’ve covered a decent amount of the menu! You really can’t go wrong - order a grilled protein, veggies, anchovy toast and a bottle of natural wine and you’re set
Location: West Hollywood
Type of Cuisine: Seafood
What I Ate: Also ate here 2x!! Can’t go wrong with a tinned fish platter, lobster roll, and some oysters + clams. Also the chocolate chip cookie!
Location: Filipinotown
Type of Cuisine: Chinese
What I Ate: Veggie noodles, wood ear mushrooms, beef dumplings
Location: Echo Park
Type of Cuisine: Italian
What I Ate: Chopped salad, fusilli alla vodka, tiramisu
Location: Santa Monica
Type of Cuisine: Spanish pintxos and tapas
What I Ate: Jamón, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, fried anchovies, melon and tomato salad, and GOOSE BARNACLES! (Google immediately)
Location: Ocean Park
Type of Cuisine: Italian
What I Ate: Salami, pea shoots, berries and pecorino flatbread sandwich YUMM
Location: Santa Monica
Type of Cuisine: American-fusion sandwiches
What I Ate: Venice Cowgirl sandwich - peaches, triple cream Mt Tam, hot habanero apricot jam, arugula, and prosciutto *seasonal for summer only but every sandwich is amazing!!!
Location: Santa Barbara
Type of Cuisine: Modern Indian
What I Ate: Kolkata papri chaat, malai kebab, uni biryani (!!), naan
Location: Studio City
Type of Cuisine: Modern bar food
What I Ate: The burger!!
Location: Venice
Type of Cuisine: French-ish
What I Ate: Mussels and THE soft serve
Location: Koreatown
Type of Cuisine: LA-inspired sandwiches
What I Ate: Olympic sandwich - lemongrass jidori chicken
Location: East Hollywood
Type of Cuisine: Mediterranean
What I Ate: Hummus ful, wood-fire schwarma, lobster skewer
Location: East Hollywood
Type of Cuisine: Seafood
What I Ate: Crab dip, oysters, clams, crudo, key lime pie!!
Location: Highland Park
Type of Cuisine: California meets Mediterranean
What I Ate: Chicken skewer & lil’ gem
Location: Venice
Type of Cuisine: California / Seafood
What I Ate: The burger is really all that matters!! But also crudo :)
Location: East Hollywood, Studio City & Culver City
Type of Cuisine: Mediterranean
What I Ate: Green goddess chicken sandwich & schmaltzy potatoes covered in garlic sawceee
Location: Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is usually where I catch these guys but full location list can be found here
Type of Cuisine: Venezuelan
What I Ate: The 405 - braised beef, black bean purée, fried plantains, cotija cheese and cilantro
Top 5 Most Memorable Coffees in 2023 - The coffees I keep going back to
Mandarin - Pasadena
Jurassic Magic - Mid-City
Hooked Venice (Dudley Market) - Venice
Cafe Ruisseau - Playa Vista *multiple locations - best iced cappuccino in town!!!!
Goodboybob - Santa Monica & Culver City
Top 5 LA Activities & Experiences in 2023
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Gratitude Group with Adam - Adam has created the most lovely, welcoming community that gathers weekly for meditations and journaling in the park. It’s always a treat, and Adam is now curating all kinds of events around the city! DM him to get on the email list :)
Night Dive at Aquarium of the Pacific - The aquarium at night with live music + drinks included. Need I say more?? Linked their next event - New Years - above, but check their general events page for more upcoming dates in 2024.
KCRW Summer Nights - “LA Culture” can mean so many things depending on who you ask, but these events always feel so true to the city and its roots for me. The music, the food, the community, the venues - it’s so special.
Penmar Nights - Friday nights are always tricky because I have limited energy to give, but I tend to want to unwind and be some type of social. Penmar really fits the bill and offers live music, drinks and food out on the green - great for groups!
Arroyofest (aka walking on the 110 Freeway) - Timeout named this the best event of the year and I 100% agree. LA is such a large city, those moments of feeling like one cohesive community can feel so rare. More on my experience here - truly so so wonderful!
What were your favorite meals, activities, experiences in LA this year? Comment below (if you’re on Substack) or reply directly to this email (if you’re reading from your inbox) and lmk your top picks! More Ticket to Sarahdise top picks will be posted to TikTok this week. Otherwise… I’ll see you in 2024! Xoxo
hell yes! i’ve been working on my list all week too!
cheers to more in 2024 xx
So well written and curated ! I’ve been to only two of those restaurants- need to explore the rest! Thanks for leading me to the best restaurants in LA - and coffee!!