63 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Los Angeles

Roast beef sandwiches encompass a large variety of sandwiches filled with roasted and sliced beef as their main ingredient. They may be served hot or cold. The meat should be succulent, slightly pink, and thinly sliced, while the buns are typically soft and topped with sesame seeds or onion pieces. As for the toppings, anything is possible, but in Boston, where roast beef sandwiches are one of the area's specialties, they are traditionally topped with cheese, barbecue sauce, and mayonnaise (called a three way when served together).Expand

The most popular food of the Southern cuisine, fried chicken is the theme of many arguments where everyone involved seems to have a favorite, be it what their mothers used to make, a cult roadside eatery, or a bygone restaurant. However, it is universally agreed that the meat must be moist, succulent, and tender, coated with a crunchy, golden-brown crust. It all started during the colonization period, when Scottish immigrants settled in the South, bringing their fried chicken recipes along. The African slaves then introduced new seasonings and spices, and the dish quickly gained popularity. Typical seasonings include salt, pepper, and hot chiles, and the pieces of meat should be edible by hand so that the consumer can bite both the crust and the meat at the same time. The birds must be fresh and smaller in size, as the meat will be much more tender and the proportion of crust to meat will be perfectly balanced. Once the chicken parts are hot, crispy, and ready to be consumed, they are traditionally accompanied by buttered biscuits, Southern potato salad, mashed potatoes, or cream gravy on the side.Expand

Korean galbi includes various dishes made with beef short ribs, and this version differs in the specific cut of meat. Unlike the traditional galbi in which the ribs are sliced along the bones (also known as the English cut), in L.A. galbi, the ribs are cut across the bones into thin strips. The ribs should be marinated, typically in different combinations of soy sauce, onions, and Asian pears, and are then grilled over charcoal. Two main theories explain the origin and the name of L.A. galbi. While the less popular claims that the name stems from the lateral cut, it has been widely accepted that the dish initially appeared among the Korean community in Los Angles. The dish is now equally popular throughout South Korea. Like its traditional counterpart, L.A. galbi is also served with rice and various side dishes (banchan).Expand

A chicken sandwich consists of chicken, either a fillet or patty, various toppings, and bread. The meat can be white or dark meat (usually thigh meat is used when it's dark meat) and be shredded, deep-fried, roasted, or grilled; even cold cuts can be used. On the other hand, bread can be any bread, either bread slices cut from a loaf, a bun, or a roll. The chicken sandwich can be served hot or cold. Numerous variations exist, so there are also chicken wraps and open-faced versions of the chicken sandwich. Regarding origin, although Truett Cathy (the founder of the fast food chain Chick-fil-A) has proclaimed himself as the inventor, that is not true — the chicken sandwich is much older than the 1940s, and the truth is we do not know when and by who it was created. There are many types of chicken sandwiches in the US, such as Ohio's shredded chicken sandwich. Also, hamburger joints often offer chicken sandwiches as an alternative to beef. Those sandwiches are prepared the same as hamburgers and can be found on menus under such names as "chicken burger" and "chicken on the bun". But when it comes to famous variations worldwide, there are also many. For example, in Ireland, there's the chicken fillet roll consisting of a baguette filled with breaded and fried chicken. In Eastern Canada, there's the hot chicken sandwich which is a chicken sandwich covered in gravy, often accompanied by peas, and eaten with a knife and fork. And in Mexico and Venezuela, there's the pepito, a roll or bun filled with either beef or chicken and beans.Expand

French dip is a Californian sandwich that, despite its name, doesn't have much to do with France, except for the fact that it is served au jus, a French expression meaning with juice/broth. The sandwich consists of thinly sliced roast beef (alternatively, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, or ham), black pepper, mustard, and horseradish on a long white French roll (or a baguette) that has been dipped into pan juices or gravy. Sometimes, Swiss, American, Monterey Jack, or blue cheese is added to further enhance its flavors. The usual accompaniments include coleslaw, potato, and macaroni salad, hard-boiled eggs, sweet or sour pickles, black olives, and yellow chile peppers. The sandwich was invented by Philippe Mathieu, the owner of an L.A.-based deli and sandwich shop called Philippe the Original, who unintentionally dropped the sandwich into a roasting pan full of drippings and served it to a hungry policeman. The policeman returned the next day and brought his friends along to try this new delicacy, and the French dip sandwich was born. Today, it is so popular that it has spread across the country, all the way over to beef-mad cities such as Montreal, New York, Toronto, and Wichita.Expand

Pastrami on rye is New York's signature sandwich and a staple of many Jewish delis. This simple sandwich traditionally consists of delicate pastrami slices that are placed on rye bread, then topped with spicy mustard, and the whole thing is typically accompanied by kosher dill pickles on the side. It was originally invented in 1888 by a Lithuanian immigrant named Sussman Volk, who was also the owner of one of the first delis in New York City. Today, Katz's Delicatessen is believed to be the best place for a great pastrami on rye sandwich.Expand

Invented at the same time in 1980 by Ed LaDou and the chefs at the famous restaurant Chez Panisse, this type of pizza is characterized by combining New York and Italian thin crust with unique and unusual topping combinations. The crust is light, airy, and tender, while the toppings range from chicken and shrimps to peanut sauce, barbecue sauce, goat cheese, and pineapples. California-style pizza should be paired with beer or white wines, including the sparkling varieties.Expand

Lobster roll is a Maine specialty consisting of cooked lobster meat that is, ideally, drizzled with melted butter and placed into long hot dog rolls. Additionally, the sandwich might include lettuce, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Traditional accompaniments include potato chips or french fries on the side. Some claim that lobster roll first appeared at Perry's in Milford, Connecticut, while others claim it was first prepared at Red's in Wiscasset, Maine. Regardless of the origins, the entire state of Maine continues to honor the tradition by offering more version of lobster rolls than the first inventor could have possibly imagined, starting an endless debate over how it should be made and who makes the best rolls. For example, most Mainers eat the roll filled with cold lobster salad made with mayonnaise, sometimes with the addition of diced celery and no melted butter whatsoever.Expand

Chili burger is a variety of hamburger consisting of a bun and a meat patty that is topped with chili con carne, although the chili might also be served on the side. The hamburger is served open-faced in some places, and it is often topped with cheese and onions, while fries are usually served as an accompaniment. It is believed that chili burger was invented in the 1920s by Thomas M. DeForest in Los Angeles.Expand