Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.
For a refreshing shaved ice to cool off from the heat wave: Anko
Los Angeles has been in a heatwave for the better part of a week now and temperatures are not expected to drop for another few days. So what’s the solution for this weekend? Shaved ice. Anko is an excellent option if you’re getting shaved ice solo or with a friend or two (I even included it as one of my favorite places for shaved ice in the city). The portion isn’t massive like other spots; the focus leans into quality ingredients. My favorite is the strawberry mascarpone flavor, an ideal combination of creamy and sweet balanced by refreshing tartness that feels fancier than its parts. The shaved ice itself is impossibly fluffy, hiding a mound of fresh, diced strawberries underneath that you can further amplify with the accompanying strawberry sauce. There’s also a mango shaved ice, a classic milk flavor paired with red beans and mochi, or hojicha with chestnut cream. Pair any shaved ice with a yuzu lemonade and I promise you’ll feel, at least temporarily, cooler. 400 S. Western Avenue, Suite 103, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a casual Lebanese dinner with beer and wine: Skaf’s
I’ve been a longtime fan of Skaf’s in Glendale, a family-owned Lebanese spot with kofta, kebab, and more. Now, the owner’s sons have gone out on their own to open Skaf’s on York at the border of Highland Park and Eagle Rock. The restaurant retains plenty of the favorites from its progenitor, including juicy shaved shawarma and lamb chops, while adding its own touches, like a spiced burger with garlic and tahini sauce. Take advantage of a nice day by grabbing a seat outside and trying one of the Lebanese wines or a pot of fresh mint tea. 4753 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90042. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For mochi doughnuts and extraordinary coffee on the Central Coast: Kin Bakeshop
There’s still time to take in the summer delights of the Central Coast, especially in Santa Barbara. While there, venture slightly up the 101 and into Kin Bakeshop for its mochi doughnuts, matcha lattes, and creamy Einspänner coffee — just plan to arrive early to have your choice of the bunch. Beyond its baked goods, Kin’s striking minimalist room makes it one of the most frequented cafes in the area. A projector keeps the menu lit on the wall; busy workers emerge from the kitchen calling names with a designated drink placed on a wooden tray. Always check Kin’s Instagram stories to see what mochi doughnut flavors they’ve got in store, which could be filled with passion fruit, Dubai chocolate, or Vietnamese coffee and cream. Staff might even line up some brioche doughnuts, depending on the mood. This is one of the better known pandemic pop-up-to-permanent businesses in Santa Barbara; owners Tommy Chang and Will Chen debuted on Hollister Avenue and Turnpike Road in 2023. 199 S. Turnpike Road, Unit 103, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
For a true community dinner in Altadena: Betsy
Betsy, a revived Altadena dinner destination from restaurateur Tyler Wells, has fed its community in more ways than one. Over the last week since its reopening, Altadenans, some still displaced after the raging Eaton Fire tore through many of the area’s homes and businesses in January 2025, have stepped into a restaurant that surrounds its guests with warmth — not least significantly from the fire it keeps in a central roaring hearth. Here, though, the flames feel like a salve — a sign that sources of light can always be found. Betsy’s rebirth — it opened as Bernee 31 days before Eaton struck — is just that: a beacon for a community in early phases of a long rebuild. Everything on the menu gets sourced locally, meaning the menu will change frequently: The night we went, a peak-season tomato salad provided bursts of tang and sweetness against a rippled mound of burrata. Charred broccolini created another form of heat through its chili-crunch topper. Swordfish felt as formidable as steak when treated like one over an open flame. The Basque cheesecake arrived extra blackened but still supple enough on the inside. Come to support a restaurant that uplifts its neighbors; come again because it’s actually pretty damn good. 875 E. Mariposa Street, Altadena, CA 91001. — Nicole Adlman, Eater editorial manager