March 25th - 29th, 2026
So LA is well known for its food scene, and this spring break I had the opportunity to try out dishes from a variety of cuisines. Recently, i’ve become obsessed with the app Beli where you rank restaurants and get a map of restaurants you’ve visited.
Flamebachi
Located next to my hotel, this restaurant specializes in hibachi. I ordered a fried rice bowl with seared tuna and grilled veggies with garlic butter and lava sauce. The garlic butter made the texture of the tuna more indulgent and rich, and the lava sauce was told to be “extremely spicy” but I personally did not find it spicy. Maybe I just have a higher spice tolerance from Chinese food. Still enjoyed it, though. If i ever go to LA again, I’ll definitely be hitting Flamebachi up.
It’s Boba Time
About a 5-minute walk from my hotel, I decided to come here and grab some boba since I was craving some. I wasn’t in the mood for something too sugary or heavy, so I got the blue butterfly lemonade tea with popping boba. Always loved popping boba, especially the texture and how it bursts in my mouth.
CAVA
After a morning of museum hopping, I decided to head right over to USC village to grab some food. i’ve always wanted to try CAVA, since it seems pretty popular right now. I feel like it’s kinda like Sweetgreen, but more Mediterranean. I believe I got a harissa chicken bowl. It’s not jaw-droppingly good, but I would definitely eat there again.
Yobosoyo Superette
After grabbing CAVA, I decided to visit this nearby tea shop. I love how it has so many creative drink ideas, including yuzu cold brew. I was tempted to grab a yuzu cold brew, but I was cutting back on my caffiene. So I grabbed a yuzu matcha spritz instead. It came with lychee jelly and I added crystal boba. Very refreshing for a such hot day.
Corporation Food Hall Ramen Bar
I ordered black garlic ramen with tempura shrimp. I love the smoked flavor that black garlic gives, and the crunchiness and texture of tempura shrimp. And that jammy egg? Chef’s kiss. Only problem though was that it’s very filling, which made it harder to finish at the end. I was able to finish all the noodles and toppings, but not the soup.
Pho @ Vietnamese Restaurant in Chinatown
I ordered pho with all the toppings: meatball, tendon, tripe. I added in mint leaves, green peppers, bean sprouts, and lime juice - as well as chili oil. Never really been a fan of hoisin or sriracha, I think they’re too sweet. I feel like it tastes pretty authentic and sometimes you gotta stray off the beaten path, look at something beyond TikTok recommendations, to find the best food.
vitacane
Initially, I was hesitant to get something from here because I thought it would be overly sweet and I’m more of a savory person. But I’m all about trying new things. I got a raspberry limojito pressed sugarcane juice and it was packed with flavor. Not too sweet at all. I wish I added more toppings, though.
Inka Wasi
I visited Inka Wasi, a Peruvian restaurant not far from my hotel. I got a ceviche w/ squid, shrimp, and fish. I like seafood, especially seafood with ✨texture✨. It was a nice cold and savory dish for a hot day, and very authentic as well.
Din Tai Fung
Saw this place trending all over Insta and TikTok. So naturally, I had to go. Lowkey going here humbled me because it showed me how bad I am at using chopsticks. The food was good, but pretty filling. I think my favorite was the seaweed and bean curd salad.
Ice cream shop @ Santa Monica mall
This ice cream shop was called “the best ice cream in America”, so I wanted to try it and see if it was really true. Got matcha ice cream. I do feel like it was good, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best in America. I feel like Jeni’s is better.
Rosemary Grill
Finally, I visited this Mediterranean restaurant that’s about a 7-minute walk from my hotel. I ordered a salmon wrap with fries on the side and I thought the hummus was alright, but the garlic sauce SLAPPED. As a spice fiend, I loved trying out their variety of hot sauces. There’s a special place in my heart for Mediterranean food, especially with how creamy and flavorful it is.