# Need odd food places in LA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485 "2009-09-09T22:12:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/1 "2009-09-09T22:12:57Z")
And I dont mean places like The Stinking Rose, which is certainly on my list. No, I am interested in trying out a lot of ethnic and regional foods that I’ve always heard about and never eaten. I don’t want to buy the items at a market and make it at home because I’m not a great cook, though I like to experiment. Mostly, I’m hoping people can recommend places in and around Los Angeles that serve the following: Haggis Blood and kidney pie, or steak and kidney, or blood or any combination thereof Rocky Mountain Oysters Southern style chitlins (I eat the asian style all the time, but never the southern style) Lutefisk Horse (don’t know if this is even legal here) Scorpions on a stick Any kind of Jewish food (Matzo ball soup, paella, things I’ve seen on Seinfeld…) Swordfish Can anyone help me out? ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/2 "2009-09-09T23:31:52Z")
I can’t help with most of that, but finding Jewish food shouldn’t be difficult, and I’m not sure you can consider it “odd” when there’s probably a Jewish deli in most L.A. areas. Canter’s in Hollywood on Fairfax is probably the most well known. Brent’s Deli is a good one in the San Fernando Valley. But you shouldn’t have to look too hard no matter what part of town you’re in. Paella is Spanish, by the way, not Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/3 "2009-09-09T23:39:44Z")
Is swordfish really hard to find there? It is a mainstream (if not expensive) restaurant fish everywhere I have lived. I don’t live within a few thousand miles of LA but I would bet that higher end seafood restaurants have it. You can even buy it in many regular supermarkets in the Boston area and just grill them with salt and olive oil. It doesn’t take much skill at all. I have never seen horse meat for sale in the U.S. You might have to go across the Atlantic for that. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/4 "2009-09-09T23:43:26Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > I can’t help with most of that, but finding Jewish food shouldn’t be difficult, and I’m not sure you can consider it “odd” when there’s probably a Jewish deli in most L.A. areas. Canter’s in Hollywood on Fairfax is probably the most well known. Brent’s Deli is a good one in the San Fernando Valley. But you shouldn’t have to look too hard no matter what part of town you’re in. > > Paella is Spanish, by the way, not Jewish. It’s odd in that I really dont frequent the areas that have an abundance of Jewish delis, and I’ve always thought the delis just serve meats and sandwiches. No idea of the soup and stuff it offers. I’m not sure kosher meat is too different from regular meat So the Costanza’s are Spanish? 😛 > [@Shagnasty](#): > > Is swordfish really hard to find there? It is a mainstream (if not expensive) restaurant fish everywhere I have lived. I don’t live within a few thousand miles of LA but I would bet that higher end seafood restaurants have it. You can even buy it in many regular supermarkets in the Boston area and just grill them with salt and olive oil. It doesn’t take much skill at all. > > I have never seen horse meat for sale in the U.S. You might have to go across the Atlantic for that. I know of one restaurant that has swordfish on the menu, but its a fairly high class place in downtown and its seasonal, I think. I’m looking for a more low-class version, if possible, because I don’t want to spend $30 on an entree of swordfish that I won’t like. Maybe $10 swordfish sandwich. But I’ll spend the money if I can’t get it anywhere else ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/5 "2009-09-09T23:51:52Z")
True Haggis is hard to find, as the sheep’s stomach is not considered food by the FDA I believe. You can get Haggis at some Scottish Highland games and Ren Faires - but it comes as a sausage. I get chitterlings at R&R soul food in Carson: 18427 Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746 Swordfish you can get at any good fish market. Steak & Kidney Pie - The Kings Head in Santa Monica [http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/](http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/6 "2009-09-09T23:53:44Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > It’s odd in that I really dont frequent the areas that have an abundance of Jewish delis, and I’ve always thought the delis just serve meats and sandwiches. No idea of the soup and stuff it offers. I’m not sure kosher meat is too different from regular meat I think you’d probably be surprised! Unless, of course, you spend all your time in Watts. Hell, there’s even a famous Jewish deli near downtown by MacArthur Park (Langer’s). Yes, you can get matzoh ball soup at any of them, along with a wide variety of other Jewish delicacies with fun names (latkes, kreplach, etc.). The matzoh ball soup at Canter’s is pretty good, but for the best in the world, you’d have to go to Baltimore and get my mom to make some for you. You might want to ask at the boards at Chowhound. [http://chowhound.chow.com/boards](http://chowhound.chow.com/boards) Very active boards and people who really know the restaurants in this city very well. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/7 "2009-09-09T23:54:02Z")
Jewish deli food in LA? There are couple of places, but Langer’s on South Alvarado is the best. There is also Nate & Al’s, Canter’s, and a number of others. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/8 "2009-09-09T23:54:31Z")
What part of town do you live in? ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/9 "2009-09-10T02:26:03Z")
I doubt you’ll find scorpions, but Guelaguetza on Sepulveda and Palms is an Oaxacan restaurant that serves fried grasshoppers. And I know it’s not on your list, but Furaibo on Sawtelle and Olympic is a Japanese pub that serves a lot of authentic food that you definitely won’t find at a sushi joint. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/10 "2009-09-10T15:14:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Is swordfish really hard to find there? It is a mainstream (if not expensive) restaurant fish everywhere I have lived. I don’t live within a few thousand miles of LA but I would bet that higher end seafood restaurants have it. You can even buy it in many regular supermarkets in the Boston area and just grill them with salt and olive oil. It doesn’t take much skill at all. I’ve only seen it in 2 places, and one of them was only temporary. Its not really in any market I go to, but I go to the more mainstream American and Chinese markets so maybe I need to find somewhere that specializes. Actually, after watching the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld, I’ve always wanted to try some porcini mushrooms but EVERYWHERE I go only has the regular kind, the italian brown, portabellos, oysters, and shiitake mushrooms. Its rare that I find any other kind. > [@Anamorphic](#): > > I think you’d probably be surprised! Unless, of course, you spend all your time in Watts. Hell, there’s even a famous Jewish deli near downtown by MacArthur Park (Langer’s). Yes, you can get matzoh ball soup at any of them, along with a wide variety of other Jewish delicacies with fun names (latkes, kreplach, etc.). The matzoh ball soup at Canter’s is pretty good, but for the best in the world, you’d have to go to Baltimore and get my mom to make some for you. That reminds me, another Seinfeld reference, do they have a (not sure of spelling) “canesh”? > [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > What part of town do you live in? I’m out in the suburbs east of LA about 20 miles out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/11 "2009-09-10T15:25:36Z")
If you like fusion cuisine, here’s a New York Times [article](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/dining/25taco.html) about a Korean taco truck. ---
**Author:** ![BaconAndEggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/12 "2009-09-10T16:12:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If you like fusion cuisine, here’s a New York Times [article](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/dining/25taco.html) about a Korean taco truck. I love Kogi! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/13 "2009-09-10T16:21:36Z")
Paella at Versailles, if it still interests you. > **[Home](https://versaillescubanfood.com/)** > > In light of the current situation, the well-being of our staff and guests is our top priority. To keep yourself and others healthy, we are taking extra steps to be vigilant. This includes heightening our cleaning and sanitation standards, and... ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/14 "2009-09-10T16:56:14Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That reminds me, another Seinfeld reference, do they have a (not sure of spelling) “canesh”? Not in LA to give you any help, but it’s a “knish”; basically a doughnut with yummy mashed potatoes inside. Mmmmmm, carb bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/15 "2009-09-10T18:47:42Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > Paella is Spanish, by the way, not Jewish. Seeing as most paellas on these shores are loaded with either chorizo or shellfish, that’s probably for the better. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-odd-food-places-in-la/509485/16 "2009-09-12T14:35:38Z")
I’ve heard good things about Genghis Cohen (on Fairfax near Melrose).