Editor’s Note: For our May issue of SCNG Premium Magazine, L.A. native and not-so-secret foodie Tyler Shaun Evains offered up her personal recommendations for some of her favorite Black-owned restaurants around the region. Feast your eyes on her top picks:
The Flavor Table
Seafood for breakfast, anyone? What to try at this Creole spot in South Central that opens early morning:
Shrimp and grits: Their version is really shrimp étouffée with the rice swapped out for the hominy porridge. Short ribs and smothered pork chops are the other “over grits” options on the menu – what more can I say?
Crab and shrimp omelet: You can get it smothered in that Cajun gravy (étouffée sauce) for a few extra bucks.
Fried catfish and shrimp combo: Just perfectly crisp, Louisiana-style deliciousness served with eggs, country potatoes or grits, and a biscuit.
There’s a long list of items for the typical breakfast-lover: buttermilk pancakes, caramel or peach cobbler French toast, ham steak, garlic chicken sausage, salmon croquettes, and much more.
The Flavor Table, 2812 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.
Red’s Flavor Table (takeout only), 254 N. Market St., Suite A, Inglewood; open the same days, but closes at 3 p.m.
My 2 Cents LA
My 2 Cents LA puts a West Coast spin on Southern soul food with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. What to try:
Oxtail tacos: They will melt in your mouth after first making it water. Super-tender braised beef is absorbed in a whiskey reduction. Enough said.
Under the menu’s Tacos Negros section – yes, Black tacos – you’ll also find agave jerk shrimp, catfish, fried green tomato, plantain and callaloo, as well as the classic ground turkey and cheese.
Club sandwich: What may seem like an unlikely pick at a place like this is just simplicity done right. It comes with fried chicken breast, turkey bacon and a sweet barbecue remoulade, lettuce and red onion on an Italian bread roll – but ask instead to make it grilled with applewood bacon, trust me.
Vegan peach cobbler: They have a with-dairy option too, don’t worry.
My 2 Cents LA, 5583 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles; 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday.
Simply Wholesome
Caribbean-esque health food restaurant and store in the South Central/Inglewood area. What to try:
Jamaican patties: You can’t go wrong with either the cabbage or chicken patty. The cabbage is seasoned perfectly, while the chicken has a mild curry flavor; the flaky dough ties it all together.
Smoothies and slushes: There are so many to choose from I don’t remember which is my favorite. Kwesi’s Special blends pineapple, coconut, banana, strawberry and ice cream in a way I’ve never tasted anywhere else. And, Simply Wholesome is the only place I’ve seen and ordered a 32-ounce smoothie – it’s bigger than it sounds.
An all-day menu features breakfast (until 1 p.m. daily, 3 p.m. on Sundays) including meatless and eggless options for vegetarians and vegans.
For lunch and dinner, there are great options like the salmon fajita wrap, lentil burger and Island Delight; chicken, fish or vegetables in marinara sauce with rice and peas, macaroni pie (a firmer, more spiced Caribbean version of macaroni and cheese), West Indian potato salad and plantains.
Simply Wholesome, 4508 W Slauson Ave., Los Angeles; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The health food store closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Honorable mentions
- Baba’s Vegan Cafe, 6619 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
- Fixins Soul Kitchen, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A150, Los Angeles
- Grilled Fraiche, 5800 West Blvd., Los Angeles
- L.A. Taco House, 3775 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
- Mr. Fries Man, 14800 S. Western Ave., Suite 108, Gardena
- Post & Beam, 3767 Santa Rosalia Drive, Los Angeles
- The Serving Spoon, 1403 Centinela Ave., Inglewood
- Stevie’s Creole Café, 5545 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
- Taco Mell, 4326 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles
