'Ka ni Kim

We flew out of Texas for the second leg of our trip in California. The plan was to split the time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Here are a few of our favorites from LA and nearby, from hash browns to lobster rolls.

Eggslut

Located in the well-beloved (if a bit touristy) Grand Central Market, Eggslut has been offering up breakfast sandwiches and all things egg-y since 2011. The suggestive name unsurprisingly means “someone who loves eggs”.

I had a Slut, their signature dish which gives people to chance to giggle about saying phrases like “I had a Slut.” The two components of the Slut are the coddled egg layer on top of potato puree and the crunchy baguettes with a drizzle of oil and some avocado slices.

Being a specialty shop, the food is a bit pricy. A Slut goes for $9 while sandwiches range from $6 to $9. We were willing to shell it out for the experience, and it was a good first breakfast in LA.

Learn more about Eggslut on the Grand Central Market website, their Facebook page, and their Instagram.

China Cafe

Also found in the Grand Central Market is China Cafe. They’re easy to spot with their neon signs and menu that have been up ever since they opened in 1959. China Cafe serves Chinese-American comfort food, and a lot of it. Every meal comes with some steaming, savory soup. I inhaled some chow mein there and ended up taking some home. One plate could easily feed two people. We also split an order of fried dumplings.

In addition to chow mein and wontons, this historical spot has a variety of other noodle dishes, fried rice options, chop sueys, and ala carte specials. You’re definitely getting bang for your buck at around $10-20 a plate.

Get more information about China Cafe on the Grand Central Market website.

Meyers Manx Cafe

On our second day in LA, we planned to visit the LA County Museum of Art. Before checking out the exhibits and the always-lit Urban Light installation, we had breakfast across the street at the Meyerx Manx Cafe. It’s attached to the Petersen Automotive Museum, and is aptly named after the “Original Dune Buggy”.

We ordered a breakfast burrito ($15) and an avocado toast ($12) to share – both deceptively filling. We loved the small selection of hot sauces at each table, with varying degrees of heat and slightly different flavors.

Expect to spend about $20-30 a person, including one of their coffees or cocktails. Their full menu is available on their website. It’s a great stop pre- or post-Petersen Museum, but if that’s not on your agenda, no worries – you don’t need a museum ticket to dine at the cafe.

Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

The Albright

This one is not quite LA, but a bus and a train ride will get you there. Santa Monica is a relaxed little beach town about an hour from Downtown LA. Naturally, we had to chow down on some seafood when we took a day trip there.

The locally-owned Albright sits right there on the pier and has been serving sustainable seafood since 1977. According to reviews, the lobster rolls are a must-try, so we got two different kinds at around $22 each. We also had their calamari ($13), which comes with some delightfully tangy chipotle aioli for dipping.

My other must-try was their New England calm chowder soup – simply because I think all clam chowders are beautiful. It set us back $7 and came with a pack of oyster crackers. It was a perfect “soup and sandwich” combo for an early lunch by the sea.

See the full picture menu and more on the Albright website and follow them on Instagram for updates.