Eater Editors Reveal Their Favorite LA Dishes This Week

From a decadent dating tahini shake to a towering garlic bread, these are the standout bites the Eater team loved.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Eater editors in Los Angeles share the best dishes they ate this week, including a creamy dating tahini shake from Meymuni Cafe, a mountain of garlic-Parmesan bread from Donna's, a tender steak frites from Budonoki, and a smoky barbecue bacon smash burger from Third Window Brewing in Santa Barbara.

Why it matters

This roundup offers a glimpse into the vibrant and diverse dining scene in Los Angeles, highlighting both new and beloved local establishments that are impressing the city's top food critics and editors.

The details

The editors sampled a range of dishes, from a refreshing Persian-inspired shake at the newish Meymuni Cafe to a decadent garlic bread piled high with Parmesan at the Echo Park hotspot Donna's. They also raved about the tender steak frites at the inventive Budonoki restaurant in Virgil Village and the smoky barbecue bacon smash burger from Third Window Brewing in nearby Santa Barbara.

  • The editors visited these restaurants and sampled the dishes this week.

The players

Meymuni Cafe

A newish Persian cafe in West Los Angeles that has become a hub for the local Iranian community, serving stacked sandwiches, lavash wraps, smoothies, and coffee drinks.

Donna's

A popular restaurant in Echo Park known for its crusty sourdough garlic bread topped with mountains of Parmesan cheese.

Budonoki

An inventive restaurant in Virgil Village that impresses visitors with its creative dishes, including a standout steak frites.

Third Window Brewing

A brewery in Santa Barbara that serves a delicious barbecue bacon smash burger made with wagyu beef from a local ranch.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Dating Tahini shake, which mixes almond milk, tahini, banana, dates, date molasses, and 15 grams of whey protein to glorious effect, did not last on our table for even five minutes. This is one of the best date shakes you can find outside of Palm Springs and the greater Coachella Valley, and a must-get if you crave date shakes year-round as I do.”

— Nicole Fellah, Eater editorial manager (Eater)

“'Garlic bread' feels like an understatement for the half loaf of crusty sourdough from Out of Thin Air crowned with a mountain of Parmesan at Donna's in Echo Park. The top of the loaf gets entirely obscured by a shower of finely grated cheese, which then roots into the scored crust; garlic-laden butter melts between each layer, soaking each slice.”

— Rebecca Roland, Deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest (Eater)

“Budnoki had steak frites as a special on the night we visited, glazed with a tangy Bordelaise sauce and topped with chives so expertly chopped they would be praised on the Kitchen Confidential subreddit. The beef itself arrived remarkably tender and my ideal shade of red in the center; paired with hot and crispy fries, it's a combination that's hard to beat.”

— Kat Thompson, Audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest (Eater)

“Third Window Brewing not only has a fantastic patio to try beer, cider, and wine, but also raises its own wagyu cattle from FP Ranch in Los Olivos. That's the base of its gloriously smoky barbecue bacon smash burger, which has a light kick of heat and beautiful lacy edges.”

— Mona Holmes, Editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest (Eater)

The takeaway

This roundup showcases the diverse and innovative dining options available in the Los Angeles area, from creative Persian-inspired drinks to decadent Italian-American comfort foods. It highlights the city's thriving food culture and the passion of its top food critics and editors for discovering the best dishes the region has to offer.