Cemita Di Milanesa
Harking to the Mexican state of Puebla and to northern Italy before that, the sandwich of breaded steak, avocado, adobo chile, and quesillo cheese comes on a sesame seed roll.
Where to get it:
Cemitas Poblanas Elvirita
3010 E 1st St., L.A., 323-881-0428
Cemitas La China Poblana
3568 Whittier Blvd., L.A., 323-263-8310
Angelicas Cemitas Originales (Truck)
10113 Venice Blvd., L.A., 213-909-4027
or
4132 West 5th St., L.A.
La Placita Del D.F.
1859 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, 323-780-8232
Shawarma
The Middle East is united in its love of spit-roasted, spice-rubbed meat. Wrapped in a pita and smeared with garlic sauce, it’s as popular in L.A. as it is in Beirut
Where to get it:
Al-Wazir Chicken
6051 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 323-856-0660
alwazirchicken.com
Ro Ro’s Chicken
6660 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. 323-461-9999
Shawarma Palace
8879 Pico Blvd., L.A., 310-777-0402
Ta-eem Grill
7422 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323-944-0013
Pho Dac Biet
For this comforting Vietnamese dish, slippery rice noodles are cooked in a beef broth. Customize it by adding bean sprouts, mint, basil, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime.
Where to get it:
Golden Deli
815 W Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel (626) 308-0803
Pho Hoa
818 N Spring St. L.A. (213) 485-0074
Nha Trang
311 E Valley Blvd., San Gabriel (626) 572-7638
Pho Filet
9463 Garvey Ave., El Monte (626) 453-8911
Pupusa
The grilled corn pancake—stuffed with cheese, stewed pork chicharrón, and loroco, an earthy flower—is El Salvador’s answer to the Mexican gordita.
Where to get it:
Atlacatl Restaurant
301 N Berendo St., L.A. (323) 663-1404
Conchitas Restaurant
2580 W Pico Blvd., L.A. (213) 384-4177
Don Lencho Restaurant
6119 S Normandie Ave., L.A. (323) 751-7533
Los Molcajetes
1800 W 8th St., L.A., 213-388-8994
or
2748 W Temple St., L.A., 213-386-4058
or
695 S Hoover St., L.A., 213-383-4782
or
5116 E Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323-268-9893
Soondubu JJigae
Known to soothe homesick Koreans, the hearty stew features tofu, egg, scallions, and rice simmered in a broth made with gochujang, a chili paste.
Where to get it:
So Kong Dong
2716 Olympic Blvd., L.A., 213-380-3737
BCD Tofu House
869 S Western Ave., L.A., 310-534-3480
or
3575 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 213-380-3807
Chunju Han-il Kwan
3450 6th St., L.A., 213-480-1799
Beverly Soon Tofu
2717 Olympic Blvd. L.A., 213-380-1113
Photographs by Jessica Boone
