Since Marymount girls are so excellent at discovering new restaurants and trendy spots around Los Angeles, we sought to discover the personal food preferences of our teachers. For those students searching for a new restaurant to visit or those just curious about where their teachers hang out, we asked Marymount teachers about their favorite restaurants in Los Angeles; we visited three, recommended by Ms. Kim, Mr. Baker, and Mrs. Kolstad.

Daikokuya in Little Tokyo, recommended by Ms. Kim

 On weekend nights, this area is often crowded, and the restaurant itself is no exception. We were greeted by a large crowd of people waiting in anticipation for their names to be called off of the list. Our wait was about an hour and a half. However, the time flew by really quickly because we were able to write down our names and explore Little Tokyo Plaza just across the street. There, you can enjoy some mochi, use a Japanese photo booth that makes you look almost like an anime character, and even participate in or listen to outdoor karaoke. Ava even bought a bright blue wig at a costume store.

Once we were finally seated, we ordered Daikokuya Ramen and the shredded pork bowl, which Ms. Kim suggested, and the vegetarian fried rice and yakisoba. The portions for food were pretty large but the prices were fair. We all started off with a cabbage salad, which featured an exceptional dressing of Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and a “special spice.” The ramen was the best that I have ever had, with a rich and flavorful broth, noodles that were not too limp, and even an egg.

Overall, everything was delicious and totally worth the long wait. This is a great restaurant to go to on a weekend night with friends, and it really lets you experience and explore Little Tokyo.

The Nook in West LA, recommended by Mr. Baker

 At first, we had some difficulty finding the restaurant because it was located in a strip mall and our directions claimed the address was for a Western Bagel. After sitting in the parking lot for thirty minutes, certain that Mr. Baker’s favorite restaurant could not just be a bagel shop, we finally mustered up the courage to walk around the somewhat sketchy parking lot and search for The Nook. Upon finding it, we came to understand that the name of the restaurant reflected its position in the corner of an unlikely location.

When we arrived, the restaurant was just opening for dinner, the only meal they serve, and we were the first ones there. This allowed us to get a feel for the minimalist decor featuring an industrial looking ceiling, secluded booths, and a warm ambiance. After a while, more people began to flow in, and we noticed that the restaurant seemed to attract many mid-twenty year olds out for dinner and drinks with friends.

The Nook brings an interesting twist to conventional wholesome American meals. The calamari had a citrus-soy dressing that gave it a tart flavor. The Nook Burger, recommended by Mr. Baker, features onion jam with an interesting red-wine flavor, gruyere cheese with arugula, and a toasted rustic bun. The Shiitake and Gruyere Bread Pudding was a unique and interesting take on a usually sweet dessert, and it came with cauliflower that was really delicious. All of the dishes had very large serving portions and were very filling, so we suggest sharing with a friend.

Overall, the restaurant is a great place to hang out with friends, and we spent about two hours there talking and eating. Although it’s location is unconventional for a hip restaurant, The Nook defies expectations. Reflecting on the parallels that this tumultuous experience shares with Mr. Baker’s treasured American History, Brooke Kaiserman ‘17 states, “Finding The Nook in this sketchy parking lot was like finding gold in California.”

Crossroads Kitchen in Melrose, recommended by Ms. Kolstad

The restaurant has a perfect location, right across the street from Duff’s Cake Mix and just blocks away from the trendy Paul Smith pink wall and the eco-friendly clothing store Reformation. The setting has chic ambiance, complete with orb chandeliers and stylish red velvet curtains. This great brunch spot has an entirely vegan and vegetarian menu, but non-vegans need not worry, because you will not miss the meat.

The “egg” sandwich on a croissant was perfectly flakey and flavorful with shiitake bacon. Ms. Kolstad’s favorite item on the menu is the Jann’s Bagel, an everything bagel with almond cream cheese, smoked heirloom carrot lox, red onions, and capers. It really did taste just like a bagel with lox because of the incredibly unique and smokey flavor. These meals were unlike any conventional vegan meal because they were very filling and flavorful.

We also got a chocolate bread pudding, which was so delicious it was gone within seconds, and a coconut sorbet drizzled with frozen chocolate. The food was kind of expensive because it was a high-end vegan restaurant, but it was worth it to splurge. Overall, Crossroads Kitchen is a great find for vegans searching for a new trendy spot and for those non-vegans looking to try something new but not sacrifice flavor. It is a perfect place to grab a delicious bite to eat on a shopping day in Melrose.

We really enjoyed visiting all of these restaurants, and we found that they perfectly matched the personality of each teacher who recommended them. Each one of these spots would give you both great food and a great experience.