LAFeature
photo credit: Benji Dell
As it stands now, you currently have two choices when it comes to takeout food. You can either eat it:
At home, or
In your car.
While you could technically go eat in a park or something, it was literally 95 degrees yesterday (also, birds), so none of these are exactly stellar options. And unless you’re literally Dakota Johnson, chances are, your dining experiences these last few months have been… lackluster? Kind of depressing? A pitiful sight to both your FBI agent and your dog?
But instead of sulking, we made this: A list of our favorite playlists, candles, plates, cups, napkins, hot sauces, and even essential oils from various LA restaurants that will hopefully make eating at home suck a little less. Because while you can’t transform your studio apartment into Kismet or Woon, you can at least feel like you’re having a meal there.
photo credit: Benji Dell
Ask any hygge expert: The key to a warm, comfortable environment (that sucks way less) is found through transforming your space.
Flowers
Bloom & Plume — Hand Ties Arrangements ($20-$45)
Cookbook Market — Build Your Own Bouquet
Kismet — Peads & Barnetts’ Bouquet ($35)
Candles
Found Oyster — Rukske “Hiroko” Candle ($60)
Harun Coffee — No. 7 Candle ($52)
Yang’s Kitchen — Handmade “Kahlua Milk” Candle ($25)
Playlists
El Cochinito — “Havana in Silver Lake”
The Infatuation — “Cocktail Party (Of One)”
Woon — “Noon to Woonlight”
photo credit: Benji Dell
No offense to your current dinnerware, but you deserve beautiful, hand-made artisan goods. Even if you’re just eating Chef Boyardee.
Cups
Kensho — Sake/tea/espresso cups ($20)
Napkins
Woon — Linen Napkin Sets by Suay Sew Shop ($56)
Plates
Yang’s Kitchen — 6.5″ Handmade Ceramic Plate ($20)
photo credit: Benji Dell
Sauces, spices, and seasonings straight from the kitchens of your favorite restaurants. It’s kind of like you’re the tall, skinny chef in “Ratatouille,” and they’re Remy.
Hot Sauce
Bar Amá’ — Bus Driver Hot Sauce ($12) Pick-up only
Hambone’s — Hambone’s Moonshine BBQ Sauce ($5-$10)
Here’s Looking At You — 8oz Hot Togarashi Spice ($10)
Janga By Derrick’s — “Famous” Jamaican Jerk Sauce ($7.75)
Lee Esther’s — Hot Pepper Sauce and Seasoning ($15)
Spices
Azla Vegan — Berbere Spice Blend ($18)
Bludso’s — Original Dry Rubs ($8)
Now Serving — Diaspora Co. Single-Origin Pragati Turmeric ($12)
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
We’ve actually got a few guides for this. Encyclopedic knowledge of words like “tannin” and “mouth-feel” not included.
If you’re, how do we put this - less culinarily inclined than most (or just have some time to kill), here are some step-by-step instructions on how to prepare restaurant food at home.
Needle – Char Siu Kit
Pasjoli — Welcome To Your Duck Press
Sogo Roll Bar — How To Make Hand Rolls
photo credit: Benji Dell
Because we gotta have a cool merch section.
Face Masks
Compton Vegan — $20
Maury’s — Easy Tie-Back Face Mask ($19)
Sqirl — $20
Essential Oils
Harun Coffee — Grapefruit ($25)
Lunch On Me — Healing Love Body Oils ($25)
Hand Sanitizer
If candles, playlists, how-to videos, and house-made hand sanitizers weren’t enough to fill that restaurant-shaped hole in your heart, here’s some internet content to tide you over for the next two years. Just kidding. Maybe?
Restaurant Sounds
General Content (That Doesn't Suck)
“A Tale Of Two Kitchens” — A Netflix documentary following the kitchens of Chef Gabriela Cámara in San Francisco and Mexico City.
“This American Life” — Podcast episode chronicling a day in the life of Chicago’s Golden Apple diner.
This Ana Fabrega Twitter Video — So funny. So true.
photo credit: Benji Dell
We’re not going to tell you what to wear. Not our lane, sorry.
Suggested Reading
The Historic Filipinotown restaurant is now offering a brand-new prix-fixe menu - save this one for a special occasion.
Tired of ordering the same thing? Try takeout or delivery from one of these 33 spots instead.
We missed one of the best new burgers in LA. You let us know. Consider this an apology.