LAGuide
5 Places To Pick Up A Lobster Roll Right Now
Five of our favorite lobster rolls in Los Angeles.
The prospect of cooking a lobster at home is daunting. They look like ocean cockroaches, and - wait, you have to steam them? Like, alive? Still, the thought has probably crossed your mind; it’s summertime, after all, and nothing pairs better with 90-degree days than some sweet, sweet lobster meat. But we’ve got a better idea - here are five great places to pick up a lobster roll this week.
The Spots
The last time you were tempted to order lobster at a drive-thru, it didn’t work out so well. But this time you’re going to Broad Street Oyster Co., the excellent seafood shack in Malibu that’s been running an actual, real-life drive-thru out of their dining room. Their lobster rolls come hot (Connecticut-style, if you’re keeping track of weird New England varietals) with hot drawn butter, or cold (Maine-style) with a bit of mayo. Both are great. They’re each served simply, on a lightly toasted bun with some lemon, and we’re not sure there’s a better - or heavier - $22 lobster roll around. Call-ahead orders available weekdays by dialing (424) 644-0131, or simply drive up.
If Broad Street is a lesson in simplicity, Found Oyster shows how great lobster can be when you dress it up. In this case, with a bit of bisque. This East Hollywood spot is serving kits to make their bisque rolls at home, and after minimal assembly, you’ll have a Martin’s potato roll stuffed with hunks of knuckle and claw meat that have been doused in buttery lobster bisque mayo and spicy serrano peppers. It’s worth the extra effort. Order ahead via their website.
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OK - so Court Cafe doesn’t serve a lobster roll. But once you taste their fried lobster tail and waffle, you’ll know why it’s on this list. They fry the lobster tail until it’s crunchy but still moist, and throw it on top of a waffle that’s crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. It’s topped with a sprig of rosemary, and comes with approximately a half a pound of their excellent peach cobbler butter, which somehow goes perfectly with the salty fried lobster.
Probably the most substantial lobster roll on this list, West Hollywood seafood spot Connie and Ted’s serves a simple, mayo-based roll that goes heavy on knuckle meat. Which we really appreciate, since the knuckles are the best part of the lobster. A big part of what makes us love this one are the tremendous steak fries that come on the side - they’re thick, crispy, and salty, and complement the creamy roll very well.
Sometimes, where you eat your roll can be just as important as the taste of the roll itself. And the best setting for eating a roll in town is at Quality Seafood, the multi-level seafood emporium at the Redondo Pier. Does the roll here have too much going on? Probably (it could do with a little less mayo and celery). But you won’t care - because it’s massive, it’s only $11, and you can eat it while you watch seals swimming beneath the boardwalk.
