Bowery Bungalow

Do aliens exist? Is there an afterlife? Why does Marisa Tomei have an Oscar and I don’t?

These are some of the bigger questions modern society faces, and perhaps may never be able to answer. Life is full of unexplainable mystery, and that’s just part of the journey. Horrible, random songs will continue to get stuck in your head, great movies will never win awards, and McDonald’s breakfast will always taste better in airports. Such is life.

So here’s our next tough question: Why is nobody talking about Bowery Bungalow?

Bowery Bungalow is located inside a yellow 1920s craftsman right by Sunset Junction in Silver Lake. House-to-restaurant buildouts admittedly aren’t uncommon in this part of town, and yet Bowery Bungalow is a sight to behold. The wood-paneled interior houses a small collection of tables and the craft wine/beer bar, while the outside opens up into the wooded patio with a gazebo just waiting for something corny and wholesome to happen beneath it. Perfect for when you want to impress a date, but don't want them to know you're trying.

The kitchen combines Lebanese, Israeli, and North African flavors to produce good-to-great dishes with plenty of spices and herbs. Have some tahini toast with toasted sukkah, baby back ribs with grape molasses, and drink a little too much wine before asking about your date’s insecurities.

And despite all this, chances are you’ve never heard of this place. Is the name too generic? Is the location too hidden? Is this all still Marisa Tomei’s fault?

We may not be able to answer these questions, but we can tell you one thing with confidence: Bowery Bungalow is always a good idea.

Food Rundown

Fried Cauliflower

Cauliflower is clinging to her moment as LA’s go-to vegetable. When it’s cooked like this -with Egyptian dukkah, tahini, and cilantro - she can stay as long as she wants.

Hummus bi Tahini

Anyone who values their life or shops at Trader Joe’s knows that not all hummus is created equal. It’s extremely easy to make good, and extremely hard to make great. Bowery Bungalow’s version borders on the latter. The beef cheek kawarma with which it’s served takes things to levels unexpected.

Baby Back Ribs

Wait what? Yes. You read that right - baby back ribs at a Mediterranean place. Cooked in Mideast spices, Turkish coffee (!!) and grape molasses, this is why fusion can be a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Cast Iron Chicken

Anything brought to the table in a cast iron skillet usually means good things are about to transpire - and that is especially true here. On many other menus, the chicken is something to skip, but don’t make that mistake here.

Pan Roasted Seabass

It’s hard to really make a statement in the seafood scene in this town, but Bowery’s seabass is surprisingly well done. It wouldn’t be our first order of business here, but if you came with a craving for the taste of the sea, this will certainly do the job.

Pork Belly Shishkatori

Pork belly on a stick. Repeat: PORK BELLY ON A STICK.

Cardamon Rice Pudding

The joys of rice pudding are well-documented, but the version served here, with persimmon and local honey, makes this dish worth rediscovering.