South LA’s food scene has deep roots, but it was arguably the gastropub/pizzeria/soul food restaurant Post & Beam that got a new generation of diners hooked on updated versions of traditional soul food dishes. This fun Baldwin Hills restaurant is reliably solid for a bottomless brunch, birthday dinner, or a special occasion meal. Post & Beam feels like a neighborhood clubhouse, with a dark and moody dining room and an idyllic patio next to an herb garden. Serves sing along to 90's R&B as they carry plates of jerked catfish and cast-iron chicken to hungry diners. The head chef also hosts Black Pot Supper Club, a monthly dinner series that honors the legacy of African American cuisine and the enslaved chefs who created it.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp