Our Meal At Firstborn | Restaurant Review | Chinatown | Los Angeles | California | Opened March 2025

https://www.firstborn.la

@firstborn.la

⁠Chef/Owner Anthony Wang took over the former Pok Pok space and transformed it into his vision of a modern Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. The menu is a journey through Chef Anthony’s biography—both personal and professional.⁠

The food is whimsical in execution and traditional in flavor. Classic dishes like Mapo Tofu, Chongqing Chicken, and Beef with Broccoli are reinvented while always maintaining their foundation.⁠

The bar is helmed by Kenzo Han and has garnered plenty of praise for creative spins on classic cocktails, combined with Chinese tea culture.⁠

🎧 Listen to the Podcast: Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA: Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Cobi's | Restaurant Review | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2021

https://www.cobis.la/

@cobis.la

Cobi’s began as a pandemic pop up called Cobi’s Curries started by Chef Cobi Marsh. Its popularity was enough to open a brick and mortar in the former Dhaba space on Main Street in Santa Monica.

The food is heavily inspired by Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian, and Indian cuisines with big bold flavors, spicy sambals, and a large array of regional curries.

The beverage program is mostly wine, with shochu cocktails and some tasty mocktails to tame the heat of some dishes.

Cobi's has received high praise, including a third consecutive Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Alba | West Hollywood | Los Angeles | California | Opened February 2025

https://www.cucinaalba.com/

@cucinaalba (NY AND LA shared)

When Cucina Alba opened in New York in 2022, it became an instant classic. Earlier this year, its sister restaurant, simply called Alba, opened in West Hollywood and has garnered positive reviews, quickly becoming one of the premier classic Italian destinations in Los Angeles.

The space is large, with an outdoor patio that feels grand, lively, and a bit like a Las Vegas version of a European vacation. There are also several private dining rooms and party rooms available.

Alba has a party-like atmosphere, aided by its impressive wine and spirits list, which runs more than 30 pages. The luxe beige marble bar greets you as you enter the patio, with stiff variations on martinis, Negronis, spritzes, and a few house specials on offer.

The food is very traditional Italian-American cuisine, focusing on fresh-made pastas, local vegetables, and main-course staples such as grilled branzino, large-format steaks, and roasted chicken diavola.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Baby Bistro | Victor Heights | Los Angeles | California | Opened April 2024

https://babybistrola.com/

@babybistro.la

What happens when you take a Victorian-style house with a

lush courtyard and convert it into a small dining room? Baby

Bistro.

It's supposed to feel like a dinner party at a friend’s house

complete with tons of natural wine and a concise menu of

eccentric combinations.

The menu is only 6-7 items and is evolving constantly with the

changing availability of local produce. It is offered à la carte but

designed to be ordered and experienced as a makeshift prix fixe.

Chef Miles Tompson started Baby Bistro as a pop up in 2023 and finally found a

unique space to showcase his culinary talent and creativity. The

dishes are eclectic but familiar, never shy on flavor, and always

perfect for sharing.

Andy Schwartz, a partner in the restaurant, curates all the natural

wine offered, mostly from France, and usually under the radar bottles

that are low-intervention.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Budonoki | Restaurant Review | Virgil Village | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2023

https://www.budonoki.la/

@budonokila

Budonoki is a modern Japanese Izakaya that serves mostly snacks as well as traditional pressed Japanese sushi and a few entrees, pairing perfectly with the sake-forward drinks menu. If you want to be transported to a cool-clubby underground bar in Tokyo then this is definitely the place for you.

This is a perfect restaurant for Los Angeles and a great neighborhood addition to Virgil Village. The energy is party-like and relaxed. The food and drinks are flavorful and punchy, making for a perfect refuge from the world outside this dimly lit, and cyberpunk-esque bar.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

Our Meal At Dunsmoor | Eagle Rock | Los Angeles | California | Opened June 2022

www.dunsmoor.la

@dunsmoor.la

Dunsmoor is the namesake restaurant of chef-owner Brian Dunsmoor and is his years-in-the-making vision of heritage cooking. The restaurant is housed in a 1929 Spanish revival-type building that has been converted into a rustic restaurant, which is centered around a large hearth that provides all the coals used to prepare their hearty menu. You will find no blenders, food processors, mixers, or gas stoves here. All of their cooking and preperations are done using knives, hand tools, and wood-fired coals. The philsophy Chef Brian has been developing for years forces him to think more deeply about how something will be made, thus giving more opportunities to make decisions along the way.

Aside from the main dining room, they also have an outdoor space as well as a wine bar. The wine bar is first come, first served, with a limited menu of raw and larder provisions--all made in-house of course. The wine program at Dunsmoor is also quite dialed in with a fantastic array of small production reds, whites, and beer on hand.

Dunsmoor is an ambitious restaurant and has climbed from #55 on the 101 list to #10 in 2 short years. All signs point to years of success as long as Chef Brian is at the helm.

https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2023-05-11/dunsmoor-restaurant-recipe-pork-and-green-chile-stew-los-angeles

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Alto | Studio City | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025

www.Alto.la

@altolosangeles

Alto in Studio City a "fire to table" restaurant showcasing the cuisine of Rio de la Plata, which borders Argentina and Uruguay. Chefs Esteban and Juana have brought their culinary roots and fine dining experience from Michelin restaurants to their first restaurant together.

The menu highlights asado culture, with grilled meats being front and center. The beverage program showcases classic Rio de la Plata drinks with a modern flare. The combination of deeply rooted tradition and modern techniques creates a truly unique restaurant, hailed as LA's first open-fire restaurant inspired by Argentina and Uruguay.

@blackforager Alexis Nikole, Find her on Instagram

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Manuela | DTLA | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2016

https://manuela-la.com/

https://www.instagram.com/manueladtla/

Manuela is located inside the Hauser and Wirth gallery complex in the Arts District of downtown LA and is surrounded by contemporary art, restored industrial architecture, and lush green courtyards.

The food is bolstered by an in-house garden nestled inside the Hauser and Wirth courtyard which provides fresh herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables for both the kitchen and the beverage program. They have their own chickens that guests are welcome to visit as well as a compost program in partnership with “The Hungry Gardens,” who oversee the management and operation of the garden and live chicken programs.

The menu is seasonal and ingredient-driven, with a distinctly Southern California feel—approachable yet full of flavor. Dishes come and go with the seasons and the menu is always evolving with only a few mainstays like the biscuits and the chicken.

The open kitchen complete with a wood-fired grill at center stage allows diners to sit at the bar and watch the action.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss