Your Los Angeles Restaurant Weekend Guide: August 6

Every Friday, our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.

For cocktails and fried fish sandwiches: Bar 109 in Melrose Hill

The front half of Brian Baik’s Melrose Hill tasting menu restaurant, Corridor 109, is home to Bar 109, a sleek bar with some of the neighborhood’s best cocktails. As a martini fan, the saline-forward Marine Layer with gin, white kelp, and dry vermouth has emerged as one of my favorites — or, for the less martini-inclined, go for the oolong-tinged boulevardier with bourbon and Campari. The food menu consists of things that pair well with cocktails: dill-laden smoked fish dip, a fried fish sandwich swiped with tartar sauce, and crispy Torres chips. If nothing off the regular menu catches your eye, bartenders can make a drink to your tastes — some of my favorite recent cocktails here have been bartender creations. 641 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest 

For a breakfast burrito and coastal trek: The Chori-Man in San Pedro

The timing seems right to schedule a San Pedro trip with a long hangout at the Korean Bell of Friendship (which has one of the most gorgeous views of Catalina), West Harbor, or a hike down to White Point Beach. While in the South Bay, be sure to stop in at the Chori-Man for breakfast burritos, chilaquiles verdes, a gorgeous breakfast sandwich that uses a maple habanero chorizo patty, a saucy chicken adobada burrito, and a pint of tomatillo ranch dipping sauce for later enjoyment. Owner Humberto Raygoza started selling Chori-Man Artisan Chorizos and Sausages out of a cooler on wheels in 2013; multiple partnerships and opening a storefront in 2018 made him a San Pedro staple. Always get the house potato chips with ultra-savory barbecue seasoning sprinkled throughout. 2309 S. Alma Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest

For a frozen banana right by the ocean: Sugar ‘N Spice on Balboa Island

There is nothing I love more during the summer than wandering a quaint beach town and having a frozen treat. You can get both at Sugar ‘N Spice on Balboa Island, just a hop away from Newport Beach. It’s debated on the island whether Sugar ‘N Spice is the original frozen banana spot; it’s been open and continuously operated since 1945. Nevertheless, the chocolate dipped bananas covered in your favorite toppings hit here on a warm summer day. You can choose between dark chocolate, butterscotch, and cherry dips and toppings such as toasted coconut, crushed peanuts, Oreo pieces, sprinkles, and more. If you’re not up for a frozen banana, other treats — like soft serve, sundaes, and frozen dipped cheesecake — are available, too. 310 Marine Avenue, Balboa Island, CA 92662. — Kat Thompson, audience editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest

For a hot weather lunch at a local stalwart: Tacos Ensenada in Altadena

When I find myself with a few unanticipated extra minutes for lunch, I freeze. Decision paralysis sets in; I talk myself into and out of a dozen different restaurants, staring blankly at Google Maps or the Eater app until I’ve wasted half my window of time. But I’m trying to break that habit, and the pure pleasure and convenience I found at Tacos Ensenada in Altadena the other day is an encouraging start: When my brain stalled out like an unmaintained old manual transmission on Lincoln Avenue, I looked up, and it was there. The small local chain is a stalwart, often overlooked, but the Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos were excellent. The fish was crisp; the slaw crunchy; the salsa sharp enough to cut through a heavy dousing of crema; and it was affordable, fast, and easy. It was everything I needed to get my brain to slowly spin back up on a hot, unexpectedly aimless afternoon. Sometimes the best lunch in town is the one right in front of you. 2234 N. Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001. — Ben Mesirow, editor, Eater Travel