Introduction to Southern California’s Culinary Delights
Fusion cuisine seemed to be at the forefront of our reporter’s minds this month when it came to trying new foods and restaurants across Southern California. You’ve heard of a hot chicken sandwich, now imagine it with a Vietnamese twist. Apple pie meets pancake breakfast? Yes please. And how about a restaurant that brings together Lebanese and Mexican tastes? And if you’re in the mood for a classic, we tried that too, with the Los Angeles invention: the French Dip sandwich, although the true birthplace of the meal is still up for debate.
Our Monthly Round-Up
Here’s our monthly round-up from reporters of nearby eateries to try the next time you find yourself in Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
Related: See the best things we ate in Southern California in 2024.
Vietnamese Hot Chicken Sandwich – Mama Hieu’s, Westminster
Mama Hieu’s, the Westminster chicken spot led by mother-son chefs Jimmy Le and Nho Thi Le, unveiled a new menu item in May: a hot chicken sandwich with a Vietnamese twist. They marinate the breast for 72 hours in a brine of buttermilk, oyster sauce and a secret seasoning blend. After frying, the golden breast is dipped in spicy chili oil and seasoned with a chili blend mix, topped with gỏi – a Vietnamese salad that serves as the sandwich’s slaw. Nestled in Martin’s potato roll, the result is a spicy, umami-packed concoction that’s both exceedingly tender and shatteringly crisp. I wrote about this dish in May, but it bears repeating again and again.
— Brock Keeling, Restaurant Reporter
Apple Pancake Rolls – River Belle Terrace in Disneyland, Anaheim
I don’t consider myself to be much of a breakfast person, and even then I tend to lean toward savory meals over sweet, but every now and then something catches my eye that I just have to try, and so was the case with the new apple pancake rolls from River Belle Terrace at Disneyland. They are one of three new pancakes available as part of the brunch menu for the Anaheim Theme Park’s 70th anniversary celebration. The other new pancake options are strawberry and blueberry. Unique to the apple pancakes is that they are served as a roll, meaning that inside the cylinder-like shape is apple pie filling. They are also topped with the apple pie filling, walnut streusel and vanilla chantilly cream.
Disneyland has become rather known for its food festivals and seasonal foodie guide for big events such as the 70th Anniversary. Regardless of whether you’re a passholder looking to try a new menu item or someone visiting for just a day who wants to make the most of each meal, these apple pancake rolls should be at the top of everyone’s list.
— Carolyn Burt, Audience Engagement Producer
Muhammara Rojo – Cedar Agave, Redlands
Cedar Agave is a fusion Lebanese-Mexican restaurant located in an upstairs room off Orange Street Alley in Redlands. Its menu focuses on small bites and shareables, priced $12-$26. Its roasted red pepper dip is a vegan option, made with toasted walnuts, tahini, pomegranate molasses and achiote rojo. It’s light, tasty and vegan. The address is at 14 E State St.
— Fielding Buck, Restaurant Reporter
Crispy Chicken Tender and Short Rib Tacos – Salt & Lime, Costa Mesa
In a culinary landscape teeming with “reinvented” tacos, Zach Ficke’s Salt & Lime in Costa Mesa continues to be a standout in this sub-genre of the Mexico-Southern California staple. His 17th Street spot offers two modern marvels that, among so many on his choice menu, stood out: a crispy chicken tender taco (drizzled with hot honey, crowned with kale slaw and cr
