Eat Streets: Finding the best food stops road tripping from LA to Palm Springs

Nobody does diners, taco trucks and fairground food quite like California. Get there for this road trip and get these new foods into you for a taste of heaven.

From eating at hole-in-the-wall taco joints in LA, living large at Catch and all the truck stops in between the City of Angels and Palm Springs (ahem, we’re looking at you Crazy Coyote Tacos and In-N-Out!), there’s no shortage of delicious experiences to be had on one of California’s most iconic road trips. Throw in a bit of shopping at the outlets and this is one epic holiday. Here’s where you can start when it comes to sampling the local snacks, but for more advice about ever-changing menus and the new food trends, your best bet is to head to a hub where there’s up-to-date info and experts on hand. We like Flight Centre’s site for their comprehensive listings and blogs by people who’ve tried the best burgers and the most mac-and-cheese in the US. But once you’ve done this trip, be warned, you’re going to want to do it again and again so you don’t miss out on new menus and seasonal dishes you can only find in California.

STARTING OUT IN LA: Toast Café and Bakery
Head there for: This casual, streetside eatery was a hangout for Lauren and Heidi on The Hills and is a Kyle Sandilands stop when he’s in town. The huge menu covers every possible sandwich and soup combination, but the red velvet cupcakes have a cult following and the tortilla soup is on every list of LA’s best.
Order the:Tortilla soup, a chicken broth with a complex chilli flavour and torn tortillas
Find them:8221 West 3rd St (at S Harper Ave), Los Angeles

LUNCH: Southern Indian Dosas at Ashirwad The Blessings
Head there for: In a flashy town, Ashirwad offers simplicity with its restrained space and traditional Southern Indian vegetarian food. “The Blessings” or the translation of “Ashirwad” in Sanskrit, describe their food as healthy and serene. The masala is a popular order- mashed potatoes cooked with onion and seasoned with mustard, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, chili and lentil.
Order the: Dosas, a savory crepe made with a base of rice and lentil batter, and served with a vegetable soup (sambar) for dipping.
Find them: 583 East Foothill Boulevard, Unit 10 and 11, Upland

DINNER: Cantonese lobster at Catch
Head there for: Asian-inspired seafood plus people watching and star spotting. This famed rooftop joint on the corner of famous Melrose and San Vicente, is ‘conceptual dining’ at its world-class best (there’s Catch Dubai and New York and many more). Look out over the twinkling lights of LA spread below you from one of the 340 seats or simply watch the chefs in the open kitchen, deftly turning out truffle sashimi with ponzu and chilli oil, and hellfire rolls. The vibe is slick, with seafood as the main game and super decadent desserts and cocktails rounding out the impressive menu.
Order the: Tequila watermelon oyster shooters and cantonese lobsters
Find them: 8715 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood

OTHER MUST-TRY SPOTS IN LA:

Scrambled egg and cheese flatbread at Al Amir Bakery
Head there for: Soft, chewy Levantine flatbreads made from dough that’s kneaded and floured daily and topped with lashings of cheese and smokey Middle Eastern spices like sumac, dried thyme and sesame seeds. There’s traditional pizzas too, with vegetarian, chipotle chicken and even scrambled egg and cheese to try, but the kafta and the sojouk flabreads are the stars. Master chef “Haj” Abdallah Soueidan heads up two pumping stores.
Order the: Zaatar & Cheese flatbread, with thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, white cheese and olive oil
Find them: 905 S Brookhurst St A, Anaheim

The whole hog at Animal Restaurant
Head there for: True nose-to-tail dining. The ever-changing menu at Animal is a stunning list of creative dishes, from crispy pig head to pig ear, chicken liver to chicken hearts, poutine and pork belly. It’s a hugely popular place but tiny, so make sure you book ahead.
Order the: Bacon chocolate crunch bar with salt and pepper ice cream for dessert
Find them: 435 North Fairfax Avenue Los Angeles

STOPPING OFF ALONG THE WAY TO PALM SPRINGS

See Doubles at In’N’Out Burger
Head there for: It’s not a roadtrip without a stop at In’N’Out. If it’s your first experience, you’re gonna want to grab the Double Double and find out firsthand just why the burgers are so famous- they’re fresh, perfectly cheesy, and tangy in a super more-ish way.
Order the: Get your Double Double but also grab the Animal style fries, chips that are covered in liquid cheese and mince.
Find them: 13850 Francisquito Ave, Baldwin Park

Go large at Crazy Coyote Tacos
Head there for: A giant taco that’s so popular it’s been on the menu for 17 years. It’s your standard taco setup of tortillas with the traditional flavours of corn, lime, coriander, onion and cheese, but the salsa (there’s two types, hot and hotter) and chile verde take these to the next level. The storefront is not much to look at, but don’t be fooled, there’s a reason people have been flocking here for years for the tacos but also quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and taquitos.
Order the: Giant chicken taco with guac and cheese
Find them: 13033 Malki Rd. Banning

Smoke and meats at Pappy and Harriets PioneerTown Palace
Head there for: The classic American saloon experience. Pappy and Harriet’s is an outdoor, honkytonk music venue dating back to the 1940s and every night you can sit out in the beer garden and take in some tunes under the stars, or stop by for lunches like catfish sandwiches, hotdogs, cobb salad and Pappy’s famous chili. Just under an hour from Palm Springs, it’s a good stop if you’re planning to spend the night nearby- stay out late an order up big on the BBQ, with everything made to order on the outdoor Mesquite Wood grill. Finding good accommodation is an artform this close to Joshua Tree National Park, so make sure you’re sorted by getting some expert advice from a local, or a professional travel service like Flight Centre. Their website starts you off with everything you need to know to stay organised, then their resident experts add their own suggestions, plus their 24/7 helpline is the best backup when you’re on a roadtrip far from home.
Order the: Baby back ribs made on the BBQ grill with mac and cheese on the side
Find them: 53688 Pioneertown Rd, Pioneertown, CA

STARTING OUT AT PALM SPRINGS
Breakfast and Bloody Mary’s at Cheeky’s
Head there for: Maple sage sausages, manchego cheese tater tots, and salted butter waffles. Yes, it’s that crazy good American food that’s worth a trip to California on its own (which is also why Cheeky’s has been a local Palm Springs institution for years).
Order the: Blondie’s eggs benedict and Deb’s cheddar scones
Find them: 622 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

Pink lemonade and prawn cocktails at Pink Cabana
Head there for: It’s worth a visit to Pink Cabana hotel and spa just to soak up retro vibe and sit inside the vibrantly pink, opulently decorated restaurant. Go for the glitter and the glam décor, but stay for the upscale menu of flat iron steak frites with herbed shallot butter and mahi mahi. The Pink Cabana calls itself an ‘ingredient-driven restaurant’ featuring Mediterranean cuisine with a Moroccan influence, all dreamed up by celebrated chef Jason Niederkorn.
Order the: Housemade lamb merguez sausage and pink lemonade
Find them: 44985 Province Way, Indian Wells, Greater Palm Springs

Sushi and stiff drinks at Sandfish
Head there for: From the ‘I can’t believe more people have not thought of this!’ files comes Sandfish, a sushi and whiskey bar serving up fresh fish and salty, string whiskeys to match. The handcrafted signature sushi rolls feature snow crab, spicy tuna, salmon and steak with yuzu and ponzu sauces for punch. It’s all housed in a blonde wood Scandinavian style storefront, for stunning surrounds while you chow down.
Order the: Scallops on the shell walnuts, yuzu vinaigrette and sea beans, with Iwai Whisky
Find them: 1556 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs

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