Spoon & Pork

With relatively affordable prices and a chef's attention to detail, Spoon & Pork is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles proper for a comforting Filipino meal. There are the standard pork-heavy dishes, including patita, a slow-braised, deep-fried pork shank; lechon kawali, or crispy pork belly; and a sizzling pork sisig, which delivers an ample kick courtesy of Fresno chilies and comes topped with a runny fried egg. But Spoon & Pork knows how to feed the typical Silverlake and Westside crowd—there are plant-based options on the menu, including a vegetarian-friendly mushroom salpicao and tofu adobo. If it’s your first time visiting, be sure to order their crunchy lechon kawali.

Time Out tip: Order the food for the gods for dessert. It's the chef's family recipe and a sweet option you won't find at most other Filipino places in L.A.