"They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is great news because Rutt’s serves it all day long. This casual Mar Vista diner is decked out in enough tiki decor and surfboards to make you crave a mai tai (they don’t serve alcohol, but they do have plenty of Hawaiian Sun in the fridge) and features a huge menu of mostly solid Hawaiian breakfast plates—some with eggs and kalua pork, others with french toast, loco moco, or sandwiches on sweet rolls. Prioritize the Royales first, which are essentially oversized fried rice platters scrambled up with toppings like portuguese sausage, kimchi, or chicken teriyaki. Food Rundown photo credit: Cathy Park Hawaiian Royale This mountain of fried rice tossed with egg, Portuguese sausage, char siu, bean sprouts, and green onions is a filling way to start your day—especially if your day involves competitve paddleboarding or bare-hand climbing a volcano. It’s tasty but one-note, so you'll want to punch it up after a few bites, which is where a generous drizzle of teriyaki or hot sauce comes in handy. photo credit: Cathy Park Katsu Chicken & Coconut Shrimp Combo The coconut-packed fried shrimp and creamy-cool mac salad are the best bites on this lunch plate. The chicken is thinner, drier, and doesn’t deliver the same crunch, even if a dip in tangy katsu sauce makes it a bit better. photo credit: Cathy Park Spam Musubi The Spam-to-rice ratio on these is spot-on. If you ask your server to wrap them up, they're also the perfect little snack to keep in your pocket for later." - Cathy Park
