Magnolia Bakery - Los Angeles

"The Dish: Yellowfin Tuna Would this strange, brain-looking dish taste better served in some shallow, artisan-made bowl at a restaurant? Of course. Should I have waited until I got back to my house before dunking the condensed ball of avocado and tortilla chips wrapped in a thin yellowfin tuna membrane into its spicy yellow juices? Absolutely. But the drive home was over 45 minutes, with bumper-to-bumper traffic, so much like your money and JG Wentworth, I needed it now." - kat hong

"Son of a Gun is the old reliable of the Animal/Jon & Vinny’s empire, and while no one really talks about it too much, it’s always there when you need it. Especially now with its new outdoor dining space, this Beverly Grove spot retains its casual, roadside seafood shack atmosphere, and is still relatively easy to get into. Order from every seafood section of the menu (we especially like the yellowfin tuna that comes draped over a ball of avocado), and also get at least one fried chicken sandwich for the table." - brant cox

"If you’re like us, you’re tired of being told to order “two or three small plates each” at every meal, which is another reason why we love Son Of A Gun - the best dishes come in bite-sized portions, which makes sharing practically impossible. Here, you’ll sit at the bar, eat the tiny (but absolutely incredible) cold lobster roll and shrimp toast with hoisin and sriracha mayo, and then maybe something slightly less rich, like a sneaky great trout amandine. Finish it off with an Italian Hamburger (ice cream in a brioche bun) - it’s the best dessert here, and we’d brave Third St. for it alone." - brett keating

"If you’re like us, there’s no way you’re keeping sane through this quarantine without a few runs to Magnolia Bakery for some banana cream pudding. Luckily, the iconic bakery is offering delivery and takeout every day (Sunday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 8am-9pm)." - brant cox

"Yes, this internet-famous bakery on West Third Street is a 90s-era NYC import. And while we’ve tried to rack our brains for reasons to knock this place, there’s no denying that their signature banana cream pudding is a pint of heaven. The cloud-like sweet fluffy starts with a strong banana flavor and then quickly mellows into a creamy finish. It’s best enjoyed alone under your bed sheets watching inspirational three-legged dog videos on YouTube." - nikko duren, sylvio martins