Spoke

"This cafe/bike shop in Frogtown is home to the city's best daytime patio. There are long, shaded picnic tables filled with friends drinking beer and pitching pilot scripts, families fueling up on sandwiches before biking down the river, and solo laptop warriors listening to records and maybe getting a little work done. You don’t need to worry about reservations (because they don’t take them), and outside of a few peak hours on the weekends, you’ll always be able to find an open table or two. Maybe you’re planning a day date or hoping to show out-of-towners a version of LA they don’t see on reality TV. Either way, nothing beats a sunny morning or afternoon at Spoke." - brant cox, arden shore, sylvio martins, cathy park

"Nothing against Impossible or Beyond, but sometimes, you just want a really good veggie burger - and Spoke has one of the best in LA. Why? Because their patties are made with mushrooms and beets, which add a real element of smokiness, and they top them with arugula, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli for even more flavor. And in our book, that’s better than a plant-based burger that still somehow bleeds (admit it - it’s kind of weird). Available for takeout and delivery." - kat hong

"This LA River-adjacent cafe/bike rental shop is one of my all-time favorite lunch hangouts, but admittedly, it’d been a minute since I’d been back. I stopped in to do some very official breakfast sandwich research, and it’s as wonderful as ever. Their graffitied, open-air patio is the best outdoor space on the Eastside and that’s a hill I will happily die on. I ordered both the breakfast sandwich and the veggie burger, and though both were fantastic, the veggie burger is a standout. Made with a smoked mushroom and beet patty and topped with tempeh bacon, pickled onions, and garlic aioli on a soft griddled bun, it’s a smoky and savory masterpiece. Outside of food though, Spoke still maintains that cool-but-so-cool-it’s-annoying vibe that makes it the kind of place where 30 minutes becomes three hours in the blink of an eye. If you’ve got a friend in town and want to show them a completely different side to LA than the one they see in movies and on Bravo!, head to Spoke Bicycle. - Brant Cox, Content Lead" - the infatuation los angeles crew

"Dish: Veggie Burger This burger can be made both vegan and non-vegan (if you want cheese on it), but what makes this special is the patty. Made with mushrooms and beets, there’s a real smokiness in it, plus it comes topped with arugula, caramelized onions, garlic aioli, and tempeh bacon, all smashed between a soft griddled bun. And in my book, that’s better than a plant-based burger that still somehow bleeds (which I find slightly unsettling)." - brant cox

"Spoke Bicycle is part cafe, part bicycle repair shop, and the most Eastside place that’s ever existed. Nobody should come here expecting to rip shots and day dance with yourself. You come to Spoke to sit around with your friends and discuss the outline for your fracking documentary, eat a fantastic veggie burger, and drink lots of wine and beer. Afterward, rent a bike and head down the bike path. " - brant cox