Unveiling the Viral Eats of Los Angeles - In-n-Out, Sugarfish, and More!

Travel with me on a taste-testing adventure through Los Angeles to try out the TOP 10 VIRAL EATS that you recommended to me on Instagram. From fast food chains to fine dining, this list has it all. So, let’s see if they’re worth the hype! Our lists today includes: In-N-Out Burger, Sugarfish, Erewhon, Sun Nong Dan, Baekjeong, Marugame Monzo, Avenue 26, Pink’s Hot Dog, Bestia, Howlin’ Ray’s, and a peek at our Kai Dong Launch Event!

In-N-Out Burger: A West Coast Legend

Our first stop is the West Coast legend, In-N-Out Burger, a must-try burger joint that originated in California and recently celebrated their 75th year in operation. It’s California’s favorite burger, and we’re about to find out why! Here’s what we tried:

Double-Double ($5.25): the ICONIC classic, 2 beef patties, 2 slices of cheese, with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and their SECRET SAUCE
4×4 Burger ($8.25): the TikTok-famous burger of 4 beef patties and 4 slices of cheese, with all the fresh veggies
Animal Style Fries ($4.50): A secret menu item, crispy fries topped with gooey cheese, grilled onions, and their secret sauce
Milkshake ($4.85): These legendary milkshakes come in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and Neapolitan

The burgers were JUICY and SUPER FRESH. Dom LOVED his 4×4 Burger, and we both agreed that the 4×4 had a BETTER MEAT TO BUN RATIO. I think these burgers may be a little overhyped, but for fast food, they tasted incredibly fresh.

In-N-Out’s secret menu items are ICONIC, and I’m glad I got to try the Animal Style Fries. As a Canadian, they can’t compare to poutine (sorry), With the Animal Style Fries, I’d definitely suggest eating them all before they get too cold! My favorites here were the milkshakes: great value, super creamy, and absolutely delicious. We ordered Strawberry and Neapolitan, and they were both AMAZING.

THE VERDICT? In-N-Out is a MUST TRY if you’re in the LA area OR if you’ve never tried their food, but it’s a bit overhyped.

Sugarfish: THE Instagram Sushi Takeout

Next up: Sugarfish. Their beautiful takeout boxes are a common guest star on celebrity Instagram stories, and today it’s our turn. I’ve actually tried Sugarfish before and didn’t like it. Since so many of you sent this as a recommendation, I had to give it another try! Here’s what we ordered:

Nozawa Trust Me ($40): a set of Albacore sushi, Salmon sushi, Japanese Yellowtail Sushi, Halibut sushi, Sea Bream sushi, Dungeness Crab handroll, Toro handroll, Tuna sashimi, and edamame.
A la Carte Sushi:
- Unagi sushi ($5.50): Saucy eel with toasted sesame
- Scallop sushi ($6): Fresh Hokkaido Sea Scallops with yuzu ponzu
- Pink lobster sushi ($9.50): Pink lobster from New Zealand
- Otoro sushi ($14): Fatty Tuna Belly Sushi

Overall, we spent around $87, which was pretty pricey! Honestly, everything was pretty fresh. My favorites were the pink lobster sushi and the scallop sushi. They were sweet and had AMAZING texture as you’re chewing! The Otoro was delicious, but I’m not sure it was worth $14.

I’m from Vancouver, where we have some of the BEST sushi at affordable prices. I don’t know if Sugarfish was worth $87, but it was really really nicely packaged. It’s great for a fancy date night at home.

Erewhon: Viral Celebrity Smoothies & Premium Ingredients

Speaking of overpriced food, I HAD to visit Erewhon, known as the most expensive grocery store in the world. This luxury supermarket focuses on organic, fair-trade producce, with TONS of pre-made premium deli foods as well. Their shelves were lined with beautifully sliced vegetables and fruit, but the price tags were SO HIGH!

Of course, their smoothies are one of THE TOP VIRAL eats of Los Angeles. I’ve seen so many TikToks all over the internet trying their super expensive smoothies, so we decided to get a few:

Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Smoothie ($18): A almond milk-based strawberry smoothie with health food add-ins like sea moss, hyaluronic acid, collagen, sweetened with maple syrup and dates
Malibu Mango ($19): A vitamin-C packed smoothie of mango, oranges, and pineapples made with coconut water and coconut cream base, with add-ins like collagen and lion’s mane
Coconut Cloud ($18): A coconut and almond-based smoothie colored blue with spirulina

In total, I spent ALMOST $60 for three smoothies; this better be worth the hype.

All 3 smoothies all contain collagen, which was apparently really good for your skin, and a variety of other trendy health foods: spirulina, lion’s mane, hyaluronic acid, and more. First off, we got the famous Hailey Bieber smoothie, which was honestly pretty taste at first tip. It gets a little bit too sweet, but if you love bananas, you will definitely LOVE this smoothie.

Next, we got the Malibu Mango. Hands down, this was my personal favorite in terms of taste. It’s a great balance of tangy and sweet. Lastly, we tried the Coconut Cloud smoothie, which honestly, I wasn’t a fan of. It’s a bit overly thick and sweet for my taste, but

Overall, I think this is a great experience, but it’s definitely NOT worth the hype and definitely NOT WORTH $20 per smoothie. But, if you’re curious like me, you should go try it out!

Sun Nong Dan’s Galbi Jjim: A Koreatown Culinary Gem

Out of everything on my LA recommendation list, I was most excited to try Sun Nong Dan in Koreatown. Sun Nong Dan specializes in Galbi Jjim, or braised beef short ribs and backbone, and Ox Bone Soup, with sizes big enough to share. Plus, they’re open 24 hours, the perfect place to go eat after karaoke. Upon walking in, I was so impressed by the deliciously meaty smell. My mouth was watering the whole time we were waiting for our food! Here’s what we ordered:

Galbi Jjim Medium ($89.99): Their most famous dish of hearty short ribs, braised potatoes, and carrots. We opted to add extra rice cakes and cheese!
Seok Uh Sulung Tang ($19.99): Creamy white Ox Bone broth with assorted cuts of beef and noodles.

The food here at Sun Nong Dan was honestly INCREDIBLE. The complimentary side dishes of pickles, veggies, and kimchi were so delicious; I had to stop myself just so I can save my stomach for the main dish! The star was, of course, the Galbi Jjim, The cheese on top was melted table-side with a blowtorch, and it was SUCH A SHOW. The medium portion was super filling for 4 people. The beef was super tender and melted RIGHT OFF the bone. I especially loved the potatoes, which had soaked up all the delicious goodness.

As someone who LOVES soup, I couldn’t resist their Seok Uh Sulung Tang. It was literally SOUL WARMING, with all the bone flavor melted into the broth. The glass noodles were flavorful and so easy to slurp!

This meal was DEFINITELY worth the hype. I would say the food is seasoned more on the sweeter side when it comes to Asian cuisine. Overall, I would highly recommend it.

Baekjeong’s Legendary KBBQ Feasts in Koreatown

While we’re in K-Town, let’s go grab some Korean barbecue. There were so many popular places, such as Quarters, Parks BBQ, and much more, but today, we’re trying Baekjeong for some late-night Korean barbecue. Opened by a Korean comedian 10 years ago, Baekjeong is a Koreatown ICON.

My favorite part? The employees cook everything for you, so all you have to do is sit back, relax, grab a drink, and eat. Fresh beer, tender meat, good vibes, and even better company, what else can you ask for? Our late night Korean BBQ meal included:

Premium Pork Belly ($33.99)
Boneless Beef Short Ribs ($64.99)
Prime Ribeye ($64.99)

Our meal came with a bunch of FREE side dishes, including pickles, kimchi, and more. Along the side of the grill, you can melt cheese and cook steamed egg ,which you all know I LOVE! The meat is all beautifully marbled, and cooked to perfection.

This is a meal I’d recommend to EVERYONE. My personal favorite is their boneless beef short ribs; wrapped in rice paper, it’s a PERFECT 10 out of 10. If you”re ever in Koreatown, Baekjeong is a great option.

NOTE: Baekjeong Koreatown location has unfortunately permanently closed December 2023, but other locations are available.

Marugame Monzo’s Handcrafted Udon & Unique Fusion Flavors

Speaking of noodles, I have to talk about Marugame Monzo, located in Little Tokyo. I love Little Tokyo so much, it’s filled with so many Japanese shops and restaurants. Every time I come to LA, I HAVE to go visit. Since I’m such a udon lover, Marugame Monzo is also a favorite, specializing in HANDMADE UDON! Here’s what we ordered:

Miso Carbonara ($12.50): the most popular udon, this is a fusion creamy miso-based udon with a creamy carbonara sauce and some hearty bacon
Mentai Squid Butter Udon ($12.95): A delightfully umami-packed udon with squid, mentaiko, and a buttery soup base
Beef Udon ($11.95): Thinly sliced seasoned beef in a light steamy broth, with chewy udon noodles

The noodles were freshly made, so it was SUPER CHEWY, and everything tasted really fresh. I personally love the Beef Udon and Miso Carbonara Udon. The beef udon broth was so light and aromatic, it’s a really comforting bowl. The Miso Carbonara is SO CREATIVE, and I can’t wait to try making my own version.

I highly recommend coming on a weekday to avoid the line, or else you might end up waiting for more than 2 hours on a weekend. While the portions are a little bit small, this place is worth the hype, and I highly recommend it.

Avenue 26 Tacos: A LA Hidden Gem

If you ask me out of everything on this list what was the MOST WORTH IT, I would say 100% – Avenue 26 Tacos. Serving tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more, Avenue 26 Tacos has 7 meat options to choose from. There’s NOTHING on this menu that can go wrong.

For only $1.50 per taco, the meat could not be more juicy, flavorful, and fresh. Honestly, every bite was a perfect bite. Don’t forget to ask for the free mini potatoes, which soak up all the glorious meat juices. We kept hearing about these potatoes, we just had to have them. They melt in your mouth in a fatty, meaty mouthful!

Avenue 26 is UNREAL. Honestly, it was so delicious that me and Dom went back MULTIPLE TIMES after filming this. This taco stand is a MUST TRY, absolutely worth the hype. It’s easily the BEST meal this entire trip – 10 OUT OF 10!

Hollywood History: Pink’s Hot Dogs Since 1939

Can you say you went to Hollywood without Pink’s Hot Dog? This has been on my must-try list for years. Pink’s Hot Dog has been a Hollywood landmark since 1939. They have so many different combinations, but I knew I had to try their CLASSIC chili cheese hotdog ($5.95).

Upon the first bite, I FELL IN LOVE. The chili was packed with so much spicy saucy flavor, and every bite was so perfectly cheesy, meaty, and oniony. We were only here for a quick snack, but it’s 100% worth the hype. I would definitely come back again and try their other hot dogs!

Dine in Decadence: Bestia’s Artisanal Italian Fare

Another of my favorite meals of the trip was Bestia, a multi-regional Italian restaurant in the Arts District of downtown LA. The menu was recommended for family-style dining, so around two to three dishes per person will be perfect. We came here to celebrate our launch with our Kai Dong team, so we ordered a little bit of everything on the menu:

Peruvian Scallop Crudo ($26): Fresh scallops served with meyer lemon cream. chili herb oil. strawberry. fennel pollen in its shell
Margherita Pizza ($22): A classic pizza made with san marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil. and sea salt
Herb Caesar Salad ($19): A super fresh salad made of romaine and endives, sprinkled with Parmigiano Reggiano, squid ink breadcrumbs, and lemon zest
Roasted Marrow Bone ($26): A roasted marrow bone spread over spinach gnocchetti, topped with smoked breadcrumbs and aged balsamic
Grilled Branzino ($48): A whole grilled branzino garnished with pine nut pesto xo, fresno chili, mixed basil, and a fresh squeeze of lemon
Squid Ink Spaghetti ($36): Spaghetti made with squid in with chunks of lobster, serrano, micro basil, and meyer lemon
Cavatelli Alla Norcina ($48): Ricotta dumplings covered in black truffles, pork sausage, and fresh thyme
Bar Au Chocolat Bittersweet Chocolate Budino Tart ($16): A delicious cacao crust tart made with salted caramel, olive oil, and sea salt

Everything on the menu was SO DELICIOUS! My personal favorite dishes were the herb salad, roasted marrow bone, squid ink pasta, and their grilled branzino. The cocktails were also really delicious. This was a great place for a gathering where you’re sharing a ton of great food with friends!

Wow, this was DEFINITELY a night to remember. I was worried that this place would be a bit overhyped, but I was so wrong. I would come here again FOR SURE. Make sure to reserve ahead of time, since this place is SUPER popular.

Howlin’ Ray’s Brings the Fire with Nashville Hot Chicken

We had to try Howlin’ Ray’s Nashville Chicken, known for their famous Spicy Chicken Sando. This was the NUMBER ONE recommended place to try on the list. Howlin’ Ray’s have 6 spice levels you can try, from “Country” to “Howlin”. As someone who loves fried chicken and spicy food, I was up for the challenge. In total, we spent around $62, a little bit more expensive compared to In-N-Out:

Wings ($12): 3 whole wings served with bread and pickles
Fried Chicken Tenders ($12): 3 jumbo chicken tenders served with bread and pickles
The Sando ($12): Spicy fried boneless breast, slaw, comeback sauce, and pickles sandwiched between a butter bun
Sando 2.0 ($16): Spicy fried boneless breast, piquillo peppers, bacon, cheese, sweet mustard, sandwiched between a butter bun
Shake Fries ($5): Crinkle cut fries sprinkled with their special seasoning

Just smelling the food alone, I think this is worth every penny. I’m not going to lie, I REALLY regret not getting mild because the sandwiches were SO SPICY. The chicken was really juicy, and the bun was buttery soft. The tart, crunchy pickles and their sauces really cut through the rich chicken flavor and the spiciness. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the spice from setting my mouth on FIRE.

I really couldn’t eat a lot of the food because it was WAY TOO SPICY for me. My team and Dom, who can handle spice, LOVED IT and rated it an 8 out of 10. I will 100% come back again, but I’d try MILD next time to spare me the pain.

Kai Dong Launch Pop-Up Event: Thank You For Your Support!

Our last LA location was my Kai Dong pop-up Launch event! This was our first-ever in-person event, and I worked with Chef Allan for months to prepare for the event.We even got together the night before to do all the final tasting and testing. In fact, I think we created the PERFECT menu for the launch:

Cold Sesame Noodles: Our Sun Dried QQ Noodles with Mama’s Chili Oil and a yummy sesame sauce and refreshing veggies
Pork and Shrimp Wontons: Our Kai Dong Sauce Trio with my Pork and Shrimp Wontons
Grilled Corn: Grilled corn glazed with Four Seasoned Scallion Sauce and Mama’s Chili Oil
Classic Dried Noodles: A delicious mix of my Sun Dried Hand Cut Noodles with ALL THREE of my Kai Dong Sauces
Taiwanese Chicken and Rice: Steamy Rice topped with poached chicken flavored with Golden Shallot Sauce and Four Seasoned Scallion Sauce

These recipes were a HIT at our launch event, and I’m excited to be sharing these recipes soon! It’s such a pivotal moment in my life to be able to bring my family’s flavors to life. I’m honored to be sharing these moments with you all!

Thank you to everyone who showed to support the Kai Dong product launch! I can’t believe we SOLD OUT of our Starter Set before pre-sale. It was also so much fun meeting every single one of you, and I hope to do more in-person events in the future.