I’m a Los Angeles native and proud to call Southern California my home.
People often ask me, sometimes incredulously, how I can stand to live here. Isn’t the traffic bad? The pollution? The high cost of living?
Trust me, it’s not lost on me that my little bungalow can buy a house 5-6X as large in many other parts of the country. But where else are you going to get mansaf and kanafeh as if you were in Jordan? Or amazing Ethiopian, Italian, or Mexican food…all in the same place?
I was in Orange County for some meetings last week and stopped at a Syrian restaurant called Aleppo’s Kitchen in Anaheim on my way home.
I ordered mansaf, which is actually more a Jordanian dish than Syrian one. This dish is lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt, served over a bed of saffron and topped with toasted almonds and parsley. The dish of “soup” on the side is jameed sauce, which is aged, dried yogurt made of goat’s milk.
Wow was this amazing. Truly amazing!
I had kanafeh for dessert and it was tasty, though I thought Middle East Airlines served a better version.
CONCLUSION
Sometimes I think instead of always traveling to new places, I should do a “staycation” and discover some more amazing eateries like Aleppo’s Kitchen. If you’re thinking about a trip to Southern California, let me encourage you to make it. Not only will you enjoy beautiful weather and an alluring mix of ocean, mountains, cities, and nature all within an hours drive…you will enjoy the best food in the world.
@ Matthew — Thanks for sharing! The Queen and I may visit this eatery on our next visit to LA!
Oh say Houston. Same horrible traffic but much more affordable.
As a side note, I wish there were more official miles and points meet-ups in LA among official bloggers and such. You call LA home, as do Ben (from OMAAT), Monkey Miles, Johnny Jet, a number of people at MMS and TPG GSTP seems to make LA his home when he’s in the US. Why are all the meetups in Chicago and Dallas and DC? Seminars by LAX with socializing by the beach! West Coast needs some love!
Last FTU event in OC was like 3 years ago….
I agree we are overdue and OC catches LA and SD so a no brainer to have it midway in OC…lets hope someone sees the opportunity.
I second Norman! We need more LA events, travel bloggers!
Next time you’re down in OC, check out Olive Oil in Irvine. Great little Mediterranean restaurant ran by Syrians.
Also, Cafe 242 Fushion Sushi in Laguna Beach is amazing too.
California is a complete dump!
Chicago, New York and Toronto. For food…nuff said.
Surprisingly Washington DC, too.
Then again, maybe not so surprising, given how diverse that city and area are.
You find huge international communities in cheaper places like Dallas and Atlanta too. LA doesn’t hold a monopoly on diversity, and most certainly not economic diversity
I don’t see the Mansaf on their menu online. Is it a special? Would like to stop by and try it this weekend!
Yes, it is special, but always available. Call them if you want to confirm. BTW, the portion size was big enough to split. If you are going with a friend or loved one, order a couple appetizers then split the main plate.
The food might be okay but the interior design could do with some help. Then again it always surprises me how bad in general public space interior design is in the US.
Agree that u can get great ethnic food in cheaper cost of living areas and pay way less state taxes or NONE at all saving tons of hard earned$$$$$$