Jenn Harris

The burgers at @mamasnackshackburger, Addy Pool’s tiny walk-up counter in Compton, are designed to taste like they came from her home kitchen. It’s the way she learned how to make burgers when she started working at the now-closed Three Bears Burgers in Vermont Vista as an eager 19-year-old in the early ‘90s.

Later, she perfected her technique at the Original Snack Shack in Central-Alameda, where she worked for more than two decades until the restaurant shuttered.

Last summer, she opened Mama’s Snack Shack in the former Bludso’s Bar & Cue space in Compton.

“We make the chili and everything else every single day,” she tells @jenn_harris_. “We make the fries to order. Every product I have is fresh. I tell my customers that the only old thing in the kitchen is me.”

Learn more at the link in our bio.

🎥 @yadiraflores.la, @markpottslat, @jenn_harris_ Less

The best things I ate in dining rooms (where I found comfort this week).

The burger @hereslookingatyoula brought me back to life after being evacuated from my home. We are back in the house and feeling extremely grateful. Thank you @lientigre for the hospitality. It was a much needed respite from reality.

And the best curly fries in town.

This last @latimesfood column was one of the most difficult to report. Earlier this week I spoke with Dean Yasharian of @perle_restaurant , one of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. Owners Dean and Pauline Yasharian are one of thousands of families who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires. They’re part of a community of survivors now deep in the throes of navigating how to house their families and rebuild. Instead of taking the time to grieve and fully process their loss, the Yasharians switched gears to focus on their restaurant and the 30 employees they consider family. The restaurant, like many in Los Angeles, was already struggling through Covid and the writers strike. After being closed for one week, its working capital dropped to an all-time low. It’s the same story at so many resultants around town. If you’re in a position to eat out, keep supporting restaurants. You can read more about the Yasharians and Perle at the link in my bio. I was at a corner table in the dining room on Wednesday when they reopened. Here’s their excellent tarte tatin.

The French onion soup

And the stellar sole meunière

Sandwiches from @dtlacheesesuperette . Thank you @bettyhallock for always being so wonderful and thoughtful

Burrito 2.0 and chivichangas from @sonoratownla … for the burrito add poblano chile and extra cheese

Bo kho braised short ribs from @dinelittlesister

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The best things I ate and sipped, with highlights in today’s @latimes column:

Chicken and garlic rice @hengheng_chickenrice

Zaab crispy pork from Heng Heng

Mama Harris asking for 10 containers so she can take home as much of the table garlic sauce at Heng Heng as possible. Then she just grabbed the entire jug 🤣

This week’s column is on a few of my new favorite places for chicken and rice. First up is the #hainanesechickenrice from @hongcoffeeandbakery in Monterey Park.

And the chicken and rice from @burdchickenrice in #WestCovina

This place also has fried chicken skins and fresh pressed sugarcane drinks

French onion soup from @bar.coucou in West Hollywood. Every season is French onion soup season, but it really feels like French onion soup season now.

Stuffed celery from @mussoandfrankgrill . IYKYK

Choose your own adventure #Negroni with your choice of gin (always @sipsmith ), bitter and vermouth from Toscana Ristorante and Bar @eatalylasvegas .

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The best things I ate, with highlights in Monday’s @latimes column:

Lobster katsu sandwich from @yess.restaurant

A slice of perfect pluot tart at Cafe Oh! No the new daytime (soon to be all day + wine bar) operation next to Yess from sous chef Giles Clark

And the Oh! No Benedictine bacon sandwich. More in the column.

Santana’s chicken with plantains and moro de habichuelas negra from @elbacanola

Bburinkle chicken from @bhc_chicken_us . I’m still messing with cheese powder chicken.

A few bites from the @thaiselectusa Sa Wad Dee festival including this bowl of khao soi from @eatmanaao

Kua Kling chicken from @jitlada_la

Moo Hong from @luv2eat.thaibistro

Sanddabs @dunsmoor.la . If you see them on the menu, order them.

And of course the Dunsmoor cornbread, with all that butter.

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The best things I ate, with highlights in Monday’s @latimes column:

My favorite tuna sandwich from @bubandgrandmasbread . I love that just the inner side of the bread is toasted and the correct amount of iceberg lettuce.

Knafeh from @knafehcafe

Musakhan from #AlBaraka in #Anaheim #OC

Shawarma from @zaitandzaatar

Tounsi brik @barshalife

Wings medium @howlinrays

And a big bag of fried pickles also from Howlin’ Ray’s

And a condiment shoutout for @sonokosakai’s chili ponzu sauce purchased @lahomefarm

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