5 Tasty Tips for Eagle Rock Foodies

From steak and jazz at to a gut busting chili cheeseburger at Original , Eagle Rockers have a plethora of prandial choices. No surprise that The Eagle Rock Association's annual fundraiser on May 21 is Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, “a festive, fun celebration of fine dining and community spirit” made possible by local residents opening up their homes and hosting dinners to help raise funds for TERA’s commendable efforts to improve the quality of life in Eagle Rock.

Most readers are probably familiar with the seasonally available offerings at —whose Red Velvet cupcakes are so yummylicious that owner Terri Wahl was challenged by celebrity chef Bobby Flay to a cook-off on the Food Network’s Throwdown With Bobby Flay—or the wait list at , cited by Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold as the best neighborhood pizzeria in Los Angeles. (Other Eagle Rock eateries on Gold’s annual “99 Essential LA Restaurants” list include the Southern home cooking of and Andre Guerrero’s , profiled by Guy Fieri on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.)    

Yes, the list of mouthwatering options goes on and on, from old faves like to newbies like and , but today I’d like to share five foodie tips that are off the beaten path and do not get as much fanfare:

1. Huevos Rancheros at  

You’ve probably driven by this unpretentious, mustard yellow mom and pop umpteen times and never given it a thought. Once you pop in for breakfast, you will think about it often. Owned by the lovely Delia who can most days be found wo-manning the cash register, I am loco for their huevos rancheros ($4.75). Delia’s secret is frying the tortillas, which gives this classic L.A. breakfast option a crisp, crunchy texture. What’s nice is that Delia’s also serves a variety of traditional breakfast dishes, such as the "2 pancakes/2 eggs/2 bacon/2 sausage + hash browns” special for just $4.99.

Delia’s Family Restaurant, 4501 York Blvd., Eagle Rock. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., (323) 256-7841.

2. Hummus at

When I crave hummus I go straight to this non-descript hole-in-the-wall located in the Super A/Panda House mini-mall on Eagle Rock Boulevard. To be perfectly honest I have never eaten here—I just pick up some pita bread and a creamy container of hummus (three sizes: $1.99/$2.99/$6.99).

Mediterranean Triangle, 4917 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, (323) 340-8314.

3. Thai food at

Also located in the Super A/Panda House mini-mall, this small, family run restaurant is tucked away next to the CVS drug store. They will change a dish to be vegetarian- friendly and deliver within a three-mile radius. I’ve never had a bad meal here.

The Pot Thai Café, 2242 ½ Fair Park Ave., Eagle Rock. Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., (323) 344-1845.

4. Steamed Pork Buns at Little Dim Sum

Given our neighborhood’s proximity to San Gabriel, I generally cruise over to Monterey Park when I want a Chinese meal (or bop downtown to Yang Chow for Slippery Shrimp), but when you don't want to drive, check out this simple fast food dim sum place located on the lower level of the Westfield Eagle Rock Plaza (aka the Target Mall). I enjoy the steamed BBQ pork buns ($2.55 for 3 buns).

Little Dim Sum, 2700 Colorado Blvd., #117 (Eagle Rock Plaza Mall, lower level), Eagle Rock, (323) 254-1988.

5. Fresh fish at

Seafood City caters to the Filipino demographic, but you don’t have to be Pinoy to appreciate the fresh fish sold here. When I need seafood I head straight to this supermarket, also located on the lower level of the Eagle Rock Plaza Mall (aka the Target Mall). A fish market in a mall sounds incongruous, but once you take in the varieties of fish packed in ice, your mind will travel to Marseilles and visions of bouillabaisse. I love it. Last night I bought two pounds of white tiger shrimp for $5, sautéed them in garlic, butter and olive oil and had them tossed with fresh pasta. With crusty bread and an Italian red wine, dinner doesn’t get better than that. I also like Seafood City’s meat section, where I buy beef and pork ribs for Korean kalbi.

Seafood City Supermarket, 2700 Colorado Blvd. #140 (lower level, Eagle Rock Plaza Mall), Eagle Rock, (323) 543-2660. Open daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Obviously, I have only scratched the surface of foodie secrets with my list, so let me throw it out to you—what are your foodie recommendations in Eagle Rock?