El Segundo is a quirky little city in the Southland that is only too happy to maintain its independence. As a tiny island floating in this vast metropolis of Los Angeles, El Segundo has managed to maintain a great deal of small town charm that America loves to wax nostalgia about. They even have a main street lined with restaurants and cafes – aptly named Main Street of course.
Havana Sandwich Company
Pretty much right in the middle of everything and just a stone’s throw from Main and Grand rests this Cuban café specializing, but not limited to sandwiches. The Havana Sandwich company offers a wide selection of traditional Cuban fair with some not so traditional alternative options. I was a little surprised to see an Italian style deli sandwich listed next to classic such as roasted pork and crispy jerk chicken, but it was quite tasty none-the-less. But of course you come to a Cuban restaurant for Cuban food, and the guys from Havana deliver in spades. I recommend the Roasted Jerk, or the Miami which comes toasted with an optional side of fries, rice & beans & plantains, or a salad. Lunch here will set you back around $8-10 depending on your options – and a half sandwich is generally plenty. Tables are usually easy enough to grab, and I have yet to see a line, but the place has always been around 80% full.
Tarasco Mexican Food
Considering this is Los Angeles, there is hardly any shortage of great Mexican restaurants for sampling, so it is a pretty competitive category to be dealing with. It would have been very easy to have left any Mexican restaurant off the El Segundo list since there are many places to choose from in nearby cities – but El Tarasco still pulls through with its great and consistent meals. This place has become so popular locally that there are two locations in El Segundo alone – and they don’t feel like cookie cutter franchises. With a broad menu of several styles of burritos, tacos, enchilada, fajitas, tostadas and more, just makes a decision on what to order here can take some time. Most entrees are huge and served with rice and beans unless requested otherwise. The chicken fajitas are very tasty – with the chicken the right amount of tender and not at all dry, yet the vegetables retain the right amount of crispiness. Also great are the juevos con chorizo and the carne asada burrito. Lunch or Dinner at El Tarasco will set you back around $10-15, and you may have to wait a little for a table during their peak times. They do have a nice outside patio however which is especially great in the summer months. They don’t have the best food for the health conscious, but when you are hungry it really hits the spot.
Hummus Factory
Just slightly east on Grand from main street, in what I originally mistook for a Laundromat (the sign looks a little strange…what can I say) rests this Lebanese café. At first I avoided it just because I was not particularly convinced that having factory in your name was the right way to entice new patrons. But of course I was wrong, as is common with first impressions. The Hummus Factory is a small family run operation that has decorated its basic dining area with beautiful pictures of the Lebanese coast, as well as black and white stills of Beirut from 50 years ago. They also have a nice patio with some scattered plants to liven the entrance up more. As for the food they serve chicken, lamb, or beef kebobs, pita sandwiches, or combination plates. Most everything comes with hummus if it is a plate, though you can order this as a side – and it is well worth getting. Very smooth and full of flavor – this might be the freshest hummus I have had anywhere in the Los Angeles area. Also for all of you vegetarians out there this place has an excellent vegetarian plate with dolma, hummus, baba ganouche, and taboleh. Lunch here will run you less than $10, and while you wait in line to order they will deliver it to your table.
Vinny's Pizza
Next up on our list is our Italian offering for El Segundo, and what I consider one of the best places to grab anything from chicken parmesan to a supreme calzone. Ironically I have not actually had any pizza at Vinny’s and with their great selection of pasta dishes, and sandwiches I will be hard pressed to ever order a slice. That being said I have heard great things about their pizza, but pizza can be found in most locales – yet finding a decent Italian sub can be a challenge. The prices at Vinny’s are more than fair, and you can actually get yourself a substantial meal for less than $5 if you order right. The interior leaves a little to be desired as they have not really decided whether they want to be a restaurant or a sports bar – but if you do enjoy sports then the televisions will keep you entertained. Another downside is they speed at which your food arrives. While the staff is always friendly, polite, and helpful, it does take a while for your order to come up, especially if you order something complicated like a calzone or anything that takes a while to bake.
O-Shun
Of all the places on this list, O-Shun may be the nicest establishment in terms of overall ambience and décor. They have done a great job with a small setting, creating a very calm feeling restaurant that does not overwhelm you in any way – a nice balance compared to many of interiors which leave much to be desired. Inside there is a smattering of tables, and then a very small sushi bar tended by the head chef. O-Shun is elegant and nice enough to be a good first date spot, and lacks the pretentiousness that many Southern California sushi spots possess. While they advertize themselves as a sushi bar, O-Shun is actually a reasonably well rounded Japanese Restaurant. They have a solid selection of Udon and Tempura dishes, in addition to a solid selection of sushi. While better and fresher fish can be had at a number of restaurants in Los Angeles, for those not looking to make a journey this is your best bet. The price is affordable, the food good quality – O-Shun is a place not to be missed if you are in the local area.
Richmond Bar & Grill
I have yet to profile any great place to get a Burger in El Segundo, and while there are many options for those looking for this American classic – Richmond’s stands ahead of the pack in terms of its atmosphere and quality. This little bar/restaurant is located one street west of Main on Richmond, and you just might not even notice the location without looking carefully. It reminds me of any number of dive bars I have attended, though they go the extra mile with some of their wall decorations. Whenever I visit in the day however, the back patio is usually the best dining spot, and one of the most relaxing ways to sit in the sun. Their menu is what you would expect from a bar, with a good selection of burgers, hot sandwiches, and hot dogs. They are famous for their homemade potatoes chips which replace the more common French fry. Some people swear by the chips – I could take it or leave it, and often opt to have a salad instead or onion rings if I am feeling extra decadent. They serve a great patty melt, Cajun chicken sandwich and even an all veggie sandwich if you are looking for something lighter. All in all a lunch will run you less than $10 here, unless you decide to imbibe with a pint or two which is always quite tempting.
Original Rinaldi's
Rinaldis may have the largest menu of any of the restaurants profiled today (except possibly El Tarasco) and they proudly display it in large block letters above the register. There specialty lies in dozens of hot and cold sandwiches, mostly of Italian inspiration. Rinaldis is almost always packed, and it can be difficult to grab all but the smallest table during their lunch peak. To compensate they move very quickly usually getting your food out 5-10 minutes. Probably the most difficult part of coming here is deciding just what to have – and because the line moves so quickly it is easy to get to the front and still have no idea what to choose. Fortunately I have never gone wrong with any random selection, and that is a trait not shared with many other restaurants. Unless you are quite hungry I recommend grabbing a small sandwich because at Rinaldis they are serious about size. My favorites include the classic Italian sandwich or the Loyola, named for the nearby university. Lunch here is quite easy on your wallet, and you can get out spending less than $10 on most every occasion.
Big Mike's Philly Steaks
As someone that consistently looks for good food, I have to confess that I don’t know squat about what makes a good Philly Cheese Steak. I have never been to Philadelphia and I couldn’t tell you about the nuances of this famous sandwich to save my life - but the Philly Cheese they serve at Big Mike’s makes me want to learn. I am nearly ready to book my ticket to the city of brotherly love, just so that I can find out more about what I have been missing. And while I may not be an expert on all things philly cheese – I do know what tastes good, and I know that Big Mike delivers in spades. With nearly an endless set of optional toppings, the guys here make it easy to customize the sandwich to your tastes. I pretty much go for everything and the sandwich can barely stay together it is so tightly packed. Beyond the Philly Cheese Steak however Big Mike serves up an Italian meatball and sausage sub – both equally delicious. This place may have achieved some minor fame as well through their garlic fries that actually use fresh garlic. Just don’t plan on going on a date right after downing these. Lunch runs just over $10 on most days, and you might as well skip dinner consider the sizes they serve.
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