The LA Food Podcast

6
Food #234

The LA Food Podcast is where LA’s top chefs, boldest food stories, and biggest restaurant moments all collide. Hosted by Luca Servodio, the official hype man of Los Angeles restaurants, we dig deep into what’s happening across the most exciting food city on the planet — Los Angeles.We’ve chopped it up with legends like Wolfgang Puck, Brooke Williamson, Joe Sasto, and more. Expect chef interviews, restaurant news, behind-the-scenes drama, food culture trends, and no-BS conversations about LA’s dynamic dining scene.Powered by Acquired Taste Media. New episodes drop every Friday. Hit follow!

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Recent Episodes
  • How AI is infiltrating fine dining. Plus, Evan Funke’s back at it, Jonathan Gold under fire, and Father Sal tries the Erewhon Hailey Bieber smoothie.
    Jun 6, 2025 – 01:07:43
  • Could “entertainment zones” save LA restaurants? Plus, Matu’s Scott Linder and Ryan Gianola on expanding their wagyu beef empire.
    May 30, 2025 – 01:14:02
  • Is Thomas Keller losing it? Plus, Found Oyster's Ari Kolender on cooking the finest things in the sea and Queen’s savvy rebrand.
    May 23, 2025 – 01:45:19
  • Condiment Claire, the LA-raised content creator taking over the world. Plus, burger love/hate, oyster economics, and Nobody Wants This bagels.
    May 16, 2025 – 00:43:24
  • Are LA diners too hard to please? Survey results from The Angel, Top Chef progress report & big news from Bill Esparza
    May 9, 2025 – 01:10:47
  • Meteora Rising: Is Jordan Kahn's Melrose restaurant ready for 2 Michelin Stars? Plus, Opening Cafe Esca Part 4, AKA the ins and outs of designing a menu.
    May 2, 2025 – 01:36:45
  • Inside Lele Dinner Club, LA’s hottest reservation. Plus, Pizza City Fest preview with Steve Dolinsky.
    Apr 25, 2025 – 01:14:17
  • From border town to Beard semifinalist, with Barra Santos’ Melissa Lopez. Plus, Jenn Harris on tariffs, Khushbu Shah on influencers vs. experts, and a hot LA restaurant survey making the rounds.
    Apr 18, 2025 – 00:46:13
  • How will the tariffs impact LA restaurants and diners? Plus, RIP middle class restaurants, wagyu beef heaven in Brentwood, and Glen Powell’s BLT boo-boo.
    Apr 11, 2025 – 01:18:32
  • The Curious Case of Eric Greenspan and Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner. Plus, 5 SoCal restaurants score James Beard noms, Taco Madness’ notable omission, and notes from the Pizza Expo field.
    Apr 4, 2025 – 01:10:18
  • BONUS: Live from Family Meal – Restaurants in Times of Crisis with Lien Ta, Alycia Harshfield, Alexa Rousso, and Stephen Poux.
    Apr 1, 2025 – 00:47:47
  • Inside the mind of a food critic, with The LO Times’ Ryan Sutton (formerly of Eater NY and Bloomberg News)
    Mar 28, 2025 – 00:55:56
  • Why are restaurants still facing a labor crisis? Plus, new Michelin Guide additions, LA’s street food supremacy, pizza-coded romantic drama, and a Chinese hot pot nightmare.
    Mar 21, 2025 – 01:08:51
  • Scouting report of the hottest culinary talent in America (A.K.A. The 2025 Fantasy Top Chef Draft). Plus, a one-man tasting menu in DTLA and the most controversial restaurant in the world.
    Mar 14, 2025 – 01:02:34
  • Hainan Chicken & Hard Lessons: Chef Johnny Lee’s journey to Rasarumah. Plus, LIVE from New York, it’s Taco Bell’s Live Mas LIVE.
    Mar 7, 2025 – 01:00:31
  • Can anyone save The Original Pantry Cafe? Plus, drama at The Ruby Fruit and a round-up of recent eats feat. Stir Crazy, Calabama and Hiho Cheeseburger.
    Feb 28, 2025 – 01:05:06
  • Why are LA pizzerias receiving cease and desists? Plus, OpenTable’s resurgence, reflections on dinner at Baroo, and Father Sal gives his mom a daughter-in-law (kind of).
    Feb 21, 2025 – 00:59:49
  • Why restaurants are petitioning the city, with The LA Times’ Stephanie Breijo. Plus, Rashida Holmes on Bridgetown Roti’s journey from pop-up to permanent.
    Feb 14, 2025 – 01:03:23
  • BONUS: Are nonalcoholic cocktails the real deal? With The Lonely Oyster's Philip Ross
    Feb 11, 2025 – 00:41:43
  • We can’t stop thinking about Vespertine. But did we like it?
    Feb 7, 2025 – 01:20:36
  • Boulud & Waxman & Goin, oh my! Previewing the epic Chefs Love LA wildfire benefit dinner. Plus, why Ricardo Zarate’s The Hummingbird is way more than a comeback.
    Jan 31, 2025 – 01:00:51
  • Another (frankly psychotic) analysis of the 2025 James Beard semifinalists. Plus, Opening Cafe Esca Part 3 with Luke Reyes and Reilly Cox.
    Jan 24, 2025 – 01:35:13
  • Restaurants rise to the wildfire challenge - but the job’s not finished. With Cafe De Leche’s Matthew Schodorf, Fiorelli Pizza’s Liz Gutierrez, and Inclusive Action for the City’s Rudy Espinoza.
    Jan 17, 2025 – 01:22:20
  • 3 ways to help LA restaurants during the wildfires
    Jan 10, 2025 – 00:03:15
  • Announcing the 2025 Countdown. Plus, more doom and gloom in store for LA restaurants in 2025?
    Jan 3, 2025 – 01:16:54
  • The Best New Restaurants of 2024, with The Infatuation’s Brant Cox and Sylvio Martins. Plus, 2024 trends, 2025 predictions, and food-related New Year’s resolutions.
    Dec 27, 2024 – 00:49:22
  • The 2nd annual LA Food Pod Holiday Party. Plus, Christmas at Genghis Cohen with Marc Rose and Med Abrous.
    Dec 20, 2024 – 01:53:05
  • What do the Eater layoffs mean for LA food media? Plus, Part 2 of Opening Cafe Esca with Luke Reyes and Reilly Cox.
    Dec 13, 2024 – 01:12:13
  • A (frankly psychotic) analysis of The LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list
    Dec 6, 2024 – 01:10:51
  • A very LA Food Pod gift guide. Plus, the case for gatekeeping restaurants per TASTE, in defense of LA dining's "ebb" year, and solving the future of food media in one conversation.
    Nov 29, 2024 – 01:21:46
  • 100th Episode Live Show with Mona Holmes and Jackson Kalb
    Nov 22, 2024 – 01:17:12
  • Brooke Williamson talks Top Chef, longevity in the LA restaurant scene, and her debut cookbook, Sun-Kissed Cooking.
    Nov 15, 2024 – 00:47:53
  • Langer’s future on the rocks, why Martha Stewart hates her doc, and Karen Palmer thrives in the Father Sal chair - hardly a shock. Plus, a chat with Richard Pink on the eve of Pink’s 85th Birthday.
    Nov 8, 2024 – 01:11:30
  • Opening Cafe Esca Part 1, with Reilly Cox and Luke Reyes. Plus, Jenn Harris puts the NY vs. (World Series Champ) LA food debate to rest, can food help Kamala win, and Father Sal is moving to LA.
    Nov 1, 2024 – 01:39:28
  • The influencer debate heats up. Plus, political burritos, immortal mochi, and a cheesy conversation with The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills' Dominick DiBartolomeo.
    Oct 25, 2024 – 01:42:54
  • Did Evan Funke’s Chef’s Table just give us the ick? Plus, food criticism chat, LA County does something good, El Moro displaces Patra, Erewhon kids’ meals, and more.
    Oct 18, 2024 – 01:25:30
  • Is Eater's Essential 38 the GOAT or the most chaotic list of all time? Plus, Jaca's talent pipeline, Tom Colicchio's memoir, and an interview with The Lonely Oyster's Dominique Crisp.
    Oct 11, 2024 – 01:44:33
  • An honest conversation with ex-Otium employees. Plus, reactions to L.A. Taco's Taco 69, Ina Garten's media tour, California's octopus ban, and Paul Hollywood's extracurriculars.
    Oct 4, 2024 – 01:19:09
  • The future of Wolfgang Puck with Wolfgang Puck and Byron Lazaroff Puck. Plus, Azizam's hot streak, Owen Han's sandwich crown, and the most embarrassing Yelp review of all time.
    Sep 27, 2024 – 01:40:34
  • Bon Appetit honors an LA hotspot, Josiah Citrin reflects on 25 years of Melisse, and Laurie Ochoa has had it with guest chef dinners. Plus, an olive oil masterclass with Corto's Lisa Pollack.
    Sep 20, 2024 – 01:56:18
  • High and lows as we bid Poltergeist farewell, but celebrate Holy Basil's big Food & Wine win. Plus, a sneak peek of two exciting concepts coming this Fall to Ojai and Montecito.
    Sep 13, 2024 – 01:13:35
  • Joe Sasto blesses the pod with pasta wisdom, Top Chef lore, and his glorious moustache. Plus, decoding LA burgers, Evan Funke gets the Chef's Table treatment, and fast food jobs soar.
    Sep 6, 2024 – 01:35:31
  • Is Langer's actually closing? Plus Father Sal unleashed at. Si! Mon, Cobi's, Horses, Petramale and more. And an interview with Avner Levi of Cento Pasta Bar.
    Aug 30, 2024 – 02:00:45
  • The best tacos in LA, work-life balance in fine dining, and postmodern beer with LAist's Gab Chabran. Plus, how Snibbs' Daniel Shemtob developed the perfect shoe for chefs.
    Aug 23, 2024 – 01:39:11
  • Is Bill Esparza revolutionizing food criticism? Plus, a Bourdain biopic, the rise of restaurant robots, and a beefy interview with First Light Farms' Jason Ross.
    Aug 16, 2024 – 01:38:56
  • LA earns 5 new Michelin stars. Plus, Tim Walz is a foodie, Pete Wells yells at clouds, and Part 2 of our interview with Botanica's Heather Sperling.
    Aug 9, 2024 – 01:51:08
  • The gourmand's guide to visiting (or hosting visitors in) LA. Plus, Botanica's Heather Sperling on her unique journey and the state of food media.
    Aug 2, 2024 – 01:48:34
  • Hot girls eat pickles, with Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar of Good Girl Snacks. Plus, it's rainin' taco guides as we pick up the pieces of the Esparza-Villa's fallout.
    Jul 25, 2024 – 01:32:16
  • Bill Esparza vs. Villa's Tacos. Plus, why New Zealand real fruit ice cream is the sweet treat of the summer. With Creamy Boys' Duncan Parsons and Joe Wedd.
    Jul 19, 2024 – 01:41:14
  • Baroo is the LA Times' Restaurant of the Year. Plus, Eater's Mona Holmes on what makes LA food (and food media) great.
    Jul 12, 2024 – 01:54:14
Recent Reviews
  • Ezra Salkin
    Highly recommend
    Informative, insightful, tragic and hilarious. Always looking forward to the next one!
  • Elizabeth Bennett
    Great show
    Father Sal and Luca are so insightful with great chemistry. Five star show.
  • Frackney
    The BEST LA food podcast worth a weekly listen
    Amazing, true, for and from the people, thank you guys
  • Ike&Mames
    Eric
    Fantastic podcast! So informative. Excellent hosts!!
  • Matt Rodbard
    Great show - smart, timely takes
    I like this podcast for recent LA news, general food news, and spicy takes. It fits really well into the scene.
  • Slcah
    Really Enjoy!
    Love how knowledgeable the host is on his subject. You can feel the food love. I have found a lot of new places to eat from this pod. Very entertaining!
  • Micah a. Cohen
    Love this show - hilarious & perfect LA food lovers
    Looking forward to a new episode all week. Great knowledge on what’s happening in the LA food scene - plus great takes on food in our culture. The host is hilarious & super knowledgeable. 5 stars - wish I could give it more stars
  • Emmindspring
    10/10
    Great pod
  • smyse
    Great New Podcast on the LA Food Scene
    Luca has captured attention by eating at 100 pizzerias and 100 taquerias over the last two years. He is now bringing his love of food to an LA audience discussing local restaurants, food trends, and food happenings. The podcast has a Tim Ferriss quality to it, with Cousin Sal as Luca’s Kevin Roose. A must listen for foodies in the LA area.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.