Where to Get the Best Pie in Los Angeles, According to a Professional Baker

In Los Angeles, every type of cuisine and every type of restaurant is at your fingertips. “I just don’t think that depth and range exists anywhere else,” says 2023 F&W Best New Chef Hannah Ziskin, owner of Quarter Sheets, a bakery that specializes in pizza and cakes. “I live 15 minutes from hand-pulled noodles in San Gabriel Valley and five to charcoal-grilled kebabs in a parking lot, 20 to tears of pain and joy at Jitlada and 25 to hand-laminated bourekas in the valley.”

Ziskin is one of the many independent restaurant owners who are forging names for themselves in Los Angeles. “We sort of exist in opposition to the bombast and flair of the fine-dining restaurant world that most of us came up in,” she says. “We are sending each other available leases, sharing financial documents and recipes, and asking each other questions about how the city permitting system works (anyone know?).” 

Born and raised in California, Ziskin is well-versed on how to navigate busy L.A. Here are her favorite places to eat, drink, and shop. 

The sweet side

“I don’t seek dessert, and I don’t have a sweet tooth at all (I know, I know), but sometimes you’re standing outside of a Fosters Freeze and just need chocolate-dipped soft serve in a cone.”

Easy as pie

“I grew up in West Los Angeles a few blocks away from The Apple Pan and have sat at the counter hundreds of times. We have chocolate cream pie on the menu at Quarter Sheets and it exists because the chocolate cream pie at The Apple Pan existed before it.”

Taco truck

“Mariscos Jalisco serves a few things, but the most important (for me) are the shrimp tacos. They cannot be improved upon. They are flawless.” 

Neighborhood standby

“Although I live in L.A. County, I’m really in Glendale, which is very much its own place. How can I recommend anything other than Mini Kabob? I literally dream of the beef lule, the chicken cutlet ... even the rice is perfect!”

Notorious noodles

“My partner and I wake up every Monday and pretend to have a conversation about where we are going for breakfast. Without fail, we give in to the siren call of Chong Qing Special Noodles. I am deeply [committed] to the #30 Chongqing Handmade Noodles, the Spicy and Sour Dumplings with Soup, the Gele Mountain Style Fried Chicken, and the You Po Noodles. No notes.”

Pure joy

“My favorite cocktail is a cup of mezcal with an orange slice from Little Joy. If I’m feeling a bit more ambitious, an ice-cold gin martini with a lemon twist at Capri Club, with a side of lasagna.”

Wines to try

“Never met a bottle of wine that I didn’t love at Anajak Thai. Chef Justin Pichetrungsi is pushing the boundaries of what a person might expect from a ‘neighborhood’ Thai restaurant, and the wine list reflects the ethos. It’s at once expansive, creative, and familiar and contains both grapes you know and love and lots of lesser-known varietals to discover (my personal favorite being Pineau d’Aunis — practically no one else carries this).”

Beer or beach

“If I’m feeling like a local, I drink beer on the front porch at Walt’s in Eagle Rock. If I’m feeling like a tourist, I drink a Bloody Mary through a straw at Paradise Cove in Malibu with my toes in the sand.”

Best-kept secret

“Verdugo Produce is a tiny neighborhood grocery store one block from our house in Glendale. I’m actually questioning whether I should share this or not, but they often have some wild and rare products there, like sour cherries, green almonds, Persian plums, like 15 varieties of labneh, fresh grape leaves, and Armenian basil. They also have very tasty lule kebab sandwiches that they grill on charcoal outside.”

Bar snacks

“You can find me at the counter at Found Oyster, with peel-and-eat prawns, a cup of chowder, Sicilian crudo, artichoke brandade, maybe a bar steak, and always a plate of frites with Dijon mustard.”

Late-night bites

“Quarter Sheets is right down the street from our favorite spot, Ototo. We get off work at 9:30 p.m. and rush over to have a late dinner and some sake. The entire team is the definition of hospitality. The food is delicious, and it’s just a good bar. I love the soft-shell shrimp, Fukashi Imo, Black Pepper Tofu, Shaki Shaki Salad, fried chicken, and yakisoba.”

Mall maki

“Sasabune Glendale is a sushi restaurant in a mall. It’s unassuming to say the least, but the quality of the fish is fantastic.”