The 9 Best Spots for East Coast Eats in Los Angeles

The Anchor
The Anchor

East Coast expats always complain about how other-side-of-the-country staples like lobster rolls, and pizza slices, and bagels, and cheesesteaks, and etceteras just aren't the same in LA. And 99% of the time, they're totally right. 1% of the time, though -- yup -- they're not. Here are nine places in LA that're crushing other-coast eats so hard, even East Coasters can't be all, "these aren't as good as the ones on the East Coast pahk the cah in Hahvad Yahd."

Flickr/Matt Janicki

Burbank/Encino
What you're getting: A cheesesteak and a Tastykake
This longtime Valley favorite imports Amoroso rolls, Dutch birch beer, and Tastykakes for a "true" Philly experience, which -- of course -- also includes people throwing batteries at you. Wait, no... your choice of provolone or Whiz (there we go).

Flickr/Calamity_Hane

Mid-Wilshire
What you're getting: An everything bagel with lox and cream cheese
Since 1987, the Broker has been delivering on carb-bombs that are damn-near identical to the ones you'll find in New York: they're big and doughy, they're boiled before they're baked, and they use unbleached, high-gluten flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and water. Pair that with the thin and salty lox and cream cheese, close your eyes, and you'll feel like you're ankle deep in a slush puddle in no time!
 

Silver Lake
What you're getting: Clam chowder
On Fridays only, this Silver Lake institution serves up thick, white chowder just swimming with chewy goodness -- and then promptly runs out, because everyone wants some. So, our pro-tip? Lunch. Definitely lunch.

Flickr/Snowpea&BokChoi

Santa Monica
What you're getting: Fried clams
They're hard to find in LA, but this divey Santa Monica sports bar does crispy, slaw-abetted fried Ipswich clams 100% right, which is no surprise: the slogan for the Patriots-Celtics-Red Sox bar is "who says you're 3,000 miles away?"

The Anchor

Venice
What you're getting: Lobster roll
The only dish listed under The Anchor's "A Must" menu section, this lobster roll is... um... a must. The thing is, it's both a classic lobster roll (perfectly buttered roll and rich, pleasantly juicy lobster) and not (ultra-thin truffle shavings), but the whole thing is far larger (and ultimately more satisfying) than its closest competitors (we're looking at you, Son of a Gun).

Flickr/Joe Chang

Santa Monica
What you're getting: The Godmother
Okay, it's pretty definitively the best sandwich in LA, and you know this already, but one of the reasons it's the best is that it's so close to a legit Italian East Coast sub that you can almost taste the subway-and-urine-and-trash. Almost.
 

Mid-Wilshire
What you're getting: Scrapple
Slow down, Delawareians (Delawarites? Delawareists??) -- the scrapple at Doughboys isn't exactly like it's made on the East Coast, but all of the scrapple made on the East Coast isn't exactly like all of the other scrapple made on the East Coast, either. The 3rd St version is less loaf-like and looser than what people philosophically consider scrapple, but this is still the closest/best you're gonna find in LA.

FarmLifeLA.com

Mid-Wilshire
What you're getting: A slice of pepperoni
Okay, you're not gonna find any slice in LA that holds a candle to a walk-by slice in NY, but this tiny, thin crust contender holds, like, a lighter or something, thanks to a step that's often overlooked: they cook the pizzas, let 'em cool a bit, and then make them available by the re-heated slice. It double-cooks the crust, making sure it's crispy without being overcooked, and leading to some of the best East Coast-style pie in LA.

Beverly Hills
What you're getting: Crab cakes
There are plenty of great crab cakes all over Los Angeles, but this oft-overlooked classic restaurant makes them just loose enough, just breaded enough, and just buttery enough to project them just that far enough over the competition.

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Jeff Miller is not an East Coast expat, but he interviewed a ton of 'em to make sure he wasn't totally crazy. Tell him he is, though, at @jeffmillerla on Instagram and @ThrillistLA on Twitter.