March is Women’s History Month, and one of the easiest ways to honor the tradition is to eat out. This is especially true in Los Angeles, where thousands of small businesses cover a plethora of cultures and customs.
If you need a little help this March, here’s a handful of restaurants in the city of Los Angeles that may curb your craving for good Asian food, but also happen to be women-owned.
Cobi’s
Location: 2104 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Hours: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Mondays through Wednesdays, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
Cobi’s, a restaurant specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine, resides on Main Street in Santa Monica, only a block from the beach. Cobi Marsh, the name behind the establishment, runs the restaurant with her husband, Lance Mueller. The menu pulls inspiration from Indonesia, India, and Thailand, with signature dishes including their butter chicken, nasi goreng, and other classic options like chicken larb.
The Night We Met
Location: 788 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Hours: 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Sundays
The Night We Met is not the first concept to belong to married owners Vindy and Mindy Kinne — it is actually their third. The restaurant is a relatively new, buzzy opening serving pan-Asian cuisine, dedicated to honoring their relationship. Their previous concepts, Met Her at a Bar, Met Him at a Bar, and Her Thai, all follow the same custom, though for this month, all the her’s deserve some extra attention.
Soban
Location: 4001 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Wednesdays through Mondays, closed on Tuesdays
Soban is owned and operated by Jennifer Pak, holding a spot on the Michelin Guide as well as several other distinctions by the LA TIMES, Eater, and Timeout LA. They specialize in galbi jim, eundaegu jorim, and ganjang gejang, bringing traditional Korean dishes to LA’s Koreatown. With a focus on the little details and their family-owned community, Soban deserves a visit next time you’re taking a ride along Olympic.
La ong
Location: 9632 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
La ong is an elevated restaurant sitting in Beverly Hills that brings Thai food to the west side. It is named after the chef’s grandmother, who curated the recipes long passed down throughout generations, that are now served at the establishment. Sourcing ingredients both from local markets and imported from Thailand, La ong emphasizes family and tradition while honoring the woman behind the project.
Phoenix Bakery
Location: 969 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
Phoenix Bakery began as a small business run by the Chan’s, a wife and husband duo in LA’s Chinatown in 1938. Over the years, as more of the Chan family came together to support the bakery, it became a thriving business popular for their iconic strawberry cakes packed with fresh fruit and lathered with cream. The bakery is a multi-generational endeavor that aims to continue serving up the same quality while honoring their decades of history.
With a few more restaurants to add to your hit list, eating out when March rolls around will be a breeze. This list is only a small glimpse into the thousands of women who back our kitchens and deserve your support.
Visual Credit: Emily Hsi
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