Mizlala-land

Ooh-la-la…Mizlala!

Some friends in LA kept telling me that Mizlala is their favorite restaurant in the city and that they’d love to take me there. When I was in LA on business back in November, I took them up on their offer. It turns out Mizlala has three locations: West Adams, Sycamore, and Sherman Oaks. Since we were in Culver City, the West Adams location was the closest.

The West Adams location is a cozy spot in a transitional neighborhood, welcoming guests with colorful murals and casual communal seating on a trendy yet laid-back patio. It features a fast-casual Mediterranean/Israeli concept with a refined touch and a bold, flavorful menu that’s truly next level. The space, and food, attracts a mix of patrons, whether they’re grabbing a quick meal, relaxing over a long dinner, or popping in for takeout or a DoorDash pick-up. For us, tonight, it was a quick meal before dropping me at LAX for a flight home. I spent the flight wanting more Mizlala and more LA.

Fast forward to December and I found myself in The Valley with my family for the holidays. The question arose: “Where shall we eat tonight?” The answer came quickly: “How about Mizlala? I hear they have a location in Sherman Oaks!” Turns out Sherman Oaks is the original location for Mizlala. We set out.

While the Sherman Oaks location may have more humble beginnings, it features the same carefully curated menu (focus on a few dishes and execute them exceptionally well, with quality ingredients and explosive flavors). Our incredible dining experience at Mizlala began with warm, thick and fluffy pita bread and creamy, smoky baba ghanoush and silky perfect-consistency hummus before being followed by a few of their signature dishes each better than the last:

**Crispy Broccoli**: with aioli, capers, za’atar, lemon, fresh herbs

Mizlala delivers a culinary experience that feels both comforting and adventurous. The flavors are so big and bold it can be overwhelming to decide what to try next. We over-ordered, but nothing went to waste (though some of it might have gone to waist). It has truly become one of my favorite restaurants in LA as well, which I now consider Mizlala-land.