LA ｜Meteora — Gather Around Fire: A Taste of Pre-Colonial Americas 🍂

I’ve been so excited about Vespertine’s reopening! When Meteora first opened, the reviews were pretty mixed, so I held off on visiting. But after trying Vespertine’s new menu and really enjoying it, I decided to give Meteora another shot—and wow, I’m glad I did! Meteora feels like an amplified version of everything I loved at Vespertine: more meat-centric, deeply layered flavors, fantastic fermented drinks, and desserts that totally wow. Plus, the new menu is such great value. For around a hundred bucks? In Southern California? Absolutely worth it. 🙌💸 The scallop and banana dish was sweet and fresh, with a kick of horseradish and chorizo oil that made each bite complex and exciting. 🍌🔥 Then there was the purple yam—roasted till caramelized, sitting in this rich, buttery sauce, paired with tangy tropical fruits and bursting fish roe. The aged duck wasn’t super tender, but it had a firm, satisfying texture. Wrapping crispy duck skin in fresh lettuce made for a double crunch situation! 🦆🥬 My favorite savory course? A charcoal-grilled veggie dish with barley, peaches, apricots, and tomatoes—all lightly charred, smoky, and naturally sweet. And dessert? Refreshing cucumber coconut shaved ice with cocoa, mango, and spiced herbal dust. Incredible. 🥒🍧 The restaurant itself feels like a mystical cave made of adobe, filled with lush greenery, nest-like structures, and burning sage at the entrance. You can really feel the owner’s vision across their restaurants—a strong theme of primal, pre-colonial naturalism rooted in the Americas. There’s clear inspiration from Latin American and South American culinary traditions too. Think fire-based cooking: open flames, smoking, raw natural ingredients, traditional Central and South American drinks, tropical fruits, wild spices, and native ferments. Even the naming of dishes feels like a tribute to nature and the spirit of this land. 🌎🍃✨ I later found out that they hosted a chef from Boragó in Chile—which is one of my personal favorites (I think I’ve written about it before too!). Definitely keeping an eye out for more cool collaborations in the future! 👀🤝 Let me know if you’ve been or what your favorite dish is! 👇💬 #RestaurantRecommendation #HiddenGem #GlobalEats #CulinaryArt #FeastForTheSenses #LA #LAFood #EatWellOnABudget