Lokal Sandwich + Burger Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Disclaimer: This review is for a Yelp Elite event in conjunction with Lokal Venice.

Thank you @Lokal.Venice & @YelpLA for introducing me to this neighborhood gem. Sarah, Julia and the Westside Yelp team knocked another one out of the ballpark - the second this week!

Vanessa at the counter was friendly and knowledgeable. She contrasted that this location was full service with drinks and a more extensive menu.

I opted for the vegetarian and she directed me to the tofu lemongrass banh mi. I was already coffee’d out after opening day of dayglow coffee in Venice earlier in the AM, so I opted for Thai iced tea. It comes with 2 non dairy options, almond and oat. Vanessa made the dealers choice of oat milk.

It took less than 10 minutes to get a fresh banh mi, as we sipped the Thai iced tea that was out in a minute.

Thai iced tea was sweet but not too sweet, and oat milk made it less heavy than dairy. It had a refreshing quality to it, and that distinct flavor of tea.

What makes a good banh mi great is the baguette. This one had a nice crunch, had just the right amount of vegan mayo to not make it soggy. You know it’s legit when you get oodles of cilantro, jalapeño and that distinct sweet spicy kick of carrots and other veggies. The tofu was lightly fried and soaked in all the flavor. It wasn’t too lemongrassy but in combination with the bread and pickled veggies, packed a punch. Overall some of the better banh mi I’ve had. It tasted fresh and was satisfying. I really appreciated their choice of hot sauce that did not have additives and other nasty fillers.

Overall a solid experience when craving the Vietnamese French sandwich, which I do often. I will be back to try their burger and some of Vanessa’s favorites on the menu: Cubano, Korean bbq banh mi and the vegan burger.

Tip: The restroom is clean but needs a key.

Tip: Free parking in the strip mall lot Tip: Check out the lunch special from 8 am to 4 pm. At $15 for OG Burger, fries and a beer it’s the best...

First time trying Vietnamese food and I may be hooked. Let's jump right into this review.

What did I have - Mexican Coca-Cola - A bottle of deliciousness! I don't drink soda on a regular, but, I wasn't passing up this opportunity.

K-BBQ Korean marinated beef BBQ + kimchi - $14.50 - Amazing flavor and beef was seasoned well. The baguette was soft/fresh.

Breakfast menu also available

Pros Wonderful customer service. Greeted and served with a smile. The female employee who assisted me was very helpful in helping me decide what to try.

Food was delicious. Light. Refreshing. Filling. Yup, all that.

They also have pastries - see photo. Grab food and a treat.

Cons Lot is small, very small and Lokal is next door to Simpang Venice. Busy foot traffic area. Be prepared to face parking challenges.

Inside is also small. Cozy but cramp - not enough space for my preference.

I took my Bahi Mi to go and my food was packaged/bagged well. Overall, I would definitely return and try some of the other menu items. I enjoyed my meal and service and warrants the fight to find...

Where has this place been all my life?

For years, I thought people were talking about some random neighborhood joint… turns out they were talking about Lokal—and I’ve been missing out big time.

This place is a fusion comfort food wonderland. Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican… flavors from everywhere somehow working together in perfect harmony. If “food porn” had an entry in the dictionary, Lokal would be a strong contender for the cover photo.

My current obsessions:

Kpop Fries – Highly addictive. Proceed with caution.

Korean BBQ Banh Mi – Pure flavor explosion.

Chimichurri Steak – That sauce… someone needs to bottle it.

My only struggle here? Picking just one entrée per visit. Since I’ve hopped on the LA intermittent fasting train, I only get one big meal a day—meaning each visit is basically a full-on palate crisis.

If bold flavors and creative comfort food are your thing, put Lokal at the top of your list. And if you spot a guy with blonde hair, built shoulders, and the expression of someone facing the toughest decision of his week—that’s...