Kismet

This enduringly hip Los Feliz favorite is best experienced with friends, but we can’t help feeling a tiny bit selfish when the chicken and pine nut pies wrapped in flaky phyllo arrive or when oyster mushroom skewers with a creamy onion and cashew sauce land on the table. And the Persian crispy rice with egg yolks? Do we have to share this one too? Such is the enduring charm of this Middle Eastern hotspot that prioritizes seasonal vegetables and bright flavors. Nothing feels heavy, ever, and even the most familiar of ingredients can surprise. The staff is equally charming, as cool as the cucumbers with rosewater labneh. Truly, in that eternal quest to find the quintessential neighborhood restaurant, Kismet meets the mark with flying colors.