The 2nd annual Eastside Food Festival is kicking off on Sunday, October 18, and we're already chomping at the bit to devour bites from some of the best restaurants in Silver Lake, Echo Park, Eagle Rock and beyond. There will be plenty of favorites in attendance—Alimento, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Pine & Crane, Belcampo Meat Co.—but we're especially excited for these five vendors:
1. Starry Kitchen: After an unsuccessful kickstarter campaign, Starry Kitchen had to shut down its Chinatown restaurant, and have since only popped up at a few events here and there. Well, they'll be at Eastside Food Festivals, no doubt touting their famous crispy tofu balls while preparing for their next role: operating the food menu at the yet-to-be-opened Button Mash barcade in Echo Park.
2. Little Jewel of New Orleans: Beignets, po' boys, catfish—what's not to love about Little Jewel? For a while, it seemed like New Orleans-inspired restaurants and bars were popping up every other week (Preux & Proper, The Little Easy, Five0Four), but Little Jewel has remained at the top of our list throughout the fad. Here's hoping they'll be serving plenty of fried food.
3. Belle's Bagels: First, Belle's Bagels started out as an underground bagel shop, bringing East Coast-style carbs to hungry Eagle Rock denizens. Since their shop closed, they've used La Perla Bakery as a pick-up spot where customers can claim their online order. No need for ordering ahead at the festival: just stop by their booth for fantastic, legit bagels—a rarity in LA.
4. Dune: Because they have amazing falafel. Because they have delicious lamb. Because they have the most refreshing rosewater kombucha. Because if you haven't been to their Atwater Village eatery yet, you should definitely make this your first stop at the festival.
5. Ohana Poke Co.: We realize this poke craze has gotten a little out of hand, but that doesn't mean we're not psyched about Ohana Poke Co., the new-ish poke spot Downtown. Chef Eric Park will be bringing bigeye tuna to hungry Eastsiders on the 18th, and we'll be waiting in line right there with them. What's one more bowl of poke?
Tickets for the Eastside Food Festival are still available here.