Kurrypinch

After years of operating out of a Tarzana strip mall, Kurrypinch’s Shaheen Ghazaly has relocated to Thai Town with the help of business partner Nimesh Rajakumar. This more centrally located South Asian dining option is a must-try for those living in the city proper, with traditional dishes like kottu roti—a stir-fried mix of roti, eggs, vegetables and your choice of protein—and Ghazaly’s reconstruction of traditional Sri Lankan string hoppers into a flavorful, more user-friendly pilau. My surprising favorite, however, was the mixed vegetable curry plate, which features three different items that rotate regularly. The chef flexes his creativity further in the coconut milk risotto and Cajun spiced shrimp, but I’d still steer you towards the classics, especially if you’re not familiar with the cuisine of this tiny island nation. On Saturdays and Sundays, Kurrypinch also offers lamprais (a delightful banana leaf packet of rice, protein and side dishes), chicken biryani and a prawn curry. I’ve yet to try those items, but if they’re anything like the rest of the menu, they’re most likely just as delicious.