The Hummingbird

Tucked away in a barebones Echo Park space just before the Glendale Freeway, Ricardo Zarate’s latest endeavor serves delicious, reasonably priced renditions of the Japanese-Peruvian raw fare that put him on the map at Causita, Picca and Mo-Chica, among other now-closed restaurants. The difference this time? Zarate’s on his own. While the turquoise-quartz ceviche bar and pink neon lighting add plenty of flair, the Hummingbird is a no-frills, casual affair with no wine and beer license (yet). Start your meal with a few of the chef’s creative hand roll options, then order a couple of raw items—I particularly enjoyed the scallop aguachile topped with pepper ash and the classic sea bass ceviche. Best of all, nothing on the menu is over $40. Compared to most new restaurants opening in L.A., the Hummingbird definitely delivers the most bang for your buck.