11 Dishes Around Los Angeles to Bring Comfort to Your Winter

Leave it to Ludovic Lefebvre to make French onion soup as traditional as possible. Rich veal stock with a bit of sherry and thyme makes the base absolutely luscious, and the thick slices of baguette and oozing Gruyère and Emmentaler cheeses on top makes it a meal. Get some of that crusty bread, gobs of good butter, and throw in at least one dessert (chocolate mousse!). Both the Valley and Hollywood locations offer takeout and delivery.

Harold & Belle’s gumbo is legendary, even for vegetarians. (There’s an okra and stewed tomato version that will knock your plant-based socks off.) The classic — chock-full of shrimp, sausage, ham, blue crab, and chicken — doesn’t need a side dish, but some sautéed spinach or coleslaw won’t hurt. While ordering, add a $15 donation to buy a meal for a person or family in need; owners Ryan and Jessica Legaux match each donation for charities like the Girls Club of Los Angeles. Find the menu and more info here.

Kimchi fried rice, hearty and spicy black cod stew, and fried chicken are just a few dishes to take the edge off January. But that bo ssam, a whole (or half) smoked and glazed pork shoulder with all the fixings, is comfort food at its very best. A boulevardier made with Japanese whiskey can only further help. Find the menus and instructions for pickup or delivery here.

The glamorous new kid on the Hollywood block brings a chic French vibe to its pandemic-friendly comfort fare, including beef Bourguignon served with polenta. There are also pints of ice cream and a fantastic selection of wines — let the sommelier pick something to go perfectly with dinner; their tailored choices are $40 per bottle. Get the full menu for pickup here.

Chicken parm, with tiramisu to finish, will fuel any winter season, anywhere. Summer, too, for that matter. The pop-up is working out of the Corner Door in Culver City, so there are excellent tiki-inspired drinks to go along with whatever you order. Tip: Get extra eggplant and hot peppers. Ordering info for delivery and pickup here.

You can’t get Dave Beran’s fancy pressed duck tableside right now, but you can get a duck pot pie, an instant classic. His ready-to-heat version comes with a Bibb salad, cauliflower gratin, and chocolate pot de crème, really the only way to end a dinner like that. Of course, you can throw in a few extra slices of Basque cheesecake or a souffle kit for two, just because. Find the full menu for delivery or pickup here.

Adam Perry Lang tends to give the people what they want, and right now that means barbecue. Flipping his Hollywood steakhouse into a barbecue takeout spot, you can get those soulful favorites like smoky brisket, that massive short rib, or a full plate of (not quite as massive) ribs. Or all three: Family meal deals include all the meats, plus sides like creamed spinach, Texas toast, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Order delivery here.

For anyone near Koreatown, there are plenty of restaurant choices for silky soondubu, or yukgaejang, the hearty oxtail soup. But if it’s Long Beach, this newish spot is where to find these homey classics, plus things like stone-pot bibimbap and kimchi-stuffed arancini. Open for lunch and dinner takeout, find more info here.

One bite into Gino Angelini’s classic lasagna verde, and all will feel right with the world. Although some might argue it’s the spaghetti alla carbonara that does the trick. Either way, any of the pasta dishes from his pair of Beverly Boulevard restaurants bring some ease into a chaotic world. The full menu for takeout is here; call for pickup or order online for delivery.

Raise your hand if you love potato latkes. Up high if you love latkes stuffed with things like mushroom and mozzarella, Buffalo chicken and blue cheese, duck-ham cordon bleu, or four cheeses and truffled Manischewitz sauce for dipping. The treats are just one of the newer items on Jeremy Fox’s menu in Santa Monica, along with other wintry dishes like matzoh-ball soup, mac-and-cheese kugel, yellow bean stew, and a corned beef and potato pierogi. Yes, all the carbs right now. Order for pickup or delivery; find all the info and full menu here.

When the going gets tough, get Nancy Silverton’s super filling, buttery, savory meat pies. Like, think of Chi Spacca’s bone-marrow pie, only in more flavors, like chicken, pork, vegetable, and a lamb shepherd’s pie. Available for delivery or pickup Wednesday through Sunday nights via the Mozzaplex.