Elina Shatkin

Los Angeles Contributor

Elina is a journalist, writer, and podcast producer. Before joining KCRW as a producer for Good Food, she was the food editor at LAist/KPCC. Prior to that, she was the Arts and Culture editor at Los Angeles Magazine, a restaurant critic for LA Weekly, and a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times. She loves dogs, dark chocolate, and her mother’s brisket. Her writing has appeared in California Sunday, The Believer, Bitch, HiLobrow, and Palm Springs Life, among other publications. You can find her restaurant reviews in Westways.

Fun Facts

  • Lives in
    Los Angeles, CA
  • Drink of choice
    A perfect Manhattan.
  • Favorite food movie
    “The Menu.”
  • Best high-low pairing
    Caviar and potato chips (really, potato chips with anything).
  • A spot you’d almost gatekeep
    Jackson Market in Culver City.
  • Most memorable bite
    The cheese toast at Sizzler’s when I was 5 years old.
  • Pro tip for diners
    You can get into almost any restaurant in L.A. if you just call at 1 or 2 p.m. and ask if they have anything open that night. They might have cancellations. This works best on a weekday, if you only need a table for one or two people, and if you don’t mind eating early or late.
  • Last meal on earth
    My mom’s brisket and mashed potatoes.

Elina’s Featured Stories

Lasita chicken inasal

Interviews

It’s ‘Just a Roast Chicken,’ and Lasita Wants It That Way

Resy Spotlight

Le Great Outdoor Is Where You’ll Want to Eat All Summer Long

A spread at RVR

The Rundown

Everything You Need To Know About RVR, Travis Lett’s New Venice Izakaya

A spread of dishes at Tomat

The Rundown

Tomat Is an Unlikely Destination for Genre-Defying Food Near LAX

The Rundown

Saltie Girl Is the Sunset Strip’s Splashy New Seafood Spot

Recent Posts


The RundownLos Angeles

Everything You Need To Know About Fiish, Culver City’s New Sushi Spot

To make exceptional sushi, you first need to find exceptional fish. And as climate change continues ravaging the planet, that…

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Lasita chicken inasal

InterviewsLos Angeles

It’s ‘Just a Roast Chicken,’ and Lasita Wants It That Way

When is a roast chicken more than just a roast chicken? When is the screaming curveball of the pandemic an…

By