Late Night Grub

The Bun Shop
151 N. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA  90004

KTown? Buns? Sure, why not!  How can I resist not going to KTown on a Thursday night.  I love bao buns!  This place serves all sorts of buns (kalbi, pork belly, katsu, spam just to name a few).  Of course, I had the pork belly!  Oh and the price....$2.50 per bun.  Can't beat that!  Happy Hour prices that's for sure -- even better!

There are also other menu items.  I tried the Ba Corn Cheese (bacon, mozzarella, jalapeño and scallions). I'll definitely return for more.

The place:  It's not very big but trendy like many restaurants in KTown.  It's on Western Avenue and just down the street are coffee shops and a boba shop too.

Bao Buns: PORK BELLY (Pickled Vegetables, Scallions, Asion BBQ Sauce; KALBI (Sweet Garlic Soy, Tempura Onion, Spicy Aoli; KATSU (Dark Chicken, Creamy Slaw, Asian BBQ Sauce)  {Photo Credit:  Chad Marquez)

BA' CORN CHEESE (Bacon, Mozzarella, Jalapeño, Scallions) -- Yummmm!  

Hot and Trendy in DTLA

Baco Mercat, located on Main Street in downtown Los Angeles is another unique dining experience. "Baco" is their signature flatbread stuffed with crispy pork belly and beef carnitas. It's served like a taco with toppings on crispy flatbread.  According to Baco's chef Joe Centeno, this inspiration is taken from the Spanish version of a pizza called "coca."

Many dishes are in small plate portions or tapas style and are  influenced by the Western and Eastern-Meditarranean cultures.  What I like best about this restaurant is that they get their poultry, pork and beef from producers who raise their animals humanely with no growth hormones or antibiotics.

The restaurant is small and trendy!  Reservations are required; otherwise the wait could be up to 2 hours on a Friday night.  It's a "hot spot" in DTLA (downtown Los Angeles).

                  LOCATION:  408 S. MAIN ST., LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90013 | 213.687.8808

crispy surf clams
remoulade, yuzu, aleppo 

za’atar & sumac lebni
puffy bäco bread, olive oil 

“el pesco”
crispy shrimp, sriracha, chive dressing 

2 oz. fresh burrata
pickled mushroom, tomato, pomegranate

“the original”
pork, beef carnitas, salbitxada 

caramelized cauliflower
pine nuts, mint, garlic, lebni

Baco Pops: Hibiscus Sweet & Sour and Tamarindo & Mango