Top five cross-cultural fusion foods in L.A.

 

As many people know, Los Angeles is a diverse city with an incredible food scene. I usually have a hard time deciding what type of cuisine I want. The options are endless. Am I craving Korean or Mexican food? Italian or Chinese? Well, there is finally a solution to my problem of indecisiveness: cross-cultural fusion foods. I’ve recently discovered that Los Angeles offers a variety of food mashups. These innovative dishes bring together flavors from different cultures.

The Ramen Burger

Ramen is a Japanese staple, and burgers are a classic American food. What happens when you combine these foods? You get the crispy crunch of noodles along with the satisfying taste of juicy meat. Try this inventive dish at The Original Ramen Burger or at Tatsu Ramen.

The Sushi Burrito

The sushi burrito is a revolutionary concept. It makes sushi easier to eat than ever. This delicious dish blends Asian and Latin flavors, and the results are spectacular. Jogasaki Food Truck is the place to go in L.A. for this dish. A few favorites are the Spicy Salmon Burrito, Lobster Burrito and the Spicy Tuna Delight Burrito.

Kogi BBQ

Los Angeles is lucky to be home to the iconic Kogi BBQ food trucks. These trucks fuse Korean and Mexican cuisine to create trendy, flavor-packed dishes. They are highly publicized in press and on social media — for good reason. Popular dishes include the kimchi quesadilla with cheddar, buttered kimchi and sesame and the spicy pork tacos with pork belly and gochujang marinade.

Masala Bowls and Naan Rolls

What if a casual restaurant like Chipotle served Indian food? This magical place exists in L.A., and it’s called Urban Masala. It has an assembly line much like Chipotle Mexican Grill but serves Indian food with a twist. Customers can customize basmati rice bowls with different meats including lamb curry and chicken masala. Another option is meat rolled up in naan burrito-style.

Fusion Tacos

SoCal’s Asian fusion dishes are a unique combination of flavors from Mexico and Southeast Asia. L.A. is home to Komodo restaurants and food trucks that serve gourmet fusion tacos. One popular dish is the Komodo taco with sirloin steak, jalapeno aioli and Southwest corn salad. Another top-seller is the Blazin’ Shrimp taco with Singaporean-style shrimp and sour cream salad.