The Ohter Critics

Elements Enchants Virbila; J Gold Deems Pal Cabron Muy Chingon

Photo: Elements

Though a “few things are disappointing,” S. Irene Virbila is pretty jazzed about Elements Kitchen in Pasadena in a four- two-star review, suggesting “if [Onil Chibas would] just leave the self-conscious chefly tricks behind and trust his instincts for cooking delicious, soulful food, Elements Kitchen could inch up on the best restaurants in town.” [L.A. Times]

Bricia and Fernando Lopez’ Cemitas y Clayudas Pal Cabron might not have cemitas quite like Jonathan Gold’s favorite Elvirita’s, but he is enamoured nonetheless by the passionate pop-tribute these Guelaguetza wunderkinds have given to Puebla’s sandwiches and recipes. [L.A. Weekly]

While not really feeling the pay-by-pound “triumph of marketing” at Brazilian Libra, J. Gold recommends the sausages and steak tips at its grill station. He had us at the pao de queijo. [L.A. Weekly]

In addition to a kick-ass name, 9021Pho serves “some of the finest rice noodles to be slurped outside Little Saigon,” opines Los Angeles Magazine. [Los Angeles]

South Bay’s Martha’s is a rite and ritual which is “always reasonably priced, served with impressive speed by a team of servers,” while Venice’s Figtree hasn’t changed much in over 30 years, which is a good thing if you’re into eggs, writes Merrill Shindler. [Daily Breeze]

It’s heating up and you want a paleta, but that dude ringing the bell on his cart no longer turns you on. J. Gold suggests going to Huntington Park’s Los Alpes for unique flavors made from cheese and refried beans. We’ll have to trust the man who put L.A. onto Bulgarini is dead-on. [L.A. Weekly]

Elements Enchants Virbila; J Gold Deems Pal Cabron Muy Chingon