Is there more to life than doughnuts and fried chicken? I mean…
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken landed in downtown Los Angeles a few weeks back. I’ve been admiring the D.C.-based concept for years and was stoked for it to set up shop on the Best Coast. Elliot Spaisman and Jeff Halpern founded the original Astro’s in 2013.
The menu here is wonderfully simple: just doughnuts and fried chicken. I ordered a good amount of each while out to lunch with two girlfriends last week.
While stationed in Toluca Lake for work a few weeks back, I had the very best afternoon pick-me-up at Sweetsalt Food Shop: a slice of Hazelnut Rocher Cake. I wasn’t planning on indulging in anything while on a walk down Riverside Drive, but the cutesy eatery beckoned me with its adorable script font and rustic picnic tables; I had to take a peek to see what was inside.
Nearly every day for the past six months, I’ve driven by Mint Leaf on the northeast corner of Washington and Altadena in Pasadena and wondered to myself, “Is this place any good?” Curiosity finally got the best of me last week when I stopped in for a lunch date with The Astronomer. The verdict? This place is good! I should have tried it sooner.
The Astronomer and I were warmly greeted and seated right away upon entering the sumptuous space. The lunch crowd continued to trickle in throughout our meal; it was great to see that Mint Leaf had garnered quite the following.
After perusing the menu, we settled on two lunch specials—set meals that included a choice of main dish, as well as rice, fresh baked bread (roti, naan, or garlic naan), and either dal makhni or yellow lentils. I selected the matter paneer ($12.50) with roti and yellow lentils.