Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

You Haven’t Had Meat ‘Til You’ve Eaten at Animal

Elizabeth Dahl
By

inside animal restaurant foie gras
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Being obsessed with kale and tofu and whatever the hell veganism is, Los Angeles seems like an unlikely place for the meat mecca that is Animal restaurant, but people are glad it exists. The inventive, bold, always-flavorful menu earned Animal a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award for Excellence.

Opened by chefs-and-restaurateurs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Animal is another in their long line of gastronomical successes, including Son of a Gun, Jon & Vinny’s, and Trois Familia just to name a few. The two men met in culinary school in Florida and eventually found themselves on the West Coast, feeding the grateful carnivorous Angeleno population. Animal is small, seating for only about 40 guests at a time, and is in keeping with their minimalist design scheme, which keeps your attention fully on the meal. Not that you could really be distracted from it.

Recommended Videos

The cuts offered at Animal aren’t your regular fare, so this is a place for only gluttonous adventurers. Take their “Mongolian” sweetbreads, served with Shiitake mushrooms, scallions and Kochukaru, a hot Korean spice. Sweetbreads, if you’re not familiar, are somewhat sweet but are assuredly not bread. It’s the thymus gland and pancreas of, traditionally, lamb or veal. Speaking of veal, they offer veal tongue served with salmon roe and black mustard. Not exciting enough for you? Go for the Veal Brains, served with Indian spices and apricot puree. There’s even a pig’s head– yes, you read that correctly: they serve their twist on the classic British dish, Pig’s Head Terrine. They have a pig’s ear if you’re not ready for the whole hog (head). Their roasted bone marrow is served with healthy dollops of chimichurri sauce, which really livens it up. Other animals that make an appearance on the dinner menu include rabbit, Albacore Tuna, pork ribs, a richly smoked turkey leg, and a bone-in Ribeye, swimming in bone marrow butter. You really haven’t had butter until you’ve had bone marrow butter.

animal restaurant los angeles
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The meat heaven also offers brunch, and it’s no doubt the most exciting brunch menu you’ll come across. Still featuring heavily on meat, Animal offers interesting twists on classics. Their Pastrami Reuben Benedict makes for a very happy mid-morning meal. If you’re looking for less breakfast and more lunch, go for their Barbeque Pork Belly sandwiches.

Let’s not forget the supporting dishes because Animal certainly hasn’t. Make sure to order the Poutine, which is made with oxtail gravy and topped with cheddar. And if you’ve still got room after your meal, order the Tres Leches cake, which is so light and creamy and simple, it’ll blow your mind.

Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl
Elizabeth Dahl is a southern girl in the heart of Los Angeles who lived far too long before learning what an incredible food…
This is how to make the perfect dirty martini
Making a flavorful dirty martini is surprisingly easy
Dirty Martini

In the pantheon of classic cocktails, there are few more beloved than the Martini. Sure, the Old Fashioned, Margarita, and Manhattan get a lot of love, but only the Martini is the fictional secret agent James Bond’s favorite cocktail.

Although he preferred his shaken, most bartenders will tell you that to make a Martini is better when stirred. The classic Martini is made with gin, vermouth, and an olive or lemon peel garnish. Some drinkers mistakenly believe the cocktail is made with vodka, but that would technically make it a “Vodka Martini” as opposed to a classic Martini.
A murky history

Read more
Upgrade your next barbecue with elk, the healthy red meat you should be eating
First Light Farms is raising high-quality pasture-raised elk deliverable to your front door.
cooked elk with cup

First Light Farms elk backstrap. Marilynne Bell / First Light Farms

If you're looking for a red meat alternative to beef that's delicious and packed with nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, protein-packed elk might be the answer. A great place to get pasture-raised elk delivered is First Light Farms. This New Zealand-based company raises 100% grass-fed wagyu, venison, and, most recently, elk, all deliverable to your front door. First Light Farms sent us several of their items to try, and we interviewed them to learn all about this must-try red meat.

Read more
These are the wine regions in jeopardy due to climate change, study says
How climate change is affecting the wine world
A vineyard in the Russian River Valley between Guerneville and Healdsburg, California.

Photo by Andrew Davey Photo by Andrew Davey / Andrew Davey

Climate change is altering every aspect of the world we live in, and that's especially the case for agriculture. The wine industry continues to adapt, from making English sparkling wine to treating smoke impact from increased wildfires.

Read more