I don’t think I’ve ever eaten in a grocery store.

Actually that’s not true, I have. Whenever I’m grocery shopping and I have my purse spoon handy, I might take a few samples of ice cream before I buy it. Sure I get a few looks from the store employees, but if I broke the seal, I’ll buy it. Since eating out of a gallon of ice cream while pushing a cart may not be considered the type of “eating in a grocery store” most would think of, I guess it doesn’t count. However, I did get the chance to do it properly when I was invited to Urban Radish to check out their dinner menu during their live jazz evening. The chance to dine with a show, seemed better than staying late at work so I jumped at the opportunity!

I first heard about Urban Radish when it opened in the summer of 2013. When I found out that they were both a store and a restaurant, I didn’t think to explore them. Reason being, I already buy groceries at Ralph’s and could get my store-restaurant hybrid fix at Whole Foods, so there was little need to add another store to the mix. That would soon be a rookie mistake which I would figure out when TJ and I got to the restaurant.

The grocery store is like any other: aisles of varying cupboard necessities, staples for the refrigerator, and meats that would find a place from your stove-top to table. But it was the restaurant order counter and dining area that drew my focus—it’s also the place that drew a serious line. At the counter, I ordered for TJ and myself. Hang out with a person enough and you can peruse a menu and figure out what they want. After ordering plates that sounded incredibly delicious, I skipped like a happy foodie to the seating area to sit with TJ. That means I walked slowly.

With a short wait, our food arrived. The first was the Cheese Board ($15). A wooden board was beautifully piled with fresh finger food. Persimmons, walnuts, brie and goat cheese sitting on top of strawberry jam. The woman who brought out the board took a moment to outline the items, but what stuck the most was an emphatic sentence: “Everyone knows brie and strawberry, but what about goat cheese and strawberry.” I loved how she was so determined to change up the norm even if it was just cheese. With that, I dove into the goat cheese and strawberry first. It was a smart move because it was incredibly flavorful. The goat cheese should be best described as gentle and  smooth, while the jam adds a delicate sweet flavor which pairs perfectly. The walnuts, persimmons, and brie were all delicious accompaniments to the board, but she wasn’t kidding about the goat cheese and strawberry. It was all I could think of. That was until our side dishes and mains arrived.

TJ ordered the Thick Brined Pork Chop with Habanero Glaze and sides of Persimmon & Belgian Endive Salad with Pomegranates and Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges with Lemongrass Dressing ($18 total). These dishes were absolutely delicious. His salad was small and light, but the pomegranates were a nice color accent to what could have been a boring salad. His sweet potato wedges were a little dry so I didn’t go much further into the bowl beyond a bite or two. The pork chop was the last thing of his to try. The brined double rib-pork chop was exactly as its name depicts it to be: thick. It was such a generous cut that when TJ sliced into it, I could almost see the spice rubbed flavor and habanero syrup that was enveloped by the grilled skin slowly release. Maybe that was a hungry hallucination, but I didn’t care. I pierced a slice of it with my fork and devoured it. It was unbelievable succulent and mouthwatering that I almost ignored my food. Oh yeah, I had lamb chops. Silly me…

I ordered the Lamb Chops with Herb Chimichurri ($18) and sides of Maple Roasted Vegetables (pictured above) and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Lemon (pictured above). For the sides, the Brussels sprouts were a tad on the saltier side. In spite of that, I did finish them—they did come with bacon, people. But the maple roasted vegetables were excellent! I’ve never tasted veggies this sweet, but this is how they should be done all the time. Parents who have difficulty getting their kids to eat carrots or zucchini, just cover them in maple. They will immediately disappear. While I gushed over the pork chops, the lamb chops were just as delicious. Because the lamb chop is nowhere as thick as the pork chop, I had to take a second and adjust my palette. On the plate were two lamb chops that were dry marinated with a Mediterranean spice rub and sprinkled with a herb chimichurri. The spice rub and chimichurri were a great seasoning and spice to add onto the lamb as it gave the meat a nice level of succulence. These were eaten quickly and the only thing left were the bones. Oh and the decorative greens too.

With that, I realized just how much I underestimated Urban Radish. The food is incredible and the portions are more than adequate. Add to that, the live music is perfect to create a relaxing atmosphere. Whether you visit the store to shop, make sure you stop to enjoy the food, you’ll be glad you did.

Wanna see more photos from Urban Radish? Of course you do, feast on these!

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Address: 661 Imperial St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Phone: (213) 892-1570
Hours: Daily – 8:00am to 10:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.