I saw a TikTok at Canyon Coffee with overlay text that read: “the coffee shop you love to hate.”
Clever. Because in LA, if you love something… you also hate it. Our opinions are two-faced - not us.
I’d like to add some places to that category:
Nobu Malibu
Everyone rolls their eyes if you post an IG story and tell you that you “don’t know real Malibu” if you go. They’ll swear the fish is from Santa Monica Seafood and rant about how the other Nobus are better. And yet… is it the best restaurant in Malibu? Yes. Are the drinks, food, and views a 10/10? Also yes. You… my Friend, just loveeee to hate it.
Barr Seco
You’ve seen the TikTok of the guy dancing on the bar. The comments dragged. I thought it looked fun… but I do regret applying the 5-second rule to my pasta as it hit the bartop there last month. Do people clown Seco for cosplaying Europe and only serving organic wine? Also yes. But if you got banned, the FOMO would be torture.
Erewhon
Why do they end up on every list? The good, the bad, and the ugly. They’re our dependable nepo-baby friend pretending their dad isn’t the CEO of Universal, sifting through Drop Your Jeansfor a $45 pair that their tailor will charge $110 to fix (because they also know who their dad is). We all love to complain: the smoothies, the $12 lattes, the combo plate being $45 when you add that steak… and yet. There’s nothing like walking through those glass sliding doors and having valet already pull up your car because when you take Erewhon smoothies like they’re birth control, you become a regular.
I could go on, but I’m currently battling the flu. Karma for flying to New York to launch LikeAFriendSaid NYC.
LA would never do this to me.
— Your Friend
