April 01, 2013    |  By Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari

Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles is a southern California destination for southern cuisine. They burst on the scene in 1985 with a restaurant in Hollywood. The odd combination of fried chicken and waffles attracted the likes of Natalie Cole and Redd Foxx. Roscoe’s now has six California locations: two in L.A. and one each in Long Beach, Pasadena, Hollywood and Ingle- wood. A seventh is slated to open soon in Anaheim.

The Inglewood eatery is one of the more recent additions to the chain. Located just east of the 405 freeway on Manchester Boulevard, Sunday breakfast and weekday lunch lines can be seen in front of the main entrance. A Los Angeles native, I am almost ashamed to admit this was my first visit to Roscoe’s; I looked forward to the experience.

I pulled into the lot on a Monday evening at about 6:00 p.m. and was surprised to see very few cars. Parking is ample and easy to navigate with convenient access from Manchester. The restaurant is larger than it appears from the outside and appears to be clean. There are several spacious tables and booths. It’s a family-style atmosphere with lots of chatter; it was a bit noisy for my taste. The radio was set to 92.3 The Beat and the volume was pretty loud. This did not make for a very relaxing meal.

I ordered the House Combo #23: two fried chicken thighs, candy yams, greens and corn bread, and added a side of macaroni and cheese. I decided to go “take out” so I could enjoy my meal in solitude. I was disappointed to find the yams were missing from my order. The thighs were fried to a crisp golden brown and tender to the bone for the most part. The seasoning was excellent, but there was too much grease. I ate only one piece. The greens were average, but I was happy to find they were not sweetened with sugar as found in some other soul food establishments. The corn bread was dry and the macaroni and cheese did not taste homemade. All told, the meal was average, not horrible. I asked other patrons about their favorites. Some mentioned the buckwheat waffles and the breakfast plates with grits, eggs, chicken and waffles.

In summary, if I’m going to break several of my healthful living rules to indulge in foods that are fried, that are high in fat, salt and white flour and that are slathered in cheese, I want taste that will knock me off my feet.
Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles missed the mark.

Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, 621 West Manchester Blvd. Inglewood, CA 90301
Parking: Lot
WiFi: Yes
Accepts Cash, Credit and ATM Debit
Attire: Casual

March 15, 2013    |  By Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari

Rosalie Genus opened Rosalie’s Restaurant and Shabazz Bakery in 2007. It is an “A Grade” restaurant near Spruce Street on Market Street in Inglewood. The blue awning and large lettering outside make the location easy to find. There is a clean, comfortable dining area with booths and small tables, or food can be ordered to takeout.

Rosalie’s offers standard Shabazz fare like bean soup, fish and veggie burgers, fish and veggie dinners, salads, bean pies and cheese pies. There is also a separate and very affordable raw food menu. I was dining with family members and relished the opportunity to introduce them to something new, so we ordered from the raw food menu. What a wonderful choice.

We ordered the bean soup, the raw food sampler, grilled tilapia and blueberry cheese pie. The raw food samplers come in half- pound and one-pound portions for $5.00 and $10.00 respectively.

The food is nicely presented and includes carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, sunflower seed corn, and greens (in our case, kale). All vegetables are seasoned to perfection and chopped, ground or shredded. Each item had a distinct flavor of its own and there was no salty or sugary flavoring. We were a group of five ranging in age from 50 to 80, and everyone loved every item on the table, including my father who is an incredible cook with a discerning palette.

We ordered grilled tilapia to round out the meal, which was moist and very tasty.

Rosalie’s Restaurant and Shabazz Bakery is a fine, affordable place for dining in the restaurant or on the go. An entire cooked meal or healthful raw vegetable cuisine with dessert can be enjoyed for under $20.00.

Add it to your list of “must-go” food places in Inglewood!

Rosalie’s Restaurant and Shabazz Bakery
446 South Market Street Inglewood, CA 90301
Parking: meters and street
WiFi: No
Accepts cash, credit and ATM debit
Attire: casual

March 01, 2013    |  By Gerald Morales

Randy’s Donuts is Inglewood’s arguably most famous landmark and is a mandatory stop for Los Angeles tourists. This establishment has proudly been in service for over 60 years and there appears to be no end in sight of the succulent donuts.

When people think of Los Angeles one tourist attraction that always comes to mind is “The Big Donut” located in Inglewood. Tourists can be seen taking pictures outside of Randy’s. The drive- through window and walk- up line are always packed with customers. And what brings them all is not so much the great donut on top but the yummy ones inside.

There is also the story of how the Big Donut wound up in Inglewood. The building has been here since 1952. It has been known as Randy’s since 1976. Larry Weintraub and his brother, Ron, are co-owners of the shop—and they have loved every second of working at the landmark.

Originally Ron worked at the location and the owner at the time (who happens to be a cousin to the brothers) was selling Randy’s, the brothers decided to invest into the establishment.

But the big question people raise is: “How did Randy’s Donuts get its name?” One would think one of the brother’s names was Randy, but that clearly is not the case.

It turns out the original owner’s son was named Randy, thus the namesake.

After the acquisition, the brothers decided they would keep the name Randy’s and work on developing a reputation already established reputation. The architectural design is one of the primary reasons why Randy’s is so famous. The type of design is called programmatic or novelty architecture, which is the definition for a building shaped in the form of the product being sold or advertised. Novelty architecture was prominent in the early portion of the twentieth century but died down halfway through the 20th century. Randy’s Donuts is one of the last pieces of novelty architecture in the Los Angeles area.

I had the opportunity to talk to Larry one on one and he was nothing but open and welcoming. He loves interacting with customers and talking to everyone who comes to indulge in a donut, locals and tourists alike. He has a friendly attitude and genuine love to put a smile on people’s faces and this gives a good representation to both Inglewood and Los Angeles. I asked him what was the best thing about working at Randy’s, he replied “One of the best things about the job is talking to people and interacting with all the customers that come out of their way just to pay us a visit. I like talking to people and making them happy by either talking to them or just serving a good donut.”

Larry is such a wholesome member of the community and someone to take note from since he is willing to always meet, talk and help people no matter where they are from. He is open to helping and informing anyone that comes to him with questions. Larry has helped students complete projects for school, reporters (and local journalists) gain information for stories and filmmakers take shots for upcoming movies.

Randy’s has been featured in movies such as Mars Attacks!, 2012 and Iron Man 2. Beyond movies the Big Donut has made look-alike appearances in TV shows such as The Simpsons and video games like Need For Speed: Most Wanted. The brothers probably never thought the investment they made would make such an impact on popular culture and media the way it has over the years, they probably just thought they would be responsible for adding a few pounds on locals and nothing more.

The Donut making process takes a little less than half an hour. Larry and his crew have established a regular routine every morning to get ready for the daily batch. He arrives at 4 in the morning every day to help prepare for the coming hours. Randy’s Donuts is not limited to donuts alone. This place also serves fancies, which include cinnamon rolls, apple fritters, bear claws and many other fancy treats. In addition they also make cookies, bagels, muffins and serve coffee. Ask about the coffee flavor of the day and warm your body while you treat yourself to a donut or pastry. The very affordable prices make Randy’s so much more appealing to regulars since their prices are incomparable.

Larry’s favorites are the apple fritters and buttermilk bars, but he admits he likes all the donuts he makes. He jokingly added that he still enjoys a good donut every now and then, but he has cut back in recent years even if it is hard to show. Larry says the most popular donut is the old fashion glazed donuts.

Randy’s is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so feel free to pass on by to get a donut, pastry or memorabilia from one of Inglewood’s greatest landmarks. During holidays customers can also pick up special donuts to celebrate with their family and friends. This past Valentine’s Day the special donut had red and white sprinkles and the popular candy hearts on top. If there was ever an excuse to get donuts its on holidays to try the unique donuts Larry, Ron and the team make just for the customers.

Randy’s Donuts is located 805 West Manchester Avenue in Inglewood CA 90301. If you can’t find that giant donut off the 405 at the Manchester exit, just call! .

Be sure to browse Randy’s website http://randys-donuts.com and add them on Facebook

March 01, 2013    |  By Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari

Sheila’s Famous Tacos and Sandwiches opened about four years ago. Through many ups and downs, the unassuming, self-named ‘food stand,’ continues to serve a growing audience. Look for the sidewalk sign near the corner of Manchester and Cimarron.

Sheila’s tacos are delicious! She puts lots of love and pride in every one and serves it up with a beautiful smile. They are handmade to order and may be inconsistent in content. Ingredients in the vegetarian tacos may or may not include dried cranberries, beans, onions, carrots, feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce. She runs a daily special on turkey tacos, three for $7, and this includes a canned soda. Not a bad deal for handmade with fresh ingredients. Sheila also makes sandwiches and turkey chili.

The turkey and beef tacos are made with fresh ground meat, mango and peach salsa, sour cream, chopped onions, cucumbers and cilantro. Again, all of these ingredients may or may not be available and included in your order.

If you enjoy delicious, adventurous, freshly made foods, you will love Sheila’s tacos. They are a free- flowing good time for your taste buds, and constantly changing. If you’re a stickler for conformity, this is not the place for you. Even if you order the same dish, it may be prepared differently each time. It’s not hard to become a fan of Sheila’s Famous Tacos; just give them a try.

The average wait time is 20-30 minutes. Call ahead if you’re in a hurry.

Sheila’s Famous Tacos 2108 Manchester Avenue

Parking: Lot
WiFi: No Accepts Cash and ATM
Debit Attire: Casual

February 08, 2013    |  By Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari

Sunday evening seemed the perfect time to dive into a “vegan, organic and eco- friendly” meal. This is the tagline for the eatery Stuff I Eat on N. Market Street. It had been a very long day and I was ravenous!

The unpretentious brown awning is easily missed on the block between Regent and Queen Streets. The search for a vacant parking meter may be distracting if you’ve never been here before. If you miss it the first time, circle the block again; you won’t be disappointed. On a Sunday evening, you may catch a live jazz trio playing at just the right volume.

Stuff I Eat is fairly spacious, clean and inviting. There are no detectable smells to entice the taste buds, which leaves the flavor of the food to its own devices. The black cultural décor could fit as easily in an art gallery or sidewalk cafe. Some of the pieces are reminiscent of the former Lucy Florence Cultural Center in the Historic Leimert Park Village.

Unlike some health food restaurants, Stuff I Eat draws a hard line; there is no sacrifice of healthful ingredients for taste. It is obvious the food is prepared with loving care and a consciousness rarely found at so-called health-food restaurants in and around the city of Inglewood. Take, for example, the Organic Soul Food Platter ($11 for half-plate, $15 for full). Comprised of yams, mac‘n’ cheese, BBQ tofu, kale greens, black eyed peas, cornbread muffin, potato salad and coleslaw, this delectable meal won’t likely invoke memories of Grand- ma’s home cooking. But is it enjoyable? Absolutely!

Stuff I Eat aims to recreate familiar dishes, not imitate them. The flavors are robust and satisfying, but there is no doubt that what you have in front of you is filled with ingredients that feed the cells and nourish the body. The BBQ tofu is perfectly seasoned and not too spicy. The kale greens, black eyed peas and cornbread muffin are familiar, but not identical to the fare in other soul food restaurants. The vegan potato salad is delicious and filling. This food is a safe and delicious alternative for anyone who is ready for a life- style change to eating and living well.

There are plenty of fresh vegetable juices, smoothies and assorted bottled drinks. Desserts are vegan, sugar free and made with pure and (some) organic ingredients. If it’s sweets you crave, without the sugar and empty calories, these fit the bill. I had the vegan banana puding ($11) and found it to be as comforting and filling as any. For about $25 - $35, you can enjoy a tasty, guilt- free entrée, beverage and dessert at Stuff I Eat.

The good you will do your body is worth every dime!

Stuff I Eat 114 North Market Street Inglewood, CA 90301 Parking: Metered • WiFi: No Accepts: Cash, VISA and Mastercard Attire: Casual

January 10, 2013    |  By Gerald Morales

Most any Inglewood native will recall visiting Acosta Tacos to satisfy his or her appetite for authentic Mexican food. Jaime Acosta Senior created the original Acosta Tacos Mexican food chain in 1985 by opening eateries on La Brea Avenue, N. Prairie Avenue and Imperial High- way. After many years of service providing quality food to the Inglewood area he passed away in 1999. His sons and daughter managed the family business until 2011.

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