L.A. Day 2, Ken and Kents Deli, Hermosa Beach

In October 2008, I flew to L.A. for 8 days.
Continuing on to Day 2 now...

Mon. Oct. 6th
KEN AND KENTS DELI, Hermosa Beach...(between LAX and Redondo Beach)

I had read very mixed reviews on Yelp.com about this new place..
and I was anxious to see what my opinion would be..

It is located right next to this down to earth Mexican joint

The MATZOH BALL soup was delish...and Arnie loved his BEEF KNISH

Note the cool presentation of the bagel chips on the spoon..

It all went downhill after this , though!
MUCH MORE COMING ...

LOL! I thought this was Part 2 from Florida! Hee! Arnie went with you to California??? Was that Arnie who had the company event on Morey's Pier? (or is that Scott...I'm so confused). Either way, I'm interested to see how they screw up deli in that place...never been to Hermosa Beach, but I'll settle for your Trip Report!

I Love this Deli!! It's cheaper then Jerry's and the servers there are extremely knowledgeable. I had the New York Pastrami (lean) Ruben, it was to die for, so juicy and wonderful! My friend had the fried Kreplach with onions as an appetizer then he had 1/2 chopped liver sandwich with a small spinach salad. The bacon dressing on the salad was tasty and the chopped liver was "The best he has ever had!" So he says. I'm not big on chopped liver, but he swears by it.



You really need to try their Pastrami and NY Pastrami!! YUMMY!!

quote:

Originally posted by harriet1954

LOL! I thought this was Part 2 from Florida! Hee!

Me too! (LOL!) Oh, wait, we're back in California!

quote:

Originally posted by harriet1954

[teal]LOL! I thought this was Part 2 from Florida! Hee! Arnie went with you to California??? Was that Arnie who had the company event on Morey's Pier? (or is that Scott...I'm so confused).

It does get confusing! They are both ex-bf's...
Scott was the one who took me to the Wildwood Morey's Pier event..
and Arnie made the big move to L.A., after living in AC area for 30 years..(he's originally "Arnie from Carnarsie", though!)

I still need to start my part 2 Daytona/Jacksonville...
looks like I'm in for a busy night!

quote:

Originally posted by Liquidmuzak


You really need to try their Pastrami and NY Pastrami!! YUMMY!!

Here's their PASTRAMI !!


MORE coming later tonight!!!!

I always love reading your reports, Ellen!!

You are always very honest, in a classy way. If you have criticism, it is always constructive (a resolution to what would have made the meal a better experience).

My sister celebrated her birthday at Harolds. I enjoyed it! I am not a pastrami expert. I always opt for corned beef. My parents love pastrami, and I will take them to Irvings, when they come back from Cali, next week. Thanks for taking the time to share all of your great finds and experiences.

I don't know about everything else but they have one thing right, the plate with pickles, tomatoes, and sauerkraut. The rest sure does look good though.

quote:

Originally posted by CCinNJ

I always love reading your reports, Ellen!!

You are always very honest, in a classy way. If you have criticism, it is always constructive (a resolution to what would have made the meal a better experience).

My sister celebrated her birthday at Harolds. I enjoyed it! My parents love pastrami, and I will take them to Irvings, when they come back from Cali, next week.

So nice to hear all this! !

Yes, I try and be constructive in my criticism! (and I love that word "classy" you used)

Regarding KEN AND KENTS pastrami, it was NO MATCH for my CARNEGIE, HAROLD'S, or IRVINGS!

Many of those in "pastrami deprived" areas may find it decent enough, but not for Arnie and myself... it was "California pastrami", plenty okay for some, but tasted a bit like HAM to me!

MORE pics coming TONIGHT!

Oh Ellen, thanks for going there! I live right across the street from the Marina del Rey Jerry's but I'll have to give this place a try if just for the soup, knish and new pickles! That would be a perfect meal for me.

PS: Everyone is cheaper than Jerry's! Well almost.

Wow, Ellen, what a spread. I don't know when I saw so much great looking, deli comfort food, in one picture. It ALL looks so appetizing. I like the dish full of fresh pickles, saurerkraut, and pickled tomatoes, too. And, that SOUP. yumm!

OK, love reading/seeing all your, always great and "classy" reviews, but darn, I am so jealous! Seems like you get so much time off for your travels and seems like I am always working. No rain on your parade, and what a grand one it is. I will just have to get over myself, and get out, one of these days with camera in hand. LOL

Seriously, Ellen, I really do enjoy you reports, and appreciate your taking time out, on your breaks to post for all our vicarious enjoyment pleasures.

Thank you You are a truly dedicated roadfood warrior. And very appreciated.

quote:

Originally posted by morningglory

I really do enjoy you reports, and appreciate your taking time out, on your breaks to post for all our vicarious enjoyment pleasures.
Thank you You are a truly dedicated roadfood warrior. And very appreciated.

Such nice comments like yours keep me going, Morning Glory!
Thank YOU for taking the time to look thru my reports!

The owner KENT really operates a "hands on" operation...and he was very welcoming to us.
And very well mannered and clean cut, I might add....

His assistant came by and asked how we liked the pastrami......
Arnie was honest and said he was'nt enjoying it so much....
then something BIZARRE happened... the assistant said "Oh, it looks like you guys did'nt get the NY Pastrami! You just got the regular pastrami!"..
Arnie and I were perplexed. WHAT?? 2 kinds of pastrami on the menu ??
Well we rechecked the menu. 2 supposedly different pastramis for the same $11.95 price.
(a "pastrami" and a "NY Pastrami") He offered (unsolicited) to bring us the "NY Pastrami".
As he brought it over, he mumbled something about it being "first cut"..
Well it basically tasted the same as the other sandwich. It was the same meat. (Arnie and I split it)

The new (IMPROVED???) PASTRAMI, with my buddy Arnie in the background trying to decipher it!

I must really commend this assistant (who said he was some sort of training manager), as well as KENT for being so gracious and accomodating to us. We were not too easy to please with these sandwiches, but they both were so professional about everything.

Since I was'nt in love with the new pastrami either, I figured perhaps I would have a winner with the BRISKET, and asked if I could try a small sample.
BRISKET from KEN AND KENTS...was'nt terrible, but a little too DRY for my tastes. I LOVED the brisket GRAVY, though!

This can't be a NY style deli! The soda bottles are arranged too neat

Plenty of neatly arranged mustard choices, as well.

Ellen, are there pieces of onion in the gravy?

Maybe someone's mother is in the back cooking as I've never had a good gravy at a deli.

Did they charge you for the brisket sample? Now, THAT'S a sample! (although it does look dry)

I so want those pickles!

Just found this:

www.kenandkents.com

They have a great menu!

Maybe I'll take my mother there Thursday for something different.

quote:

Originally posted by mar52

Ellen, are there pieces of onion in the gravy?
Maybe someone's mother is in the back cooking as I've never had a good gravy at a deli.
Did they charge you for the brisket sample? Now, THAT'S a sample! (

I don't recall if there were onion pieces in the gravy..
I agree. it seems so rare to get good homestyle deli gravy. That gravy was my favorite part of the meal!

And no, they did'nt charge us for the brisket sample.
We tipped extra nicely, as they bent over backwards trying to please us.

Yes, this is a great new find for you to go for some soup! (at the very least). It's very clean and comfortable, with good California vibes. The owner told us people waited 1/2 hour to get in during the Rosh Hashanah New Year holiday. It's been open about a year.
And combine it with a walk along the HERMOSA BEACH PIER afterwards, like we did.

Here's downtown HERMOSA... just behind me is the Hermosa Beach pier.

We had lousy ice cream afterwards at the blue/yellow signage place on left. It USED to be a LAPPERT'S Ice Cream from Hawaii.
Now it's a no-name place,and we paid 10 bucks for a single scoop each

Here's me, with my good buddy Arnie .HERMOSA BEACH PIER in background

And the scenic view in PLAYA DEL REY is'nt too shabby either.
This is my favorite scenic overlook! (and only a few miles from LAX)

quote:

Originally posted by mar52

Just found this:
www.kenandkents.com
They have a great menu!
Maybe I'll take my mother there Thursday for something different.

I can't wait to hear how you and your mom like it!! You're a very good daughter. Perhaps you can just add your experience right onto this report.

Yes, they do have good visibility on the internet.. it's easy nagivating to their menu, etc.
Plus, there are TONS of reviews on Yelp.com.
and I'll be adding mine, complete with PICS, ASAP.

Great! If I can talk her in to it we'll go. Now where is my camera?

Hi Ellen,

Did you make it to Langer's in LA?

Steve

Another great report Ellen...you should get a spot on the travel channel!!!!!!

Not to pull a motherly guilt trip, but...

And STILL no one calls me when they come to LA!

eliseisrad@hotmail.com

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Not to pull a motherly guilt trip, but...

And STILL no one calls me when they come to LA!

eliseisrad@hotmail.com

I could just kick myself for not getting your number before I went to L.A. At the very least, you would have clued me in about the Aunt Kizzy's that I found when I was looking for Killer Shrimp.

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Not to pull a motherly guilt trip, but...
And STILL no one calls me when they come to LA!
eliseisrad@hotmail.com

Guilty as charged! Next time you'll get that call for a "meat up".

quote:

Originally posted by acer2x

Hi Ellen,
Did you make it to Langer's in LA?
Steve

Not this trip, but I've been there once in years' past.
Particularly love their rye bread. Pastrami had a slight "goyish" taste to me, so I liked it, but did'nt love it.
But for my next time out to L.A.,(maybe next year?) Mar52 has already booked me up for a Langer's return visit.

I wrote Elise an email.

Ellen, we could make it Two E's and Me!

Don, I live across the street to where Aunt Kizzy's used to be. I could drink all the lemonade out of a Mason jar that I wanted and still walk home!

Great Southern food there.

Now I have to drive and I hate that Killer Shrimp is no more.

Always great to read your reports.

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by EliseT

Not to pull a motherly guilt trip, but...
And STILL no one calls me when they come to LA!
eliseisrad@hotmail.com

Guilty as charged! Next time you'll get that call for a "meat up".

See that pier? That's where I used to hang out and drink beer in the days when I could still wear a bikini! (No, it wasn't legal. The beer, not the bikini). Too bad it's raining this holiday weekend or I'd head down to that pier! I'm glad the ice cream place sucked - the smell of their waffle cones tortures me, so now I won't fret.

Ellen, Just how do you keep that cute figure of yours with all that food?