Fall's hottest new restaurants
Where to eat this season, Two Hommés, Silver Lake redwood, Gone Bananas Bread, Carmel, Fairmont Spa Century Plaza, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
Hommés cooking
Behind an unassuming storefront next to a Ralph’s in Inglewood, smooth R&B plays inside Two Hommés, barely audible over the laughter of diners enjoying Afro-centric fare that’s unmatched in Los Angeles.
Two Hommés, which began as a pandemic pop-up, received a refresh at the end of last year. The space isn’t large, but the new vibe is warm, all neutral-toned tables and walls with red accents throughout. Two- and four-top tables make up most of the space, with a communal table at the center. There’s a small bar, and the counter along the hallway is perfect for a quiet solo dinner. Two Hommés is bright and friendly when it’s light out. When the sun sets, the lights dim, and the smooth music sets the mood.
Perhaps the most important change that came with the refresh, however, is a liquor license. Now, you can start dinner with a Sentinela Sour made with whisky, soursop, and ginger, or a glass of wine from a short list sourced from the Central Coast and South Africa.
Two Hommés is the project of LA natives and chefs Abdoulaye Balde and Yaw Marcus Johnson. They call the menu Afro-centric, but the influences are wide-ranging. Instead of the traditional meat on skewers, the spicy, peanut-y suya here is made with oyster mushrooms and green beans. There’s jollof rice topped with lamb chops or fried catfish, but there’s also garlic noodles. One of the most popular entrees is a root beer-braised short rib served on top of whipped yam instead of potato.
Every dish at Two Hommés presents something bold, without being over the top. However you chart your course through its menu, start the meal with some panko-crusted plantains topped with a creamy crab salad, and for dessert, consider the airy churro made with sweet potato, dusted with cinnamon sugar, topped with ice cream and candied sweet potato. Like the restaurant itself, it’s a two-person operation that’s more than the sum of its parts. –Fiona Chandra
→ Two Hommés (Inglewood) • 902 N La Brea Ave • Mon, Thu-Sat 5-10p, Sun 10a-3p • Reserve.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Restaurant Rush, fall 2025
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