Trying new food in South LA

My friend Xavier and I [Aiden] decided to try some food together and write about local restaurants that are good but may be easily overlooked.

First spot: The Shack On 48th

We ordered fries, a cheeseburger with everything on it, which was lettuce, onion, and tomato, and asada tacos. The fries looked crispy and had some seasoning on them. In total it cost $19.50

Xavier got the cheeseburger and fries. The burger had lettuce, tomato, cheese, and a soft bun with sesame seeds on it. He said the burger tasted really good and the toppings tasted fresh. The cheese and meat together made it even better and he said it was a really solid burger.

I (Aiden) got the tacos and fries. The tacos had seasoned meat in them and they came with a lime on the side. The meat had a lot of flavor and the shell was crunchy, like a taco dorado. When I squeezed the lime on the tacos it made them taste even better. And as the average Mexican, I have had my fair share of tacos, so these are one of the best that I can just get near my home.

We both shared some fries too. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and they had some seasoning on them which was salt and something that tasted like Lawry’s seasoning and that is what made them really good. The fries would taste like something you would get from the restaurant Tam’s.

From the vibe that we got around the restaurant, it was pretty peaceful in our opinion. There is a park across the street to hang out at and there was a store to get drinks in case you cannot buy drinks from the restaurant. Also, the tables are in the shade, so the vibe can just give a nice peaceful day, which I think made everything better with eating with friends at The Shack On 48th.  But if you are alone it is not as great because it can just feel off or if you like being inside or sitting at small tables then it would not really be the one spot to go to. But the food is still good though. And the price was at a good range it was not too much and was not too little.

Overall, Xavier and I both thought the food was really good. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. We both agreed to rate it an 8.5/10 because it tasted great and we would definitely eat it again.

Xavier’s response “The food was hella good 🥹🤤 I give it like a 8.5/10 and it was yummy.”

I think it was yummy.

Second spot: Visit to Grande’s Goody Donuts, Ice Cream & Croissant

Xavier and I visited Grande’s Goody Donuts, Ice Cream & Croissant to try their desserts and see what the area was like. The shop offers a mix of donuts, ice cream, and croissants, giving customers a lot of choices. We bought two donuts and two ice creams. Overall the price was $10.42.

First, we tried the ice cream, which we rated a 9/10 (about 4.5 stars). The ice cream was creamy, flavorful, and tasted fresh. Compared to a popular place like Baskin-Robbins, the quality was just as good, and in some ways even better.

Next, we tried the donuts, which we rated a 7/10 (about 3.5 stars). The donuts were okay, but they didn’t stand out as much as the ice cream. Compared to places like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’, the donuts here were not as soft or memorable.

The area around the shop felt a little uncomfortable. The vibe seemed off, and there were several homeless people nearby who asked us for money. While this didn’t affect the food itself, it did make the experience feel less relaxing. And the price was a good amount for just a donut and ice cream so we’d rate it a 7.5/10 instead (still 3.5 stars)

Overall, Xavier and I think Grande’s Goody Donuts, Ice Cream & Croissant has really good ice cream but average donuts. If you go, the ice cream is definitely worth trying, but the area might not be the best.

Final stop: Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken

When Xavier and I walked into Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken, the first thing we noticed was that it didn’t really feel like a chicken place. It actually felt more like a Chinese restaurant, which kind of caught us off guard. The inside was okay at first, but the overall vibe felt a little off. We just got a box with chow mein and orange chicken which was $15 DOLLARS!.

We rated the food a 7.5/10, or about 3.5 stars. It was okay, but not the best—nothing really special that stood out. Also, we didn’t even try the chicken, which is what they’re most known for. The food we did get still had decent flavor, just nothing amazing.

When it comes to everything else like the vibe, cleanliness, and overall feeling of the place, we’d rate it more like a 6.5/10. The area around the restaurant felt kind of shady, and there were a lot of homeless people nearby asking for money again, which made the experience uncomfortable for us.

Overall, we’d say it’s not a bad place to go, but you should be cautious if you decide to visit. Compared to something like Panda Express, it gave off a similar Chinese fast-food vibe, but Panda Express usually feels cleaner and more comfortable. And the price was way to much just for that small box.

(Oh and we were not able to get a picture sadly from the donut shop and this one either…)

Conclusions:

Overall, trying new food around South L.A. was a pretty fun experience for both of us. We got to see that not every place is the same, even if they’re close to each other. Some spots surprised us in a good way, and others were just okay.

Our favorite place was definitely The Shack On 48th because the food tasted fresh, flavorful, and was worth the price. It also had a chill and peaceful vibe, especially if you’re there with friends. Grande’s Goody Donuts, Ice Cream & Croissant had really good ice cream, but the donuts and the area didn’t stand out as much. Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken was decent, but since we didn’t even try the chicken and the vibe felt off, it wasn’t as good as we expected.

From all of this, we learned that good food isn’t just about taste—it’s also about the environment, the price, and how comfortable you feel being there. Some places might have great food but not the best vibe, and that can change the whole experience.

In the end, we’d say it’s always worth trying new spots, especially local ones that people might overlook. You never know—you might find a new favorite place just around the corner.