Jessica Koslow's Favorite Silver Lake Restaurants | Tasting Table LA

Chef Jessica Koslow has made Silver Lake home (by way of Atlanta and Brooklyn) since 2008.

Her charming story is already the stuff of legend: She started by making small-batch seasonal jams and selling them at farmers' markets, and now her oh-so-popular restaurant Sqirl is expanding even further.

Come mid-November, a Barbara Bestor-designed annex space will carry grab-and-go items such as coffee, pastries, salads, natural wines and specialty beers. Koslow says, "It's like Sqirl to go: You can get your baguette, bottle of wine or beer—everything you'd want on a picnic." Translation: brioche toast and blondies, minus the weekend lines.

As we await the opening, we asked Koslow to share some of her sweetest neighborhood spots.

Breakfast: Sqirl
Most mornings, Koslow is in her own kitchen. She jokes, "I don't want to sound super snotty and say Sqirl, but that's where I am majority of the time." Her order: An off-menu item. "I'll take cold porridge that we top with granola and a little dollop of jam. It's an off-menu special that the majority of the staff eats, actually." And how does she take her coffee? "An Americano ($3.25) or cortado ($4), depending on how I'm feeling."

Juice: Moon Juice
"I like meals, so it's hard for me to just drink juice," Koslow professes. But when she's sipping between meals, Koslow heads to Moon Juice. Her order: "Their watermelon and tomato juice ($9) is really cleansing. Whenever I have [their] stuff, I always feel clean and refreshed."

Cheap Eats: El Cochinito and Samosa House
Koslow keeps it mostly meat-free when dining out. "I'm always looking for places where I can find a flavorful vegetarian option," she says. "El Cochinito is totally underrated. People don't go there or know about—it's in a strip mall—but it's been around for 30 years and it's awesome. It's such good Cuban food." Her order: "I get the vegetarian plate ($10), but [my boyfriend] Ryan gets the Ropa Vieja ($12)." As for Samosa House, she says, "It's a great lunch option. For $10, you get a huge pile of rice and sides and vegetables, which will carry you through dinner—it's like two meals."

Date Night: Alimento
"Ryan and I live really close to the restaurant, so a lot of times we walk down the hill and just sit at the bar. Technically, [Alimento] is really solid: They make their own pastas, and the flavors are so rich and balanced. Everyone's so nice, and it's a humble, great spot in our neighborhood." Her order: "We'll get a glass of wine and the maccheroncini ($14), the chicken liver ($10) and the tortellini in brodo ($14). They're such great dishes."

Alimento's escolar crudo, Sqirl's burnt brioche toast | Photos: Dylan + Jeni, Tasting Table

Takeout: Night + Market Song
When it comes to never-fail standbys, Koslow calls on the second of Kris Yenbamroong's Thai restaurants. "Ryan and I get a lot of take-out from Song," she says. Her order: Don't judge—"I think that they have the best pad thai in Los Angeles. I know that sounds crazy, but they do a great vegetarian version ($9)." Another favorite is the crab fried rice ($14). "It's not heavy and tastes like they're trying to keep the seasoning to a minimum, so the crab shows through."

Dive Bar: Tiki-Ti
Where to go for a fun night out with friends? She says, "Tiki-Ti is such a great place. It's the oldest family-run bar in Los Angeles. You can smoke in there; there's really bad snacks; everyone that works there is like family; the drinks are full of sugar; and you don't want to drink more than two because then you're hammered."

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Cocktails: Bar Stella
Go here if you're looking for a classy night out. Says Koslow, "They do a really wonderful job. The vibe is good and the drinks are solid. When you want a cocktail, you just want to go out and be in a space like that—have a conversation and know that the bartender is going to take care of you." Her order: "I'm such a Campari fan. If I can get a Negroni ($12), I'll get a Negroni. I like to sit at the bar and savor some me time."

Kitchen Goods
"I go to Broome Street General to pick up linens. I also love OK and Lawson-Fenning. They both carry Sharon Mann plateware. She's a local ceramist who is doing great stuff right now. I just picked up a four-foot cheese board from Lawson-Fenning last week. We did a catering event and I thought, Forget it—I'm just going to buy this $250 cheese board. I showed up and everyone thought that it was amazing. It was such a great purchase."