Matzo Ball Soup Challenge
I love the Matzo Ball soup at Jerry's Famous Deli but would love to expand my horizons. I am sure many will disagree that their soup is great so give me some suggestions for the Westside, preferably west of the 405 but will travel for the best. Don't bother with Fromin"s - that did nothing for me. I will take Kosher or Non-Kosher. Thanks.
MichaelS
Jan 14, 2007 12:08AM
believe it or not....GREENBLAT'S up on Sunset.
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Langer's matzo ball soup is pretty decent.
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I love Langer's matzo ball! Its the broth!
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I will have to thirds for Langer's. Mmmmm.
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I get the MB soup at Junior's pretty frequently. Sometimes the chicken can be a little on the dry side, but usually a tasty bowl of soup. Westwood Blvd. just a quarter of a block north of Pico in West LA, (and while not quite West of the 405 - it's close).
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I agree...Junior's is the way to go. You get a huge tub full for about $10-15...I usually get it to go when I'm sick. But it's got it all...matzoh ball, kasha, rice, kreplach, veggies, chicken, etc. It's enough for about 3 meals. The ball itself is fluffy and good.
Factor's is really good too. It doesn't have all of the above, but I believe it's got the ball, kasha, veggies and chicken. Also quite good.
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Brent's deli in the valley or langers in LA
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I find the Matzo Ball Soup at Jerry's Deli disgusting, to be honest. Usually if something is greasy, at least it tastes good, but in this case, it's the worst of both worlds.
But to be honest, I've never had any Matzo Ball soup that comes close to homemade, so that's what I do, so I guess I'm not much help! :-)
I haven't tried it at Langers, so I guess I ought to...
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Had a bowl at Factors on Pico last night and was pleased with it. Big matzo ball and decent amount of noodles. Lots of carrot rounds but no chicken. Not salty at all and for $5.95 with a ton of pickles and bagel chips, a good, tasty meal.
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Factors MB soup has no taste, thats because the MB has no soul and the soup has no flavor...the perfect MB soup in the city is Nat N Als...hands down.
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"the MB has no soul"... I love it. I don't think one can describe it any better. GIVE ME SOUL!!!!
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Have to agree with bdumes: Jerry's Deli has the WORST matzo ball soup [among everything else on their menu]! Junior's, Greenblatt's and Factor's are good. Even Izzy's ain't that bad. My favorite, believe it or not, is Canter's. At least it was when my wisdom teeth were pulled! I haven't tried Art's [in the 818] but I love everything everything else there so its probably very good too. Good luck!
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I so agree with natincali and bdumes: Jerry's has some of the worst food in los angeles - it's awful and i don't understand how they stay in business!!
that said - the best matzo ball soup is made at home - and it's so easy. But i've also had pretty good soup at junior's, nate & al's, roll & rye, factors, etc.
i also agree that i used to LOVE the matzo ball soup at Canter's - i haven't been there for a few years, so i have no idea how it is now. but it used to be super and they're open late - so that helps after a late night.
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I will also vouch for Canter's. I also love the Mishmosh which comes with a nice gigantic matzoh ball as well as other goodies. For some strange reason I really love having matzoh ball soup AND beet borscht with a dallop of sour cream... not in one bowl though!
Canter's is cool because:
a. it is open 24 hours
b. the waitresses have worked there for 60 years
c. my mom used to go there when she was a teenager
d. the same waitresses probably served my mom
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i agree with you about Canters! So Good!
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Before wasting time & moolah on Canters, denizens should first check out the diametrically opposed opinions about Canters expressed by deli mavens at http://www.chowhound.com/topics/36529... and similar threads on this board. Very sobering.
BTW, delis with the lowest %s of detractors overall include Nate'N Als, Langer's, Brent's and Billy's. Not that they don't attract an occasional quvecher, but on balance they seem to comfortably and persistently occupy that rare but hallowed middle ground between hounds' love & hate.
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i had it a month ago from Joan's on third. it was a little salty, but it was at least home made, not massed produced like i've had form the deli's around here.
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MB soup is one of my favorite things. My favorite so far in LA is Nate 'n' Al's. Huge, tender matzo balls in flavorful chicken broth. The perfect drink: Dr. Brown's Cel-ray.
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I completely agree! I love to have half a brentwood (brisket & coleslaw on rye) with matzo ball soup and a cel-ray soda. Sensational!
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Please do try Nate n Al's. I've tried Barney's Greengrass and found there to be too much STUFF in it. Nate and Al's is simple and perfect esp. with rice! It doesn't even matter that no one seems to want to work there (aside from their cute female cashier with the funky clear glasses & their sweet greeter.)
Try their rugela too! I have no idea how to actually spell that.
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Weird rec, but it's pretty darn good at Mel's Diner... that and egg white omelettes are the only things I'll eat there...
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Solley's on Van Nuys Blvd. has some pretty decent CMB soup.
The broth is nice and flavorful, and the matzo ball is nice and soft and fairly tasty. Not as good as my mom's (but whose is?), but still good.
They will also give you lots of pieces of chicken (you have to specify, though). And noodles. And carrots (if you want, but not for me, thanks).
Sometimes it seems that there's not enough broth because the matzo ball is so darn huge, there's only so much room in the container. A lady in line once told us the trick is to order the matzo ball in a separate container. Wow, did that make a difference; I think we had double or triple the amount of food.
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I like Greenblatt's. And they have a very nice wine selection by the glass to pair with it.
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I like the Matzo Ball Soup from Joan's on Third.
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Jerry's chicken soup used to be excellent. The last three times I've had it, it was so bad that those were the last three times.
I really like the matzo balls and chicken soup at Canter's but what I really like is the mish-mosh they serve. It's an extra large bowl of soup with a matzo ball, noodles and chicken, plus you can pay a little extra and have them add chicken and carrots.
If you really want soup, order the Chicken in a Pot. It's a huge tureen of soup with half a boiled chicken, matzo ball, boiled potato, carrots, noodles and rice. Sometimes when I have a cold, I have someone get me one and I take three days to eat the whole thing.
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Second on Brent's Deli!!! And while you're there, get the best corned beef, the best pastrami, and best bagels & lox.
Greenblatt's & Solley's (Van Nuys) will give you your fix.
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The matzo ball soup at Roll n Rye in Culver City is really good. Huge,filling and fresh.
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I second Roll n Rye!
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I third Roll N Rye (on Jefferson near Target in Culver City). I went on a MB soup kick a few uears ago and tried them all over the city: Jerry's, Langers, Factors, Izzy's, and some place at the top of the hill off Mulholland and Beverly Glen.
Good old Roll N Rye came out on top!
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Barney's
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I found Jerry's to be over-salted, Langers' to be downright gross, Brent's to be flavorless (it was quite disheartening after all the pro-Brent's stuff on here...in fact, the whole Brent's experiecne was sub-par)..Solly's to be like Jerry's-no surprise since Jerr's has owned Solly's for years.
I want totry Canter's soup, but fear the crowd and attitude. Art's is also worth a try. I hear Fromin's is good.
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I completely agree with Cicely, Nate 'n Al's has fabulous matzah ball soup. I even brought it to my family's Passover seder (no offense, mom!) for a few years. It's so tasty, the broth is golden, the matzah ball is substantial but also surprisingly light, it's excellent!
Also, in Orange County, I like the matzah ball soup at Benjie's. It's really good, too.
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If your going to bring Benjie's into it let's also not forget the Kreplach with a Matzo?
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But PLEASE don't bring the Kreplach to the Passover seder!
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nate'n al's chicken in a pot is the finest - and from a British Episcopalian with 13 years of experience with my fave. comfort food.
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I grew up on chicken in the pot and the chicken in the pot at Nate 'n Als is horrible.
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billy's deli, but its over in glendale off of orange. been there for forever.
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Was feeling under the weather this weekend, and tried Juniors' Matzoh ball soup for the first time. Have to say -- it hit the spot! Only problem was that the matzoh balls were way too big! But, I've tried matzoh ball soup all over -- and this definitely hit the mark.
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I am sorry to report that I tried the matzoh ball soup today at the Pico Kosher Deli on Pico near Robertson and it was not good. The soup was tasteless and the matzoh ball was equally tasteless and the texture was not quite right.
Plus, I never understood why delis stick noodles in their matzoh ball soup. Isn't one carbohydrate in the soup sufficient? Seriously, when I was growing up, we never put anything but matzoh balls in our matzoh ball soup. If the soup and the matzoh balls were well made, why would you throw the kitchen sink in?
On the other hand, the pastrami sandwich at the Pico Kosher Deli wasn't bad and was much cheaper than other places in the neighborhood (which is kind of strange, given that kosher meat is more expensive). Wouldn't recommend the place for anything but take-out though - it is very dingy and in the afternoons is invaded by large gaggles of loud teenagers.
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Might be a bit far for you, but Billy's Deli in Glendale has a pretty good one. However, they also have a location in Torrance (which I've never been too).
http://www.billysdeliandcafe.com/
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Magic Carpet (Yemeni Kosher restaurant) on Pico just west of La Cienega. I forgot how great this place was until I ate there again Monday night.
It's probably also the cheapest bowl you're gonna find too - $4.50 for a cereal-bowl-sized portion, a little more for a bigger one - but don't expect lots of chicken and noodles. It's straight up broth, balls, and some coarse-cut carrots and celery. All the soups at this place are really good. Plenty of other standard and non-standard Middle Eastern dishes, all fresh and inexpensive (and without the glaring light and general grime of many falafel places in town).
8566 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles
(310) 652-8507
[And for the record, I'm no fan of Jerry's (too much going on, too giant, yet still not satisfying) and Canter's (I pay extra for what now?), but find Nate 'n' Al's good.]
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Yes! Magic Carpet has the best MBS in Los Angeles. You wouldn't expect it but it's just that good.
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I remembering Magic Carpet also having good lentil soup.
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Greenblatts has a great Matzo ball soup. It is not salty ; the broth is rich and it is loaded with pieces of chicken and vegetables.
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not a fan of Jerry's, Langer's or Canter's matzo ball soup at all (and to an insult to injury, the kreplach at Canter's is uber icky, ptewy!)
right now, my favorite matzo ball soup is at Roll 'nRye, the drawbacks are that its on the other side of town and it closes way too early for me.
Roll 'nRye
10990 W Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 390-3497
Tue-Sat: 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sun-Mon: 6:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
you can view a menu at:
http://losangeles.menupages.com/resta...
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How do you rate their pastrami on rye vs Langer's?
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Not even close... We live down the street from Roll n Rye and shop at the safeway right next door, we are always amazed at the amount of people they have in there... may have to stop in again and have some soup (We've had their various sandwiches and were not impressed...)
--Dommy!
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Um, sorry... I hit the "back" button on my browser and this is what happened :(
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bernardo, besides the one time I had prime rib (the prime rib, btw, was rare and tasty; the baked potato perfect and ginormous), I've only had breakfasts and MBS.
As for Langer's, I've had the BEST and the WORST of pastrami on rye.
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Question is where's best for MBS followed by a corned beef or pastrami sandwich on rye? I'm thinking Nate N'Als but am open to opposing views. Great pickles, kraut & bread, my only reservations are the slaw & potato salad which are just OK IMHO. Other regrets: No 2 cents plain, but Dr Brown works instead at a price of course. And some of the dingiest bathrooms in BH to boot, but who rates a deli on their facilities anyhow?
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Orange County is probably too far a drive for you but the matzo ball soup at Benjies in Santa Ana is amazing. They serve it with fresh rye bread. It is perfect!
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NATE AND AL'S is the best!
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dang, Michael S... i do sympathize with you westsiders... apparently you really need to venture east for the good stuff when it comes to matzo ball soup! Jerry's Deli?? Pulllease! Come on out to the Fairfax district or the Strip for some of the best MBS at Cantor's or Greenblatt's!
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Wow EricV, such biting humor. Please tell me you are not one of those EastSider Foodie Snobs. That can get very annoying. Look's like I will be heading to the hinterlands for some great MBS. I will report back to see if this Goy agrees with the recommendations. I will be judging based on: (1) quality of MB, (2) saltiness; (3) greasiness; (4) quality of chicken; and most importantly, (5) quality of bagel chips. Price will be taken into consideration. May the best MB win!!!
Cheers.
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Wow, relax, his reply wasn't really all that bad. I mean, really, Jerry's Deli is not quite like others...
I'd really be interested in your MBS research and tasting notes! Pot them here!
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Since when do bagel chips come into play with MB Soup.
The Soup at Nate and Al's rated the best in LA MAG, is a clear consume with a perfect MB.
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Bagel Chips are just a personal thing with me...Nate and Al's is one of the first three I plan on going to....
Cheers.
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Magic Carpet MBS does not come with bagel chips (I think that's a Jerry's thing), but don't count it out simply because of that. There are so many other amazing things to have there, I'm sure you can find something to complement the soup.
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