I’ve said this before, I’ll say it again. The best things in LA are in strip malls. Exhibit 23094: Pasta Sisters. Pasta Sisters started off as a small, mostly takeaway shop in a quiet strip mall in Mid City. A few years later, it opened up in a larger footprint at the (at the time) up and coming reclaimed bakery complex Helms in Culver City, in the company of a couple other restaurants (RIP Lukshon) and a whole lot of furniture stores.

Pasta Sisters used to be my go to spot whenever I was meeting a friend or wanted to grab some dinner to go or felt like sitting outside for lunch on a nice day or wanted a spot where I didn’t have to think about parking (let’s be real, that’s probably reason number 1). Over the years, it’s blown up and will have a wait (though not too bad of a wait) even on a weeknight. But in the grand scope of hyped up LA restaurants, Pasta Sisters is notably unpretentious. Even with lines snaking out the door, it feels like a fast casual all day cafe type put on a tie. The restaurant is counter serve, with pastries and deli items in the fridge along the line. After ordering, you grab your number, go find a table, get some self serve water and munch on bread while you wait for your carbs and appreciate the carefree aspects of life. Point is, Pasta Sisters checks off a lot of good boxes: consistent quality of food, not too much of a scene, free parking, not too pricey, fast service, great take out options.