// LOS ANGELES // CULVER CITY, MID CITY // 

pasta sisters

keeping pasta in the family since 2015

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.

the details

Address

Mid City: 3343 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles
Culver: 3280 Helms Ave, Culver City

Websitehttps://www.pastasisters.com/
Yelp

Mid City: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pasta-sisters-los-angeles
Culver: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pasta-sisters-culver-city-culver-city

Instagram@pasta_sisters
Hours

Mid City: 11:30-8:30pm Monday – Saturday, closed Sunday
Culver: 11:30-9:30pm Sunday – Wednesday, closes at 10pm Thursday – Saturday

Price$ – $12-17 pastas, everything is under $20
Aestheticclean, contemporary, bright and breezy, nothing really that notable

good to know

Go here for: pasta for lunch, pasta for dinner, an easy choice if you don’t have reservations, a casual meal for a small group

Order this: pappardelle with arrabiata, tagliatelle with pesto (I tend to gravitate towards the fresh pastas), carbonara if it’s a sunday, pick something up from the deli section and thank yourself later

Amount of time to spend: you can get in and out in under an hour for a quick lunch, an hour or two for dinner

When to come: avoid peak dinner times and you’re golden

Parking: 

  • Mid City: free small lot in the strip mall, or street parking should be pretty easy
  • Culver: Helms has a free lot, but it can fill up quickly, if there’s no more spots, try snagging a meter on Venice or Washington, it’s usually not bad in the evenings after rush hour.

 

Other things to note: 

  • They also sell fresh pasta, sauces and other accoutrements so you can easily make it at home.
  • The Culver location has outdoor seating in the front and back.
  • Walk ins only!

Last visited: October 2021

Last updated: January 2022

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