GOT KOSHER?
FEEDING YOUR BODY & SOUL

I’m always looking for a good, healthy alternative when it comes to dining out. The most important thing is taste, but if my meal can be healthy and/or good for me, all the better. I don’t care if we’re talking vegetarian or vegan or even kosher, as long as it’s good. So I was completely game when it came to trying Got Kosher? in the Pico-Robertson area, as I’m already a fan of nearby Mexikosher.

“Our new menu is drawn from my Tunisian origins and our family’s Paris restaurant,” says chef-owner Alain Cohen. “My American culinary experiences influence our focus on healthy ingredients—including grass-fed beef, hormone- and antibiotic-free chicken, extra virgin olive oil and non-GMO canola oil.”

A charming café with a thriving catering component, Got Kosher? serves kosher fare that is hearty and tasty. While the kosher element isn’t paramount to me, I was impressed by the freshness and quality of the dishes I tried at lunch recently.

I started with the Classic House-Cured Pastrami Sandwich with grass-fed beef, rye bread, smoked mustard, coleslaw, and pickle served with fries. It’s a real production to create this in-house favorite pastrami so if you’re a meat-eater and a fan of pastrami, I would highly recommend this sandwich.

For non-meat-eaters, there are several “faux” alternatives, including French Onion Soup with melted vegan cheese; Millionaire Brisket over vegan mac & cheese; and Western Fakin’ Cheese-less Burger. We tried the mac’ “cheese” that surprisingly was good. I say that because I’ve never been able to find a faux mac & cheese that tasted authentic, let alone good. Most just plain miss the mark. This dish was full of texture and taste. I also tried a piece of their fake beet, just to see what that was like. While it won’t ever replace the original for me, I can see that it is a good alternative if you’re prone not to eat meat.

The dinner menu seems to offer heartier choices, including grilled options as well as Tunisian Couscous feasts, along with Tajines—traditional stews. I definitely see a reason to go back. The weekly Shabbat menu (all Shabbat orders for Friday must be placed by Thursday at 3pm) is also impressive and apparently a hit with the locals, as is Sunday BBQ. 

Desserts are also very impressive at Got Kosher?, including the Tiramisu, and Pear Tart, which I tried, although the vegan cheesecake and puff pastries looked decadently delicious too.

I like that Got Kosher? offers a casual atmosphere where you can get good and healthy eats. There’s no pretension, only solid cuisine that fills and fulfills.

Got Kosher? is located at 8914 W. Pico Blvd. Call 310-858-1920.

Photography Courtesy of: Got Kosher?

Story by Jose Martinez