Descanso’s National Taco Day Platter includes street-sized versions of four of its most beloved tacos. (photo courtesy of Descanso Restaurant)

Celebrate National Taco Day at Descanso

Descanso Restaurant is celebrating National Taco Day on Oct. 7 with a chef-curated taco platter, inviting guests to try four of its most popular specialty tacos and discover new favorites. Available at the Costa Mesa and recently opened Los Angeles locations, Descanso’s National Taco Day Platter includes street-sized versions of the Felipe, The Relleno, Don Chingon and Chicharrón de Pescado tacos for $15. Each taco is served on a house-made corn tortilla.

The Felipe marries garlic marinated ribeye with poblano chiles, onions, oyster mushrooms, tres quesos, tomatillo salsa cruda and micro cilantro. The Relleno features roasted Anaheim chile with Tatuma squash, corn, sweet peppers, tres quesos, salsa verde, onion, cotija cheese and micro cilantro. The Don Chingón boasts spit-roasted al pastor pork with red onion, salsa frita, avocado toreado salsa, chamoy and micro cilantro. The Chicharrón de Pescado includes crispy battered tilapia, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, morita aioli, pickled red onion and micro cilantro.

The platter is available all day on Oct. 7.

For information, visit descansorestaurant.com. Descanso Restaurant is located at 5773 Wilshire Blvd.

Little Dom’s makes National Pasta Month special

Craving a taste of L.A.’s best pasta for National Pasta Month in October? Los Angeles’ modern Italian restaurant, Little Dom’s in Los Feliz, has guests covered with new limited-time specials along with a selection of pasta dishes that have made the restaurant a neighborhood favorite for more than 15 years.

Throughout Pasta Month, Little Dom’s is offering Mustard Green Lasagnette (available through Oct. 19) – traditional Bolognese method featuring non-traditional meats including alligator tenderloin and wild boar slowly cooked in olive oil with carrots, onions, peppers and garlic; and Parisian Gnocchi (available Oct. 20-31) – a light and fluffy version of gnocchi, slightly toasted in a pan with butter and black pepper and finished with a blend of two cheeses. Add black truffles for extra flare. In addition to the specials, guests can enjoy staple dishes including spaghetti and meatballs, ricotta cavatelli with vodka sauce and grana Padano, strozzapreti – mushroom Bolognese and grana Padano and pappardelle – spicy sausage, ricotta, English peas and grana Padano.

For information, visit littledoms.com. Little Dom’s is located at 2128 Hillhurst Ave.

JINYA unveils tomato basil ramen for fall

With fall in full swing, comfort food season has officially arrived, and JINYA Ramen Bar has the perfect dish to mark the occasion. Meet the Ciao Ramen, created in collaboration with creator QCP, offering a hearty, Italian-inspired bowl layered with rich tomato-basil broth, thick noodles, pork chashu, parmesan and a touch of JINYA’s signature flair.

Fall’s coziest bowl is a craveable, transitional dish that blends the familiar flavors of pasta night with the warmth and depth of ramen. For college students, it’s the ultimate warm and hearty “study fuel.” With October being National Pasta Month, the Ciao Ramen is a playful nod to noodles, reimagined through a Japanese ramen lens.

For information, visit jinyaramenbar.com. JINYA Ramen Bar is located at 3323 La Cienega Blvd.

Norms launches new menu

Beloved restaurant group and community staple Norms Restaurants debuted a new core menu on Oct. 1  in all Southern California and Las Vegas locations. After more than a year of research and development led by corporate executive chef and vice president of food and beverage David Cox, the team crafted a refreshed menu featuring 160 items, including 32 new dishes. Dishes on the new menu range from breakfast entrees and hearty salads to hand-cut steaks and classic diner favorites, all served with the signature homestyle hospitality that has defined Norms for more than 75 years. In addition to the core menu, Norms is also launching a new late-night menu at select locations, featuring a concentrated selection of dishes from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. daily.

Inspired by Southern California’s rich flavors and dining scene, the new core menu strikes a balance of nostalgic diner dishes with a modern twist into every bite.

Highlights from the core menu includes new cravings for breakfast lovers, such as the French Toast Bigger Better Breakfast – two bacon strips, two link sausages, ham, two eggs and two slices of French toast, served with choice of hash browns, home fries or fresh fruit. Norms has also expanded the selection of bold Latin flavors, including Huevos Rancheros – two crispy corn tortillas topped with black beans, jack and cheddar cheese and two eggs, served with red chili sauce, Spanish rice, avocado and pico de gallo.

While Norms debuts seasonal limited time menus throughout the year, it marks the first time the core menu has been refreshed since 2019.

For information, visit norms. com. Norms is located at 470 N.   La Cienega Blvd. and 5453 Hollywood Blvd.

Enjoy a feast of favorites at Starbird. (photo courtesy of Starbird Chicken)

Starbird discovers new Indian flavors

Starbird, one of the nation’s first super-premium fast-food concepts, is dramatically shaking up the hot chicken landscape this fall, elevating beyond the Nashville hot chicken craze with the launch of the new Indian Hotbird limited-time menu. The bold and innovative lineup features the Indian Hotbird sandwich, the Indian Hotbird Tender Box and Masala Street Fries, available at all California locations.

Building on the success of its Nashville hot chicken, Starbird is pioneering a new era with the Indian Hotbird, featuring its signature crispy chicken infused with vibrant, flavorful Indian spices to elevate the fast-food experience. With dynamic, complex flavor combinations rarely seen in fast-food, the limited-time menu is a groundbreaking offering that pushes the boundaries of what guests expect from a fast-food chicken concept.

Each item has been carefully crafted to deliver the intense, mouth-watering flavors and inventive culinary creations for which Starbird is known, including the Indian Hotbird Sandwich – hot masala crispy chicken topped with a savory tikka sauce, creamy tamarind mint raita, classic slaw, pickled red onions, cucumber and an Asian herb mix, all served on a soft round bun; Indian Hotbird Tender Box – hot masala crispy tenders drizzled with tamarind mint raita and tikka Sauce, finished with an Asian herb mix; and the Masala Street Fries – seasonal fries loaded with tamarind mint raita, tikka sauce, Nashville oil, masala fire shake and an Asian herb mix.

To complement the new food items, Starbird is also introducing two seasonal house-made beverages: blueberry lemonade and mango iced tea.

For information, visit starbirdchicken.com. Starbird Chicken is located at 7150 Beverly Blvd.