LA’s Best Turkey-Optional Thanksgiving Takeout For 2020: LAist

Yes, it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. While things will look different this year, Los Angeles restaurants are still working hard. If you want a turkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes and all the classic fixings, you probably already know where to go. So we’re highlighting restaurants that are going beyond the basic bird. Since we can’t hold large gatherings during this pandemic holiday season, we’ve included restaurants that are offering individual and small portions.

For those craving a traditional turkey dinner, you have plenty of choices. Lucques Catering, AKASHA, Huckleberry and Jar will be preparing takeout feasts. If you want to bring home a smoked turkey, consider Wexler’s Deli or Maple Block Meat Co, which also offer sides such as stuffing and mashed potatoes. Or you can dine out. The Little Door, Castaway and Coin & Candor are doing sit-down Thanksgiving dinners.

THANKSGIVING TO GO

Ricebox

This Cantonese spot in DTLA is putting its spin on Chinese Beggar’s Chicken, which typically finds the bird wrapped in lotus leaves and baked in clay. Instead, a whole Mary’s organic chicken will be stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, rice, abalone, duck eggs and other ingredients then wrapped in a lotus leaf and the same dough Ricebox uses to make its bao. The chicken comes raw with instructions on how to bake it at home. Ricebox will also be offering its roast duck. You must pre-order either (or both) by Sunday, Nov. 22 and pick up your food on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
541 S. Spring St. #131, Downtown

Hermanito

This cantina on Sawtelle will be offering a takeout taco kit featuring its handmade flour tortillas and black garlic mole. Price varies based on which protein you choose ($80 – $95 per kit) and options include Peking duck, roasted chicken, red snapper and vegetarian. The kit feeds four people and comes with shrimp ceviche, quinoa salad and tres leches cake. Pick up your order on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
2024 Sawtelle Blvd., West L.A.

Ayara Thai

Family-owned Ayara is making a slew of ready-to-cook, Thai-inspired Thanksgiving dishes. They include a turkey brined in fish sauce, Thai chilis and lime as well as white peppercorn prime rib, tom kha mashed potatoes and Thai-spiced pumpkin pies. The Westchester restaurant will also customize portion sizes based on your needs. While Ayara will be closed on Thanksgiving, you can pick up your order on Wednesday, Nov. 25 or Thanksgiving morning. Pre-order online starting November 9.
6245 W. 87th St., Westchester

Sam Woo BBQ

Sam Woo is best known for its roast duck and its barbecued pork but don’t forget about its Thanksgiving turkey. This is not your ordinary bird. The cooks prepare a whole turkey the same way they’d prepare a roast duck — with crisped skin and their secret glaze — then they serve it with a side of sticky rice. You must call ahead and order by Tuesday, Nov. 24.
514 Valley Blvd., Alhambra

Salazar

For many households, holidays mean tamales. This Thanksgiving, Salazar will offer tamales filled with mesquite smoked turkey and roasted pasilla chilis, and topped with achiote crema and epazote. Salazar will not be open on Thanksgiving day but the turkey tamales will be available for dine-in and takeout the rest of the holiday week and the following weekend.
2490 Fletcher Dr., Frogtown

ParmBoyz at The Corner Door

At the ParmBoyz pop-up at the Corner Door, grab a family meal for four people. Instead of turkey, it features Chicken Parm Daddies with bechamel sauce, ricotta and cranberry toast, dream cheese garlic bread (made with a mix of cream cheese, burrata and mascarpone), roasted veggies and pumpkin-spiced tiramisu. Pick up your food on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
12477 Washington Blvd., Culver City

LQ Foodings

Chef Laurent Quenioux has put together a Thanksgiving “BOXX” with a porchetta-style turkey roulade, sweet potato and squash mousse and sage and prune stuffing. The tasting menu is $60 per person. Individual dishes and seasonal desserts are also available à la carte. You can pick up your food or get it delivered on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25. Pre-order here.
Address disclosed upon order, Echo Park

Dialogue x pasjoli

Sister restaurants Dialogue and Pasjoli band together to whip up a fancy takeout feast. The meal has turkey (breast and leg meat) and all the usual sides — but with black truffle gravy and herbes de provence stuffing. The best part? The dessert is a pumpkin version of their famous Basque cheesecake. Get the full menu and pre-order here. The meal is portioned and priced per person. Pick up your order at Pasjoli on Wednesday, Nov 25.
2732 Main St., Santa Monica

Ospi

Ospi will offer an uncooked, oven-ready turkey for $125. Whether or not you order the bird, you can also purchase their appetizers and sides which include parmigiano pancetta biscuits and Kuri squash toast. Pre-order by Nov. 20 and pick up on Thanksgiving morning.
2025 Pacific Ave., Venice

Tiato

Tiato presents a turkey dinner with an Asian twist. The traditional herb-brined turkey comes with a stuffing of sticky rice, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage and chestnuts. The An family’s famous garlic noodles will also be available for takeout along with a five-spiced pumpkin pie. Each item is available for purchase in two different portion sizes. Pre-order by Monday, Nov. 23 and pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 25 or Thanksgiving Day.
2700 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica

Golden Rice Co.

The new (and already popular) Persian pop-up specializes in tahchin, a crispy rice cake made with saffron, yogurt and barberries (you can also get saffron rice without yogurt). For Thanksgiving, Golden Rice presents a special tahchin with turkey, cranberries and barberries. The rice cake costs $60 and can feed four people. Pre-order via Instagram DM from now until they sell out for pick-up on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Bootsy Bellows (delivery available for an extra charge). They tend to sell out a week before so order early.
9229 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood

Tacos Tu Madre

Want to eat your turkey dinner in taco form? Tacos Tu Madre will be offering a buttermilk fried turkey taco with spiced cranberry sauce, mashed potato taquitos with chorizo gravy and pumpkin spice churros. They’ll be available a la carte or you can get the Thanksgiving Plate for $40, which includes all of those plus two additional tacos. The specials will be available at the West Hollywood location from Nov. 16 to Nov. 25 for patio dine-in or takeout/delivery.

Needle

This year, use your oven to make char siu instead of turkey. Needle brings back its char siu kit starting from Nov. 11 to Nov. 25. The Chinese barbecued pork belly comes with the basting sauce and is vacuum-sealed so it’ll last for a few weeks. Order now before it sells out.
3827 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake

Lost Cove

This tiki cocktail pop-up is putting a Hawaiian spin on the holiday. Its Thanksgiving Luau menu turns a whole smoked turkey into sliders made with Kings Hawaiian rolls, Sichuan pickled pineapples, coleslaw and gravy. Try a themed tiki cocktail such as Pumpkin Painkiller and Banana Bread Mai Tai. Pre-order here for pick-up or delivery on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
609 N. La Brea, West Hollywood

Café Gratitude

Gracias Madre

Want more tamale action?

Dha Rae Oak

While they’re not offering a Thanksgiving menu, this Koreatown duck specialist serves a great alternative to turkey. The whole duck is stuffed with sticky rice, chestnuts, walnuts, dried fruits and more then it is wrapped in cheesecloth and baked in a clay pot. If the whole duck is too much for your household, get a tray of their smoked duck, which is equally outstanding. Dha Rae Oak has outdoor dining and will be open on Thanksgiving day.

1108 S. Western Ave., Koreatown

Orsa and Winston

Mirame

Alexander’s Steakhouse

Red meat lovers might want to opt for the 7-pound prime rib Thanksgiving special from Alexander’s Steakhouse. It’s seasoned and partially cooked, ready for you to finish at home. The $210 takeout special comes with au jus, creamed horseradish, Caesar salad and sides. Order here for pick-up on Wednesday, Nov. 25 or Thursday, Nov. 26.
111 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena

DINE OUT FOR THANKSGIVING

Taverna Tony

Taverna Tony at the Malibu Country Mart presents a Greek Thanksgiving feast with a prix fixe menu. It features 15 items including dolmathes, spanakopita and chicken souvlaki. Enjoy your meal on the blue and white patio and pretend you’re in Santorini.
23410 Civic Center Way, Malibu

Kali

At $59 per person, Kali’s Thanksgiving family meal includes a roasted heritage turkey with chicken liver mousse and pumpkin risotto. It’s available for dine-in, takeout or delivery via DoorDash (order here).
5722 Melrose Ave., Hollywood

Melisse x Citrin

Want to go big? Josiah Citrin’s Melisse and Citrin will be open for dine-in service. The Thanksgiving menu starts with a serving of their signature lobster bolognese. For the main course, you can choose turkey, dry-aged prime rib or a vegetarian portobello mushroom steak with spaghetti squash and burrata. The meal costs $115 per adult or $42 for kids 8 years and under. The whole shebang will also be available for takeout but those details are still being worked out. Reserve on Tock.
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica

Strings of Life

The Aussie-inspired cafe will have its patio dining open on Thanksgiving Day, serving up Australian twists on American Thanksgiving classics. There’s the turkey gobbler sausage roll, which is basically your whole turkey dinner wrapped in a puff pastry, and a pumpkin spice lamington, among others. Warm up with seasonal lattes. Strings of Life will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 26.

FIG

FIG will be open for patio dining on Thanksgiving from 3 to 9 p.m. The regular menu ($85 per person) has the traditional turkey along with aged prime rib and sides but they’re not forgetting about vegans and vegetarians. FIG’s vegan Thanksgiving menu ($65 per person) includes roasted mushrooms with mushroom gravy and pickled cranberries, brussels sprouts with hazelnuts and more.

The London West Hollywood

Boxwood Restaurant at the London will serve a three-course menu for $75 per person, available for dine-in and takeout. It’s anchored by a turkey with sage stuffing but you can opt for beef wellington (serves two) or Maine scallops instead.
1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood

NBC Seafood

Dim sum is a great call for any celebration and it helps that many Chinese restaurants remain open for business on big holidays. NBC Seafood will offer outdoor dining and they’ll be serving their full dim sum menu on Thanksgiving.
404 S. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park

Le Petit Belvedere at The Peninsula

The outdoor brasserie at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills is another spot where you can dine in style. The main entrée on the four-course menu will be turkey and stuffing but you can start with butter-poached lobster on risotto followed by veal cheeks and truffles. The best part? The $140 price tag comes with all-you-can-drink Nicolas Feuillatte champagne.
9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills

Manuela

The DTLA restaurant will be open for an early Thanksgiving dinner ($68/person). The menu includes family-style appetizers such as chef Kris Tominaga’s famous biscuits and main courses like smoked turkey and dark meat confit, duck breast with pomegranate molasses or a vegetarian mushroom and leek pot pie.
907 E. 3rd St., downtown L.A.

Saddle Peak Lodge

Dinner at this restaurant in the Santa Monica Mountains could be the Thanksgiving escape you need. The four-course dinner includes a turkey plate with all the trimmings but it also features game meats such as bison tartare, a grilled pheasant Caesar salad and seared elk tenderloin.
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas

DESSERTS AND SNACKS

Gelateria Uli

As its name suggests, Gelateria Uli makes gelato pies. This year, you’ll find a maple pecan and sea salt caramel pie, a pumpkin spice and sea salt chocolate pie and, for those avoiding dairy, a caramel apple and chocolate sorbet pie. Pies can be picked up from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Wednesday, Nov. 25. Pre-order here.
8044 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood
541 S. Spring St., downtown L.A.

Porto’s Bakery

No need for a big dinner to get a taste of Thanksgiving. Porto’s just launched its turkey and gravy potato balls. They’re similar to their classic potato balls but filled with braised turkey breast and porcini mushroom gravy instead of picadillo. Place a takeout order at your nearest location or go online and order a frozen batch to bake at home.
Multiple locations

Winston Pies

Winston offers a full selection of pies year-round — cherry, blueberry, pecan, etc. — and we happen to think they’re some of the best in L.A. For Thanksgiving, you can go with a classic pumpkin or apple. Or break away from tradition and choose a key lime or chocolate cowgirl pie. Pre-order on Tock (while supplies last) and pick up your pies between Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
11678 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood
8366 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood

Cake Monkey

Cake Monkey’s various pies — from old school pumpkin topped with toasted marshmallow or apple pie with a double cheddar crust to the more adventurous choices such as blueberry lemon frangipane — will be available for Thanksgiving pre-order. You’ll also find gluten-free and vegan pies. Flying solo? Get a pumpkin pop tart instead. Pre-orders must be placed by Nov. 21 for pick-up or delivery on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and or the morning of Thursday, Nov. 26.
7807 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood
10844 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood

Fat and Flour

For Thanksgiving, award-winning baker Nicole Rucker’s Grand Central Market bakery will be offering a caramel kabocha pie and a ginger sweet potato pie topped with meringue. If you want something classic, you can get an apple pies. Order here ($3 service fee) for pick up on Friday, Nov. 25.
317 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.

Milo & Olive

Need a last-minute dessert. Head to Milo & Olive’s Thanksgiving Bake Sale on Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 9 a.m. until they sell out. You’ll find brioche pull-apart rolls, spiced butternut squash meringue pie, vegan pear-cranberry jam bars, gluten-free apple cider salted caramel layer cake and much more. There’ll be many vegan and gluten-free options.

McConnell’s Ice Cream

For a cool twist on pumpkin pie, McConnell’s makes a pumpkin ice cream pie. It involves a brown butter crust filled with McConnell’s pumpkin pie ice cream then topped with pecan pralines and salted caramel sauce. The ice cream pies are $45 each. Pre-order here for pick up on Tuesday, Nov. 24 or Wednesday, Nov. 25 at any McConnell’s location.
317 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
12073 Ventura Pl., Studio City
15209 Palisades Village Ln., Pacific Palisades

Randy’s Donuts

Easily add a pop of color to your dessert table with Randy’s Thanksgiving donuts. These are either their famous glazed or chocolate raised donuts topped with chocolate icing and Reese’s Pieces in autumn colors. The donuts are $2.80 each and will be available at all Randy’s Donuts locations from Nov. 23 to Nov. 29.

Destroyer

Jordan Kahn’s casual spot in Culver City has DIY kits if you want to make your own pumpkin pie at home. For those who don’t, there are offerings such as pumpkin taiyaki, pumpkin trifle with almond milk tres leches cake and purple sweet potato and black currant cake. The Thanksgiving specials will be available for pick up from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25.