​When Matzos (Ball and Brei) Met

Take some time reading the menu - lots of choices!

At Canter’s Deli! The famed “L.A diner experience unparalleled” is about a 24-minute walk from my place so it ended up being this Sunday’s brunch spot discovery. Made it in just before the crowd started milling about noon. Don’t be fooled by the bakery and deli areas up front – there is so much more available on their menu through the day because yes, it’s a 24-hour diner! And while it looks pretty big inside with a counter area, dining area and bar area, they still get real busy real quick so expect some amount of waiting around before you are seated. Staff is awesome though (ask for Candice and Greg’s area to be seated - they were so nice!) and the general feel is that of a loved neighborhood joint – I guess that’s expected given the place has been around since 1931.

When you are in thick cut fries heaven

Decided to go all Canter’s specials and opted for the Matzo Brei – eggs and matzo cracker scramble served with apple sauce and sour cream – and the half soup/sandwich special opting for Matzo ball soup and beef pastrami. Comes with cold slaw but husband needed some fries and since they were the thick-cut variety –even better!

Matzo brei presented with sour cream on top and apple sauce below - is that a traditional thing?

Their menu highlights all the popular dishes in a darker shade so you know what to order if you are too confused, because, trust me, you will be. I typically default to bagel and lox or tuna sandwich at delis but decided to go the Canter’s way this time. The Matzo Brei was an interesting concept – finding crackers cooked in with your egg scramble isn’t common, and eating it with apple sauce or sour cream isn’t that common either, so this was a bit of an exploratory exercise. I liked it, but way too much egg for me and ended up boxing half of it home. Personally, I’d recommend some turkey bacon or chicken sausage on the side for some extra flavor.

This was just the half portion - could be an entire meal for me

The Matzo ball soup was great! For a slightly chilly day, it was the perfect breakfast welcome. The half bowl was gigantic though so I’m glad we did not go for the full. The beef pastrami was yummy as well but had to box that home too – way too big portions for moi. I've never eaten Matzo anything so this was really an introduction of sorts to Jewish food for me.

Beef pastrami close-up shows you all that juicy burnt perfection

Preferred beverages were coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice – yeah, I’m a fan of fresh made OJ. Rounded of the meal with their world famous chocolate chip rugulas – which you can bag a pair of by checking in on Yelp! And then get some more at the bakery on your way out...Will be back again Canter’s…there’s so much more I gots to try on that menu. Oh, and while you are in here, remember to look up at the ceiling above the main dining area - I don't know what the story is but I will find out on my next visit over!

Yes, OMG, chocolate chip rugulas are the bomb!