Ben Ford

Chef
Ben Ford

Los Angeles

About Ben Ford

Chef Ben Ford officially earned his cooking stripes at some of the country’s most established restaurants and alongside several of America’s most treasured culinary icons. His acclaimed restaurant concept, Ford’s Filling Station, is based on the fundamentals of teaching, cooking and foraging, and was awarded the prestigious Cochon555 prize. Despite all the accolades and achievements, it’s the large-scale home entertaining he grew up with that’s fueling his current passion.

My Venues

Accolades

  • Contestant
    Iron Chef America
  • Top 10 Hot Spots
    Angeleno magazine
  • Best of LA: Best Polenta
    Los Angeles magazine
  • 99 Essential LA Restaurants
    LA Weekly

Where I Go Out

Steak burger
Steak burger
The Apple Pan
$$, Burgers, American, West Los Angeles
"I grew up here, and every Sunday, my family and I would go to The Apple Pan. The same guy who served me when I was 10 years old is still there, and 35 years later, he's wearing the same baseball belt to hold up his apron. He doesn’t know it, but he’s probably been the most consistent elderly figure in my life. My rules: steak burger over hickory burger, don’t dare order the tuna salad, and remember to leave room for a slice of their great banana cream pie."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
Samosa w/ green chutney
Samosa w/ green chutney
Samosa House
$$, Indian, Vegetarian / Vegan, Mc Laughlin
"I wish I had the time to make a proper samosa. Luckily, there are a plethora of Indian markets around Culver City. Samosa House has become a staple in our house. These ones are wrapped in a paper-thin wrap and fried to perfection. The green chutney is the cherry on top."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
Octopus carpaccio
Octopus carpaccio
K-ZO Restaurant
$$$, Japanese, Sushi, Sake Bar, Downtown
"I am a sucker for octopus of every kind from every country and done in every type of preparation, so I know my octopus. This is one of the best I have found anywhere. Fried little tentacles are encircled by fanned out, raw octopus and cucumbers topped with a yuzu-jalapeño dressing. It's perfection."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
Probaditas taco sampler
Probaditas taco sampler
Lotería Grill
$$, Mexican, Tacos, Hollywood
"Loteria has been a staple at the farmers market for years. I stumbled upon it after a hard day off because it’s next to a great outdoor beer bar. I can't remember how I first met the owner Jimmy Shaw, but he introduced me to his perfect plate of 10 to 12 miniature samples of each taco. It's the best."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
Seared toro
Seared toro
Kiriko Sushi
$$, Japanese, Sushi, Sawtelle Japantown
"There is a slight smokiness to the tuna belly that is acquired from being seared on a wood board. Each piece is finished with some sort of roasted green chili pepper. I have been going there for 12 years, and I still can’t figure out how he does it. It's out of this world."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
Beef dip
Beef dip
Philippe The Original
$, Outdoor Seating, Sandwiches, Breakfast, Restaurant, Chinatown
"It probably has a lot to do with the vibe, but I love everything about this place, especially the beef dip and the mustard. It hits you right in the nose. It’s hard to find a mustard with that much punch nowadays."
Ben Ford
Chef
Ben Ford
Ford's Filling Station
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At My Venues

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