Josie Le Balch

Chef
Josie Le Balch

Los Angeles

About Josie Le Balch

Josie Le Balch grew up in Southern California but her upbringing was very French, especially during mealtime. Her father, Gregoire Le Balch, was a celebrated chef from Brittany and started one of LA’s first cooking schools in the early ‘60s. He also had an eponymous restaurant, Chef Gregoire on Ventura in Sherman Oaks, which operated as a cozy french restaurant and part-time school. As legend has it, one day a line cook didn’t show up and she, then 14, filled in.

Accolades

  • Restaurant of the Year (Josie Restaurant)
    Angeleno Magazine
  • Circle of Fame Four-Star Winners
    California Restaurant Associations
  • Guest Chef
    James Beard Foundation
  • Guest Judge
    Hell's Kitchen

Where I Go Out

Anything/everything
Anything/everything
A.O.C.
$$$, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, Wine Bar, Italian, Happy Hour, Tapas, Beverly Grove
"AOC – Any day of the week, anything on the menu!!! There’s just so much variety and I love the wine flights. There’s always some unique pick that Carolyn Styne has discovered so it’s always a treat to see what’s new."
Josie Le Balch
Chef
Josie Le Balch
Chef's Favorite burger
Chef's Favorite burger
Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
$$, Burgers, Pub, American, Gastropub, Sawtelle Japantown
"The baked crab dip gets things started for me, and then, of course, it's all about the burgers. My favorite is the Chef's Favorite burger with cheese two ways, bacon two ways, ketchup leather, a sunny fried egg, and last but not least, hot sauce. I need to lie down after I eat one of these!"
Josie Le Balch
Chef
Josie Le Balch
Mezze
Mezze
Momed
$$, Vegetarian / Vegan, Mediterranean,
"Momed in Beverly Hills is amazing. I just love both their mezze cold and mezze warm. Their zucchini and feta fritters are to die for, and their lentil salad is another one of my favorite go-to dishes. They have a terrific variety of Turkish flatbread "pizzas" as well. Oh, and I can't forget to mention their duck shawarma—incredible!"
Josie Le Balch
Chef
Josie Le Balch
Aji de gallina
Aji de gallina
Qusqo Bistro & Gallery
$$, South American, Sawtelle
"Qusqo is a little Peruvian place on Santa Monica Blvd., in West L.A. that serves truly authentic Peruvian fare. They make an amazing "aji de gallina," or creamy walnut chicken, along with tasty saltado. The owner, Lucy Haro, uses her grandmother's traditional recipe to make chicha (a corn-based drink) and sometimes I'll take a quart to-go. They also have new art installations every quarter that feature work from local artists."
Josie Le Balch
Chef
Josie Le Balch
Fried shrimp seafood basket
Fried shrimp seafood basket
Neptune's Net
$$, Seafood, Bar,
"I grew up in Los Angeles, so I know this one well. I love to drive up the coast when I have some time, and I always stop here for the fried shrimp basket. I also order the fried scallops to go with it—it's just great. And of course, I have to also have some steamed mussels or clams. Okay, and maybe a nice cold Firestone IPA, too. And it's a great spot for people-watching!"
Josie Le Balch
Chef
Josie Le Balch
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