Founded in 2010, Hot’s Kitchen offers classic food with a twist. Its sophistication meshes with the surrounding beach elements, and being located only a block away from the ocean in downtown Hermosa perfectly captures this idea. This dimly lit restaurant is brightened with hundreds of paintings pushed together, all made up of anything at the beach—from sunsets to surfing to sailing. Its modern touch attracts a younger age group, but the kid-friendly menu brings in families in as well.
Hot’s is most commonly known for their classic, yet exotic menu, which includes over fifty tacos, ranging from a traditional beef taco to a daring “Duck Confit” taco—not to mention that they are all only $3.50 to $4.50. Of course I was compelled to try both types: traditional and adventurous. Their “Original Beef” was nothing short of original, and took a twist from what you would expect. It contained whole chunks of meat, instead of being ground up, had perfect flavor combinations and was topped off with an avocado to cleanse the palette. I had to try the “Steak & Potato” taco too. Imagine your classic plate of steak with a side of potatoes and bacon, but in a taco—now there’s a twist! The creaminess of the potato held together the medium-rare steak and bacon for a perfect mesh of flavor, and the dollop of sour cream on top was like the icing on the cake.
But the tacos are only part of the menu; the other half consists of tasty sliders and a mix of convivial dishes from messy “Chili Lime Fries” to delicate “Pan Seared Scallops.” The scallops caught my eye immediately, so that was first to come. Although I did notice the expense of $13 to be a little high, I was expecting more than two wimpy sea delights. But once I took that first bite, the price was easily overlooked. The outside was perfectly seared for that desired amount of texture and enclosed inside it was a tender piece of fish that melted in my mouth. The creamy sauce around it complemented and added to the already delicious flavor, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it filling, making it more than worth the cost.
Apart from their creative menu, an always warm and welcoming staff made the overall experience that much better. Our waitress constantly cleared the table and refilled drinks as needed. When leaving Hot’s Kitchen, several different waiters and hostesses spoke to us and waved us toward another visit. I know I’ll definitely be going back for more exotic flavors.
If you want to have your taste buds ignited and your senses delighted, you can find Hot’s Kitchen at 844 Hermosa Avenue in Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. You can also contact them at (310)318-2939 or find out more info on their website.
