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9 Meals For You, And Only You, Because You’re Alone On Valentine’s Day

Who cares? This holiday’s made up, anyway.
9 Meals For You, And Only You, Because You’re Alone On Valentine’s Day image

photo credit: Jakob Layman

So, you’re alone on Valentine’s Day. Who cares? Maybe you just got dumped by a long-term partner (don’t worry, we hate them), or have been riding solo for a while. Or maybe, you just started kind of seeing someone and were really hoping they were going to ask you out, but now it’s seeming like that’s not going to happen and you’ll be spending the rest of the night stalking their social media accounts just to make sure they’re not spending it with someone else. But we’re just spitballing here <3.

Where were we again? Oh, yes, Valentine’s Day meals. Whether you’re looking for something quiet and understated or a meal so distracting you don’t have to think about how you’re all alone tonight, here are 9 Valentine’s Day Meals For Yourself, And Only Yourself.

The Spots

American

Culver City

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Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

The classic Culver City steakhouse has moved their Old Hollywood aesthetic outside - and onto a new patio in their parking lot. The menu is filled with all sorts of old-school American/Italian dishes like spaghetti and clams, sand dabs covered in cream, lemon, and capers, and an understated chicken parmesan with the red sauce on the side that’ll transport you into a world of glamour, elegance, and more likely than not, a nap at some point in time. Old-school drip, red sauce, and chicken parm? If there was a bingo card for a perfect Valentine’s Day night, Dear John’s would check every box.


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

From tender oxtails to pork chops smothered in gravy, this Inglewood institution has all the food you need for a long night of playing back every romantic interaction you’ve ever had. They have locations in both Crenshaw and on Manchester Blvd., and serve Southern favorites like fried fish, short ribs, and sweet potato pie. Our go-to is the macaroni and cheese - they bake it in a sheet pan, so there are plenty of crispy cheese edges that we can’t get enough of.


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

This Southern-leaning restaurant in Culver City has everything you need to console your love-related woes - an excellent cocktail menu, a huge patio (converted from their old parking lot), and a plate of country ham you’ll be thankful to not have to share with anyone. Chopped steak tartare comes with fried pacific oysters, horseradish, and a parsley garnish. Sour milk cornbread is slathered with cultured butter and honey. And did we mention that excellent cocktail menu? The “Hot For Todd” is a festive concoction that’s made with bourbon, apple spice, lemon, honey, and hot water, and the “Juárez” is filled with mezcal, bianco vermouth, and pamplemousse. You should know that the service has changed up a bit here - patio dining is now walk-in only.


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

We don’t know the exact science behind it, but there’s something about sitting alone on a patio in Los Feliz, nursing a cappuccino at 5pm, and digging into a creamy risotto that’s somehow more romantic than every rom-com we’ve ever watched. Well, minus The Lake House, which our mom made us watch over winter break. That one’s good. Back to Loupiotte Kitchen. This sidewalk cafe has all sorts of romantic, dinner-for-one meals, like perfectly-cooked salmon with crispy skin and a lemon beurre blanc, seasonal risottos, and crispy zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta.


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

If being at home reminds you too much of your ex (or even worse, they still live there), head to Melody Wine Bar. This neighborhood wine bar is in a converted bungalow in Virgil Village, and has everything you like about your apartment (huge windows, cozy atmosphere) and nothing you don’t (Steve, Steve, and that asshole, Steve). In addition to their excellent selection of natural wines, the menu rotates between four pop-ups, including one serving Mexican/Jewish dishes, food from Aegean sea, Mediterranean dishes by Xenia, and focaccia-style pizza hybrids baked by De La Nonna. Plus, the patio they have out back is so romantic, you might just fall in love with yourself.


Open for takeout and delivery.

Ethiopian food might be the perfect meal for a solo Valentine’s date - there’s no cutlery to clean, the food is rich and full of flavor, and if the injera’s any good, it’ll be porous enough to soak up any tears related to your recent breakup. The classic spot in Little Ethiopia is offering their full menu for both takeout and delivery, and while you can get any dish a la carte, we recommend the “Super Messob Exclusive.” It’s a massive plate filled with nine dishes from all sections of the menu, ranging from collards to spicy lamb stew. And at $33, it’s an incredible value. Just like you. Call us?


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

This rowdy Japanese restaurant feels like a party from the moment you sit down - pop music blasts over the speakers, beer and sake are being chugged left and right, and burger patties sizzle on individual stone grills. The name of the game here is DIY smash burgers - hot plates are delivered to your table with patties the size of softballs and covered in grilled onions. If you’re not in a red meat sort of mood this Valentine’s Day, their menu is also filled with tons of other Japanese comfort staples like chicken katsu, okonomiyaki, and seared tuna. Perfect for a night with a friend, or just yourself plus three (or more) Sapporos.


Open for takeout, delivery, and limited patio seating.

We don’t have the blueprints to prove this, but we’re pretty sure Ballast Point has the biggest patio in LA County. They’ve got three huge spaces, which have more than enough room to spread out, and they’ve also rearranged tables to ensure proper social-distancing guidelines. The menu is filled with all sorts of brewery-appropriate foods, like burgers, fish tacos, and flatbreads, but you’re really here to sit and look at the ocean for the first time since the beaches closed. Stare off into the distance, feel the chill of the sea brush your cheek, and enjoy this moment, free of any obligations or pressures from a significant other. Feels good, huh?


Open for takeout and limited curbside seating.

Who cares about this fake holiday, get a Slurpee™! Life is short, and there’s no one there to judge you. Plus, the curb outside is a great place to meet people, or quickly check if your crush is hanging out with someone else. Happy Valentine’s Day, cutie.


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Suggested Reading

Dear Infatuation: A Valentine’s Day Restaurant Advice Column image

Dear Infatuation: A Valentine’s Day Restaurant Advice Column

Restaurant recommendations that might be hotter than your love life.

The LA Break-Up Guide: Where To Go When It All Falls Apart image

13 places to cope when the inevitable strikes.

“Where Can I Find Great Food, A Decent View, And LOTS Of Heaters?” image

If you’re searching for a patio that’s as hot as your budding romance, we’ve got just the thing.

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