I grew up living in historic Massachusetts, where a lobster roll is just as much a summertime staple as a day at the beach. In my prime, I ate a lot of them. My parents remember not-so-fondly when I would turn down the kids menu in lieu of the expensive stuff. I wasn’t paying, right?
I thought Los Angeles had it all when I moved here from Massachusetts at the age of 22. What I didn’t know at the time is that all the city’s best lobster comes from back east. Because of the miracle of modern aviation, it’s possible to get Los Angeles lobster rolls that are just as good as Maine’s. Now that I’ve lived in Los Angeles for a decade, and after making it a mission to find the best in the west, I’ve found the top New England-quality lobster rolls money can buy — they’re just more of a delicacy now that my parents stopped footing the bill. I’m not paying for anything other than top notch, and neither should you. When you’re in Los Angeles and want a little taste of New England, here’s where to go for the best lobster rolls.
Saltie Girl
Originally a Boston-based restaurant, Saltie Girl is the first place that comes to mind when I think of New England-quality lobster rolls in Los Angeles. Like myself, Saltie Girl headed west from Massachusetts, opening its second location in West Hollywood in December 2022. Since then, its been serving some of the absolute best lobster rolls in Los Angeles on top of one of the best brioche buns I’ve ever had. The claw meat is always my favorite part, and Saltie Girl never skimps on that tender delicacy. It’s hard to say whether the hot or cold lobster roll here is better, both stuffed to the metaphorical gills with fresh, plump lobster. While I love the cold version, I think about that hot, buttered brioche bun quite often.
During my most recent visit to Saltie Girl, I tried an inventive twist on a lobster roll — a creation born through the partnership of Saltie Girl and Fly By Jing. The chili crisp brand’s signature sweet-and-spicy oil topped a heaping portion of fried lobster, charred scallion ranch, and a pinch of caviar. Like all of the restaurant’s lobster rolls, it was served with homemade salt and vinegar potato chips. The novel sandwich was delicious, but nothing beats the original. If I’m eating one Los Angeles lobster roll for the rest of my life, it’s Saltie Girl’s…