This Is TASTE 721: Reviewing 100 Los Angeles Burgers, Pizza, and Tacos with Luca Servodio
Jan 26, 2026
Luca Servodio, LA food writer who built the LA Countdown and reviews 100 restaurants a year, shares plans for more pizza, burgers, and food-media growth. Elliott Rosenberg, designer behind Waiting magazine, and Adele Blanton, its cofounder and writer, discuss starting a print title celebrating NYC service-industry artists. They cover LA dining trends, Noma’s pop-up, underrated chefs, and turning social projects into media.
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Use Long Form To Explore Complexity
- Use podcasts to explore topics that short-form video can't hold; prioritize depth over algorithm-friendly bites.
- Turn specialist knowledge into varied formats (audio, video, companion shows) to reach different audiences.
Burgers Have Peaked
- Luca believes burgers peaked and are declining as menu staples in new openings.
- The scene shifts toward different proteins and away from ubiquitous bar burgers and smash trends.
Luca’s Top Five LA Burgers
- Luca listed his top LA burgers including a LeBurg pop-up, The Benjamin, Petit Trois, Oy Bar, and a $7 charred cheeseburger at A1 in South LA.
- He praised heat, char, and value as differentiators across picks.