Avocado toast is a food trend born for Instagram that has theoretically exceeded its 15 minutes of fame. An ongoing media debate argues its historical origin, which has been said to range from Mexico to California to New York to modern day Australia—and other places in between. What we do know is that avocado toast sees no signs of letting up, and in fact, is evolving by integrating global flavors and spectacular preparation designed for social media.
Bluestone Lane
This casual Australian-inspired chain of coffee shops and cafes has proliferated across the nation since opening in New York in 2013. Locations across LA include Hancock Park, Studio City, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica with Venice and the Beverly Grove Flower Shop (an ode to the former tenant) serving as the largest locations. The classic avocado smash is mixed with lemon, salt, pepper and chili flakes and topped with feta and heirloom tomatoes on multi-grain toast. A slew of add-on ingredients include smoked salmon, eggs, chicken, prosciutto, bacon, and chorizo for a build-your-own experience.
Bondi Harvest
This "Down Under" certified restaurant by Aussie chef Guy Turland and designer Mark Alston is named after the famed beach. The Santa Monica café may be a few miles from the beach, but the vibe is total surf style. Here the avo toast is listed under “tartines” with two variations—the basic version is smashed and topped with micro herbs, and sprinkled with smoked paprika, sea salt, and a drizzle of olive oil. The game-changer is the sweet halloumi with smashed avocado, lemon, pistachio dukkah and grilled halloumi drizzled with raw wildflower honey. And just opened—a second location at The Platform in Culver City, offering a sophisticated vibe, full-service, and a dinner menu.
Cos&Pi
This tiny family owned neighborhood breakfast/lunch café in South Pasadena is literally a hidden gem. The breakfast menu includes three toasts featuring avocado, all topped with edible herbs and flowers. The official avocado toast is served on brioche and topped with layers of smashed avocado, ricotta, and cherry tomatoes. Meyer lemon and basil give it a bite. Smoked salmon and smashed avocado mingle on rye toast and goat cheese for an alternative, while the vegan toast includes avocado with black bean hummus and pickled tomatoes on sprouted wheat bread. If you can’t make it for breakfast, go for the house-made fries topped with a mound of crushed avocado at lunch.
Dominique Ansel Bakery
Leave it to the Cronut impresario to create a whimsical take on avocado toast as a sweet-savory Avocado Toast Ice Cream Sandwich he created exclusively for his first West Coast location at The Grove. Ricotta mascarpone ice cream is spread atop a shortbread cookie followed by avocado-olive oil ice cream that is” sliced” and fanned out into a perfect rosette. It’s completed with dragon fruit, a sprinkling of sea salt, and a splash of olive oil for the final touch. Instagram tip: shoot fast before it melts.
Five Leaves
This stylish East Hollywood all-day restaurant is the sister location of the Brooklyn original which is said to have started the U.S. Australian café trend in 2008. Fittingly they serve up a sturdy avocado toast for breakfast and lunch daily. Chunky avocado is spread over grilled sesame bread and punctuated with preserved Meyer lemon and Aleppo chili, along with sliced radish and julienned snow peas. Avocado lovers will also enjoy green tea noodles with sesame-crusted avocado and mushrooms.
Great White
This daytime eatery only a block from Venice Beach serves up its avocado toast with a mildly spicy edge with South of the Border flavors— Fresno chile, cilantro, radish, and cotija cheese. Liven it up with a poached egg or smoked salmon. Australian owners Sam Trude and Sam Cooper, along with chef Alex Thomopoulos, opened this bright spot a couple years ago. Pair your avo with house made fresh smoothies, and Aussie fave soda brews from Bundaberg. Grab Vittoria Ground Espresso and Marogogype coffee by the bag on the run.
Little Ruby
Little Ruby, the West Coast’s first sibling to Manhattan’s Ruby’s Café, is located within viewing distance of the Pacific. The avocado toast is as cheery as its vibe. Lemony avocado is layered on top of thick bread and creatively piled with paper-thin radish slices and vibrant cherry tomatoes, and sprinkled with a concoction of chives and chili flakes. The drink menu is sure to entice with sparkling concoctions, such as the Himalayan with hazelnuts, dates, toffee, coconut cream, and cinnamon.
Paramount Coffee Project
Toast is tartine at this Australian import from partners Russell Beard, Mark Dundon and Jin Ng with locations on Fairfax and at The Row DTLA. Asian flavors highlight this version - sliced avocado is topped with micro greens, fried scallops, shredded radish, and sprinkled with furikake and pickle juice to bring out the flavor. Amp it up with an egg. PCP was first known as a touted coffee purveyor—order a traditional flat white, vanilla bean latte, or an espresso spritzer to wash it all down.
Sqirl
This tiny daytime café in Virgil Village is a destination for LA dwellers and travelers alike with a line almost always guaranteed. The avocado toast here is among the very first, and might be the most complicated version ever. The recipe from chef/owner Jessica Koslow’s cookbook, Everything I Want to Eat: Sqirl and the New California Cooking, features 22 ingredients, including a freshly made garlic cream sauce slathered on top of thick toast that is topped with sliced avocados and artfully placed pickled carrots (a 24-hour preparation), wood sorrel, and sprinkled with house-made za'atar. Even cynics agree that this avocado toast is worth the hype.