Has Los Angeles finally found its own “authentically L.A.” dish in a fish dish created by a Rockstar Surfer Bro? Killer!

We could debate endlessly whether Los Angeles trails behind New York City or any other major U.S. city in terms of food and culinary trends. Valentino (of Trippy Food) and I discuss this frequently. He’s lived on the East Coast, in Texas, and has spent the last 11 years or so here in L.A. I’m quite nomadic myself, having lived in Rhode Island, Boston, and New York. Considering these experiences and our understanding of U.S. food culture, I think it’s safe to say that Los Angeles may not have a signature dish that people travel specifically to experience in its most authentic form.

Travelers go to Chicago for deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, and chili; to Philadelphia for cheesesteaks; to Memphis for dry-rubbed barbecue; to Kansas City for its famous sauce; and to Portland, Maine, for arguably some of the best seafood in the Northeast. What does the rest of the U.S. come to Los Angeles for? Street tacos? Danger dogs? Elote? Asian cuisine? In-N-Out? We’re a cultural melting pot with one of the most diverse populations in the country, resulting in cuisine drawn from every corner of the globe. But this leaves us without a dish that is distinctly Los Angeles, representing our city in its own right.

However, there’s one unique and well-seasoned broth that began as a family recipe and has evolved into something truly special, something I believe can attract people from far and wide. In the 1970s, Lee Michaels served a shrimp dish in a flavorful broth to his friends and family. This led him to open a small restaurant with a single menu item: Killer Shrimp.

BOFF BAM POW The spicy broth-soaked French bread delivers a powerful kick, like Batman and Robin fighting off Egghead’s henchmen in the 1960s TV show. Surprised, I continue dipping and eating. I add a shrimp to my bite, and the flavor is amazing. This generous dish is available with shelled or unshelled shrimp and comes with enough French bread to share.

From its humble start on Washington Boulevard in Marina Del Rey, Killer Shrimp has expanded its menu, relocated, and opened two additional locations in Santa Barbara and Hermosa Beach. Los Angeles has plenty of great food, but it lacks originality. Killer Shrimp is an exception—a standout dish, a restaurant you can only find here. Uniquely L.A.!