THE 2026 LA TIMES BEST 101 RESTAURANTS RECAP

We were done with this. We didn't want to do it again. But you begged. You pleaded. And we enjoy servicing you. So, here it is. And please remember, it's not personal, it's strictly business.

After dining at three Michelin star Osteria Francescana in 2018, and having less than a stellar night, Max went on a food criticism journey bringing him all the way to present day, where hewrote about that night eight years ago on Substack, shared it to Instagram, and then everyone entered the chat, including Massimo Bottura himself. Jordan and Max sit down with Max’s dining companion that night, Pistol Pete to talk their strangeevening in Modena and the reaction from the Instagram crowd.

The bites, booze, hits, losers, regrets, and social nightmares all for an incredible cause at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade.

Plus, what have the fellas done for each other, LA burger crawl options, more Jordanator shame, one steak for the rest of your life, Fall is here and there's nothing we can do about it but eat, The Husk, Mad Food corespondents, LA Times Food Bowl, Lakers vs. Warriors, and Souplantation is back, but will it be worth the schlep, and Max's thoughts on Jordan's Soupy P's move?

Plus, tipping habits, perceived value restaurants, Sora Craft Kitchen is on the move, food cities to visit, cookware and tools curation, an investigation into an Infatuation personality, bringing seasonings to meals, the coffee test, owning a dry-ager, and random ass neighborhoods.

After much talk, it was time for Judgement Day as Max critiques Jordan's cheesy shrimp taco collab with Santa Monica Seafood. The fellas talk all the sesame seed sprinkling, big name chef interactions, a horrendous mistake, and the continued haunting Jordudo history. Then, they preview an a-list chef lineup they're going to attack together at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade, the greatest food event of the year, benefiting the most deserving charity. Lastly, the boys recently sampled Matū Kai's newest dish, an elk chop that deserves all the attention. Join Jordan & Max at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade October 17th!

Jordan and Max talk the most expensive loaf of bread in New York (and possibly the world), if it could be worth it, why it's working, and where it may all lead. Then, Max outlines what a test would look like to qualify as a food influencer in a perfect world, which Jordan attempts to take, and you may be surprised with the results.

Jordan asks Max for a reality check and wonders if he's entitled after a recent experience at a pizzeria featuring not enough ranch dressing, an ornery owner, and Diet Coke corkage that may explain it all. Then, the boys talk their recent meal at San Damian, the highly acclaimed Abbot Kinney Mexican seafood restaurant that demands all the salsas, better lighting, and less pineapple.

Jordan and Max answer audience questions covering MaisonSota in Paris, looking five years into LA's dining future, what cuisine Max would love to learn, sous vide chicken directions, Uncle Pints vs. Lasker, why can't Brentwood have nice things, New Jersey seafood, a Venice schlep decision, the creepy daughter question, LA Times 101 is coming, and a Max fit check.

Jordan and Max answer audiences questions covering SoFi Stadium suite life, Jordan's son's dessert beating all Yom Kippur contenders, grocery store sushi, Mexico City plans, Max's weird storage issue, LA sesame dishes and the "Jordanador," Highland Park chewing, smuggling horse and birds, Tokyo love & hate, the LA Times got Lielle right but butter wrong, and most people thought the Zoom episode actually sounded great, leading Jordo down a dark path.