MH ZH Conor Shemtov Mh Zh

Mh Zh

3536 Sunset Blvd. (Maltman Ave.)
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-636-7598
Map
Silver Lake’s hipster Israeli spot buzzes on Sunset Boulevard.
Openings: Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

Mh Zh, Los Angeles, CA


Mh Zh Restaurant Review:



About chef Conor Shemtov: Chef-owner Conor Shemtov, a native Angeleno with an Israeli dad, spent a lot of time in Israel soaking up its vibrant food culture. Now he seems to have almost effortlessly transplanted its energy to LA.

About the restaurant & décor: In Hebrew, Mh Zh basically translates to “What is this?” Maybe this is the zeitgeist. Sunset and Maltman is ground zero for hipster Silver Lake, and this little neighborhood sidewalk café, it seems, is gastronomic ground zero to this. It’s where raffishly chic locals mingle and meet (sometimes in the hour-long line on Saturday night --- there are no reservations). Stop by before 6 p.m. though and you’ll likely snap up a seat. Once perched on a small, artfully distressed metal chair at an outdoor table, enjoy the great people-watching along Sunset. There are also a few seats inside the industrial corner space, which is mostly open kitchen and includes a lively chef’s counter. Menus are handwritten on paper bags.

Likes: Energy of the kitchen, crowd and neighborhood; grilled and roasted vegetable dishes; affordable.
Dislikes: Longish weekend wait; no beer or wine.

Food & Drinks: The compact, savory menu will make you think twice (or thrice) about roasted cabbage, a simple but vibrant dish that arrives caramelized, punctuated with peppery fresh nasturtium flowers and thin shaved radish. It’s just one example of the chef’s deft hand and distinctive culinary voice. Consider grilled beets with pink foam, hazelnuts and fennel flowers on a cloud of creamy labneh; hummous with crisp pickled vegetables; rough, charred potato wedges with citrus and rosemary; and mayocoba ful, a hearty bean soup punctuated with preserved lemon, sumac and chili, best soaked up with the addictive rustic bread. Undeniably, the kitchen’s signature is “lamb ragooo,” a gamily rich selection with umami hints of tahini and sumac. To drink, there’s fresh mint tea, Mexican cola and San Pellegrino.