Two Hommés

The name Two Hommés is a play on words – part ‘two homies,’ part French for ‘two men’ – and it gets right to the heart of this Inglewood spot, founded by two lifelong friends who started out as a traveling pop-up. From the outside, the permanent location on La Brea Avenue is unassuming, looking more like a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall than a destination. Inside, the space is intimate and always lively, usually with music playing over the conversations. The room is compact, so expect to be fairly close to other diners. Seating is a mix of regular spots and a central community table, all with wood picnic benches that keep the atmosphere casual and social. The whole operation is built around what the chefs call an "Afro-centric" menu, a creative blend of West African tradition with Californian and Latin ingredients. You’ll see this fusion in dishes like the Jollof Platter, a plate of distinctly spicy rice served with crispy catfish or chicken, black beans, and sweet plantains. The same idea runs through the rest of the menu, from a Chilean sea bass over a lobster corn curry to root beer braised short ribs with whipped yams. Even the appetizers, like honey berbere chicken bites, and the inventive sweet potato churro for dessert, follow suit. Many dishes have a sweet-forward profile, but that jollof rice brings a serious, lingering heat. To drink, there are cocktails like the Sobolo Spritz or the Young Fashioned. The restaurant is small and frequently packed, so reservations are highly recommended, particularly for a weekend visit. For parking, the move is to use the large Ralphs supermarket lot located directly behind the building.