In a region full of celebrity chefs, Michelin-star restaurants and fancy menus, LA Try Guy aka Alex Cottrell opts to highlight the moms and pops of Los Angeles.
“There were no influencers going down to South L.A. and Compton and all these different places,” says Cottrell, who moved here a few years ago and is originally from Arkansas. “But I didn't even know where I was. I was just going to get some good food.”
If you’re an Angeleno and you’ve searched for local food options on Instagram, YouTube or TikTok, there’s a big chance his content has come up. (That’s how I came across his channel.)
Cottrell, a food enthusiast, has been documenting all sorts of L.A. food establishments since last year. Scroll through his feeds and you’ll find vegan food, tacos and oxtail, and also celebrities who’ve joined him on his food exploration — Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, rapper Jay Rock, actor Robert Ri’chard, and the list goes on.
He moved to L.A. in 2020 and was working in tech sales and restaurants when he decided to start a side hustle for extra cash. He began posting food reviews on YouTube, and later other social media platforms. Part of the charm of his channel is that he asks for recommendations and he sometimes highlights what people message him.
Cottrell says he began monetizing his content when he reached 5,000 followers. Since then, he’s grown to over 510,000 subscribers on YouTube and close to 175,000 on Instagram — that’s no small feat for an entrepreneur.
The hard work of filming, editing and posting paid off. He now devotes himself to his channel full time — no more corporate job.
On a recent weekday, we went to The Coffee Company in Westchester. I had to show Cottrell a bit of my L.A., since he’s the Try Guy.
This diner is 5-8 minutes away from LAX (without traffic) on La Tijera and is close to that famous In-N-Out. The family-style restaurant is a nice staple of this area, and is different from the nearby fast food chains.
My favorite things are at the to-go counter, not necessarily in the diner menu: a spicy sausage egg sandwich on a brioche bun, with a side of Cholula hot sauce, and a latte with hazelnut sweetener. It’s a perfect pairing to repair a late night out or just some yummy breakfast food.
The spicy chicken sausage won my special guest over.
“That chicken sausage is special,” Cottrell says. “That's a game changer, dawg.”
He also praised the melty scrambled egg with cheese that oozed over the bread.
Cottrell has become a bit of an L.A. food expert, too, so we had to go to one of his favorite spots not too far away in Inglewood, Hungry Joe’s. It’s a small Jamaican/Caribbean counter with outdoor tables, right off La Brea Boulevard, and tucked away in a shopping center.
Right away, Cottrell knew exactly what to order for us: the beef Jamaican patty and a plate of oxtail with sides.
I’m not an oxtail pro, but I’ve had it several times and this was by far the most tender and juiciest I’ve had — no shade to my friends who’ve invited me over for dinner. The portions are big and with plenty left over to keep for lunch the next day.
But you gotta try the Jamaican patty. That’s what stole the show for me as a pastry guy. The savory and sweet mix were top notch and perfect for a snack on the road … maybe even on the way to LAX?
