RESTAURANTS • First Word
A hot dog on a plate, covered in cheese fondue sauce, and eaten with a knife and fork. This is just one entry in Coucou’s tongue-in-cheek take on French food, so popular at its original Venice location that it opened a second in the heart of West Hollywood. Situated next to the Troubadour and Dan Tana’s (and arguably the best strip of gay bars in the world), the sophomore Coucou is an al fresco dining delight — just in time for the spring/summer season.
High-low is a prevalent menu theme. The aforementioned hot dog is actually a Peads & Barnetts pork sausage. Ritz crackers get topped with whipped farmers cheese, and the soft serve in their (TikTok-famous) sundae is made with milk from Straus Family Creamery. New to the West Hollywood outpost is a “Specialites Francaises” section that includes steak tartare, escargots, and bone marrow. A killer wine list and strong cocktails make Coucou an excellent stop-in for nothing more than drinks, too.
Fair warning, though: If you go that route, you’ll be tempted by the menu. Key advice: Give in. –Caitlin White
→ Coucou (West Hollywood) • 9045 Santa Monica Blvd • Mon-Fri 5-10p; Sat 11a-2p, 5-11p; Sun 11a-2p, 5-10p • Reserve.