Lazy Ox CanteenPig’s ear and bone marrow are hardly castoffs at more hip restaurants and gastropubs. The less commonly used animal parts known as offal are tempting adventurous diners at of-the-moment restaurants like Palate Food + Wine (933 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 818.662.9463), which offers the “Offal Good” menu with dishes including bone marrow, lamb sweetbreads and braised pork cheeks. Lazy Ox Canteen (241 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo, 213.626.5299) serves scrumptious crispy pig ear chicharrónes with lime as well as chicken livers, while nearby The Gorbals (501 S. Spring St., downtown, 213.488.3408) might serve sweetbreads, skirt steak with tripe fries, King oyster mushrooms with marrow or octopus with gizzards. Appropriately named Animal‘s (435 N. Fairfax Ave., West Hollywood, 323.782.9225) daily-changing menu might include pig’s ear as well as chicken liver toast and sweetbreads.

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