Oysters

Gumbo Pot

Hankering for a taste of New Orleans? This popular Farmers Market counter serves up a fine fried oyster po’ boy. The cooks start with cornmeal and buttermilk-battered oysters, which they slide into a soft French roll, then add lettuce, tomato, garlic mayo and paper-thin slices of lemon. We order ours with a side of “sweet,” a salad of grated sweet potato.

* Fried oyster po’ boy, $6.50; 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., (323) 933-0358.

R23

Diners at this modern Japanese restaurant can choose from several oyster offerings. Sweet, fresh Kumamotos are served four to an order on the half shell with a wasabi cocktail sauce. At dinner, the chefs prepare “uni oyster,” a large oyster topped with uni, then baked. And at lunch, there’s an excellent fried oyster meal that includes miso soup, a green salad, creamy potato salad and rice.

* Kumamoto oysters, $10; uni oyster, $9; oyster lunch special, $11; 923 E. 2nd St., downtown L.A.; (213) 687-7178.

BOA Steakhouse

The star at this beach-adjacent newcomer is steak. But why not start with an order of hot, decadent oysters Rockefeller? Chef Eric Ernest tops medium-sized oysters with garlicky, bacon-laced spinach and a healthy dose of bearnaise sauce.

* Oysters Rockefeller, $14; 101 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; (310) 899-4466.

Beacon

The kaki fry chef Kazuto Matsusaka does at this stylish pan-Asian spot is worth a special trip: sweet, creamy oysters, fried to golden in panko jackets and tucked into cool butter lettuce leaves. The final touch is a smidgen of house-made tartar sauce and a dab of tonkatsu sauce, a sweet, tangy accent akin to Worcestershire. The only downside? Three to an order ensures heated battles between otherwise loving couples.

* Kaki fry, $5.75.; 3280 Helms Ave., Culver City; (310) 838-7500.

Koi

Prefer yours raw? This still wildly popular Japanese lounge and restaurant offers a trio of oyster shooters. Each glass contains a single Hama Hama oyster. One is served with ponzu sauce, one with ikura (salmon eggs) and the last with osetra caviar.

* Oyster shooter trio, $12; 730 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 659-9449.

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--Leslee Komaiko