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Craving kosher?

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A few of Southern California’s myriad kosher restaurants.

Orange Delite & Grill

Five years ago, in response to his daughter Brooke’s lamentations that there was nothing like McDonald’s for the kosher crowd, Shlomo Laniado opened a restaurant at the site of a former Orange Julius (thus the name). This year, it moved into larger digs a few doors away and expanded the menu. But you can still get a hamburger and chili fries.

* Hamburger, $4.95. 13628 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 788-9896.

Magic Carpet

Don’t miss the melawach at this family-friendly Yemenite eatery. It’s a pizza-like round of layered dough that is pan-fried, so the exterior gets crisp and golden. It’s available in nearly a dozen variations, such as topped with sauteed mushrooms. But the plain version is delicious. Familiar Middle Eastern specialties such as kebab and couscous are also well-made.

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* Melawach, $10.95 to $18.95. 8566 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., (310) 652-8507.

O4U

This sleek, colorful year-old Mediterranean cafe with the tricky name (and no, the “O” doesn’t stand for anything) does an excellent hummus. You can also get a falafel sandwich or plate. The latter comes with French fries or rice and a choice of two salads, maybe carrots tossed with olive oil, garlic and fresh lemon juice or creamy Israeli-style potato salad.

* Falafel sandwich, $6.99. 214 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 550-8655.

Sassi

This attractive restaurant is tucked behind a Corner Bakery Cafe. We like sharing the large salad plate. It includes hummus, tahini, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, a tomato and pepper salad called matbucha as well as red cabbage in mayonnaise. Add some warm pita and you’ve got the makings of a satisfying and relatively healthy lunch.

* Large salad plate, $13.95. 15622 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 986-5345.

Fish Grill

One of two new little sibs to the Beverly Boulevard original, this Beverly Hills-adjacent location operates the same way. You order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. Fish, either cooked on a mesquite grill or deep-fried, is the star. Most entrees come with a choice of two sides, such as cole slaw or a baked potato.

* Grilled fish, $7.95 to $11.95. 9618 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., (310) 860-1182.

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