Grammy Award winner Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson has just launched his latest endeavor, a burger joint unlike your typical fast food spot. Mixtape, situated within the Westlake Village food hall Neighborly, began serving customers on Monday with a notably distinct menu: beefless burgers, gluten-free, and without seed oils.
The vision behind Mixtape is a throwback to Questlove's nostalgic visits to corner restaurants and late-night diners. Eater Los Angeles reports, "With Mixtape, we’ve taken familiar favorites and reimagined them with clean, mindful ingredients that don’t cut corners." He said, "It’s about delivering the same comfort and flavor you crave, just made better."
Focusing on reworked classics, Mixtape's Instagram announcement promises "No gluten. No seed oils. No compromise." The menu features options like the Only the Classics Chicken Sandwich, the OGB Royale burger, and the vegetarian-friendly Eat Your Greens burger. Side dishes include gluten-free chicken tenders and waffle fries coupled with a black-eyed pea slaw.
The joint boasts dairy-free Saturdaes, such as the Strawberry Graham Jam and Loaded Dark Chocolate Brownie, which are stacked with an array of gluten-free toppings. On his Instagram page, Questlove shared, "It’s comfort food, just done with more care." And, emphasizing the attention to detail, "No seed oils, dairy-free soft serve, gluten free chicken and veggie burgers… real ingredients, real flavor."
Mixtape adds its unique flavor to Neighborly's diverse offerings, joining others such as the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills pizza, Glendale's Mini Kabob, and dishes from cookbook author Gaby Dalkin. Westlake Village's Neighborly is shaping up as a notable dining destination with Mixtape's entry, illustrating the growing trend of food halls that transcend the mold of old-school mall food courts, positioning themselves on LA's culinary map.
