How did Alex Cottrell become the L.A. Try Guy sensation?

The melting pot of Los Angeles is particularly reflected in the city’s food. This diversity has provided an avenue for Alex Cottrell to make a name for himself online as the L.A. Try Guy. His L.A. Try Guy series — which can be found on Instagram (@latryguy) and on YouTube — follows Cottrell as he tries various eateries across South Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

“I grew up eating in Arkansas, eating soul food and fried fish, fried that, whatever,” Cottrell, a native of Little Rock, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I love, I love L.A., I love the city. You know, it’s been a wonderful, wonderful journey.” Cottrell says about his new home.

Back in 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, lockdowns forced Cottrell to shutter an ice cream shop that he ran back in Arkansas. Fortunately, he found a job in sales which allowed him to move to the West Coast, along with his cousin. “They [his new employer] gave me a piece of paper, and it had a whole bunch of cities on there. It said, you know, New York, Chicago, everywhere,” Cottrell said. “And I saw L.A., I was like, nah, I gotta do L.A., it’s gotta be, you know, because I’ve always been interested in entertainment and stuff like that.”

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Cottrell and his then-girlfriend spent time savoring the local food scene, which sparked an idea to start a show focused on reviewing restaurants in South Los Angeles and beyond. “She was like, man, you should do one of the videos like them TikTokers, because we [ate at] a lot of cool places … I probably did TikTok for a month. I got like 20,000 followers.” His newfound popularity led Cottrell to creating more content under the handle of L.A. Try Guy, which gained him even more followers.

Impact on Local Food Scene

With his new reach — he currently has nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram and 631,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel — Cottrell connects with his fans to discover the next restaurant to try. “I get a lot of DMs, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of DMs from people and restaurants and stuff, [wanting] me to come by. So sometimes I may skim through there. If something stands out, I’ll do it.”

“It’s all love everywhere I go, everybody’s happy to see me. You know, we out having fun. I’m not out here disrespecting nobody or doing nothing stupid for clicks,” he continues. “We legit just have fun, eat food, meet great people. And it’s turned into so much more than you know, what I thought it was going to be. It’s been absolutely insane.”

L.A. Try Guy has even led to collaborations with some brands such as Famous Dave’s BBQ restaurant and California Pizza Kitchen and filming with celebrities such as rapper Ty Dolla $ign, One on One actor Robert Ri’chard, Good Burger actor-comedian Kel Mitchell and former Lakers forward Matt Barnes. “I just did a video with Matt Barnes yesterday, you know. I mean, we sat down, we chopped it up. He’s got a spot [We Dat’s Chicken & Shrimp] down in Gardena.”

Going forward, Cottrell has a few dream celebrity bookings in mind. “I gotta get Denzel [Washington] on the show, for sure. I feel like I’ll learn so much just sitting down with him,” he says. “Cardi B, because she seems cool, you know? I mean, GloRilla? Glo, yeah, she seems cool.”

Challenges and Triumphs

Cottrell also says that his series has brought in business for restaurants he’s showcased. “I went to a place in Inglewood, StormBurger. I went there before, it was empty, empty. I just stopped by, you know, and I did the video. And the line [since] has been crazy.”

He does admit that not all of the reaction to L.A. Try Guy has been positive, though. “I say I get most of the negative feedback from the people [where] I go somewhere, you know, [and] I say it’s good. And, you know, I run into people on the street all the time. They like, ‘Man, I went there. That was trash. Man, that was terrible.’”

Cottrell’s platform has also allowed him to begin to travel to other cities such as New Orleans and develop a concept for his own TV show on which he aims to shine a spotlight on unknown cooks in the United States. “So many people out here, so many people who are always coming up to me, telling me, ‘My mama make the best this. My daddy make the best this. My auntie got the best. I want to pull up and see what y’all talking about, man, you know. So I’m looking for the best people, the best undiscovered cooks with extraordinary abilities. I mean, so I want to put regular people who’ve never had a restaurant,” says Cottrell, who’s also an actor and has appeared on series such as 2016’s DJ Dog Style and 2020’s The Daily.

When it comes to other food bloggers and online reviewers such as Detroit native-turned-L.A. resident Keith Lee, Cottrell is not only supportive of his fellow foodie but also wants to collaborate with him. “I think as far as Keith Lee goes, I think it would be dope to collab with him on something one day,” Cottrell says. “He’s more chill and does his thing. My thing is more like entertainment. I feel like I have a lot of energy. I have a lot of fun.”

Our Advice on the City

For those visiting Los Angeles, Cottrell recommends starting with some of his favorite spots. For a smashburger, For the Win in East Hollywood has always been his favorite. “It’s hot, cheesy, fatty and delicious,” he says. For Southern food, Annie’s Soul Delicious is a must-try, especially for their fried catfish and oxtail plate. For a unique taste of Middle Eastern cuisine, Mizlala is a go-to neighborhood spot.

When it comes to wings, Cottrell suggests Wingstop, but with a twist: “You gotta get all flats, extra well done, half Korean barbecue (sauce), and half whatever else you want.” For those with a hangover, Shin Chon Seoulnongtang in Koreatown offers a magnificent spicy beef soup.

For those new to the city, Cottrell’s must-try list includes the famous hotcakes at Du-Par’s, tacos from street stands near Frogtown, and the thick cut pastrami at Langer’s. Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles is another iconic spot that every visitor should experience.

Conclusion

For occasional travelers, exploring Los Angeles through its diverse food scene can be an enriching experience. Start your day with the famous hotcakes at Du-Par’s and end it with a delicious smashburger from For the Win. For expert travelers, diving deeper into the local food culture by visiting lesser-known spots like StormBurger in Inglewood or Shin Chon Seoulnongtang in Koreatown can offer a more authentic taste of the city.

Los Angeles is a city that thrives on its diversity, and its food scene is a testament to that. By following the journey of L.A. Try Guy, one can discover not just the flavors of the city but also the stories and people behind them. Whether you are a local or a visitor, there is always something new and exciting to try in this ever-evolving culinary landscape.