Shrinking has captivated audiences through its humorous yet heartfelt approach to mental health and therapy. Starring alongside veteran actors Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, Luke Tennie brings a nuanced and vulnerable approach to his character Sean.
In Shrinking, Sean opens a food truck business, matching Luke Tennie’s own passion for cooking. A dedicated home cook, he loves seeing his wife’s happy dance from great food. Off-screen, he even learned a sous vide reverse sear technique from co-star Jason Segel.
Tennie grew up in Florida but now calls Los Angeles home, where he also runs Dirty Coffee Pictures (known for short film Jade).
Below, see Luke Tennie’s favorite restaurants and other spots in his adopted hometown.
What are the three words you would use to define LA?
Frustrating, Loud, and Beautiful.
What’s the ideal family-friendly spot?
Larchmont Family Fair. It is super family-friendly and something for folks of all ages to enjoy. It has great food all around, but if you eat before you go…you can leave the wallet at home.
What’s the best place for a work outing?
Aroma Café on Tujunga. I go for work meetings, as well as hangouts. The coffee and tea are top-notch, but the real star? They have a bread pudding that’s the size of a softball.
What’s the best place to be seen?
Glendale Galleria. For some reason, every time my wife and I go, we bump into quite a few fans of Shrinking!
What’s the best place to hide?
Amp. If you’re a music person, you can bring an instrument, get a private room with some music homies, and cook up some vibes.
Where do you go for a perfect cocktail?
The Corner on San Fernando. One of the bartenders there, Bryce, seems to have the magic touch. There's good food, too.
What’s the best place for a classic, traditional LA / Californian meal?
Some delicious quesabirria tacos from my favorite food truck, Tacos y Birria La Unica. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.
What’s the place where you had great food and a great memory?
Loquita. My wife and I drove up to Santa Barbara just to hang out. We made a reservation there and ended up having the best paella of our lives. With our bellies full, we decided to skip the Uber and just walk. Great food, great night—all around perfect.
Which museum is your must-see in LA?
The Getty Villa - It’s beautiful, and it’s FREE. I visited when I first moved here, and it was a great introduction to the museums of LA.
Where’s your hidden gem in the city?
Joon Shabu Shabu in Glendale. It’s a hotpot restaurant that’s perfect for fall and winter. We love it there. If you’re new to hotpots, think Korean BBQ but with soup!
What’s the perfect spot for a date night?
Universal City Overlook is perfect if you like nice a view of the city. I brought my wife there, then the whole family, and have been there with friends. It's a great spot with no cost.
Address Book
Amp
6336 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Aroma Coffee & Tea
4360 Tujunga Ave #5, Studio City, CA 91604
Glendale Galleria
100 W Broadway Suite 100, Glendale, CA 91210
Joon Shabu Shabu
220 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205
Loquita (Bib Gourmand)
202 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Corner
6720 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91201
Tacos y Birria La Unica
2840 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Universal City Overlook
7701 Mulholland Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Hero image: Storm Santos / Luke Tennie
