The “LA Try Guy,” also known as Alex Cottrell, has gained immense popularity on social media by enthralling viewers with his tour of the city’s restaurants. His series, available on YouTube and Instagram (@latryguy), follows Cottrell as he samples food at several eateries in South Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, highlighting well-known local landmarks and undiscovered treasures.
His passion for cuisine started in Little Rock, Arkansas, Cottrell’s hometown. There, he was raised on soul food and other Southern mainstays. He told The Hollywood Reporter, “I grew up eating in Arkansas, eating soul food and fried fish, fried that, whatever.” His Southern upbringing has shaped his love of cuisine and his palate, and he has brought these traits with him to Los Angeles.
Cottrell was forced to close the ice cream store he had been operating in Arkansas. However, this setback created a fresh chance. After securing a sales position that enabled him to go to the West Coast, he rapidly made Los Angeles his new home.
“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 recalled. “And I saw LA, I was like, nah, I gotta do LA, it’s gotta be, you know, because I’ve always been interested in entertainment and stuff like that.”
Once settled in L.A., Cottrell and his then-girlfriend began exploring the city’s food scene, which sparked the idea for his series. “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.”
Using the “LA Try Guy” persona, Cottrell produced additional material in light of his growing fame. After taking a short break because of worries about his weight, he started an Instagram account and a YouTube channel in February and March of last year.
Cottrell has faced difficulties during his travels, though. Regarding South Los Angeles, where Cottrell regularly shoots, some of the remarks on his videos perpetuate antiquated misconceptions. “I start going down to all these different cities south of the 10 [freeway], and I’m not from here. So I didn’t know where I was. I started reading the comments. Everybody [was] like, ‘Man, you risking your life for a piece of chicken.”
Cottrell quickly dispels these notions, emphasizing the welcoming atmosphere he has encountered. “I think anybody can come down and get some good food. I mean, it’s not like it was back then. I mean, back then, I think stuff was rough,” he said, adding that he feels the stereotypes are outdated. “Nowadays, if you are a regular dude and you coming out trying to get some food, you’re not going to have an issue.”
His content has brought much-needed attention to the restaurants he features, sometimes leading to a significant boost in business. “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.”
Yet, for Cottrell, it goes beyond the cuisine. Collaborations with well-known companies like Famous Dave’s Barbeque and California Pizza Kitchen, as well as personalities like rapper Ty Dolla $ign and former NBA player Matt Barnes, have become possible thanks to his series. “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.”
