Mar
By Melissa Curtin
Photo By Eric McNew
It’s impossible to keep up with new restaurant openings in LA as it feels like every week there are countless new hotspots. Choosing a place to dine in LA often depends on where you live or where you plan to be that day. Newcomers quickly learn that a typical dinner reservation in LA might be over an hour’s drive away, even if it’s less than half the time to get home. No matter where you find yourself in the City of Dreams, make time for one of these culinary delights.
Tallula’s, Santa Monica
Bring your pup for Weekend Doggy Brunch just a block from the beach. Try their Chilaquiles or Breakfast Burrito with a Café de Olla or a fresh ginger Mezcal cocktail dubbed “somewhat like a margarita” to start the day at this family-friendly spot while your four-legged friend sits next to you enjoying a bowl of chow. Their new Executive Chef Juan Robles takes guests back to his native Mexico with indigenous dishes from different regions, such as Sopa de Piedra with local seafood and rich Oaxacan mole, recreating family favorites like a Veggie Tamal; or in the true spirit of LA, showcasing Mexican fare that blends global influences such as his Jalapeño and Miso-Glazed Fish Tacos. Feast on the charred blue prawns or a taco sampler with options like fish, shrimp, carne asada; or our personal favorite – market veggies with refried black beans, onions, zucchini, squash, chipotle crema, and cilantro. Don’t miss sharing or hoarding the grilled corn with chipotle aioli too. https://www.tallulasrestaurant.com
Golden Bull, Santa Monica
Even under new ownership, guests can expect the same old-school vibes at this classic 1949 LA chophouse restaurant with leather booths and a nostalgic ambiance. Must-order items include loaded potato skins, the warm lobster roll, and fish and chips. Try their happy hour or weekend brunch with plenty of outdoor seating, bottomless mimosas and a coffee bar. We suggest the French Toast Sticks made with custard-soaked brioche and the Chophouse Hash with eggs, ribeye, asparagus, mushrooms, crispy potatoes, chimichurri, and pea leaves. Afterward, take a stroll on the beach walk which is just a block away. https://www.goldenbullsantamonica.com/menu
The Brothers Sushi, Santa Monica and Woodland Hills
The original Woodland Hills location features some of LA’s best sushi and its second location in Santa Monica continues to serve the freshest raw fish in a modern light-filled space with a faux knife door handle and sashimi knives framed like a path under the floor. Fish hang in special dry-aging compartments and vintage Japanese hotel matchboxes are displayed on the wall. The lunch menu offers specialties accompanied by miso soup and salad – like the Premium Chirashi Bowl loaded with colorful raw fish and a generous amount of toro and uni, presented like a piece of art over sushi rice. The Sushi Omakase ($90) includes a signature appetizer and 10 pieces of Nigiri Sushi but make sure to save room for the Matcha Cheesecake, it cannot be missed. https://thebrotherssushi.com
Crustacean, Beverly Hills
For 20 years, this woman-owned hotspot has been serving loyal patrons and their famous garlic noodles and tuna cigars (that arrive smoking in a cigar box) keep guests wanting more. Heralded as the “mother of fusion cuisine”, the restaurant’s sexy remodel includes the new Anna May Bar honoring the first Asian American actress to receive a Walk of Fame star. The cocktail menu pairs Asian spices and flavors like The Anna May showstopper with Mezcal, Aperol, Beychaud Bitters, and Champagne Yuzu Foam. Share smaller bites on the open-air heated patio like baked crab legs with Asian pesto, filet mignon satay, eggplant fries with Thai basil, and salt and pepper calamari. Impress a date by ordering off-menu items like caviar that arrive in a gold cosmetic case. https://www.crustaceanbh.com
Gucci Osteria de Massimo Bottura, Beverly Hills
For a luxe and memorable night out, plan a special date at LA’s newest Michelin star recipient which sits above the Gucci store with an open-air view of Rodeo Drive. This is the second installment of Massimo Bottura’s collaboration with Gucci, an impressive restaurant with exceptional hospitality and a menu full of surprises. Executive Chef Mattia Agazzi creates playful dishes like risotto camouflaged as pizza where the burnt caper tastes like a pizza crust. Traveling from Italy to California, Chef Mattia fuses age-old Italian cuisine traditions with produce-driven California coast offerings – pulling from his childhood and first impressions of LA like a dish built to look like the arches of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Cod as Milanese was a favorite course as 24-hour miso marinated black cod is prepared inside a crisp breading (almost like arancini) with tomato terrine. Book a 5-course set dinner menu or the Beverly Hills Classics tasting menu with exquisitely selected wine pairings. https://www.gucciosteria.com/en
Seoulmates, W. 3rd St.
Casual 6-month-old Seoulmates dishes up fantastic Korean street fusion. Created by hardworking Korean American Christina Hong, who moved from Chicago to LA three years ago, the menu offers signature hoagies, tacos, and bowls. Expect an explosion of flavors with the Bulgoagie (bulgogie + hoagie) stuffed with marinated thinly sliced rib eye, grilled onions, melted provolone, pickled cucumbers, slaw, kimchi remoulade, and wonton crisps – all on a hoagie. Besides this establishment, find the aqua Seoulmates truck rolling the LA streets or parked outside Mama Lion in Koreatown. https://www.seoulmatesla.com
ABSteak, Beverly Grove
Modern Korean barbecue by Chef Akira Back is the best we have devoured in LA, as he specializes in premium meat dry-aged for up to 30 days and prepared in front of you on smokeless open tabletop grills. Longer dry aging means more concentrated flavor. Share Pork Belly Kimchi Fried Rice and Shroom Fries made with battered and fried Shimeji and Oyster mushrooms. Every high-quality meat is seasoned and marinated to perfection. Stellar options include Australian wagyu ribeye, marinated Galbi (boneless short rib), Australian wagyu brisket, and Wagyu Picanha, a sirloin cap from Tasmania. https://absteakla.com
Saffy’s, East Hollywood
The indoor-outdoor space on a weekday evening is filled with the cool kids, hipsters, and gorgeous people vying for a table at this uber-popular new restaurant from Chef Ori Menashe of Bestia and Baval fame. I felt like I was right back in Israel with Middle Eastern spices, but dishes here are created with a more refined approach. From hummus tahini with smoked paprika to roasted carrots with labneh, you can’t go wrong with any dish but we highly recommend the wood-fired lamb and beef shawarma, mixed skewers, or red snapper tagine. Grilled lobster skewers with a serrano lime yogurt and turmeric mussels should also be high on your ordering list. https://www.saffysla.com
Mother Tongue, Hollywood
Atop the private club Heimat, discover a teal, pink, and yellow mid-century modern Art Deco dream serving a plant-forward eclectic menu from Chef Michael Mina. Just outside, rooftop dining is available with the Hollywood sign in view. Healthier dishes seem to represent LA so well – like toasted walnut charred pepper spread served with warm pita, charred tomatoes with whipped labneh, and open-faced Filipino-style veggie wraps. Dine on this glamorous rooftop with orange wine in hand, while the sunset hues splash across LaLaLand. A great spot for a date or a group dinner, meat eaters will want to share the Steak Tartare with avocado, pine nuts, turmeric, and salsify chips or the luscious Wagyu Rib Eye with Sunchoke Bravas and Chimichurri, deemed keto-friendly and low glycemic. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the EVOO Soft Serve Sundae made with Chia Seed Cake, olive oil, and honeycomb. https://hellomothertongue.com
Agua Viva, DTLA
Spiral up to Agua Viva on the 10th-floor terrace at the new Conrad Hotel for beach club rooftop vibes and a view of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Open-air dining comes with dramatic city views and a diverse menu from the José Andrés Group weaving flavors with Andrés’ native Spain. Share the Croquetas de Cangrejo (crab balls) and order the Ahi Poke Bowl and Smashed Txule Burger as your main and end with the Piña Borracha, a rum-soaked pineapple. Sunday brunch is also a hit which is served from 11 am-3 pm. https://www.aguavivabyjose.com