Patricia Kelly Yeo

Despite the rising cost of doing business, L.A. is still home to one of the most innovative, exciting and diverse food scenes in the country. Brick-and-mortar restaurants, Instagram pop-ups, street vendors and food trucks: No matter the form, you can find amazing food in a city whose reputation is built as much on off-the-beaten-path tacos and pop-ups as it is on fine dining-trained chefs making quick work of farmers’ market produce and mainline access to the top-notch Pacific seafood.At its core, L.A.’s restaurant scene thrives on diversity, resulting in genre-bending formats and cuisines that have given rise to some of the country’s best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. Every month, we visit dozens of restaurants across the city looking for amazing eats, great ambience and top-notch customer service. We also crowdsource recommendations from readers and industry insiders on the best places to grab a meal—but a restaurant can’t get onto this guide until we’ve actually visited it multiple times. We prioritize fun, flavor, freshness—and value at every price point. This list is updated regularly to reflect changes in menu offerings, style of service, new locations and the ever-changing pulse of the city’s food scene. If it’s on the list, we think it’s awesome and worth the hype, wait and money —and we bet you will, too. April 2025: Since the beginning of March, I’ve checked in on Dunsmoor and Azizam, and have since updated each place’s li

After years of struggling through the pandemic, L.A.’s bar scene has learned to roll with the punches, and there’s always no better time than now (or this weekend) for a good, well-made drink, preferably with a side of good, old-fashioned camaraderie with slightly buzzed strangers. After all, bars, like restaurants and public parks, give rise to the sought-after sense of belonging and community that characterizes what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called “third spaces.” Right now, L.A.’s drinking scene is back and better than ever, and we’re glad to be back at a busy bar, credit card in hand, hoping to flag down a bartender. L.A. might have cozy dives near the beach, happy hours with views of the Hollywood Hills, and plenty of buzzier new watering holes, but if you’re really asking us, here are the 18 best bars in Los Angeles—for any occasion. April 2025: After revisiting in March, I’ve decided to remove the Spare Room from this guide. I’ve also added new information on the current menus at Accomplice, the Let’s Go Disco and Everson Royce Bar. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

Though we consistently cover new restaurants with killer cocktail offerings, new bars in L.A. are few and far between—but deserve just as much attention. To keep you up to date on the city’s bar scene, we’ve got a quarterly guide to the city’s best new bars, where you can find the city’s freshest places to drink that are actually worth checking out.  Plenty of newer drinking-oriented establishments straddle the line between bar and restaurant, but on this list we prioritize venues where it’s not strange at all to order a single nightcap or aperitivo—without your server trying to upsell you on bar bites when you aren’t hungry. We also strive to include establishments that stay open past 10pm on weekends, though we of course make exceptions for standout spots.  While these fledgling watering holes and lounges might lack the storied reputations of the city’s best bars and cocktail dens, they make up for it with stylish interiors and unique booze offerings. Some even have delicious bar bites perfect for whenever you’re feeling peckish, but this list focuses on destination-worthy venues with excellent drinks or first-rate atmosphere for going out (ideally, a combination of both).  So just how new are these drinking dens? We limit our list to bars, lounges and breweries that have opened in the past nine months. We check out each bar personally to make sure it’s worth your time and hassle—since there’s only so much booze money to spare. April 2025: Since January, Time Out has instit

Before the Yelp ratings and “best of” accolades start to roll in, how do you know what’s actually good or not among L.A.’s just-opened eateries? Every month, I put myself through the wringer attempting to visit every new, notable restaurant around Los Angeles. Usually, I enjoy revisiting the city’s best eateries and sipping cocktails at tried-and-true bars, but scouting for the best new restaurants and bars in L.A. is, to put it nicely, kind of a grab bag. Whenever I’m out scouting for the latest openings, I’m just as likely to blow hundreds of dollars on an overhyped dud as I am to stumble upon the city’s next truly great restaurant. With Time Out’s guide to L.A.’s best new restaurants, you don’t need to sift through pay-to-play influencer videos and user-generated reviews to decide where to head next—I’ve done the work for you, from looking for parking and waiting in line to trying those ultra-pricey tasting menus, since there’s nothing worse when dining out than wasting your precious free time and, of course, money. I also strive to include valet prices and parking information for every restaurant—further taking the headache out of trying the next great new spot. Questions I ask myself before including a spot on this guide: Does this new restaurant offer something more interesting, delicious or unique than any of L.A.’s existing restaurants? Is it worth the hype (and money)? Is it worth going out of the way for? If the answer to any of these is “No,” I don’t include it. Ge

Not every happy hour special is created equal, and what makes a spot someone’s go-to for a much-needed early-evening drink can vary. But we think there’s a little something for everyone among these happy hour spots below. Los Angeles is never short on great bars to try, ranging from your neighborhood dive bars to sports bars and delicious restaurants that compliment that 4pm cocktail with some delectable food. Of course, having to navigate the city’s web of freeways for the perfect special puts a dent in that discount, so we’ve gone ahead and compiled a comprehensive list of the best happy hour deals all over L.A. Set a reminder in your calendar this coming workweek and round up your friends because here is where you can grab a drink and meal for just a fraction of the price.

For better or for worse, Angelenos are a bunch who love to brunch—try saying that five times fast. To help you in your quest for weekend morning grub, I’ve tried dozens of different variations on eggs Benedict, omelettes, pancakes and fried chicken and waffles in my quest to find the best brunch in Los Angeles.  While my personal taste leans more towards old-school classics and top-notch dim sum, I make every effort to suss out which boozy, more upscale affairs are worthy of your next special occasion gathering. Quality of the food matters above all; if I can tell a restaurant is phoning it in with gloppy hollandaise sauce, overcooked eggs and sugar bombs pretending to be pancakes, it doesn’t matter how great the ambience is. (That being said, if you’re looking to party, I’ve got you covered with guides for drag brunch and bottomless brunch.)Go to any of these restaurants on this list, and you’ll find delicious, well-made food with a distinct point of view and the kind of atmosphere conducive either to celebrating birthdays and other special occasions or catching up with friends or family. In practice, this means we’ll exclude a few great weekday options like Liu’s Cafe from this list, simply because the trendy Koreatown destination curtails its menu on the weekends to better serve the heavy crowds and the cramped space isn’t conducive to groups larger than one or two people. Of the more casual or walk-in-only restaurants I’ve included, I think the meal is worth the wait and

While plenty of Angelenos are still discovering Koreatown’s hidden gems, there’s no denying that Korean barbecue is a known dinnertime entity all over the city. In our humble opinion, the best place to take a group of hungry out-of-towners—at least, if they eat red meat—is a Korean barbecue joint. The sizzling tabletop grills add a little extra drama to dinner, the various small bowls of banchan (side dishes) always delight a newcomer and, by the end of the meal, everyone involved is happily full. For all your meat-centric dining needs, I’ve rounded up the city’s best Korean barbecue restaurants for any and all occasions, including both casual and upscale.Why should you trust my judgment? I grew up in Los Angeles eating Korean barbecue in at long-gone restaurants like Shik Do Rak (which still has locations in Orange County) and Dong Il Jang, and I’ve spent the better part of the last two decades trying every Korean barbecue restaurant in Los Angeles. Though I’ve long graduated from only visiting all-you-can-eat spots, I’ve tried every major AYCE option in Koreatown, plus most higher-end à la carte concepts and the major specialists. While meat and banchan quality and distinction are my top priorities, I also factor in ambience, service and overall value—ensuring readers get the most bang for their buck.Though most of my favorite places are in Koreatown, one of the densest dining neighborhoods in the city (it has everything from South Asian cuisine to classic steakhouses), I’v

Choosing the best Santa Barbara hotel isn't the easiest thing. After all, there are so many options, each with a different vibe and aesthetic. Do you want to hang by the beach or opt for a hidden gem nestled up in the hills? Sleep beside the nightlife or doze without a party in sight? Is a pool non-negotiable? And what about entertainment for the kids? Surely you want to be right by the city’s best attractions (don't miss Old Mission Santa Barbara!), tastiest restaurants, and top wineries? See, there's a lot to consider. This central coast hot spot attracts tourists year-round, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s all year long, and an easily accessible location just 90 miles north of Los Angeles. Naturally, that means there's a hotel to cater for all preferences and budgets, but whatever yours are, you can bet we've got a spot for you. We’ve scrolled through Santa Barbara's many hotels and whittled them down to the cream of the crop. All you have to do is pick the right place for your perfect stay.  Updated for January 2025: We've added a newbie, in the form of a Mediterranean-style inn that's right on the beach – if that sounds like something you'd be interested in (we know it is).  🎭 The best things to do in Santa Barbara🛏 The best Airbnbs in Santa Barbara This guide was written by a US correspondent for Time Out, Kai Oliver-Kurtin. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our 

Breakfast is the meal that launched a thousand trends: breakfast burritos, acai bowls, bagels, all the manners of toasts and tartines, and yes, brunch. Somehow, though, there’s still plenty of places in Los Angeles that have escaped the hype/backlash cycle that’s dogged all of the above—plus the slate of newer, chef-driven restaurants that turn into madhouses on late Sunday mornings.  To round up the best of the best, I not only looked through the latter, but delved into greasy spoons, old-school diners and the city’s third wave coffee shops, plus the city’s various Asian breakfast options to bring you the all-around best list of breakfasts in Los Angeles. Some are casual and budget-friendly, others less so, but all of them deliver a hearty, filling and delicious meal to start your day off right. Without further ado: here are my picks for the best breakfast restaurants in the city. Editor’s note: Since my last major update, JiST Cafe in Little Tokyo has unfortunately closed (RIP). While I’m still in the process of scouting for L.A.’s very best diners and coffee shops, I’ve added longtime favorite Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop to this most recent update, as well as popular local brunch chain Blu Jam Cafe, which opens its doors at 9am—which are definitely considered breakfast hours in my eyes. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresponding to “amazing,” four to “grea

Home to one of the most accessible beaches in Los Angeles, Venice is a longtime artist and bohemian enclave whose colorful characters have managed to stick around despite more recent waves of gentrification and an influx of white-collar tech workers. Having grown up on the Westside, I’ve seen the neighborhood change from a sleepy, somewhat trendy artist’s enclave with more than a few sketchy corners into a gleaming collection of expensive homes and tech company offices.  These days, there are fewer affordable, locally owned restaurants than ever before—and more specialty coffee shops than you can shake a stick at—but Venice is still worth a visit for the always vibrant boardwalk; charming historic canals; and collection of shops, cafés and eateries that line Abbot Kinney, which can get quite crowded on the weekends. No matter the reason you’re in the area, this increasingly pricey beach neighborhood still offers plenty of delicious eats. But be warned: Aside from being home to one of L.A.’s only Panamanian restaurants, I wouldn’t say it’s the most interesting dining neighborhood in Los Angeles. The neighborhood’s full of breezy, all-day Californian restaurants serving grain bowls and avocado toast, plus more Italian and pizza joints than you could possibly need or want. Nevertheless, this guide includes the standout options in those genres, plus a handful of Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian strip mall standouts. March 2025: Since my last update, Willie Mae’s has unfortunately

Sure, we might all love our fried chicken sandwiches, but sometimes nothing replaces a classic burger. With that in mind, I set out to track down the best burgers in L.A. Over the last year and a half, I’ve visited everywhere from classic L.A. diners to fancy French bistros—and, yes, even some nostalgic fast-food fare—to find the best burgers around. Just add a side of French fries and you have the makings of an all-time great meal. You might want to grab a few extra napkins before you devour this list.   Editor's note: Since my last update in January, I’ve made the stunning discovery that OTOTO has begun offering its chili cheeseburger all night long.

Los Angeles has the most diverse, expansive and wide-reaching sushi scene in the country, so how does one even begin? This highly vetted guide, for starters. Over the last three years, I visited dozens of Valley strip malls, Little Tokyo shopping plazas and swanky counters in Beverly Hills in search of L.A.’s best sushi restaurants. These days, pricey omakase experiences predominate my top sushi picks (a reflection of L.A.’s changing sushi bar demographics), but you can still find a few high-quality, affordable à la carte options around the city (if you’re willing to wait, it’s still hard to beat Sushi Gen’s sashimi lunch special).Why should you trust my expertise? I’m an L.A. native who enjoyed my first set of tekka maki at Hide Sushi on Sawtelle (which is still around, by the way) and cycled through love affairs with unagi (freshwater eel), saba (mackerel) and SushiStop’s famous dynamite rolls in adolescence and college. Though it’s hard to turn down freshly pressed Edomae-style sushi, I’m still fond of a good spicy tuna crispy rice once in a while, and I’ve even sampled a few of the city’s vegan sushi options. Over three years, I’ve tried 50 different L.A. omakases, dined at over 70 different sushi purveyors of various price points, and I’m always on the hunt for new (or new-to-me) places to try.In the high-end realm, I look for places that maximize overall wow factor; even within the upper echelons of L.A. dining, I take price, atmosphere and booking convenience into cons

Led by Alice Mai, the former chef de cuisine of FWD, this bustling beachside crowd-pleaser gets all the details right, from the all-around great mezze-style spreads served with your choice of housemade pita or fluffy focaccia to the standout octopus a la plancha. (I say this as someone inherently bored with the ubiquitous mix of octopus, potatoes and aioli.) In general, the salads, pastas and skewers at AttaGirl transcend their conventional-sounding menu descriptions. Even the fries receive a dusting of dill vinegar—perfect for pickle lovers—and the must-order spiced lamb bolognese tilts towards a North African flavor profile with sweet, smoky notes of cinnamon, cardamom and fennel. Other highlights include a flaky phyllo spinach pie with lemon bechamel sauce, spiced pork belly skewers and crispy brussel sprouts with date purée. The drinks are solid as well. Throw in the excellent desserts, particularly the dark chocolate torte with pistachio ice cream and cherry compote, and you’ve got yourself a phenomenal area dining option—and a great option for those looking for a special-occasion meal in the South Bay.

After years of operating out of a Tarzana strip mall, Kurrypinch’s Shaheen Ghazaly has relocated to Thai Town with the help of business partner Nimesh Rajakumar. This more centrally located South Asian dining option is a must-try for those living in the city proper, with traditional dishes like kottu roti—a stir-fried mix of roti, eggs, vegetables and your choice of protein—and Ghazaly’s reconstruction of traditional Sri Lankan string hoppers into a flavorful, more user-friendly pilau. My surprising favorite, however, was the mixed vegetable curry plate, which features three different items that rotate regularly. The chef flexes his creativity further in the coconut milk risotto and Cajun spiced shrimp, but I’d still steer you towards the classics, especially if you’re not familiar with the cuisine of this tiny island nation. On Saturdays and Sundays, Kurrypinch also offers lamprais (a delightful banana leaf packet of rice, protein and side dishes), chicken biryani and a prawn curry. I’ve yet to try those items, but if they’re anything like the rest of the menu, they’re most likely just as delicious.

This buzzy West Adams cocktail bar is owned by celebrity stylist Jason Bolden, who counts Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade as clients and friends, and his interior designer partner Adair Curtis. The space may be small and the soundtrack is earsplitting, but the energy’s downright electric thanks to the couple’s industry friends—so if you’re looking for a total scene without the commute to actual Hollywood, this is the place to go. There’s a small food menu that includes chicken tenders and chocolate chip cookies, plus a straightforward menu of classic cocktails, wine and beer. I tried the paloma and the vesper; both were solid, but not particularly standout. If you’re coming here, it’s either because you’re already in the area or because you’re seeking out the celebrity-adjacent vibes—no judgment here.

Taking over the former Bolita space, Real Charmer in Virgil Village comes from the same folks behind Capri Club and Bar Covell, among others. The intimate bar is now backlit by moody red-and-blue lighting and there's a new pair of wooden booths along the wall. A bubbling fountain and handful of art pieces nod to a tropical-slash-nautical theme, but the handsome cocktail booklet wanders all over the map with under $20 drinks like the gin-based Midsommar Sour, a Japanese-inspired sesame highball and a vaguely Mediterranean martini flavored with kalamata olives, dill and rosemary. A menu of light bar bites includes spam musubi and Fishwife smoked salmon with crackers. Not every drink hits the mark, but most generally get the job done. Throw in the free self-serve popcorn and cozy date-friendly atmosphere, however, and Real Charmer ultimately lives up to its name—it’s the kind of neighborhood bar I wish I could walk to.

This casual French Quarter-inspired Chinatown cocktail bar from the folks behind Little Jewel of New Orleans serves stiff, straightforward takes on Crescent City classics, including a well-executed French 75, a generously poured Sazerac and a bubbly, frothy Ramos Gin Gizz. Relatively affordable prices ($12–18) and a TV hung behind the bar translate into a fun, accessible neighborhood hangout and alluring pit stop for Dodger fans during baseball season. On my visit, I enjoyed the Cajun (a.k.a. spicy Bloody) Mary, which the Evangeline Swamp Room tops with a pickled okra and grilled shrimp. There’s also a menu of delicious, deep-fried bar bites that includes charbroiled oysters, frog legs and crawfish macaroni and cheese—all the better to soak up all that booze.

Tucked away in sleepy Altadena, Good Neighbor Bar is an excellent Northeast L.A. cocktail spot run by the same talented team behind Downtown’s Everson Royce Bar and Santa Monica’s Vamos Vamos. The stylish, minimally appointed space features plenty of tables and ample seats at the bar, and while there’s no food menu, you'll typically find a pop-up serving out of the parking lot next door on the weekends. As with ERB, which we've long considered one of the city’s best bars, all of the cocktails here are excellent. The specialty drink menu includes highballs, “booze-forward,” “modern classics,” “exotic/tiki,” and “shaken with citrus.” Order whatever your heart desires—whether that's wine by the glass, some beer or one of Good Neighbor’s fancier house concoctions.

The former Ace Hotel has a brand-new rooftop in the form of Sauced, an NYC transplant known in its hometown as an ultra-hip, menuless wine bar. While it remains to be seen if its L.A. counterpart can draw the same crowds, the beloved Downtown third space is thankfully mostly unchanged except for a bunch of new plants and a cringeworthy “Can’t Stop Drinking About You” neon sign. Head inside to the bar for a choose-your-own-adventure experience—guided by one of Sauced’s expert bartenders—and a small selection of light bites, then take your glass outside and take in the sweeping views of Downtown. Weekend evenings bring DJs and food pop-ups to the space (which are generally announced on the bar’s Instagram), so if you’d like to help resuscitate Downtown’s struggling nightlife scene, give Sauced the good old-fashioned college try.

The old Mandrake Bar space at the edge of Culver City has a new tenant: No Smoking, a stylish cocktail bar that’s a little too expensive to truly be considered a neighborhood dive. Lowbrow touches like bar chips and $12 well drinks combine with pricey works of art on the walls and wood paneling. Reasonably priced $15 house creations include frozen ube coladas and Toki highballs (though you can find the same exact drink for cheaper at Afuri Ramen down the street). Happy hour (4–7pm) brings $10 wells and glasses of wine, plus $5 beers. If No Smoking was in Silver Lake or Northeast L.A., this opening wouldn’t be noteworthy—but in a part of town lacking in interesting cocktail options, I’ll take any decent-enough casual bar I can get.

All flavor, no frills—that’s the name of the game at Night on Earth, the newest project from the team behind Thunderbolt. Located in the no man’s land between Hollywood and Studio City (a.k.a. the Cahuenga Pass), this futuristic-looking Valley cocktail bar serves an all-star lineup of over a dozen signature drinks ($13–19). Each one deftly riffs on a classic. While my personal favorite was the Bad Influencer (a clarified, carbonated take on a porn star martini), I was most impressed by the Blockbuster, the bar’s take on an old fashioned. The drink comes infused with actual movie theater butter flavoring. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, though, including three tasty booze-free options. Paired with the mood lighting, ample lounge seating and DJs on the weekends, plus a soon-to-debut happy hour menu, Night on Earth is the kind of drinking destination that’s worth building a night out around. Just be sure to eat beforehand—the bar doesn’t serve any food, though you can bring in outside food (there’s a pizzeria next door, FYI) or opt for one of the eclectic snacks from the vending machine inside.

Carb lovers, rejoice: This two-day festival dedicated to all things pizza is returning to L.A. Live. Sample slices from 40 different vendors, watch live dough demos and hear from pizza experts including Roxana Jullapat of Friends & Family Pizza Co. and food writer Andy Wang. More than a handful of Time Out’s favorite pizzerias in town—Pizzana, Hail Mary, Triple Beam Pizza, Prince Street Pizza, Prime, Apollonia’s, LaSorted’s and Ozzy’s Apizza—are on the lineup.   

This full-length review was originally published on June 8, 2022 and has since been updated to reflect more recent changes. In Koreatown, home to the city’s—and the country’s—most varied array of Korean barbecue joints, little in the way of untrodden ground exists for new restaurants. Cheap, expensive, minimalist, maximalist: No matter your inclination, a pre-existing grilled meat purveyor typically already fills that niche. Woo Hyang Woo, however, is a recent exception to this general rule, thanks to a short, focused menu with tapas-style offerings and a larger drink selection. Though the upscale-leaning eatery at 6th and Ardmore rarely draws the same crowds or hours-long delays associated with Chapman Plaza’s Quarters and Origin across the street, this sleek-looking restaurant still offers a delicious, albeit banchan-lite, Korean barbecue experience with typically little to no wait for a table on weekdays and a fairly short one on weekends.Living up to its name (Korean for “beef scented house”), Woo Hyang Woo instead distinguishes itself from the rest of the pack through house aged, high-quality cuts, including American Wagyu, certified Angus beef and enormous, pricey dry-aged tomahawk steaks. In a carryover from the restaurant’s earliest days in the fall of 2020, servers will still give you the option to have the kitchen cook your meat to order, an offer you should absolutely take them up on. While you’ll miss out on their attentive tableside grilling skills, the sizzling

This fairly under-the-radar South Korean import took me by surprise with its high-quality, house-aged pork selection, which includes belly, shoulder and jowl and unique banchan offerings. Every Sookdal outpost—there are other further-flung locations in Garden Grove and Las Vegas—adjusts the aging process for each batch to optimize the flavor and texture of the meat. A little visual card at each table explains the different ways to enjoy each bite of meat, from enjoying as is to adding wasabi and a pickled garlic leaf wrap. A fusion-style risotto in cream sauce also stands out among the cooked dishes, but it’s not a must order. Each combo includes your choice of stew and cheese, which adds an extra dimension to each pork cut. Various cuts of beef are also available (and included in every combo), but you're really here for the immaculately prepared pork—and those who appreciate all things bacon won't be disappointed.

Cheese-obsessed local ghost kitchen chef Eric Greenspan will run the upcoming, now politically charged Tesla diner (and drive-in) in Los Angeles, according to Sawyer Merritt, a self-professed Tesla investor who periodically shares news related to Elon Musk’s electric car company on X. The March 26 post says that the yet-to-open project will feature “1950s retro charm” and “dazzling neon lights,” along with the scent of burgers and milkshakes.  Merritt also confirmed that the property will feature two drive-in movie screens and 75 V4 charging stations—the fastest tier of Tesla’s chargers. Musk himself commented on the post less than an hour after it was published, appearing to confirm the news—or at least not deny its veracity. “It will be cool,” he said. “When’s it opening?” Merritt replied, to no response. Though a resident of Los Angeles, Greenspan hasn’t run a sit-down restaurant in several years. Instead, he’s turned his focus to delivery-only concepts, a.k.a. ghost kitchens, and New School American, a boutique cheese company that’s used in the burgers at Chi Spacca, one of the city’s best restaurants. His previous concepts include the Foundry on Melrose, the Roof on Wilshire and Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese. He’s also starred in or appeared in several food-related TV shows. Reporting by The New York Times further uncovered via expired job postings that L.A. restaurant industry veteran Bill Chait will also be involved in the restaurant, which sits at the border of Hollywoo

République—one of L.A.’s most critically acclaimed restaurants—has become the recent subject of online political controversy after one of its owners, Walter Manzke, was quoted in the New York Times as voicing support for Elon Musk’s yet-to-open Tesla diner in West Hollywood, where Tesla owners could charge their cars and grab a meal. Since news about the drive-in project first broke in 2022, the CEO of Tesla has morphed from space-obsessed billionaire to an icon of the far-right, as well as President Trump’s right-hand man. “It sounds exciting,” Walter told former Times restaurant critic Pete Wells. “[République co-owner Margarita] told me the other day that she wants to buy a Tesla, so I can tell you what side she’s on.” The Manzkes are the veteran chefs behind République, which is equally beloved across the city for its California-inspired French savory menu and Margarita’s James Beard Award-winning pastries. One anonymous user of Reddit reposted the article in the subreddit r/FoodLosAngeles, which fields regular discussion about all matters related to the L.A. dining scene. “Looks like Republique is off my list,” the post title reads. As of publication, the post is the subreddit’s top most-read post for the day.  In response, the Hancock Park restaurant released a statement on its Instagram around 3pm on Friday afternoon. “At République, we believe in focusing on what we do best—creating exceptional food and a welcoming experience for all our guests. In response to a rece

In honor of the restaurant’s 25th anniversary (and while the Mexico City original is closed for repairs), Pujol is coming to L.A. for a 10-day tasting menu stint inside Damian in the Arts District. As first reported in Forbes, between April 22 and 30, chef-owner Enrique Olvera plans to bring back classics from the two Michelin star restaurant’s early days, including a potential ravioli-style avocado with shrimp tartar and a coconut squash blossom soup. Each night will offer two 90-minute tasting menus—one starting around 5:50pm and another at 8:30pm—as first reported in the Los Angeles Times. A portion of the pop-up’s proceeds will benefit local nonprofit No Us Without You, which provides assistance to undocumented workers in the L.A. restaurant industry. A separate beverage pairing featuring agave spirits and Mexican beer and wine will also be available. Reservations for the Pujol pop-up will go live on Friday, March 21 at noon Pacific time, on Damian’s Resy page. Photograph: Courtesy DamianPujol previously popped up inside Damian for the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2021. Per the Times, the April pop-up will also include a separate à la carte concept, Molino el Pujol, that will take over Ditroit Taqueria, Damian’s more casual daytime counterpart. The more formal six-course experience, for which pricing has yet to be determined, will definitely offer Pujol’s famous mole madre. The dish uses an approximately decade-old mother sauce that Olvera has continuously added

If you or a loved one have ever paid $27 for a lone sausage and a measly scoop of mashed potatoes at a certain buzzy wine bar and left hungry, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  At least, I wish that were the case. At a time when restaurant math isn’t working for anyone involved, the humble wine bar has ascended in cultural and algorithmic significance as a legitimate dining genre in Los Angeles. For diners, there’s still the thrill of going out to eat, plus less sticker shock, at least upon initial glance at the menu. Still, order more than a few of the carb-heavy, flavor-forward small plates offered at most trendy wine-centric spots—enough to make a full meal—and the grim, undeniable fact remains: The plates are indeed small, the prices don’t always match up and the expectations-to-reality gap, especially after factoring in TikTok or media hype, is usually larger than anticipated. Which is why it’s been such a joy to head down the 405—yes, even during rush hour—and tuck into a meal at Vin Folk, a reasonably priced, deeply satisfying 45-seat bistro in Hermosa Beach. Run almost entirely by trained chefs, this nearly four-month-old restaurant offers a winning menu of French-leaning, globally inspired dishes imbued with the flare of modernist fine dining. Think Singaporean chili crab remixed into a creamy risotto that uses crab caught off the Southern California coast and tender beef tongue flavored with Russian-style spicy horseradish and tatsoi (a type of Asian b

This Wednesday, March 12, Michelin added 15 new restaurants to its California guide, including seven in the Los Angeles area. All additions are considered “recommended” and could go on to receive either a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand (the guide’s budget-friendly category) later this year. Other additions up north include Stationæry in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Four Kings in San Francisco. In L.A., all new guide additions have opened since last summer. Among them you’ll find Tomat in Westchester, which I recently featured in a longform review for its ambitious restaurant garden within smelling distance of the LAX In-N-Out, and West L.A.’s Mori Nozomi, which also earned a profile on its eponymous chef, Nozomi Mori, one of the city’s few rare female sushi chefs. Photograph: Daniel Carranza for Time OutTomat In alphabetical order, the seven L.A. area restaurants are as follows, with full inspector notes available via Michelin’s official press release. All restaurants are within city limits unless otherwise specified; we’ve linked to Time Out’s write-ups for each, and noted our own star designations with brackets.  Bar Etoile [4 stars] Kusano (Culver City)  Mori Nozomi [5 stars] Rasarumah [3 stars] Seline (Santa Monica) Tomat [4 stars] Restaurant Ki [4 stars] For those unfamiliar with how Michelin restaurants are selected, here’s how it works: Anonymous Michelin inspectors travel across a given region, awarding the best of the best anywhere from one to three stars. Here in L.A.,

These days, it feels like the going rate for a decently made restaurant or bar cocktail in L.A. is close to $20. Depending on where you are (cough cough, the Westside), most house drinks start at well over $20. Well, Everson Royce Bar in the Arts District has heard about your budgetary tales of woe, and they’ve answered: As of today, the critically acclaimed bar is offering a new $12 and under menu section that includes cocktails and wines by the glass. And yes, it’s available every night they’re open (Tuesday to Saturday). Photograph: Courtesy E.R.B. We’ve long considered E.R.B. one of the city’s best bars, and its deceptively simple burger is one of the city’s best burgers. The indoor-outdoor patio is perfect for larger groups, and its more premium-priced cocktails have long stayed in the under-$20 “sweet spot” as cocktail prices around town have gone up. But having six new under-$12 cocktails is the new cherry on top at E.R.B.  Photograph: Courtesy Everson Royce Bar Simply constructed, the cocktails are six bar classics: vodka and soda ($10), a bourbon old-fashioned ($12), a margarita ($12), gin and tonic ($10), a mezcal-based grapefruit ranch water ($12) and a pineapple daiquiri ($11). If we know anything about the E.R.B. team, which also runs the relatively new West Altadena Wine and Spirits, the house’s well spirit choices likely aren’t too shabby either. E.R.B. also throws in a $6 can of lager for the beer-inclined. For the debut menu’s wine list, expect six $12 wi

For the first time since debuting in April 1947, the Westside’s iconic Apple Pan will be opening its doors on Mondays, a day of the week that’s been sorely lacking in decent dining options in the years since the pandemic hit. In 2019, original ownership sold the beloved burger-and-pie institution to music industry veteran Irving Azoff and his wife, Shelli, who also own Nate ’n Al’s in Beverly Hills.  To celebrate the expanded hours, the Apple Pan is offering free slices of their apple pie—which we consider one of the city’s best pies—to the first 50 dine-in customers every Monday in March. Yes, that means five opportunities (March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31) for a free-ish slice of pie—you do have to buy food in order to claim your gratis dessert.  The Apple Pan10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.Beginning March 1, the Apple Pan will be open weekdays, 11am to 11pm, then 11am to midnight on the weekends.

On the face of it, Tomat is an unlikely place for some of the city’s most interesting new California cuisine. Hidden inside a sprawling shopping complex, the four-month-old London-inspired restaurant is located less than a mile away from LAX. A giant tomato decorates the exterior of the three-story building; Tomat derives its name from a childhood nickname coincidentally shared by married owners Harry Posner and Natalie Dial. After dark, the bright red neon sign draws in hungry neighborhood locals and in-the-know diners from across the city hankering for an eclectic, unforgettable combination of global flavors most Angelenos have never seen or tasted before. While Posner and Dial’s intentions might sound fairly common—they want Tomat to be an upscale neighborhood fixture, worthy of date nights and the like—the painstaking efforts that went into the making of Tomat, along with each meal, reveal a restaurant that is anything but. Five years ago, the couple moved to L.A. from London, abandoning careers in medicine (Posner) and global health (Dial) in order to take advantage of an unmissable lease opportunity in Westchester, where in the late 1940s Dial’s late grandfather started Drollinger Properties, the area’s oldest, largest commercial real estate group (which her mother now presides over today). The couple have pored over every aspect of the fully renovated building, from the open kitchen to the dining room’s pale wood, dark green and burnt-orange color scheme. Photograph:

If you’ve ever wanted a taste of Alinea without getting on a flight, now’s your chance—the critically acclaimed Chicago fine dining destination is popping up at the Maybourne Beverly Hills this summer as part of a nationwide 20th anniversary tour. According to the Robb Report (the tour’s media partner), Alinea will be popping up in Brooklyn, Miami and Beverly Hills, with more locations to be announced as part of a second leg in the near future. In L.A., the three Michelin star restaurant will take up residency at the Maybourne Beverly Hills from July 17 to August 20. The 20-year-old Alinea is widely credited with popularizing molecular gastronomy. The globally inspired menu draws upon chef-owner Grant Achatz’s experiences at Thomas Keller’s the French Laundry in Napa Valley and Ferran Adrià’s now-closed El Bulli in Spain.  Photograph: Matthew GilsonThe dining room at Alinea. A few tour stops are slated to include pop-ups of the restaurant’s cocktail bars, the Aviary and the Office, but it’s unknown if that list features the summer residency in Beverly Hills.  “If we do this right, this celebration will also serve as a love letter to the entire restaurant and hospitality industry,” Achatz told the Robb Report. “We are grateful for the opportunities and relationships that have shaped us, and we want to share that gratitude with the broader community that continues to inspire us.” Reservations for the L.A. leg have yet to be released, but you can follow the Alinea Group on In

After a slight delay, the long-awaited L.A. area H&H Bagels will finally open in Santa Monica on Wednesday, February 26. The legendary NYC bagel shop first announced plans for nationwide expansion last summer. Franchise owner Phil Gross will donate 100 percent of the first week’s profits to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. On opening day, the Montana Avenue shop will also give away tote bags to the first 200 customers and gift cards ranging from $5 to $100. Our East Coast counterparts have long considered H&H one of the best bagels in New York City, and the brand has appeared on shows like Sex and the City and Seinfeld. The chain currently has seven locations in its hometown, with confirmed plans to expand into Florida, North Carolina and other parts of Southern California, including San Diego and Orange County. Other previously confirmed locations include outposts in Connecticut, Illinois, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.  As first reported by Eater, H&H Bagels Santa Monica will be serving bagels shipped from a Queens-based production facility like all other franchise locations. The Montana Avenue outpost’s menu features all the classics, from bacon, egg and cheese to lox with the works. Flavors include plain, everything, sesame, cinnamon raisin, jalapeño cheddar, whole wheat, egg and pumpernickel.  H&H Bagels is located at 710 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Beginning February 26, the shop will be open daily from 6a

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a Pacific Palisades staple lost to the recent wildfires, is reopening its doors in Brentwood this weekend. Shop owner Robert Flutie had originally planned for the San Vicente Boulevard storefront to be his restaurant’s second location, but will now be running his business solely out of the Brentwood outpost as he determines the next steps to rebuild the original. The shop offers New York style pies, whole and by the slice, plus classic sandwiches and salads. In honor of Valentine’s Day and the shop’s grand opening, Flour Pizzeria will be offering free pies on Friday to Palisades residents, first responders and law enforcement. Those who would like to claim this offer must sign up for a preorder on the restaurant’s website by clicking “Flour Pizza Community.” Palisades residents must show their driver’s license with a confirmed 90272 address. Then on Saturday, Brentwood locals are welcome to grab a free slice from noon until sold out. Beginning Sunday, the pizza shop will be open for regular business hours. Flour Pizzeria & Cafe Brentwood is located at 11684 San Vicente Boulevard. Regular operating hours will begin Sunday, February 16 and are noon from 9pm daily.

Nearly two years after news first broke, L.A.’s newest Din Tai Fung is almost ready to open its doors on the third floor of Santa Monica Place, the outdoor mall at the end of the Third Street Promenade. While much of the city is no stranger to the international soup dumpling chain—which we also named one of L.A.’s best Chinese restaurants—this new Westside location offers stunning ocean views from the patio and a distinctively beachy aesthetic unlike any other Din Tai Fung outposts in the area. At over 10,000 square feet, it’s one of the chain’s largest dining rooms in Southern California. (The largest is the one inside the Glendale Galleria.) Rendering: Courtesy Din Tai Fung North America   Reservations for the soft opening period beginning February 20 opened on February 11, though the Santa Monica Din Tai Fung doesn’t plan to host its grand opening until February 28. To support Los Angeles wildfire recovery efforts, the company has pledged to donate up to $50,000 of profits generated during the first two weeks of business (February 20 to March 8) to local restaurant and bars affected by the wildfires.  Photograph: Courtesy Din Tai Fung| Din Tai Fung The Santa Monica outpost is the fifth of its kind in L.A. County; in 2000, the now-prolific Taiwanese restaurant brand first expanded into the United States via a modest outpost in an Arcadia strip mall. Now, Din Tai Fung has 17 locations across the United States including San Diego, the Bay Area, and most recently, New York