Patricia Kelly Yeo

After some of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, it’s safe to say that 2025 has already been far from normal. High-speed winds, which could return early next week, are likely to worsen conditions on the ground for firefighters and other first responders. Close to two hundred thousand Angelenos have already been displaced, with the largest fires—Eaton and Palisades—still yet to reach full containment, plus the logistical whiplash of the smaller Sunswept, Sunset, Kenneth and Hurst fires. Since last week, hundreds of L.A. restaurants have stepped up to the plate in various ways, from delivering hot meals to shelters and fire departments to offering no-questions-asked free meals and other forms of mutual aid. Still more have turned into donation centers and delivered meals to those in need. This nonexhaustive guide includes close to 100 L.A. restaurants offering free hot meals for evacuees, folks who have lost their homes and others that have been displaced from their homes. First published on January 8, this running list has now been updated, broken down by region and is up to date as of 9pm on Sunday, January 19.  Multi-location mutual aid and donation efforts we’d also like to call attention to: World Central Kitchen (ongoing): During the day, Jose Andres’ international relief group is offering free hot meals to first responders and the public at over two dozen locations close to Eaton and Palisades fires. While I’ve included any WCK sites partnered with s

As the Lunar New Year approaches, celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Los Angeles with these events and things to do. Need to feed your belly for an auspicious year ahead? Slurp some of the city’s best noodle dishes and cheap eats or check out our dim sum guide below. Whether you’re celebrating a long-running family tradition or experiencing the holiday for the first time, join the Chinese New Year festivities for a year of good luck and fortune. When is Chinese New Year 2025? Chinese New Year—and the Year of the Snake—begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

From January 24 to February 7, the winter edition of Dine L.A. is back this year, with hundreds of restaurants participating in the two week blitz of bang-for-your-buck set menus. Scattered among the prix fixe tradition’s dizzying full list of menus are some of L.A.’s best restaurants offering their signature fare at a more budget-friendly price point. At a time when Angelenos are contending with the steep rise in cost of living, a little bit of savings while going out is always appreciated—and this season’s Dine LA delivers on all fronts despite the rising cost of, well, everything. But first, what is Dine L.A. Restaurant Week? During both annual Dine L.A. restaurant weeks, L.A.’s best bistros, sushi bars, neighborhood spots, fine-dining establishments and every other kind of restaurant you can think of offer fix-priced lunch and dinner menus at a discount to newcomers, fans and foodies. Restaurants of all price levels and cuisines participate in the two-week event. When is Dine L.A. Restaurant Week? This year, the winter edition will run January 24 to February 7, with summer edition dates still TBA. Editor’s note: We will be updating this page as more restaurants announce their menus. With fixed-price, multi-course meals starting at $15 during lunch and dinner, even the most cost-conscious diner is bound to find a suitable nearby Dine L.A. deal on their site. Not in the mood to hunt? We scoured the lineup for the best and most exciting deals, from beloved everyday neighbor

In the last few years, L.A.’s coffee culture has blossomed into a sprawling, diverse network of coffee shops for every occasion. Want to see and be seen? Hoping to get some work done? Trying to catch up with a friend or colleague? Maybe you need a light brunch or somewhere to perk up in the morning after a long night out. In seemingly every neighborhood, there’s a new café opening that’s gone viral on TikTok for questionable reasons.  But where can you find a truly great cup? And what makes a good coffee shop? While opinions may vary, we've created a citywide guide to L.A.’s destination-worthy coffee shops. These cafés serve thoughtfully sourced coffee and tea drinks made by well-trained baristas. Their pastry cases are stocked with goodies from the city’s best bakeries, and they offer gorgeous interiors (and in some cases, exteriors) and other unique touches. For caffeine purists, we've also included a handful of minimalist spots that will happily sate any pour-over nerd. To help you find the perfect brew, we’ve sipped our way through the best spots in town—check out our guide, refuel and get back out there. You’ve got things to do.

Lady and the Tramp had the right idea—what better way to celebrate with your significant other than sharing a romantic meal? Whether you’re looking to wine and dine on a rooftop, cozy up on a first date or splurge to celebrate a special occasion, we’ve got you covered with a round-up of L.A.’s best restaurants that lay on the charm. Below, check out our guide to the best romantic restaurants in Los Angeles. Looking for more sentimental ideas? Check out the most romantic things to do in L.A.

Whether hiking or driving, Angelenos are willing to put in the work for a memorable view—and the same goes for eating—though with a little less cardio required. In a city spread between the ocean and the mountains, it’s no surprise that restaurants with spectacular views, whether on the beach or a rooftop, are in no short supply. On the flip side, we can think of dozens of charming patios in canyons and beach communities that are plopped in picturesque areas but without a view of anything but some twinkly string lights. So with all those rules out of the way, we think these 25 restaurants below offer the city’s most picture-perfect vantage points (ranked in order of just how impressive their views are). Sure, many of them aren’t the best restaurants in town, but with views this good, does it even matter? 

There’s no official alfresco season in L.A., a city where outdoor dining is technically possible year-round, so of course it’s full of decidedly alfresco restaurants. You know the ones. These are the types of places where you can hear the waves crashing, watch the city lights sparkle from a rooftop or get lost in the greenery—or scenery—that surrounds your table. While most Angelenos know by now that most meals can be enjoyed outside, whether you’re at a coffee shop, a taco truck or a fine-dining restaurant, there are still plenty of destination-worthy scenic spots worth visiting for the views (as well as the food). I've included a few restaurants with less-than-outstanding cuisine, but rest assured the views and ambience more than make up for any culinary shortcomings. Here are the best restaurants for outdoor dining in L.A. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to things to do outside in Los Angeles

Even in a city as expansive as Los Angeles, you get a small-town feel when you stroll through a farmers’ market. Over time, the freshly-baked-bread vendor might remember your name, and you’ll always find at least a few kids crowding by the berry stands, hoping for a taste of the sweet locally grown strawberries. There’s a sense of community that draws locals back every week—so much so that Angelenos actually make time to hit the ATM beforehand (thought plenty of vendors now take credit). Of course, there’s also bounds of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, delicious prepared food (tamales, crepes, pupusas) and artisan gourmet goods (olive oils, jams, honey) that keep people coming back for more.  Without a doubt, Los Angeles has eternal bragging rights when it comes to phenomenal farmers’ markets. Oh, you think you’ve tried a good blood orange or heirloom tomato? Come back to us after visiting Santa Monica’s on a Wednesday morning, Silver Lake’s on a Saturday or Hollywood’s on a Sunday. These seasonal markets are where the best restaurants in L.A. buy their produce, where you can indulge in your love for cheap eats, and where cartons of avocados and farm fresh eggs seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. Beyond culinary fare, some of the farmers’ markets feature unique goods like vintage clothes and jewelry, used books and vinyl records. Check out our picks for the best farmers’ markets on the Westside, in Central L.A., toward the East and in the Valleys, then grab your

“Malibu tends to astonish and disappoint those who have never before seen it,” Joan Didion once wrote in The White Album, “and yet its very name remains, in the imagination of people all over the world, a kind of shorthand for the easy life.” The water may not be as turquoise blue as Newport Beach, nor the sand as pristine as Carmel by the Sea up north, but the built-up, carefree surfers’ mythos around Malibu continues to make the coastal city a playground for bikers, surfers, Jonah Hill and people who just want to go to the beach.  When it comes to restaurants, Malibu offers some of the freshest seafood—surprise, surprise—but there’s so much more than yellowtail jalapeno sashimi at Nobu Malibu and fish ’n’ chips. Along the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll find some of L.A.’s most iconic coastal dives and patios by the water and cozy spots for Thai takeout and breakfast burritos, plus a few beloved old-school joints closer to the Santa Monica Mountains. Here’s our guide to eating through Malibu like a local—we hope you brought your appetite, and maybe some sunscreen. RECOMMENDED: Find more in the best of Malibu

Rent, inflation and interest rates may be sky high, but Los Angeles remains a city where you can find great food without breaking the bank, and we’re not just talking about a Double-Double at In-N-Out. While every dollar counts for cash-strapped customers and small businesses alike, we’ve seen consumer inflation drive prices at many of our favorite cheap eat spots go well over this guide’s longtime $10 target, particularly after factoring in sales tax and tip—so we’ve decided to update our maximum price to reflect that.  $15 might unfortunately be the new $10, but L.A’s best budget-friendly dishes are still as delicious as ever. From bowls of piping hot ramen to our favorite street foods, including the best al pastor taco citywide (ordered three to six at a time), here are our favorite L.A. dishes under $15. With tax and tip, that’s still a full meal for under $20. Editor’s note: It’s now harder than ever to find a meal for under $15. Many of our longtime favorites like Dino’s and Sapp Coffee Shop have raised their prices, so we’ve gone ahead and removed their signature dishes—though they’re still fairly affordable spots. I‘ve added some new additions in the San Gabriel Valley (Yunnan and Red 99), Hollywood (Luv2Eat Express), Koreatown (Pollo a la Brasa) and Sawtelle (Tigawok) that still stay in the $15 and under range.

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

For thousands of years, humans have craved cacao-based treats and delicacies—the 16th-century European iteration of that being the chocolate most people in the United States know and love today. Whether you’re shopping for a gourmet holiday gift (always a delicious Valentine’s Day go-to) or just hoping to score a sweet treat of your own, these L.A. chocolate shops will be there to facilitate a sweet, dopamine-spiking reprieve from modern life.

Guided by the values of depth and simplicity, this minimalist coffee shop in Echo Park, Hollywood and Long Beach (plus two others in Orange County) offers an extensive, well-curated menu of caffeinated beverages. At any given moment, Stereoscope offers a handful of pourover options for the connoisseurial crowd, but both shops also serve sweetened lattes and milk drinks, ceremonial grade matcha and a surprisingly robust selection of artisanal loose-leaf teas. Co-founder Leif An is a certified Q-grader—essentially, specialty coffee’s answer to master sommelier—and the emphasis on handpicked, high-quality beans is reflected in every cup brewed on the premises. Originally founded as a wholesale roasting company, Stereoscope also sells retail bags and monthly coffee subscriptions for those who want to recreate the Stereoscope experience at home.

There are dozens of different ways to get a caffeine fix in Koreatown, but Document Coffee has stood the test of time with a solid pourover selection, six impeccably crafted house signatures, and over a dozen kinds of tea. Founded in 2014, high ceilings and photographs of regulars give the minimalist shop the feel of an art studio, which is what owners Sojung Kwon and Byoungok Koh originally intended to use the space for. Document doesn’t have much in the way of seating (maybe ten or so stools, max), but the drinks made here are leagues above the typical Asian-style cream top drinks and sloppily made cappuccinos ubiquitous in the densely packed neighborhood. For pourovers, the shop makes it a point to source single-origin beans from multiple roasters, including Calgary’s Phil & Sebastian and Baltimore’s Ceremony Coffee. Those more inclined to tea like yours truly will appreciate Document’s take on a London Fog, whose lightly calibrated sweetness brings out the subtle, almost citrus-y flavor of bergamot.

This unassuming Palms coffee shop is the only American brick-and-mortar of the Little Marionette, one of Sydney’s most interesting small-scale roasters. Originally founded in 2010, the company prides itself on producing ethically sourced, manually roasted coffee beans. As with roasting, the baristas here put just as much care and attention in the brewing of every cup, whether you're opting for Australia’s classic flat white or the Vegemite cream top latte (not as gross as it sounds, I promise). The minimalist space only offers a few tables and chairs, but the simple, high-quality drinks stand out, particularly on the Westside, a region with just a handful of destination-worthy coffee options.

Technically, Damo isn’t a coffee shop, but this Koreatown tea speciality is one of the only places in town that makes a truly excellent matcha latte worth noting. Lodged in the usually busy Oxford Center Plaza, both parking and seating can be quite cramped, but those willing to exercise some patience will find equally worthy modern and traditional expressions of tea. Trendy, dessert-like einspanners come in multiple flavors, including hojicha (roasted green tea) and chocolate forest. Those who snag a seat can also appreciate the expertly brewed loose leaf teas alongside nibbles of dagwa, or traditional Korean tea snacks. For a less hectic experience, I recommend coming here early and avoiding weekends; Damo opens at 8am, with minimal reprieve from the crowds even on weekday afternoons.

The winter edition of Dine L.A. is back from January 24 to February 7, with hundreds of restaurants participating in the two-week blitz of bang-for-your-buck set menus. Scattered among the prix-fixe tradition’s dizzying full list of menus are some of L.A.’s best restaurants offering their signature fare at a more budget-friendly price point. Before you make a reservation, check out our list of the best lunch and dinner deals the event has to offer. In light of the recent fires, LA Tourism is donating $5 per reservation made to the American Red Cross, which will be matched by Banc of California.

The Reel Inn was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. To contribute to the restaurant’s indefinitely out-of-work employees, the owners have set up a GoFundMe. Follow the Reel Inn on Instagram to keep informed of the restaurant’s efforts to rebuild. This classic seafood shack at the bottom of Topanga Canyon has been around since 1986 and boasts the sort of genuinely divey, no-frills atmosphere that’s increasingly hard to find anywhere. There’s shrimp tacos, clam chowder and all kinds of cooked-to-order fresh seafood for those hoping for classic beachside fare, but even the pickiest eaters will find something on the sprawling menu of soups, sandwiches, salads, tacos and quesadillas. The large, family-friendly outdoor area and approachable prices have made it beloved by locals for decades. The fact Reel Inn is next to prime Sunday Funday destination Rosenthal Wines doesn’t hurt the restaurant’s popularity either—it’s the perfect place to tuck into a solid meal after a few rounds of wine tasting.

Focaccia—or if you want to get technical, schiacciata—sandwiches are all the rage in L.A. right now, and very few match the consistency, excellence and daily availability of chef-owner Mikael Choukroun’s relatively new Italian sandwich shop at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. All of the bread is made fresh daily, with new loaves coming out of the oven every two hours. High-quality ingredients run the gamut from classic cured meats like guanciale and mortadella to flavorful chunks of tuna conserva and herbed goat cheese. It’s worth the pit stop (and a fairly tricky parking situation) to pick up one of these hefty sandwiches, which run in the $17 to $27 price range but are easily split among two diners. You can also put half into the fridge for dinner or lunch the next day. My favorite item is the Viale Di Parma, which consists of prosciutto di parma, fig jam, creamy gorgonzola, baby arugula and chopped pistachios.

Super, indeed—this tiny Woodland Hills lunch staple is beloved far and wide for its maximalist sandwiches stuffed with everything from the likes of pastrami, bacon, provolone, grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, jalapeños and spicy mayo (the L.A. Street Pastrami) to lean roast beef, bacon, turkey, ham, provolone, cheddar, avocado, pickles, mild peppers and more (the Flying Dutchman). For four decades and counting, Dan’s Super Subs has offered an encyclopedic menu of handhelds in both regular and jumbo sizes. The no-frills dining room gets packed during lunchtime, so if you’re in a hurry, it’s best to order ahead online or over the phone.

Hui Tou Xiang's namesake oblong-shaped potstickers are a glorious study in the beauty of simplicity, and while this original San Gabriel shop may not stand in the crowded 626 dumpling scene, the Hollywood location is a breath of fresh air from the area's more tourist-geared offerings. Stuffed with pork or beef, the hui tou are juicy and delicious with a splash of black vinegar and soy sauce. You'll also find wontons, soup dumplings, noodle soups and dry noodle dishes on the menu, plus traditional appetizers like seaweed salad and scallion pancakes. For a walk on the milder site, order the egg and tomato noodle—a nearly universal Chinese comfort food.

Some of my earliest San Gabriel Valley dining memories date back to this local chain (Monterey Park, Rowland Heights, San Gabriel and Oak Park), beloved by the Chinese diaspora across Los Angeles for its tantalizing counter full of cold items, which includes chilled seaweed, smashed cucumbers, pork kidneys, pork ears, chicken feet, wood ear mushrooms and more. You can choose up to three generously portioned items per plate for  takeout or eating right on the spot, but the extensive dine-in menu begets even more culinary treasures: Yunnan-style “crossing the bridge” noodles, a mild, soul-warming meal for two that comes with a rich chicken broth and a colorful plate of assorted toppings; a surprisingly competent Sichuan dry pot beef; bouncy mung bean noodles topped with peanuts; and Chongqing (a subspeciality of Sichuan) spicy fried chicken. For those who love spice, vinegar and bold flavors, Yunnan is the rare place that truly can do it all.

Spice fiends flock to Sichuan Impression on either side of the city, probably because its founders—Chengdu natives Lynn Liu and Kelly Xiao—serve a jaw-dropping selection of Sichuan dishes that’ll keep you slurping up hot-and-numbing wontons, noodles, salads and entrées no matter how spicy it gets. Both the Alhambra and West L.A. restaurants (plus another outpost in Tustin) build upon familiar options such as mapo tofu and kung pao chicken, and feature harder-to-find items like mung bean jelly tossed in chili oil; wok-fried crab; and the “party in a pot” Leshan bobo chicken pot. Somewhat of a rarity among other Sichuan restaurants in town, Sichuan Impression also offers desserts, including a brown sugar rice cake, and pumpkin mochi wrapped around red bean paste.

This casual Hong Kong-style café in San Gabriel and Rowland Heights serves an affordable Chinese breakfast menu (available 8–11am) plus a wealth of well-executed cha chaan teng classics like stir-fried beef udon, pineapple buns and salt-and-pepper fried tofu. Every style of noodle we’ve tried here has been excellent, from the wonton soup to the decadent flat shrimp-roe noodles which are served dry with protein choices like beef belly and pig feet. Be sure to order the cheung fun (steamed rice rolls), which come to your table soft, velvety and ready to be doused with sweet soy sauce. However, I don’t recommend coming here with more than six; unlike Chinese banquet-style dining rooms, the tiny no-frills space isn’t particularly suitable for large groups.

At press time, life-threatening, unchecked wildfires have yet to be contained in Los Angeles. The two largest ones, Palisades (which has since spread to Malibu) and Eaton (which has destroyed much of Altadena and threatens Pasadena and La Crescenta-Montrose), are currently at 19 percent and 45 percent containment, respectively. The evening of January 7, the day both fires began, Mayor Karen Bass declared a citywide state of emergency, freeing up extra resources and allowing for more efficient coordination between city, state and federal agencies.  I’ve spent my entire life in Los Angeles and these are the most destructive fires I’ve seen in my lifetime. Along with the Palisades and Eaton fires, smaller but equally frightening fires have broken out in Sylmar (Hurst Fire), Studio City (Sunswept Fire), the Hollywood Hills (Sunset Fire) and Woodland Hills (Kenneth Fire). Though all have since been contained, another round of Santa Ana winds in the coming week may test the containment statuses of the ongoing wildfires. While the city grieves and those permanently displaced from their homes, workplaces, houses of workship and schools figure out their next move, I’ve begun assembling a list of restaurants destroyed by the natural disaster all over town. Some were initially reported by the Los Angeles Times. I am also including fundraising links for anyone wishing to contribute to specific recovery and rebuilding efforts. We won’t know the full extent of death, injury and property da

With multiple wildfires across L.A. County, it’s safe to say that this week has already been far from normal. High-speed winds, which have mostly died down for now, had been worsening conditions on the ground for firefighters and other first responders. Tens of thousands of Angelenos have already been displaced, with the largest fires—Eaton and Palisades—at only single-digit percentage points of containment, plus the logistical whiplash of the smaller Sunswept and Sunset fires, and the ongoing Kenneth and Hurst fires.For anyone displaced by the fires, however, a handful of L.A. restaurants are stepping up to the plate with free meals and shelter available. January 13 update: This news article is no longer being updated. For the most up-to-date information, please see this continuously updated guide. Restaurants offering free meals and relief during the fires Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time Out Bar Etoile (East Hollywood) This French-ish eatery and wine bar will be open for dine-in service tonight, albeit with a limited menu, and anyone who has been displaced by the fires is invited to come in for a free meal on the house—message Bar Etoile on Instagram for further details.  Photograph: Stephanie Breijo for Time OutLemongrass-pork bánh mì from Bé Ù Bé Ù (Silver Lake) Today, this Vietnamese staple on the border of Silver Lake and East Hollywood will offer free meals to any fire evacuees and first responders until 3:30pm. The affordable menu includes vegan and alle

Predicting the future is usually a losing game, but the end of the year tends to turn most of us working in media into wannabe psychics—and I’m no exception. Out of the 10 anticipated new restaurants I highlighted last year, just five of them actually opened, with little news on whether projects like Sushi Nakazawa (from New York City) and Jônt (from Washington, D.C.) will actually come to fruition. Some of these to-be-realized restaurants are probably still in the works, but I’ve chosen to highlight 10 other entirely new projects I’ve gleaned word of throughout the last twelve months. Next year, plenty of well-known local names are leveling up with tasting menus and spinoff projects, while a few notable out-of-towners will attempt to plant a flag in the city’s competitive restaurant scene. Most importantly: Will the Westside finally get a modernist House of Pies? Only time will tell. Until then, check out my guide to the 10 biggest L.A. restaurant openings to know for 2025. Photograph provided by JFOODO 1. Ki Anticipated opening: JanuaryThis Little Tokyo fine dining destination comes from namesake chef Ki Kim, the mastermind behind now-closed Kinn in Koreatown. Housed in the same basement level space as Sushi Kaneyoshi and Bar Sawa, this minimalist intimate chef’s counter will host a $285 Korean-influenced tasting menu—a much higher price point than Kinn, which Kim told Eater he hopes will allow for better staff compensation. It’s worth noting that Ki will be run by the s

It’s been a year, readers! As we near the end of 2024, it’s time to reflect on the meals we savored because the only thing we want to remember about the last 12 months is the best things we ate. (Isn’t it always about the food?) Time Out editors and contributors across the country spent countless hours eating their way through their respective cities, reviewing restaurants, and dissecting trends to bring you this year’s Best of the City Award for Best New Restaurant. It’s a coveted title bestowed to the special spots that won our hearts and swept up accolades, not only from us but also from Michelin and other eagle-eyed diners. If you find yourself in any of these cities, now or in the future, add these fantastic new restaurants to your list. Miami: Sunny’s It’s hard to do many things well, but Sunny’s somehow manages to excel at all its endeavors: a fun happy hour spot, a glamorous Art Deco steakhouse, a chill outdoor restaurant (and dare I say, kid-friendly?) and a lively cocktail bar where you can order a drink and bowl of pasta without any side glances from your neighbor. We also love the tableside martini service and the down-to-earth staff, and, of course, those perfectly seared cuts of meat. Photograph: Jeanne CantoSunny's Steakhouse Chicago: Cariño This Latin American restaurant opened at the tail end of 2023 but quickly became an essential player in Chicago’s dining scene. Recently, Cariño was awarded a Michelin star, a nod our restaurant critic, Maggie Hennessy, i

For the last three years, Marcus Christiana-Beniger and Eunah Kang Beniger of Little Jewel in Chinatown have been slowly, steadily renovating the vacant storefront next to their New Orleans-inspired sandwich shop into an everyday cocktail lounge. Now, after months of permit-related delays, the Evangeline Swamp Room is opening to the public on Friday, December 13. Inspired by the iconic dives and cocktail bars of the French Quarter, the casual 50-seat bar will serve a menu of traditional Southern drinks and dishes associated with the Crescent City. In the new year, the couple also has plans to roll out a lively jazz brunch on the weekends.  Photograph: Jesse Hsu for Time OutBusiness partner Evan Mack (left), Eunah Kang Beniger (middle) and Marcus Christiana-Beniger (right). For Christiana-Beniger, a New Orleans native, the Chinatown bar is an homage to all the places in the French Quarter he once snuck into as a teenager. He draws a parallel between L.A.’s Chinatown and NOLA’s French Quarter. Both are historical neighborhoods frequented by an eclectic mix of locals, tourists and sports fans. The aim with the Swamp Room, as the couple abbreviate the bar’s full name, is to be a neighborhood watering hole. This translates into classic cocktails like mint juleps and French 75s at everyday prices ($12–18), plus a TV behind the bar to watch the latest game. Housed in a 144-year-old building, the Swamp Room preserves the space’s original bones, albeit with a heavy dose of Southern

Do people these days even know what nightlife is anymore? That was the only question I could ask myself after paying two distinct visits to Andy’s, rapper and record producer Anderson .Paak’s new jazz and R&B club in West Hollywood. The celebrity-owned restaurant, bar and performance space opened in late September, taking over the ground floor of the former Doheny Room. Replacing the short-lived Sa’Moto, the project is a collaboration between .Paak and Houston Hospitality, the group most recently behind Vegas-style bar, restaurant and nightclub concept Level 8 in Downtown L.A. A self-described “restaurant lounge,” Andy’s promises a “one-of-a-kind” experience that combines the “nostalgic vibes of the 1970s” with “modern energy.” The venue’s website also says to expect live music and food. Photograph: Daniel Carranza for Time Out If you’re thinking about checking it out, you won’t be alone. On the recent Friday night I visited, the line for Andy’s at 11pm nearly snaked past Dan Tana’s, the famous red-sauce joint next door. I saw several other well-dressed groups of people flocking to the area on foot, most likely on their way to Andy’s; aside from the Troubadour there are no other bars and nightclubs in the immediate area. The hype around celebrity-owned businesses is real. I went into Andy’s both nights without much in the way of expectations beyond there being live music in the house and the promise by the venue’s publicist, after my first so-so visit, that the venue live

If all goes according to plan, internationally acclaimed pie shop Pizzeria Sei will move from Pico-Robertson to Palms by September of next year. Chef-owner William Joo, who runs the spot with his wife, Jennifer So, confirmed to Time Out that the couple have signed a lease on a ground floor restaurant at the corner of Overland Avenue and Tabor Street. Since opening in February 2022, Pizzeria Sei has won the hearts and minds of local and national critics, myself included, with its chewy, Tokyo-style crust and high-quality toppings; the eatery also picked up national recognition earlier this year from 50 Top Pizzas in the United States, coming in at number eight in the country. Even more recently, Sei was named one of the best pizzas in the world. Not too shabby for a city that some people (cough, lots of East Coast transplants) claim doesn’t have a single good pizza. All of these accolades have come while Joo has cooked and served pies out of a tiny, fairly spartan space along Pico Boulevard with limited seating and nonexistent decor. Now, the couple behind Pizzeria Sei have plans to move their restaurant a few miles west to a larger indoor-outdoor space at the bottom of a mixed-use apartment building. Since the building is still under construction, Joo said the earliest he and his wife would likely be able to open the new space is next September. Until then, Pizzeria Sei will continue to operate at its existing address. While Sei will still serve its original style of pizza, J

From pints of Thrifty ice cream to freshly baked apple pie, the newly revived Helms Bakery in Culver City has it all. Since reopening last Friday, Sang Yoon’s softly opened daytime destination has drawn Angelenos from near and far eager to explore everything the long-awaited bakery, restaurant and specialty market has to offer. People love a reboot, and what's not to love about the reimagining of a bakery that closed over 50 years ago? Photograph: Daniel Carranza for Time Out On the fourth day of service (which unfortunately happened to be the day after Election Day), I stopped in and tried over 24 different food and drink items with the help of Time Out videographer Danny Carranza. Not everything bowled me over, but a few culinary standouts are capable of competing with some of the city’s best bakeries and sandwich shops—and even those that didn’t still serve as compelling options for a breezy, casual Westside brunch.  As previously reported in Eater, the founding chef of Father’s Office and now-closed Lukshon confirmed to me in person that Helms Bakery intends to keep new items coming out of the kitchen throughout the day. Key Takeaway #1: Once the initial hype dies down, you don’t necessarily need to get here early in the morning to get the good stuff. As someone who’s wasted hours of my life showing up early to wait in line for overhyped spots like Fondry, Modu Cafe and Harucake (yes I am throwing shade here), I consider that the downright greatest feature of the new He

Churrería El Moro will open in Los Angeles next spring, as first reported by Eater. It’s not the beloved 89-year-old Mexico City churro shop’s first location in Southern California, however; El Moro opened an outpost within Costa Mesa’s Mercado Gonzalez last November, marking the churrería’s first expansion into the United States. In Los Angeles, El Moro will take over the Patra Burgers space in Echo Park, with plans to open by the end of May 2025. The longtime burger joint will operate within the building until the end of this year before closing for renovations to make way for the churro shop.Known for late-night hours, signature white-and-blue branding and, of course, extremely delicious churros, all of El Moro’s 16 locations also feature glass windows that allow customers to watch every step of the process that goes into making each craggy, sugar-dusted fritter. The company’s CEO, Santiago Iriarte, said the choice to open in Echo Park is intentional. The neighborhood has long been home to a large Latino community, some of whom might be familiar with El Moro from trips to Mexico City. “We’re searching for our core nostalgic customer,” the third-generation owner told Eater. After L.A., Iriarte is also considering further expansion into the United States and possibly elsewhere. Where to next, you might ask? Potentially Nevada and Texas.El Moro Costa Mesa is located within Mercado Gonzalez at 2300 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa. The company’s only U.S. churrería is open from 6am to

If you love (literally) breathtaking natural beauty and delicious cuisine, you might want to plan a trip in the fall or spring to Santa Fe, one of the oldest cities in the United States. (It’s beaten only by St. Augustine, Florida and tied with Jamestown, Virginia, which was founded in 1607.) Located about an hour’s drive northeast of Albuquerque, New Mexico’s state capital sits in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A mix of desert and mountain terrain, plus relative proximity to hot springs and other roadtrip destinations like Taos and Los Alamos, make the city an excellent starting point for visiting the Land of Enchantment. I took a recent press trip through the city’s tourism board to attend the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta. The annual celebration of wine and New Mexico’s famous hatch chiles spans several days and draws wineries from all over the American West and beyond, but that’s not even close to being on the list of reasons I’d tell you to visit the City Different. Last year, American Express Travel named it one of the top alternative destinations to visit in 2024, positioning Santa Fe as an alternative to Sedona, Arizona with a “similar blend of American Southwest culture, history and natural beauty.” Photograph: Shutterstock  While I’ve never been to Sedona, I can tell you that Santa Fe offers all three of those things (minus Arizona’s over-Instagrammed red rocks). The city’s thriving collection of art galleries and museums, relatively walkable an

Have you ever wanted to enjoy a white tablecloth experience before noon? From October 18 to 20, Dunkin’ is teaming up with American Express to promote its newly added $84 yearly cash-back credit for Gold cardholders. During the weekend pop-up held at 8900 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, the coffee-and-doughnut company will serve Döňůt by Dunkin’, a $100 12-course fine dining breakfast that you can book on Resy. The full-service experience consists of three premium beverages (with some booze included) and a mix of never-before-seen items and slightly fancier versions of the multinational chain’s beloved menu staples. Amex Gold cardholders can book the same experience for $25 less. The menu is as follows: Pumpkin Muffin Bite Sungold Avocado Toast Poutine Style Hash Browns Mini Bagel Breakfast Sandwich Crème Anglaise Donut Golden Royale Spiked Refresher Mimosa Scotch Egg Fresh Fruit Salad infused with a Dunkin’ Mint Tea Syrup Horchata Iced Coffee Coffee Milk Ice Cream Donut Banana Chocolate Chip Loaf Petit Four Spiced Cold Brew Old Fashioned Fast food gone highbrow? Here’s hoping it fares better than this past weekend’s widely panned ChainFEST at ROW DTLA, which the Los Angeles Times recently blasted in a scathing first-person review. While we can’t personally vouch for the quality of Dunkin’ and Amex’s limited-time tasting experience, a few scattered reviews from the recent NYC version of the pop-up seem to be positive. @oneilthomas97 Got to stop by the @American Express

It feels like everyone and their mother is going to Japan these days. If you’re dreaming of Tokyo and find yourself stuck in Los Angeles this weekend, Mitsuwa Torrance is hosting a Toyosu Market Fair, complete with a live filleting of a bluefin tuna and a variety of premium sashimi and saku (sashimi block) cuts sourced from Tokyo’s Toyosu, the largest wholesale seafood market in the world. Not familiar with Toyosu? It’s the bigger, more wholesale-oriented alternative to the tourist-friendly Tsukiji Fish Market, and home to one of the highest-profile bluefin tuna auctions in the world. Every morning at the crack of dawn, fish buyers place bids on the frozen catch, with small cuts of each fish eventually making their way to sushi bars and restaurants around the world. Yes, this includes L.A., where top sushi restaurants like Sushi Kaneyoshi in Little Tokyo, Atwater Village’s Morihiro and Gardena’s Sushi Sonagi source most, if not all, of their fish from Japan.  In addition to other types of fish, shoppers will be able to buy cuts of bluefin from the live cutting, which will happen at 1pm on both Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. Witnessing the filleting of the roughly 200-pound specimen is likely the closest thing you can get to visiting Tokyo’s Toyosu or Tsukiji fish markets without hopping on a plane. If you’re looking for more ways to channel the Land of the Rising Sun in L.A., might we also suggest visiting one of L.A.’s stunning Japanese gardens or a day trip to