Saso's salmon carpaccio.

The January Hit List: Ditroit, Madre, Citizen Public Market, Saso, and More

By Lesley Balla January 7, 2021

A new year always brings promise — to right the wrongs of the prior one, to forge a new path, to stay positive and healthy. Of course, that’s easier said than done during a pandemic. California was hit particularly hard with COVID cases at the tail-end of 2020, and mandates kept dining rooms and even outdoor seating closed.

For many Los Angeles restaurants, takeout and delivery continue to be the sole way of feeding customers. The beauty of that is: Every craving can be sated with the quick click of a button. From stunning omakase to fried kimchi balls, fish flautas, activated charcoal smoothies, and grilled certified wagyu steaks, find everything you need to kick off 2021 on January’s Hit List.

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1. Madre Restaurant and Mezcaleria

Fairfax District

Like his two other restaurants in Torrance and Palms, chef Ivan Vasquez celebrates everything Oaxaca at this West Hollywood outpost. His salsas are made with unique Oaxacan chilies, there’s mole made from the pechuga fruit, and an impressively large selection (more than 400) of small-batch mezcals he picks up on visits to Mexico. This location also has a wood-burning oven, which means more charred meats and vegetables for the tacos, burritos, tlayudas, and so much more.

Dining status: Order for pickup from the takeout window or delivery here.

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2. Gigi's

Hollywood

Gorgeous on the inside, this new tucked-away Hollywood spot isn’t too glam for takeout: The pivot here is more or less from bistro to boulangerie, with sandwiches like pan bagnat, jambon beurre, and country pâté (plus, yes, a cheeseburger on a Martin’s bun) available via walk-up window or delivered.

Dining status: Get ordering info for takeout and delivery here.

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3. Haewah Dal

Long Beach

While small in stature, this Belmont Shores spot is big on Korean flavors. When it first opened, chef Jake Jung offered ambitious contemporary tasting menus. But with the pandemic, he switched to more soulful (and beautiful) bites like kimchi arancini, bulgogi, radish-wrapped crab rolls, and silky tofu stew.

Dining status: Call 562-343-7749 to order for pickup or takeout. Find more info here.

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4. Ditroit

Arts District

Damian’s back-alley taqueria is serving up tacos filled with squash al pastor, or ayocote and chard; fish flautas; quesadillas; esquites; and mole tamales. Don’t forget soft serve, paletas and churros for dessert. Because there’s a parking lot, just let your car be your dining room.

Dining status: Order in person at the window, which is located behind the restaurant, down the alley next to H.D. Buttercup.

5. Sestina and LA-Zen

Culver City

From the guy who brought Plant Food + Wine to Venice, you get two plant-based restaurants in one at this Culver City spot. Sestina features vegan takes on things like radiatore with smoky shiitake and tempeh sugo, and butternut ravioli al fredo, plus wood-fired pizza. There’s also a Chinese menu from Matthew Kenney’s pop-up LA-Zen, a concept currently in development. Consider this for nights when you can’t decide between pasta and Kung Pao cauliflower — just get both.

Dining status: Find Sestina ordering info for takeout and delivery here; and LA-Zen here.

6. Saso

Padadena

Taking over the space adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse, chef Dominique Crisp takes you on a tour of Spain’s Basque country via California. The menu features things like Navarre-style grilled steaks, mussels with charred leeks and Basque sausage, salmon carpaccio, and Jamon Iberico sandwiches. Of course there’s Basque-style cheesecake, only here it’s made with matcha and beet syrup. Don’t miss the cocktails, and order a Txakolina or two.

Dining status: Get info for takeout and delivery here.

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7. Great White

Venice Beach

A new year usually means a new plan to start eating healthier, and this Aussie-owned cafe has everything you need: Activated charcoal smoothies, blue-algae bowls, avocado toast, harvest salads, and lots of immunity-boosting buzzwords (turmeric everywhere). When it’s time to indulge, pizzas, fish and chips, beer, and naturally-tilting wines await.

Dining status: Find info, including specials if you order via the app, here.

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8. Sunset Sushi

Silver Lake

Another pandemic-era opening, this spot takes over for Ma’am Sir in Silver Lake. A sibling to Highland Park’s Ichijuki, look for thoughtfully crafted chirashi boxes, rice bowls, rolls, and nigiri sushi. Both chefs Kazuhiro Yamada and Yoshi Matsumoto were born in Tokyo, so they know their way around their well-sourced bluefin tuna, saba, and amaebi.

Dining status: Find menus and ordering info here.

9. Majordōmo

Chinatown

Some of the best news of the year is that Majordōmo has expanded hours to include lunch, which means smoked pork-shoulder ssam, chicken-salad bing wraps, grilled duck kebabs, and fried oxtails with salsa seca are available all day. The menu now also includes fried chicken, the whole-plate short rib, DIY kimchi fried rice kits, plus cocktails and select wines.

Dining status: Find all to-go info here.

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10. Angelini Alimentari

Fairfax

Everything that Gino Angelini is known for at his more casual, all-day offshoot — salads, sandwiches, and especially gelato — is available for takeout, along with Osteria favorites like lasagna verde, branzino with chopped tomatoes, and torta della nonna. It’s a win-win all around.

Dining status: Takeout menus are available daily. Call 323-297-0070 ext. 1 to order pickup, or check out one of the various delivery platforms. Get all the info here.

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Bonus: Citizen Public Market

Culver City

With a spacious outdoor area, this food hall is pandemic-ready. What’s currently available in the redesigned historic space: Pies from Nancy Silverton’s Pizzette (finally available on the Westside); shellfish galore from The Jolly Oyster (finally available without having to drive 90 miles); housemade sausages and burgers at The WEHO Sausage Company; and coffee and pastry pickups at goodboybob. You can get full day’s meal plan in one fell swoop.

Dining status: Order at any of the counters in person; delivery available from individual vendors. Get more info here.

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