The August Hit List: All Time, El Granjero Cantina, Lasita, and More

After doing only takeout for the last 17 months, the Fairfax original is back open for indoor and — bonus — new patio dining. The L.A.-via-NYC Chinese menu still holds favorites like Cantonese knishes, chow fun, and No Name duck, along with those “foo foo” drinks everyone loves. And as always, the jade marble Lazy Susans will be turning.

After many many pivots — groceries, pizza, rotisserie, and bagels — Tyler and Ashley Wells have reopened for in-person service, bringing all that they’ve learned over the last year and a half with them. That means coffee, baked goods, and a new takeout window (or casual seating on the patio) during the day, and candlelit dinners, housemade pastas, and whole branzino at night.

The Original Farmers Market has a new cantina, this one a bright and festive spot for papas fritas, braised beef dorados, hibiscus tlayudas, and clarified palomas on tap. El Granjero is a part of the Frtizi Coop family, from John Moshay and chef Neal Fraser, which is also open at the market. It’s colorful and cool, with indoor and outdoor seating that flow into each other.

The Wagyu burger chain continues to grow throughout L.A., but this latest location might be the best, if only because it’s on the water at Pier 44 at Boardwalk Marina del Rey. Get a double or triple burger loaded with cheese, onion jam, and housemade pickles, hand-cut fries, a slice of really good pie, and milkshakes — all with a view. There’s also a fried chicken sandwich made in collaboration with the famed Willie Mae’s Scotch House from New Orleans. Bonus: HiHo’s sibling Italian restaurant, Uovo, has also opened in the complex serving up fresh pastas and amazing water views.

There’s no shortage of ramen in this town, and even when it’s hot, a bowl of noodles hits the spot. At this DTLA spot, traditional dishes get a modern twist, like bowls of rich tonkotsu or vegetarian ramen topped with charred and flowering vegetables, karaage chicken rice bowls, and spicy crab chilled noodles. There’s also a pretty fun natural wine list to explore, including some funky pét-nat choices.

The Hollywood hidden gem kept its neighborhood full during the pandemic with a marketplace and plenty of takeout. Now it’s back to full service in the dining room and plates of housemade ricotta and a side of meatballs, bowls of cacio e pepe or carbonara, and a spot-on Negroni or three. P.S.: the newer Valley sibling in Sherman Oaks is currently serving pizza and pasta in a parklet while the interior gets built out.

Direct from Seoul, this Korean barbecue newcomer — new to L.A., that is; the original restaurant was founded in 1964 — ups the ante for sizzling grilled meats in Koreatown. With high ceilings, cool light fixtures, and built-in grills on wood tabletops, the design might feel like a sleek steakhouse, but the prime cuts of beef, sauces, and direct-from-Korea specialties are all KBBQ. The restaurant currently doesn’t accept reservations, so expect a line.

Seeing the L.A. skyline from 71 floors above Downtown is indeed one of the sexiest things about the stunning restaurant atop the U.S. Bank Tower building — and it’s exciting to see it again. Details around the dining room and lounge are just as compelling, like the way the sunset glow hits hexagonal brass sculptures on the ceilings, or subtle references near the windows pointing to far-off and close-in neighborhoods. The curved room offers a perch for every mood: lingering dinners for two, post-work drinks with friends, and nightcaps before the evening ends.

Sometimes a hotel restaurant is just a hotel restaurant. Other times, it’s a place to watch summer night movies with prosciutto-topped pizza, carpaccio, and cocktails. Cinema Nights at Mr. C take place every Wednesday starting at 7 p.m., with the movie starting at sunset. Reserve a lounger seat, get a prix-fixe menu, and save room for the popcorn and sweets that come along with it.

Open for nearly 30 years, summer nights at the beach wouldn’t be the same without this forever favorite in the Malibu Country Mart. Beloved by tourists and locals alike, both famous or not, the bougainvillea-lined patio is perfect for people watching with a side of spanakopita, charred octopus, pastitsio, and saganaki — the flaming cheese that comes with a hearty round of “Opa!” from the staff.

When one door closes because of a pandemic, another opens with a gorgeous new sunset-colored dining room, extra patio, and rotisserie chicken and pork. The team behind Lasa transitioned their highly regarded Filipino restaurant in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza  into this new rotisserie concept featuring dishes like chicken inasal and pork belly lechon, both served with garlic mojo and toyomansi, sides of tamari-glazed long beans or pickled vegetables, and an always on-point natural wine list. Get there early: right now it’s first come, first served seating only.