The November Hit List: Horses, Cobi’s, Barbrix, Superba, and More

The former Ye Coach & Horses (more recently The Pikey) is now a California-centric bistro thanks to new owners, celebrated chefs Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian (Mimi, Freedman’s, The Catbird Seat). Now the duo hope to breathe some joie de vivre into the refreshed iconic space with things like endive Caesar salads, roast chicken, an excellent burger, and subtle twists on cocktail classics. The vibe is lighter and brighter, but the history (and ghosts, we hear) is all there.

For nearly 50 years, Manhar and Margaret Patel ran Dhaba in Santa Monica, but have recently passed the torch to Cobi Marsh (Cobi’s Curries) and Lance Mueller (E.P. + L.P.) to take over. The two ran Cobi’s Curries out of their Koreatown kitchen until landing this new Westside space, bringing with them Southeast Asian-inspired street food, everything from gado gado to nasi goreng — and, yes, a lot of curries — plus natural wines and crisp Asian lagers. With a fresh new look and a constant flow of soul and reggae beats in the background, it’s a hip new bright spot along Main Street.

This cozy Silver Lake hideaway is the neighborhood restaurant everyone wished they had nearby, a place where regulars outnumber newcomers, the wine flows easily, and you never have to guess about the menu. Now serving mostly Italian dishes, there’s everything from bacon-wrapped dates to meatballs, pizza, and pastas, plus grilled branzino and charred steaks should you need to share. Two more big changes: the square bar that begged for lingering over a bottle (or two) is now a wine shop for drop-in and takeaway purchases, and the patio has taken over the parking lot.

One of Mexico City’s most popular taqueria chains has finally landed in the U.S., with Los Angeles as the natural pick for its first location. Bringing their famed tacos a la plancha to Hollywood, you’ll find handmade corn tortillas wrapped around spicy homemade chorizo, chicharon, marinated pork, and even a few vegetarian and vegan options with tofu crema. Most are served with grilled onions and salsa of choice, but whatever you do, do not miss the maja, a crispy, cheese-crust taco. Seriously.

If you thought the Hearth & Hound space, which was open for a blip after transforming Hollywood’s iconic Cat & Fiddle into April Bloomfield’s first L.A. restaurant, would go to waste, think again. Superba Food + Bread has moved in with its first location east of the 405, turning the gorgeous indoor and outdoor restaurant into a sprawling all-day concept with an oyster bar, cocktails, open-fire cooking, and even a walk-up coffee counter for the mornings. Like the original, things are particularly veg-heavy here — kale salads, crispy brussel sprouts, hearth-roasted eggplant — but there’s also a mean fried chicken sandwich and pork Milanese, too.

With its elaborate market-style seafood display and giant salt crystal sculpture on the wall, the splashy New York-based Mediterranean restaurant fits right in with the Golden Triangle vibe. Although you can get everything from saganaki to sea bass souvlaki, this isn’t your typical Greek taverna, that’s for sure. 

Wes Avila’s Chinatown restaurant, named for two birds he saw fighting in the Los Angeles River one day, started with a small but mighty daytime menu, only patio seating, and a walk-up window for ordering. Now, almost a year later, he’s added an indoor dining room and new dinner hours (Friday and Saturday only), which means the chance to get things like scallop and uni tostada tostadas, which take you back to his original Guerrilla Tacos truck days; grilled prawns with bone marrow butter; and chile relleno with chicken, golden raisins, and tomato salsa. That’s in addition to the tortas, tacos, and burritos it’s known for. Watch Instagram for specials.

Throw chopsticks in any direction and you’ll hit a sushi bar on the Westside, but they’d be hard-pressed to land on this intimate little counter that lives in a former storeroom off the renovated lobby of the Fairmont Miramar hotel. Stop here for well-plated nigiri, rolls, and a few appetizers like miso soup and cucumber salad from Hokkaido-born chef Masa Shimakawa. It’s called a pop-up but feels like it’s not going anywhere — in addition to the eight counter seats, a few tables and communal seating also are available by reservation.

Thanks in part to the building’s good bones (it was a former garment building), this Highland Park bistro’s comfortably chic look — long marble bar with bottle-filled shelves to the ceiling, exposed wood beams, leather banquettes and bistro chairs — makes it feel like it’s been there forever. And thankfully, after the whirlwind year-plus of pandemic hell, it’s still there. The menu features familiar, seasonally changing salads and handmade pastas, plus extras like Moroccan fried chicken and a great burger. The wine list is flirty and fun, and there’s now a sidewalk patio for outdoor seating. For a nightcap, slip in back to Good Housekeeping for a cocktail.

No hotel can open without a rooftop deck these days, and the new Thompson Hotel is no exception. The view: Hollywood in all its glory, from the Walk of Fame to the famous sign, all the way to DTLA. Among the dining options is this poolside spot for casual (or even working, solo) lunches — the menu is kept light and manageable with everything from crudo to cauliflower, burgers, and a few cocktails. Stay long enough, and you can roll right into Côte d’Azur vibes at Bar Lis, which shares the rooftop.

This wine bar helped boost the East Hollywood nightlife quotient big time when it opened in 2016, and it’s finally back to serving seven days a week as the pandemic recedes. It’s just a great bar: The walls look more weathered than they should (on purpose), and the booths are spacious. The small menu is incredibly wine-friendly, and friendly bartenders are there to help you choose between Czech chilled reds or biodynamic Champagnes, sake or cider, or just a great glass of Sancerre. Watch Instagram for the myriad specials, like DJ nights, live jazz, and burger pop-ups. And for anyone in the Valley, keep an eye out for the North Hollywood location opening soon.