The January Hit List: Ka’teen, Clark Street Diner, Quarter Sheets, Petit Trois, and More

Combine a menu crafted by Los Angeles legend Wes Avila with a dining room that’s entirely outdoors and you’ve got an opening that’s easy to get excited about right here, right now. Avila made his mark on the city with uni-topped tacos at Guerilla Tacos, and more recently with his inventive take on L.A. street food at Angry Egret Dinette, but with Ka’teen, he’s going big. His tuna aguachile, scallop ceviche tostada, cochinita pibil, and lamb neck barbacoa are crafted in the spirit of ancient Yucatán cuisine and served on a patio lush with tropical plants, woven bamboo, and heat lamps galore.

It was a grim moment for regulars of Hollywood’s beloved 101 Coffee Shop when, within the first few days of 2021, the diner announced it wouldn’t be reopening. Luckily, last year ended on a high note when the popular Clark Street Bakery brought the cozy space back to life, keeping its interior intact and many of its former team members on staff. Best of all, the appropriately lengthy menu is bolstered by Clark Street’s expertise in pastries and sourdough bread, from challah French toast to salad-stuffed sandwiches, plus burgers, Benedicts, biscuits, and bagels.

One of L.A.’s most popular pop-ups — the pan-style pizza and slab cake duo of Quarter Sheets and House of Gluten — is kicking off 2022 with a brick-and-mortar to call their own. These days, you can find Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin serving slices of their respective signature Detroit-and-Sicily-inspired pizzas and seasonally-informed layer cakes and pouring wine from their brand-new Echo Park shop. More info here.

It’s never a bad time for cheesy French onion soup, buttery escargot, and steak bathed in au poivre, but winter is a particularly good time to luxuriate in Ludo Lefebvre’s bistro classics. And the corner pocket of a North Highland Ave. parking lot is a cozy and careful place to do so. The original location of Petit Trois is a foolproof choice for outdoor dining. 

Whether you’re craving an oversized breakfast burrito with silky scrambled eggs, the grilled salmon bowl with avocado and sushi rice, or a thick slice of burrata-and-tomato toast followed by lamb ragu over housemade cavatelli, All Time’s charming patio is open every day for every meal. The portions here are generous, so come with an appetite no matter the hour.

A giant bowl of MDK’s knife-cut noodles in homemade broth warms the body and the soul. Pro tip: It’s also known to work wonders on a hangover. Newbies should go for the spicy chicken loaded with springy noodles, mixed Korean vegetables, ground chicken, and pork dumplings unless you’re a vegetarian — then try the cold spicy mixed kalguksu noodles (hold the side of chicken broth). More info here.

Jon & Vinny’s can’t stop, won’t stop, and their most recent location in View Park is now open for business. That means residents of South L.A. can get their fix of mozzarella sticks, Ham & Yeezy pizza, and rigatoni cacio e pepe without having to make the trip to Brentwood or Fairfax. It also means the third location of Helen’s Wines. A heated, blonde wood-paneled patio is in the mix for those looking to dine al fresco.

The Dear John’s crew was able to secure another year on their lease on account of the pandemic, but now the clock is ticking until their time is up in April 2022. So get in on the old-school fun while you still can. Your Caesar salad will be tossed tableside, your chicken Parm will come Kiev-style, and your tater tots will be showered with caviar, salmon roe, crème fraîche, and chives. But first, martinis.

Most of Lolo’s popularity can be attributed to its sultry aesthetic and carefree energy, its simple yet satiating pastas, and its personality-driven wine program. But some of it is also due to the fact that besides the bar room, the restaurant is an outdoor (read: virus-safe) affair. Head to the wine room to pick out a bottle, and don’t miss the grilled prawns. More info here.

Pork dumplings, barbecue spare ribs, mu shu chicken, cold sesame noodles, walnut shrimp, and vegetable fried rice. That’s one of a million combinations at Genghis Cohen, and a great order for the table. This New York-style Chinese spot is a vibey pick for a group dinner, and they have al fresco tables to boot.

On January 6th, The Dutchess opens in Ojai — a bakery, café, and Burmese restaurant from baker Kate Pepper (of the elusive Kate’s Bread fame), restaurateur Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon Group), chef Saw Naing (formerly Tallula’s), and pastry chef Kelsey Brito (Milo & Olive). In other words, a reason in and of itself to head north for the weekend and sample Burmese chicken skewers, lamb biryani, and plenty of baked goods. Make a Resy now and book everything else later.