The 10 Restaurants That Defined L.A. Dining in 2022

Nobody saw a cheffy Indian sports bar in a Silver Lake strip mall coming, until it arrived and almost immediately hit the ball out of the park. Since opening this past summer, Pijja Palace has become one of the hottest tables in town, and for good reason: the food is thoroughly inventive and downright delicious, and the dining room is vivacious, too (in part due to the many TVs livestreaming a multitude of sports). Once you’re in, get the malai rigatoni, but also try the dosa-battered onion rings, green wings, and lamb nihari and shells. Throw in a pijja, of course, too. Look out for lunch hours in 2023.

When a team of seasoned industry vets come together to revive a beloved past project, chances are high that it will succeed. And operator and wine expert David Rosoff and the chef Chris Feldmeier have success with Bar Moruno 2.0, their Spanish-ish Silver Lake stunner. Dave Kupchinsky is the bar manager here, and his cocktail program — think salmon martinis and Iberico old fashioneds — is a huge draw. As for food, don’t miss the pan con tomate, candied olives and almonds, or the tortilla española, among other larger format treats.

It’s no surprise that Evan Funke’s lavish Hollywood debut is a hit. After all, his other pasta temple — Felix, in Venice — remains wildly popular at five years old. For Mother Wolf, Funke and his team pull out all of the stops with a dining room awash in marble, brass, and shades of red, and an amaro cart that’s wheeled around as a complement to dessert. Come for the pastas (particularly the spaghetti all’arrabbiata), stay for another Negroni, and be sure to slip in an order of the pizza rossa — and the stuffed and fried squash blossoms, too.

Anajak is not at all new. In fact, this Thai staple has been slinging stir-fried noodles and spicy curries in Sherman Oaks since the early ‘80s. But this year, a few seasons after chef Justin Pichetrungsi took over from his father Ricky, Anajak hit it big. And rightfully so: after instating a killer natural wine list, collaborative Thai Taco Tuesday nights, and omakase meals while also keeping the classics up to speed, the younger Pichentrungsi is getting the credit he deserves. Set some Notifys, and get over there.

This year, Kato came back, bigger and better than ever before. Now in an airy, tranquil setting in the Arts District, chef Jon Yao crafts his ambitious Taiwanese-influenced tasting menus five nights a week for significantly more diners than his original West L.A. location could fit. The cocktail program is new at Kato 2.0, too, and has plenty to offer, including a milk punch made with boniato yam shoyu, an umami-loaded byproduct of the kitchen’s yam miso production. If you’re someone who has yet to try what Kato has to offer, consider treating yourself to find out.

Over the course of this year, Quarter Sheets has firmly cemented itself as a full-blown pizza destination, coming a long way from its roots as a pandemic-era pop-up sensation. At Aaron Lindell and Hannah Ziskin’s charming Echo Park pizzeria, a dose of childlike joy complements the slices, pies, slabs, and edges — and we’re not just talking about pizza, we’re also taking about cake. The princess cake lives up to the hype, and so does everything else here. Bonus points for also having wine.

Find more info here.

Cobi’s opened late last year and has since become the rare West side restaurant that East siders will travel for. Why? For one, the Southeast Asian menu is unlike anything else in town, with highlights ranging from raw kanpachi in a pool of finger lime, green chile, and coconut dressing to beef rendang topped with crispy shallots and complemented by gulai sauce and spicy sambal. The vibe, too, which is lively and decidedly floral (wallpaper, chandeliers, and mismatched dishware, and all), is a major draw, no matter where you’re coming from.

Now well over a year old, Horses remains L.A.’s ultimate see-and-be-seen hangout, so long as you can nab a table. It’s where in-the-know out-of-towners want to go when they visit, and it’s a prized pick for birthday dinners. Luckily for everyone who can’t get enough, the team unveiled a new outdoor dining room this past fall, with a fresh menu to boot. The cuisine is in the same vein, but instead of pasta there are pizzettes, plus warm dates stuffed with soppressata, and a beef carpaccio-topped lavash that might just exceed the salmon version served indoors.

With Saffy’s, Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis of Bestia and Bavel have expanded their empire outside of the Downtown area to great success. Now in East Hollywood, the accomplished couple are dishing out next-level hummus, shawarma, kebab, and bergamot chocolate cake with rose ganache nightly, in addition to pastries and coffee in the mornings at the attached next-door café. The latest addition to the Saffy’s universe is an Arabic breakfast spread, served at the latter, on weekend mornings, when you’ll have an easier chance at walking in.

Find more info here.

After opening its flagship Chinatown brewery and taproom in the summer of 2021, Homage added a top-notch food menu to the mix at the beginning of this year. Between the kitchen — which is helmed by chef Jasmine Ramirez and serves scallop crudo, masa-battered fried chicken sandwiches, and an excellent cheese plate — the ever-evolving beer lineup, the selection of natural wines, and the regular DJ nights, it’s a hot spot that deserves to be even hotter next year.

Find more info here.

Ojai’s culinary scene has been the talk of the picturesque town over the past year. Out of a handful of exciting new openings, Rory’s Place takes the cake for its playfully stylish approach to wood-fired California cooking. Run by two sisters, Rory and Meave McAuliffe, the cozy and colorful restaurant specializes in hyperseasonal preparations of local seafood and charcuterie, flavor-forward veggies, and bright, hearty mains. Dinner here is worth the 80-mile drive up from L.A.