The August Hit List: Queen St, Ubuntu, Dante and More

Queen St., the sophomore restaurant from chef Ari Kolender of Found Oyster fame, is now open in Eagle Rock, and even better, this one takes reservations. The focus here is still on seafood, but with a Southern bent that pulls from Kolender’s Charleston, South Carolina upbringing. Get the umami-packed anchovy and tomato bread pudding, the bbq’d Gulf shrimp with Calabrian chili oil, and definitely don’t miss Sheralyn’s chocolate-pecan Derby pie for dessert.

Critics flocked, then oohed and ahhed, to Cadence, the vegan soul food restaurant in New York that chef Shenarri Freeman opened back in 2021. But Freeman has always had a thing for L.A., and this month, she announced her West Coast arrival with Ubuntu, in partnership with vegan uber-restaurateur Ravi de Rossi. Her brand-new WeHo restaurant is inspired by recent travels in Africa, specifically Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana, and features dishes like jackfruit yassa, curry jollof arancini, suya, and charred okra salad. Go early.

Dante, the award-winning cocktail bar from New York, has landed in Los Angeles, with fittingly epic views for its new West Coast debut. Perched on top of Beverly Hills’ Maybourne Hotel, admire the city, the mountains, and the Griffith Observatory while sipping an excellently crafted Garibaldi or martini (or the bar’s signature “fluffy” orange juice instead). There’s a full food program, too, of Mediterranean-inspired fare ranging from oysters to salads, pastas, pizzas, and mains.

The most exciting place to eat lunch in Los Angeles right now is Perilla, a new banchan shop from chef Jihee Kim in on the border of Echo Park and Chinatown. Out of a tiny converted garage, she stocks an array of eye-catching banchan to go, including her signature rolled egg-and-seaweed and melon-and-cucumber kimchi, serves extraordinarily good kimbap with Korean hot mustard, and dishes out hot dosirak lunch boxes. The shop is flanked by a spacious courtyard, so grab food and catch up with a friend, or bring your computer and post up for a while.

No reservations. Find more info here.

Hot collab alert: Hometown heroes Tuk Tuk Thai and San Francisco’s Turntable at Lord Stanley are now operating a new pop-up space for chef residencies in West L.A., on Sawtelle. Their first guest? Chef Eric Huang, who is well-known in New York for the Sichuan chili fried chicken he serves at his Brooklyn restaurant Pecking House. Try it for yourself, alongside dirty fried rice, Cheddar cornbread, and heirloom butter bean salad, through September 17.

No reservations. Find more info here.

Dudley Market in Venice is not only an festive-feeling oyster bar and seafood restaurant, it’s also home base for a team of commercial fishermen who run their own fleet and distribute their super-fresh catch to other restaurants across the city. Recently, they’ve been fishing giant tunas, which can be enjoyed here as sashimi, crudo, and tataki. Other chefs across the city are serving it, too — including at Queen St. and Yess — but come here for a taste straight from the source. 

Since opening late last year, Cafe Triste has become one of the best places to drink natural wine, snack on little bites like fancy toast and charcuterie plates, and generally see and be seen. And recently, they’ve added some fun new offerings to the mix, from oyster nights and rotating ice creams like cherry garcia and mint chip to parties with local bands and DJs. Stay tuned to the wine bar’s Instagram for the latest happenings.

No reservations. Find more info here.

Santa Monica is now home to a new seasonal tapas spot from the chef Sandra Cordero (Gasolina Cafe) with plenty of pintxos and small plates to share. On the menu are jamón croquetas, pan con tomate, patatas braves, fideos negro with calamari, steak with salsa verda, and much more. And to drink, there are aperitivos (try the Calimoxto with red wine and Coke), Spanish beers on draft, an abundance of natural-minded wines, sherries, and vermouth from regions such as Galicia, Catalonia, and the Basque Country.

Temple City might not be the first place that comes to mind when you’re in the mood for oysters, but consider The Dive the next time you’re craving seafood. This Cajun and Creole restaurant sources their bivalves from Baja, California and offers them raw, fried, and in a traditional pan roast. They also specialize in jambalaya, gumbo, and Cajun-spiced chicken wings, in a lively space strewn with hanging plants, oceanic murals, and occasional live music.

It’s only natural to pine for soft serve in the summertime. When the craving hits, head to Sherman Oaks to get a chocolate-vanilla twist (we like a sprinkle of sea salt, too) from local truck CVT. If the Valley is too far or too hot, CVT recently launched individual soft serve pouches, which are available in Gelson’s and Bristol Farms across the city, with more retailers to come.

No reservations, locations may vary. Find more info here.