The Resy Hit List: Everywhere In L.A. You’ll Want to Eat in May 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in Los Angeles: a monthly-updated (and now expanded!) guide to the restaurants in that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Los Angeles Not to Miss This Month
- Restaurants for AAPI Heritage Month. There are many ways to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with L.A.’s bounty of restaurants like Lasita, Joseon, Little Fatty, Cobi’s, Budonoki, Cali Chili, and Anajak Thai, among others. Plus, read up on Crustacean’s enduring legacy of Vietnamese fusion cooking, and learn why Jilli has become the new hotspot for Korean drinking food.
- Get Your Outdoor Dining Fix. A hallmark of L.A.’s dining scene is its bevy of al fresco restaurants. With spring well under way, check out the newly updated Resy Guide to Outdoor Dining that includes the glitzy Grandmaster Recorders rooftop in Hollywood and breezy Mediterranean vibes of Mon Ami in Santa Monica. Read about a hidden patio gem, Le Great Outdoor, in this Resy Spotlight.
- French Bistro Vibes in West Hollywood. Venice hotspot Coucou has expanded with a second, larger location—complete with a breezy, jasmine-lined patio—in West Hollywood, just steps away from the Troubadour. In addition to on-point martinis and freshly shucked oysters, the French-Californian bistro’s is offering new treats, like an escargot flatbread and weekend brunch service. Find more new restaurant openings on Resy here.
- Fine Dining for Mother’s Day. Treat your mother to an opulent four-course brunch on May 12 at Gucci Osteria. The Michelin-starred Italian restaurant that sits atop the Beverly Hills Gucci store is helmed by chef Mattia Agazzi under the guidance of world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura. The feast includes optional wine and cocktail pairings. And check out more Resy Events here.
New to the Hit List (May 2024)
Michael’s Santa Monica, Azizam, Poltergeist, N/Soto, Colette.
1. baroo Arts District
When chef Kwang Uh and Mina Park unveiled their third iteration of Baroo last summer, the fermentation-driven Korean restaurant looked strikingly different from its previous stripped-down (as in, strip mall) versions. The couple took their time revamping and refining. As a result, the Baroo of today is remarkably warm for a dining destination, and continues to dish out some of Los Angeles’ most innovative food. Upon arrival, each diner is presented with a beautifully engraved box bearing chopsticks, a seven-course menu of seasonally-informed dishes, and the option to add a beverage pairing. For $110 a head, it’s a steal that everyone living in (or visiting) Los Angeles should take advantage of.
2. N/Soto Mid-City
Think of this as the little sister to N/Naka, the Michelin-starred Japanese kaiseki restaurant that“Chef’s Table” propelled to fame nearly a decade ago. N/Soto, which got its start as a pop-up before finding a permanent home in Mid City in April of 2022, is much more casual than its zen-like counterpart. Similarly helmed by chef-owners Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama, it focuses on upscale izakaya fare that runs the gamut from sushi to grilled meats to comforting rice bowls. Its stalwart dishes include a miso-baked bone marrow paired with a pan-fried umeboshi onigiri, and agedashi mochi punctuated by tempura-battered shiso. The inventive cocktail program incorporates Japanese ingredients and spirits, and includes a robust non-alcoholic drinks menu that shouldn’t be missed.
3. Azizam Silver Lake
When Azizam owners Cody Ma and Misha Sesar began hosting pop-ups in 2021 that showcased their homestyle Persian and Iranian cooking, they quickly gained a loyal following. That eventually led to the opening of their permanent Silver Lake location in February. At their casual counter-service restaurant, popular dishes like kofteh tabrizi, a baseball-sized beef and rice meatball studded with dried stone fruit and walnuts, have become a mainstay. While its cozy sage green patio surrounded by hanging plants is a welcome spot for solo diners, it’s worth getting a group together to get a chance to sample all the winning dishes, including house-baked barbari flatbread dotted with sesame and nigella seeds, and a flaky and creamy Shirini Napeloni dessert layered with seasonal jam.
No reservations. Find more info here.
4. Dudley Market Venice
Fisherman-owned and operated is not a distinction you’ll find often in Los Angeles, perhaps anywhere besides Dudley Market. Situated mere steps from the Pacific, this beachy Venice restaurant is known for its seafood, of course, which changes based on what’s freshly caught (and, oftentimes, aged on-site). Expect oysters, sashimi and crudo, steamed shellfish, fish tacos, and, because Dudley is for the people, a burger. The wine program is a major focus here as well, functioning as an additional draw for Westside scenesters. Do note, that from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday, the restaurant plays host to Hooked—champion barista Nicely Abel’s overperforming coffee shop—and serves as a lovely setting to enjoy a cup.
5. Soban Koreatown
Upon entering Soban, your eyes dart to the giant tubs of fermenting foods that line the bar. These are the building blocks of this homey Korean restaurant’s cuisine, where the three signature dishes are galbi jjim (braised short rib), eundaegu jorim (braised black cod), and ganjang gejang (soy-marinated raw crab). Pick one to share—or several if your party is four or more—alongside an order of the exemplary seafood pancake. Soban is women-run and family-owned, both facts that can be felt in the cozy dining room. (It’s also where director Bong Joon Ho famously celebrated alongside his cast after winning Best Picture for Parasite in 2020.)
6. Langer’s Deli MacArthur Park
The #19 sandwich at iconic deli Langer’s is a rite of passage for … well, for anyone claiming Los Angeles as home. Pastrami, which the 77-year-old deli brines, smokes, and steams in-house, is complemented with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on rye. It is excellent. Still, the famed sandwich is only part of the appeal at this old-school MacArthur Park institution. There’s also the steamy matzo ball soup station, the crinkle-cut French fries, and the lifelike paintings that date back to 1968, to name a few more. Langer’s will never change, and it never should.
No reservations. Find more info here.
7. Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen Eagle Rock
Prior to the arrival of Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen in Eagle Rock last fall, one had to travel to Little Ethiopia to satisfy a craving for tibs, wat, and injera. Now, Yvette and Russell Platoff, career chefs who have long dreamed of opening their own spot, have Eastsiders lining up to eat with their hands. Despite the restaurant’s small footprint, the interior is thoughtfully put together, with details like zebra-print chairs, tree trunk tables, and a green-tiled bar. As for what to eat, heed your server’s advice and spring for a vegtable combo, plus a protein of choice. Finish with a scoop of berbere ice cream, which highlights Ethiopia’s distinctive spice blend in surprising and delicious fashion.
8. Colette Pasadena
While the San Gabriel Valley has a bounty of Cantonese restaurants, Colette stands out for its modern take on the cuisine. The Pasadena restaurant was previously an American-style breakfast joint before completely revamping its menu in November of 2022, when chef Peter Lai (formerly of San Gabriel’s Embassy Kitchen) took over the kitchen. The change put the restaurant on the map as one of the few places to get crispy stuffed chicken, a specialty dish of air-dried and fried chicken skin pressed atop springy shrimp paste. As upscale as some of the dishes can be, the restaurant’s vibes are casual, even with an airy patio surrounded by plant walls and picnic benches.
Call 626-510-6286 to make a reservation.
9. Quarter Sheets Echo Park
Chef Aaron Lindell and pastry whiz Hannah Ziskin are a culinary couple that compliment one another quite well. Case in point: Quarter Sheets, their pizza and cake restaurant that puts childlike joy front and center. The pizza is crunchy-crispy, chewy, and high on flavor — loosely inspired by the pies of Detroit, but really, it’s Lindell’s own Los Angeles-style invention. (Quarter Sheets serves bar pies, too, on Wednesdays and Sundays.) The cakes come in Princess and seasonal slab form, alongside other ever-rotating desserts, like ice cream and pie. Both Lindell and Ziskin are masters of their craft, and their pairing is about as perfect as it gets.
10. Queen St. Raw Bar & Grill Eagle Rock
Chef Ari Kolender had an immediate hit in Found Oyster, the tiny East Coast-style seafood counter he opened in 2019, serving raw bar platters and lobster bisque rolls. Then, last year, the chef unveiled his sophomore restaurant Queen St. in Highland Park, bringing us yet another stellar seafood destination—and this time, with more seats (meaning reservations, too). Here, Kolender hones in on his Charleston roots with Southern-leaning dishes such as hushpuppies with trout roe and Cantabrian anchovy and tomato bread pudding, in addition to certified crowd-pleasers like yellowfin tuna frites. Sheralyn’s Derby Pie, a decadent chocolate-pecan number, is the chef’s grandmother’s recipe. Order it à la mode.
11. Mariscos Jalisco Various
12. Jitlada Thai Town
From Northern Thai Food Club’s herb-flecked sai ua to Ruen Pair’s crispy egg salad, Thai Town brims with fantastic, fiery fare. Of the neighborhood’s countless restaurants, however, Jitlada shines through for its masterful execution of a sprawling, 400-dish menu and its buoyant atmosphere. Magazine features, newspaper reviews, hand-drawn cartoons, and trinkets from Thailand fill every inch of space across the restaurant’s two dining rooms, and every night of the week, tables are packed with diners sharing big bottles of Singha and entirely too much food. Order as much as possible from the dedicated Southern Thai “real chili, real spicy” section, but do get the crispy morning glory salad and the taepo duck curry. Jitlada has been open since the late ‘70s and owner Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong is a local celebrity in her own right.
No reservations. Find more info here.
13. Pijja Palace Silver Lake
Only in Los Angeles does a cheffy Indian sports bar in a Silver Lake strip mall make sense. Namely because L.A. is home to Avish Naran, an Indian kid from Echo Park who grew up on wings, pizza, the Dodgers, and the Lakers, and who as an adult combined those passions into the whirlwind that is Pijja Palace. The chef at the helm is Miles Shorey, an ideal match for bringing Naran’s personal history to the plate. His crispy dosa batter-fried onion rings, crushable aloo tiki sliders, and spicy Goan sausage-topped pies are unlike anything you’ve had before. Come with an appetite, revel in the game-time energy, and make sure to ask about off-menu specials.
14. Tsubaki Echo Park
In a city brimming with salads, Tsubaki’s Japanese Caesar — laced with bonito threads, nori, panko, and miso-parmesan dressing — is a strong contender for the best. Their charcoal-grilled chicken oyster skewers, dabbed with yuzu kosho, are a bona fide signature L.A. dish. Simply put, chef Charles Namba’s food at this compact Echo Park izakaya is consistently dynamite. But the sake list adds a whole new dimension: Namba’s partner is Courtney Kaplan, whose sake expertise and dedication to craft breweries is showcased here and at next-door sake bar, Ototo — whose sake program was the first to win a James Beard award. Take your time reading Kaplan’s descriptions; “sake whisperer” doesn’t even begin to describe her work.
Make a reservation here.
15. Poltergeist at Button Mash Echo Park
Poltergeist is so singular that it’s impossible to pigeonhole it into any culinary category. The unrestrained Echo Park restaurant led by chef Diego Argoti, who also runs the Estrano pop-up and has worked in the kitchens of Bestia and Bavel, offers an amalgamation of global flavors, including Southeast Asian, Italian, and Latin American. The green curry bucatini, kicked up with the flavors of a pistachio muhammara and apple chutney, and the Thai Caesar salad—a frisée dressed with lemongrass and plated with a towering green-speckled puffed rice—exemplify the familiar-yet-surprising flavors Argoti plays with. And the fact that the restaurant sits inside of Button Mash barcade, where guests dine amid the dings and clacks of vintage pinball machines and blaring punk rock, is nothing short of a perfect pairing.
16. All Time Los Feliz
Weather, produce, lifestyle, nature. These are some of the most common factors that drive people to Los Angeles, and All Time embodies all of them. Citrus and fig trees line the perimeter of the entirely outdoor dining room, part of which is fashioned like a greenhouse. Simple, satisfying California cooking is served all day, starting with an exemplary berry scone and an expertly crafted breakfast burrito in the morning, followed by an enormous leafy salad (appropriately dubbed the “Good Ass Salad”), burrata toast, crispy fish over rice, and lots of wine in the evening. As a bonus, All Time is also minutes away from the entrance to Griffith Park, making it a wonderful place to unwind after a hike. As an additional bonus, The Cook Book of All Time was just released in April, and captures the effortless chic of the restaurant on the page.
17. Michael’s Santa Monica Santa Monica
Michael McCarty was one of the pioneers of the California cuisine movement, alongside game-changers like Alice Waters, Jeremiah Tower, and Wolfgang Puck. Ever since his eponymous Santa Monica restaurant opened in 1979, McCarty’s been bringing in a wealth of talent, including big-name chefs like Nancy Silverton, Sang Yoon, and Brooke Williamson. Executive chef Job Carder is now running the show, honoring tradition by focusing on fresh, local, and seasonal produce, and bringing new heavy hitters to the menu, like housemade pappardelle with aged wagyu bolognese and grilled loup de mer with morels and fresh garbanzo beans. The garden patio is one of the most charming spaces at Michael’s, but make sure to check out its impressive collection of fine art inside.
18. Botanica Restaurant Silver Lake
Soon after opening in 2017, Botanica swiftly cemented its status as a Silver Lake staple for its vegetable-centric cooking and its shop-within-a-restaurant utility. Owned by former food writers Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling, the restaurant is at once bubbly and soothing, with a transportive patio to boot. And although it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, from Wednesday through Sunday, it offers a whole lot: baked goods in the pastry case, three meal services a day, a full bar, and a tinned fish-focused happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. The latest big news out of the kitchen is the arrival of the Botanica burger—grass-fed beef with pink chicories, pickled shallots, aioli, salsa verde, and goat gouda on pan de mie—the restaurant’s first ever in seven years of operating. It’s very tasty and very on brand.
19. Angelini Osteria Beverly Grove
Angelini is tried and true, a Beverly Grove staple by Italians, for Italians. It’s also for all lovers of Italian cuisine, which, who isn’t? Humming on Beverly Boulevard since 2001, this classically-styled osteria, overseen by chef Gino Angelini and his wife Elizabeth, is known for its lasagna verde and tagliolini limone. Other very nice dishes include the warm swordfish carpaccio, chopped salad, and fried zucchini flowers in tomato sauce. The atmosphere is charmingly weathered and European-feeling, both inside and out, and the regulars are manifest. It’s ideal for date night, dinner with in-laws, a business lunch, or even a chic solo vibe. Do note, portions are small, so order more, then share it all.
20. Alta Adams Adams Blvd
Photo courtesy Alta Adams
“California soul food” is how chef Keith Corbin describes his cooking here, which pulls from West Africa, the South, and Los Angeles itself. That translates to cornbread with honey butter, spicy purple sweet potato soup, fried chicken with Fresno hot sauce, and oxtails and rice, in the tight-knit community of West Adams. The dining room is cozy and warm, with colorful printed pillows to lean on, and art curated by next-door gallery Band of Vices. Cocktails are a highlight, too, including a “teenie tini flight” of three 1.5 oz. martinis, and a Cognac-based sour with candied yam syrup and spiced sweet potato liqueur.
Photo courtesy Alta Adams
