The Resy Hit List: Everywhere In L.A. You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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 expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Los Angeles Not to Miss This Month
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A Steakhouse with a Twist: Beloved Los Feliz restaurant Kismet will be celebrating its eighth anniversary by swapping its normal Californian-Mediterranean menu for a chophouse theme from New Year’s Eve to the end of January. Expect chef-owners Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson to add their own flair to classic dishes like steaks, shrimp cocktail, and Caesar salad. Reservations are now open for Kismet Steakhouse on Resy.
- Gatherings for a Group: L.A. is full of great restaurants, but finding the perfect place for a large group is an age-old conundrum, especially at this time of year. Fortunately, we’ve put together a handy list of hot restaurants for big crowds, from a Southern-style seafood haven to a Tulum-like Mexican hotspot with an impressive mezcal list. Check it out, and read more Resy Guides here.
- A Hot New Wine Bar: When the owner of L.A.’s influential wine shop Domaine L.A. opens a wine bar and restaurant with an extensive list of over 200 bottles, accompanied by nouveau bistro fare in swanky digs, you know it’s a recipe for success. Editor Jamie Feldmar gets down to the nitty gritty of everything you need to know about Bar Etoile. Read about it, and pore over more Rundown stories here.
- Where to Splurge: In a city that has so many tasting menus and fancy dinners, it can be hard to narrow down which restaurants are worth spending the big bucks for. That’s why we’ve compiled a nifty guide for those celebratory meals, including lauded spots that pay homage to Roman cuisine, Japanese kaiseki fare, and family-style Korean meals. Check out more Resy Guides here.
New to the Hit List (Dec. 2024)
RVR, Wildcrust, A Tí, Mala Class, Ètra.
1. RVR Venice
There’s much buzz surrounding RVR (pronounced “River”), and for good reason. Not only is the Japanese-Californian izakaya a welcome return for acclaimed chef-owner Travis Lett (formerly of Gjelina and MTN) after a years-long hiatus, but it also hits the mark with excellent food and drink, plus cool vibes (think a wall full of vinyl records). Executive chef Ian Robinson, formerly of Skippa in Toronto, prepares an exciting menu of hyper-seasonal dishes influenced by farmers markets (grilled Japanese sweet potato dressed with miso butter and showered with katsuobushi), binchō-tan charcoal-grilled meats and seafood, and handrolls that play with everything from bluefin tuna to natto. And the dynamic wine program, from Maggie Glasheen (formerly of Anajak Thai), is not to be missed.
2. Pijja Palace Silver Lake
This endlessly popular Indian-Italian sports bar is the kind of unicorn restaurant that could only be created in L.A. Nestled in a strip mall shared with a Comfort Inn, it’s a unique mashup (complete with hip hop and R&B on the speakers) devised by owner Avish Naran and chef Miles Shorey, who’ve taken a Desi approach to Italian American classics. The heavy hitters like the malai rigatoni — a creamy, tomato masala concoction — and green chutney pizza with a fenugreek-laced sauce are still as strong as ever. But we continue to advise that you make room for specials, turmeric and masala-spiced chicken wings, and refreshingly unique cocktails with ingredients like tamarind-infused rye and mango lassi.
3. Mala Class Eagle Rock
It’s not often that you’ll find a stellar Sichuan restaurant outside of the San Gabriel Valley, let alone one in Eagle Rock. That’s what makes Mala Class a unicorn of sorts. As its name suggests (mala is the numbing sensation from Sichuan peppercorns), chef-owner Michael Yan and partner Kevin Liang, both formerly of New York’s Han Dynasty, are here to teach you a lesson in heat—and they’re wonderful teachers. The complex flavors of spicy dishes like aromatic beef noodle soup and dan dan noodles keep you coming back for bite after bite, despite the sweat on your brow, and even the non-spicy items like cumin-flecked enoki mushroom fries are a wonder. The cheerful space, behind a green-hued facade, with verdant plants as decor, make Mala a casual spot for a date or catch-up.
No reservations. Find more info here.
4. Tonchin LA Hollywood
It’s a blessing that L.A. gets its very own Tonchin. The upscale ramen chain that started over 30 years ago in Tokyo first created a buzz stateside in New York and now continues its legacy with its first West Coast location in Hollywood. Tonchin is known for hand-kneading wavy and springy noodles from scratch, and simmering a much lighter, dashi-forward tonkotsu broth than some other ramen shops. But our favorite is the smoked dashi, a unique bowl you won’t easily find elsewhere, with the saline kick of clams, smoked fish oil, and tobiko fish roe. Its kakigori desserts are the perfect end to a meal, with refreshingly cold and fluffy shaved ice shrouded in flavors like ceremonial-grade matcha and red bean paste with a house-made honey cream.
5. Tsubaki Echo Park
When you pass by Tsubaki and see people huddled outside waiting for their table, you might feel a pang of envy, knowing they’re about to have one of L.A.’s best dining experiences. There’s a secret sauce to this modern izakaya’s success: chef-owner Charles Namba’s exciting Japanese-meets-Californian cooking (from a beloved panko and miso dressing-laced Caesar salad to crispy latkes topped with dry-aged salmon and coated in a yuzu scallion crème fraiche) and an impressive sake list curated by his partner Courtney Kaplan (who snagged a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine & Other Beverages for their adjacent sake bar Ototo). The warm and inviting space, with floor-to-ceiling windows and brick walls, is casual and intimate, great for dates and catch-ups with loved ones.
6. Kuya Lord Melrose Hill
Even though Kuya Lord occupies a tiny 28-seat restaurant along a bustling section of Melrose Avenue, its presence is anything but small. Chef-owner Lord Maynard Llera (previously of Bestia) turned his Filipino pop-up, featuring southern Tagalog cuisine, into a brick-and mortar that recently earned him a 2024 James Beard award. Here, humble rice bowls are transformed into artworks, especially when paired with his signature dishes like lucenachon, an impossibly crisp-skinned Duroc pork belly that’s a marriage between Filipino lechon kawali and Italian porchetta. It’s a labor of love that takes a week to make. While you’re there, complete the meal with grilled blue prawns swimming in a garlic-crab sauce, and calamansi pie topped with a swirl of whipped pandan cream.
No reservations. Find more info here.
7. Holy Basil – Atwater Village Atwater Village
Ever since Holy Basil’s early pop-up days in 2020, the Bangkok-style street food restaurant has pushed the envelope of Thai cooking in L.A., and gained an ardent following as a result. (Case in point: Food & Wine recently named chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat, who owns the restaurant with his wife Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon, as a Best New Chef this year.) It has since expanded to a stall in a Downtown food hall and a vibrant new 20-seat spot in Atwater Village. Arpapornnopparat crafts complex flavors that run from slight departures on the familiar — like an expertly wok-kissed pad see ew made with vermicelli — to the totally surprising, like a garlic-heavy wild shrimp aguachile that’s dressed with tomatillo and makrut lime.
8. danbi Koreatown
9. Belle’s Delicatessen & Bar Highland Park
With Belle’s Bagels’ reputation as the ultimate grab-and-go bagel shop in Highland Park secured, it made sense that the launch of its long-awaited Delicatessen & Bar would be one of the most exciting openings in L.A. The 60-seat all-day restaurant is a throwback to the delis of yore, with comfy brown leather booths and walls covered in framed photos that pay homage to famous Jewish delis throughout the country. The menu has grown to include fabulous sandwiches like a Reuben with hot pastrami, scallion latkes, and schnitzel plates (that come in both chicken and mushroom versions). At night, the bar plays with classic cocktails, having fun incorporating ingredients like fresh deli herbs and onion bagels into the creative drinks.
No reservations. More info here.
10. Ètra Melrose Hill
Come to this popular Italian spot on any given weekend, and you’ll see throngs of people waiting outside, glasses of wine in hand, waiting to be seated. Once inside the moody, minimalist space (right next door to equally adored daytime counterpart Café Telegrama), the knowledgeable staff guides diners through the menu, helmed by chef Evan Algorri, formerly of New York’s Lupa, Marea, and Bouley. Don’t miss the pastas—especially the creamy rigatoni guanciale number—the charred pork chop rubbed in porchetta spice, and a tonnato-forward beef tartare that will keep you smiling throughout the night.
11. Bridgetown Roti East Hollywood
Chef Rashida Holmes has built a fervent following for her pop-ups (even snagging a James Beard Award nomination in 2023), and her first brick-and-mortar further cements her already-stellar reputation. Across the street from Los Angeles City College, the vibrant Caribbean restaurant serves buttery rotis wrapped around curry shrimp aloo and flaky patties stuffed with curry-braised oxtail. It’s the little details that make dishes sing, like housemade spice pastes and seasonal cocobread sandwiches served on custom-baked bread from Cafe Tropical in Silver Lake. Holmes (previously at Botanica) draws inspiration from her mother and aunt’s cooking and her Barbadian heritage. The casual counter-service spot has a playlist of soul and hip hop that keeps the upbeat vibes going all day long.
No reservations. Find more info here.
12. Anajak Thai Sherman Oaks
When Justin Pichetrungsi took the reins of Anajak Thai in 2019, he propelled his family’s longstanding restaurant into a new era of cooking, snagging him James Beard Award for Best Chef: California, among a bevy of other accolades.. The transformation bridged old-school Thai cuisine with more modern interpretations (think slices of raw kanpachi in a nam jim seafood sauce, or southern-Thai fried chicken topped with caviar). Combined with an extensive wine list and the bustling party vibes of his walk-in-only Thai Taco Tuesdays Anajak 2.0 is nothing short of sensational. It’s become so popular that reservations can be hard to come by, but we have some tips from Pichetrungsi himself on how to score a table here.
13. Wildcrust Eagle Rock
Pizza never gets old in L.A. … it just keeps getting better. Case in point: this pop-up-turned-brick-and-mortar success story, the latest contender in the city’s already mighty pie scene. Chef Miles Okabayashi (formerly of République and New York’s Torishin and Perry Street) takes his experience at Michelin-starred restaurants and channels it into his passion: wood-fired Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas. His process involves a 48-hour fermented dough that results in a pillowy soft, chewy, and charred crust, with unique toppings including a braised lamb with tzatziki, mint, and feta. But don’t sleep on his other hits, including duck leg croquettes and a perfectly grilled duck breast. The space itself is a warm and inviting stunner, with communal tables and sage green accents, filled with folks on dates, friend hangs, and family outings alike.
14. Prince Dumpling Rosemead
In an unassuming strip mall in Rosemead, Prince Dumpling has been quietly building a following since its opening in January for serving up some of the best soup dumplings — with fillings like kurobuta pork, crab, and lobster — in the San Gabriel Valley. (Some argue it rivals Din Tai Fung.) That main draw is very clearly a labor of love: Walk into the casual space, filled with modern gray furniture and cozy banquettes, and the first thing you’ll see through a windowed room are the dumpling masters at work, rolling dough and pinching pleats. The results are fantastic, with paper-thin skin that doesn’t break until you take your first bite and the juices rush out. Its pan-fried and sesame-encrusted juicy pork buns are equally good, as well as the Shanghainese braised pork belly that’s lacquered in a sweet soy sauce.
More info here.
15. Birdie G’s Santa Monica
Birdie G’s is the kind of restaurant that has a little something for everyone. Owned by James Beard-nominated chef Jeremy Fox (of the Rustic Canyon family) and led by executive chef Matthew Schaler, the team melds together Eastern European, Southern, and Midwestern comfort food through a distinctly California lens. The results are wholly unique: think crispy-skinned rockfish over potato waffles in a lobster sauce, or slices of peaches stacked above a swirl of carrot ‘nduja. With vegan and gluten-free options, an extensive wine and cocktail list, and a thoughtful kid’s menu, Birdie G’s is welcoming to all. For design heads, the 5,000-square-foot space that the restaurant occupies inside of Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station Arts Center is a stunner—a collage of exposed steel beams, brick walls, concrete floors, walnut wood tables, and blue banquettes galore.
16. Camphor Arts District
Camphor hits all the right notes in the modern L.A restaurant landscape: cool, sleek, and surprising. The elegant French bistro, inflected with South Asian flavors, has snagged an impressive back-to-back Michelin star in the two years since opening; perhaps unsurprising, given that executive chef, Max Boonthanakit, has a fine dining pedigree. The menu is inventive and global in reach. De-shelled mussels and campanelle pasta swim in a creamy white wine and onion sauce, hidden beneath a mountain of crispy shoestring fries. Dashi-laced beef tartare is accompanied by lightly battered tempura basil and shiso leaves. There’s also an expertly crafted burger, and a truly creative cocktail menu worth perusing.
17. Dada Echo Park Echo Park
Dada is hard to pigeonhole, which is what makes visiting such a singular experience. It’s equal parts restaurant, serving Mediterranean-leaning fare punched up with Latino flavors (think wood-fired lamb chops with a yogurt-tahini sauce and salsa macha), a cocktail bar highlighting tea infusions and seasonal produce, and music destination. One thing is for certain: the artsy vibes are on point throughout the space. Enter through a back alley behind the streetfront Dada Market into a dimly lit bar with emerald green undertones, which extends into a brighter room with a second, raw oak-paneled bar and skylit dining area. The DJ booth and hi-fi sound system are the room’s centerpiece, and on Fridays and Saturdays nights, the space transforms into an electronic-pop hub with the potential for you to dance the night away.
18. A TÍ Echo Park
This modern Mexican pop-up, roving around L.A. since 2021, has finally entered its next chapter: a residency in Echo Park. The dimly lit restaurant and bar (with a fun playlist ranging from nostalgic hip hop to R&B) is a playground for chef Andrew Ponce’s (formerly of Bestia, Jon & Vinny’s and Taco María) farmers market-influenced take on upscale Mexican food. His tiny-but-mighty menu sings with dishes like crispy duck mole with house-made blue corn tortillas, and an amplified hard-shelled taco made with braised beef shank that pays homage to Tito’s Tacos. While everything is a labor of love, including bar director Dave Fernie’s Japanese-laced Latin cocktails (like a michelada punched up with dashi), Ponce aims to keep things casual with simplified menus and an easygoing atmosphere that fits nicely in the neighborhood.
19. Linden Hollywood
Linden is full of surprises. The minimalist beige building on Sunset Boulevard isn’t much to look at, but walk inside and you’re quickly transported — lush green plants dangle from the ceiling and an impressive art collection adorns the walls. Third-generation chef Jonathan Harris channels his African American and Costa Rican roots, sprinkling in Jewish, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian influences — flavors he remembered from growing up in New York — into his menu. One of the most notable dishes is his wagyu pie, which reimagines the Jamaican beef patty in pot pie form, punched up with a drizzle of plantain chutney. For a nightcap, pop in to adjoining speakeasy Dot.Dot through a back entrance for cocktails and DJs.
20. Seco Silverlake Silver Lake
One of the hottest spots in Silver Lake — evidenced by the hard-to-snag reservations and crowds hovering outside — is Seco Silverlake, a 25-seat daytime cafe that flips into a wine bar at night. From the same team behind neighboring restaurant Santo, both locations have Latino- and Asian-inflected menus by chef David Potes (formerly of Brooklyn’s Okonomi). Its small-but-mighty evening bites are memorable, like a hamachi crudo in a house-made ponzu and brown butter sauce, and a spicy vodka strozzapretti blanketed with bread crumbs and grated Parmesan. The natural wines are equally excellent, curated by sommelier Kae Whalen (formerly of Kismet) and guided by a knowledgeable staff. The vibrant atmosphere of the tiny, dimly lit bar, with indie and electronic songs filling the space, makes the trendy Barr Seco feel like it could’ve been plucked out of New York.
