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 now expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Five Things In Los Angeles Not to Miss This Month
- L.A.’s Continuing Pizza Moment. Not only has L.A. become a bonafide pizza destination, with our growing list of slice shops and restaurants that capture the city’s diversity and seasonality, but our most treasured spots keep evolving to the next level, too. Take, for example, Pizzeria Sei and its buzzy new pizza omakase, and Quarter Sheets’ metamorphosis into a more adult version of itself. Check out more Resy Features here.
- A Burger Like No Other. While L.A. certainly has no shortage of nouveau burgers, Camphor, a modern and Michelin-starred French bistro laced with Southeast Asian flavors, is a front-runner for one of the most meticulously executed versions. “Le Burger” has garnered such a following that co-executive chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George have even taken it on the road, far from their Arts District restaurant, and all the way to Coachella.
- Snag a Coveted Seat at a Thai Hotspot. Ever since Anajak Thai chef-owner Justin Pichetrungsi took the reins of his family’s longstanding Sherman Oaks restaurant, he’s been making waves. And with a 2023 James Beard Award under his belt, it feels like everyone is scrambling for a reservation. Thankfully, he shared some tips on how to score a table — from his omakase to Thai Taco Tuesdays — right this way. And check out more One Who Keeps the Books here.
- Two Happy Hours in One Place. Santa Monica seafood- and wood-fire-driven restaurant Isla (from the team behind Crudo e Nudo) is leaning into carefree summer vibes with a double-header of newly launched happy hours, taking place from 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. Think bar bites like crispy calamari and Spanish-style fried chicken, and discounted cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages. Bonus: This menu is available for both walk-ins and reservations.
New to the Hit List (July 2024)
Kuya Lord, La Dolce Vita, Joseon, The Lonely Oyster, Sirena.
1. 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.
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. 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.)
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. baroo Arts District
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 regional Southern Tagalog cuisine, into a celebrated brick-and mortar that recently earned him a 2024 James Beard award. Here, humble rice bowls are transformed into culinary 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 from start to finish. While you’re there, complete the meal with grilled blue prawns swimming in an addictive garlic-crab sauce, and calamansi pie topped with a swirl of whipped pandan cream.
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. Boston Lobster Rosemead
For the past decade, Boston Lobster has attracted long lines in the San Gabriel Valley, for good reason. The Chinese-Vietnamese seafood restaurant, which moved into bigger and more upscale digs in 2022, is most popular for its signature dish: lobster (actually shipped in from Boston) that’s stir fried with sliced scallions and jalapeños, resting over a bed of noodles. It’s a family-style meal that’s complemented by other worthy dishes, like shaking beef and clams with basil. The lively vibes, lazy Susans, and fish tanks filled with live geoduck and king crab make this the kind of place you’ll want to bookmark for your next celebratory meal out with a group.
No reservations except for a private room. Call (626) 288-4388 for more info.
9. The Lonely Oyster Echo Park
While The Lonely Oyster is nearly 20 miles away from the beach, there’s a slice of coastal life nestled in this Echo Park gem. Ever since late 2022 when executive chef Dominique Crisp (formerly of Pasadena’s now-closed Saso) took the helm, the sustainably and responsibly-sourced seafood restaurant has stepped up its game. It’s the little touches that make it shine, like lobster rolls drenched in a miso brown butter, and a wonton chip topped with fresh uni and a dollop of caviar. Sous chef Chris Stagliano (who also runs his personal pasta project Los Boludos on the side) expertly crafts the restaurant’s noodles, even using a vintage guitar-strung instrument to make his signature chitarra. Extra perks: The lively spot has a solid list of martinis and is open until 2 a.m.
10. Quarter Sheets Echo Park
11. Mariscos Jalisco Various
12. NIGHT+MARKET SAHM (Venice) Venice
When chef-owner Kris Yenbamroong opened his third Thai restaurant, in Venice, in 2018, Westsiders no longer had to trek across town to get a taste of his unapologetically spicy and boldly-flavored dishes. The kitschy Venice outpost has the same low-key party vibes as his other spots in Silver Lake and West Hollywood, complete with red lighting casting a ruby hue over vibrant flower and animal print-covered tables. Night+Market’s biggest draw is its beloved drinking-food dishes — think grilled fatty pork jowl married with a spicy and citrus-y jaew dip, and crispy rice salad kicked up with sour pork — that pair wonderfully with its extensive natural wine selection.
13. Budonoki Silver Lake
Stepping into Budonoki feels like you’ve been transported to an underground nightclub, complete with ‘90s R&B jams and glowing purple lights. This playful izakaya, from Thai chef Dan Rabilwongse (whose impressive resume includes Bouchon, Hayato, and Tsubaki) melds Japanese, French, and Southeast Asian flavors in a buzzy space perfect for a night out. Shochu-forward cocktails laced with ingredients like cherry blossom bitters come in adorable mugs shaped like penguins and octopi. Small plates like naem highlight sour Thai pork sausage paired with arancini-like crispy rice balls, and the crudo that makes Hokkaido scallops its star is dressed in an addictive citrus vinaigrette. The best part? The menu is tight enough that a group of four our six can try it all in one go.
14. Joseon Silver Lake
At the Silver Lake pop-up Joseon, chef Debbie Lee (who’s made a name for herself on TV cooking competition shows like “The Next Food Network Star”) has dreamt up imaginative tasting menus showcasing her reinterpretation of the royal court dining of Joseon, the last dynasty of Korea. Even though Lee’s breadth of work spans from French restaurants to food trucks, she goes back to her roots here, drawing inspiration from her North Korean background. The first course, a seemingly simple bowl of lotus root porridge, packs an umami punch and sets a dazzling tone for the rest of the meal, which also includes galbi jjim, or braised short ribs over a bed of wasabi cauliflower puree. Elegant, yet casual, and in a minimalist space, Joseon is a unique experience unlike any other in L.A. at the moment.
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. Sirena Santa Monica
For over 90 years, The Georgian hotel has been a mainstay along the Santa Monica waterfront with its striking turquoise Art Deco facade. When BLVD Hospitality gave the landmark a makeover in 2023, it also brought on an impressive culinary team. Its newest restaurant, Sirena — with its stunning ocean-view patio — is led by executive chef (and Osteria Mozza alum) David Almany, with former All Day Baby and Here’s Looking at You pastry chef Theresa Diadem (who was among Food & Wine‘s best new chefs of 2021). Its Californian-Italian fare is equally splendid, with highlights like a kanpachi crudo in a chili-lime vinaigrette, freshly made pasta like a celery root cappelacci, and a not-too-be-missed warm apple crostata.
17. La Dolce Vita- LA Beverly Hills
La Dolce Vita is as sweet as its storied history. The old-school Italian restaurant (that even Frank Sinatra once backed as an investor) has been around since 1966 and reopened last year to much fanfare under new owners, the team behind Genghis Cohen. The space hearkens back to Old Hollywood, done right with the perfect combination of glitz and glamor. Its exuberant energy, sexy red leather booths, and cheetah print carpet are complemented by dishes like bone-in veal Parmesan and bucatini al limone. A table-side Caesar salad is never a bad idea, and don’t skip on the inventive cocktails from bar lead Blake Antrobus (previously of Bicyclette). Tables can be hard to come by (as it’s incredibly packed even on weeknights), but we have tips on how to snag one here.
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
