The Los Angeles Restaurants We Loved in September

My buddy has been working all around the world for a long time…

Dave Potes (said buddy) was an opening chef at Okonomi in Brooklyn, went to Yokohama to open a spot in the Ramen Museum, has several places across Bangkok, was at Stir Crazy in Hollywood for a bit, but for the first, actual time, has entirely his own menu at Barr Seco in Silver Lake (it’s from the CDMX team of people that brought Santo, in the space right next door).

Barr Seco’s a very hip, very sexy wine bar with mostly small plates — think traditional tapas like boquerones, almonds, bocadillos, to things like huitlacoche tostadas and even spicy vodka strozzapreti. But I’m still thinking about these next-level wine chillers they had that were built right into their beautiful marble bar. This is very much the new IT spot in Siler Lake.

— Pete Schaaf, Business Intelligence Manager

I think I’ve officially found my favorite Resy restaurant…

Cobi’s is a Westside gem, and I can’t wait to come back. The décor feels like you’re at your fancy grandmother’s house (thanks to vintage mismatched dishes) and there’s an all-around romantic atmosphere, courtesy of the flowers and plants surrounding you. It was perfect for date night, but I will be coming back with a group of girlfriends. Order as much as you possibly can, every dish will have you saying, “It’s my favorite!” (with the curry puffs and butter chicken being my ultimate favorites).

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Success Manager

I’ve been a fan of…

… Holy Basil since their Downtown takeout-only days, and I’m thrilled to be able to sit down for a proper meal at their new Atwater Village location. In a town lousy with Thai food, chef Deau Arpapornnopparat stands out with dishes you won’t see anywhere else — a spicy steelhead trout crudo, lemongrass-grilled cuttlefish done larb style, a ridiculously tender five spice-braised duck … The menu is always changing, and they’re getting a wine and beer license soon, so get in there and snag one of the handful of seats before it’s a total madhouse. Even now, it might already be too late — don’t say we didn’t warn you!

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

The perfect place to catch up with a friend…

… over a dirty martini (or two) is CouCou. I love this intimate, yet approachable, French bistro. I’m too in love with the black garlic jus poured over my rare steak frites to order anything else, but I’ve seen the burger come out of the kitchen and, needless to say, I’m interested. My friends swear by the ceviche and I swear by saving room for the dessert (the soft serve, a 10/10), but there really is no wrong direction with that menu.

The best part of CouCou might be that they opened a WeHo location, so we can share the love with our friends who refuse to meet us West of the 405.

— Catt Flanagan, Regional Manager, West Coast

Ever since it opened…

… Budonoki has quickly gathered a following, and now I understand why. The food is incredible, the staff feel like friends hosting you at their house, and you will find yourself dancing and singing along to the best throwback playlist. It was a 100/10 for me.

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Success Manager

For a special night out…

… or really, any night out, head to Si! Mon. We happily celebrated a special occasion on our first visit and could not have been happier. Cocktails at the bar were a great start (have fun picking a favorite), before the amazing dishes we had for dinner: a tuna carpaccio yuca tostada, some fried chicken drumsticks, Afro-Caribbean shrimp dumplings, and the sweet corn ‘bollo’ — I can’t wait to go back again!

— Nic Mercure, Senior Implementation Specialist, Global Dining Access

I conveniently began at the bar…

… at Damian, and came right on time for their extremely reasonable happy hour. Most spots throw some really basic stuff then, but this place put up some real gems: the mezcal margarita was balanced, as was their tequila-based one. Not a lot of spots in L.A. are offering chapulines (toasted grasshoppers) and they were a great crunchy bar snack. But the duck was the dish of the night, and the tamal with ricotta and corn was warm and comforting.

Pro tip: If you’re vegan, they’ve got some really special dishes, unlike anything you’d find elsewhere.

— Jeremy Adler, Regional Director, Los Angeles

This was my favorite meal in a long time…

Anajak Thai certainly lived up to all the hype I’d heard about it going in. The restaurant is buzzy, as expected, but simultaneously intimate (side note: whoever curated their playlist deserves all the praise).

We ordered the Thai fried chicken, papaya salad, Thai-style scallops, salmon in green curry, and the drunken noodles — everything was great, but my most memorable bite by far was the salmon in green curry. The fish was pan-seared to perfection, and the curry (presented more as a sauce) was equal parts rich and refreshing. The runner-up was the fried chicken, which we were recommended to eat with some sticky rice (and were so glad we did).

Pro Tip: Anajak has a pretty seasonal menu, so some of the aforementioned dishes may not be there when you go. That said, you literally can’t go wrong with anything from it.

— Harkirat Anand, Technical Product Manager

As a fan of its sister restaurants…

… Tsubaki and Ototo (shoutout to Echo Park and Sunset Blvd.‌), when Camélia took over the old Church and State building in the Arts District, for me, all critical thinking went out the window: I just knew I had to eat there. And now that I’ve been,‌ I can confidently say, it’s a must.

Here, French and Japanese flavors blend seamlessly in a celebration of haute cuisine: there are delicate toasts brushed with crème fraîche and heaped in beautiful, bright-orange uni. Market vegetables are staged to look like a still life painting, à la Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. And the star of the show is a half-chicken roasted in Koji and encircled in seaweed cream sauce, laid upon a bed of grilled cabbage. It is succulent and so, so juicy. If not for table manners, I‌ would have lapped up all the garlic chive oil pooled at the bottom like a kitten drinking milk.

— Kat Hong, Contributing Writer, Resy Editorial

I finally got to check out…

… Pijja Palace for the first time during one of our Platinum 40^th dinners, and I can confirm that the food is delicious and attainable for all (definitely go with a few people!). Our favorites were the Dosa onion rings (you can’t skip these), malai rigatoni, and the green chutney pizza. Will definitely be back to watch some football games this season!

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Success Manager

Everyone deserves a neighborhood sushi spot…

… and for me, that’s Sogo Roll Bar in Los Feliz. This isn’t the place for omakase — it’s a low-key, gently priced, cheerfully designed hand roll bar that’s the perfect pit stop on your way to or from a night out along Vermont Ave or Griffith Park.

The easiest option is to say yes to one of the set menus, or go à la carte with all the classics, including spicy tuna, yuzu salmon, and yellowtail scallion. There’s a number of options for vegetarians, too, as well as wine and sake, plus a lovely shaded patio if the weather is nice. Every time I go, I think to myself: I should do this more often. 

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

After stepping into…

… Yess Restaurant and off the streets of Los Angeles, I felt immediate calm. From the glass-block windows that soar from floor to ceiling to the impossibly long cypress bar, the space is the perfect calming agent for a nervous system rattled by L.A. existence. The staff, all dressed in off-white, will masterfully walk you through the Japanese menu that’s just as intentional and artful as the design. It changes seasonally, but there might be fatty bluefin fished by the chef from local waters and smoked with hay. Or unexpected dishes like fig tempura served with warm fig leaf honey. If you need some sake (you do), the Kidoizumi Shuzo ‘Yamadanishiki Gold Label’ is the way to go.

— Erin Mosbaugh, Contributing Writer, Resy Editorial

Here’s to the incredible experience…

… that was Camphor’s dinner collab with chef Jose Luis Hinostroza of Arca in Tulum. It was a six-course collaborative menu showcasing dishes from both restaurants. Everything went well with each other and they even had a fun cocktail lounge next door with light bites and drinks. The lounge was transformed to feel like we were on the beach in Tulum. Camphor is always a good meal, and their collabs are truly one of a kind!

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Success Manager