The Los Angeles Restaurants We Loved in April

I’m not the first, and certainly won’t be the last…

… to say: Evan Funke knows how to make great pasta. His pasta is delicate, and the different shapes are perfectly paired with the right sauces for that dream ratio. As a wannabe Felix regular, the secret is just getting your reps in. I grew up on fiori di zucca (squash blossoms), so that’s my non-negotiable, but you have to go back multiple times in order to explore the full menu. And I know Felix is a food destination, but the cocktail program should not be overlooked. Basically: when you walk into Felix, just trust them.

— Catt Flanagan, Regional Manager, West Coast

As a born-and-raised Persian from Los Angeles…

… stepping into Azizam felt like coming home — but with a modern twist. The team is warm and inviting, making the experience feel personal and genuine. The mirza ghasemi (roasted eggplant and tomato dip) was smoky, silky, and deeply comforting, while the turmeric-braised chicken brought the kind of soulful flavor that only comes from time and tradition. The beef tongue sandwich — rich, tender, and nostalgic — was an absolute standout. All in all, Azizam is the kind of place that honors its roots while pushing the boundaries of what Persian food can be.

— Jonathan Toobi, Regional Manager, Los Angeles

I had an amazing meal…

… at A TÍ. We started with their tuna tostada, which was mind blowing — it was topped with this chile oil that they were selling jars of, which we ended up purchasing because it was so good. We then followed with fish tacos and a sweet potato taco (both were delicious), before finishing with the lamb neck, which we we scooped up in perfect little lettuce cups.

— Cody Goetze, Restaurant Success Manager

When chef Nico de Leon stopped by…

… to drop off one of our dishes, I asked him if he could describe Filipino cuisine for our pals who had never been to Lasita before.

“It’s all about salty, savory, acid, and umami,” Nico replied, as he slid a glistening, crisped half chicken onto our table.

Nico’s description succinctly summed up all the dishes we had, including this sinigang fried chicken he left us with, with its patis glaze and a black garlic gravy that was so good, we asked for an extra bowl of it. I’ve never wanted to mainline gravy before, but this one made me question my life’s decisions up until this point. (This dish was a special for the night and a must-order if you see it.)

Just know: you’re going to want to order everything at this Chinatown stalwart. The pancit will become one of your favorite noodle and veggie stir-fries. The bicol express cabbage (which subs out the traditional pork for a grilled wedge) swims in a spicy coconut sauce that I definitely slurped up. But the star of Lasita is its rotisserie, and you’ll want the pork belly lechon: it’s slow-roasted porcine perfection with juicy, tender, fatty pork belly ringed by the crispiest crackling. (If we hadn’t opted for the fried chicken, I always get the chicken inasal.) Get both rice sides for the table, garlic fried and chicken fat rice, and if the sound of the latter freaks you out a little, just remember: fat equals flavor, and if bacon is number one, schmaltz is definitely number two. For dessert, it’s halo-halo, which means “mix-mix” in Tagalog, and Lasita’s certainly lives up to the name: ours had seven different components, including poached blueberries, candied pinipig, and coconut jellies.

Complementing all of this are Chase Valencia’s thoughtfully curated natural wine list and music playlist. Lasita (and its previous iteration as Lasa) has been one of my favorite restaurants for nearly a decade now. Great eats, lovely wines, and buzzy, well-soundtracked vibes — what more could you need?

— Khuong Phan, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Beverly Hills is so hot right now…

… and if we haven’t said it enough already, let the newly opened 88 Club further convince you: Mei Lin, formerly of Nightshade, is cooking up highly personal, beautifully presented Chinese food in a stunningly designed room. The prawn and bamboo shoot wonton soup is a must-order to start, before moving on to some of the juiciest scallops I’ve ever had, served kung pao style, alongside a fish fragrant eggplant that more than lived up to its name.

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

What does one want after completing a marathon?

Carbs, carbs, and more carbs. Thankfully, Jon & Vinny’s checked off all the boxes: the pizza, pasta, chicken cutlet, and ice cream was the perfect way to celebrate such a big accomplishment.

— Daniel Stephan, Implementation Specialist

It must be spring…

… because my brain is at my desk, but my body is poolside in Palm Springs. The Thompson downtown recently redid its restaurant and reopened as Lola Rose, with a pretty dining room and a splashy bar. Waking up at brunch there with cocktails, coffee, pastries, and Mediterranean food like shakshuka and kebabs (great for hangovers, turns out) is really fun, and there’s so much people-watching, too.

I had the big kebab platter with lamb and saffron chicken, hummus with roasted chickpeas, pomegranate muhammara, and lavash, which I had to order more of immediately because it was that good. The restaurant extends out poolside with a more casual menu featuring lobster rolls, Wagyu burgers, and poke, and they carry a couple of local beers, like a Las Palmas pilsner and Coachella Valley’s Desert Citrus. If you’re more of an oenophile, Hall Wines from Napa has a bar downstairs in the hotel that does tasting flights, and I highly recommend walking around the hotel and checking out the very intriguing art in the lobby downstairs and in the adjacent hallways.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I’ve purchased fresh scallops from this market before…

… but decided to actually try the restaurant portion of the Santa Monica Seafood space. We went for their oyster bar, where the shucker was so kind and friendly — he even let us try a couple of oysters on the house as a birthday treat. Our server Olivia was great, too, and all of the dishes were all so fresh — the hamachi was so light and delicious, and the linguine with clams was so flavorful.

Pro tip: Definitely make a reservation, there are only 15 tables (plus the oyster bar) and both got so busy so quickly!

— Alisha McKenith Williams, Lead Hospitality Coordinator

Even though it opened last fall…

… RVR in Venice is already a new favorite. While it’s hard to get a reservation, I’ve had luck arriving slightly before they open at 5 p.m., lining up, and getting in as a last-minute walk-in. On this visit, I enjoyed the vegetable tempura, a chicory salad, the kimchi gyoza, some grilled cauliflower, and the ramen, but you really can’t go wrong. Whether you’re seated at the bar with a view of the kitchen or in a cozy booth, the record player, candlelit atmosphere, and overall buzz of the dining room make for great vibe.

— Courtney Allen, Sr. Support Operations Manager

I was lucky to attend friends and family…

… for the Great White team’s latest opening in Brentwood. The space is absolutely gorgeous, and I can see this becoming a neighborhood staple. You can find a variety of items on the menu to suit any mood you’re feeling, but some of my favorites were the avocado dip, crispy gyoza wings, wood-fired pepperoni pizza, and the steak frites. I can’t wait to come back for the breakfast menu.

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Trade and Industry Marketing Analyst

The perfect meal at…

… Scopa Italian Roots goes like this: start with the rice ball and the brussels sprouts salad. Get yourself a zeppole mezcal cocktail. Definitely order the pappardelle with braised lamb and the pork chop (both were exquisite and highlights of the night). And definitely don’t skip the zeppole for dessert.

— Matt Eichler, Hospitality Coordinator

Some of the best pastas I’ve had in a while…

… can be found at companion in Venice. I also highly recommend going for their pizza, but you really shouldn’t leave without trying at least one of their pasta dishes — on my most recent visit, we shared two pastas for a quick, early dinner and they were a 10/10.

— Cody Goetze, Restaurant Success Manager

The moment you walk into…

… The Dresden, it’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into an old Hollywood movie. It’s a great spot to enjoy martinis, live jazz, and a good cut of steak without it being too over the top. I can see why this is a Los Feliz favorite.

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Trade and Industry Marketing Analyst

Bonus: If you vibed with the tough guys with soft hearts…

… in the coming-of-age classic “The Outsiders,” do like me and road trip down to San Diego for Ponyboy. It’s a nostalgic, mid-century style, indoor-outdoor restaurant inside The Pearl, a little boutique hotel that just happens to be the perfect spot if you’re on your way down to Baja.

The cocktails were really well-balanced and spiced, and I’m a sucker for crispy brussels sprouts with grilled lemon and generous shavings of parm. Plus, my Midwestern heart delighted in the Wagyu Juicy Lucy. I never thought anyone could — or should — bring back mid-century food, but the Jidori chicken kiev and and barbacoa beef stroganoff (yes, you heard that right) were expertly executed. At happy hour, you can get deviled eggs, mini hot dogs, oysters, and pickle dip. The line has been out the door on weekends because the experience of dining by the courtyard pool is so fun, so expect a wait. They screen retro films by the pool, which lets you dream that this is your backyard party, if only for a moment.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

More Los Angeles staff picks, right this way.