The Los Angeles Restaurants We Loved in August

This is my kind of restaurant…

Lasung Tofu boasts a nice big space and an amazing Korean menu that has everything you could crave. Best yet, it’s connected to Rōk (as a matcha lover, I’ve certified it one of the best matcha foam lattes I’ve ever had), and as part of Lasung’s lunch deal, you can order the matcha as a dessert and get it delivered right to your table as you’re eating your tofu soup. Name a more perfect combo.

— Felicity Lin, Resy Benefit Management Manager

The long-awaited brick-and-mortar location…

… of roving chef Miles Thompson’s pop-up is a bit of an iconoclast, and I mean that in the best possible way. The menu at Baby Bistro is short and sharp, and while it’s not technically a tasting menu, our waiter strongly encouraged our party of three to fire everything, in the order the dishes are presented on the menu.

This is not the place for picky eaters, but right now, with peak summer produce, Thompson’s sometimes-outré ingredient combinations (corn tossed with roasted shiitakes, pickled nopales, and grapes in a bay leaf ponzu) largely work, and he introduced me to some entirely new flavors, too (chicken sausage with job’s tears, a grain-bearing grass from Southeast Asia). Pair that with wine director Andy Schwartz’s similarly unconventional selections, and you’re in for the kind of night you simply cannot have anywhere else — perhaps a risky endeavor, but one I wish more diners were willing to take.

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

Not all chirashi bowls are created equal…

… as Shirubē in Santa Monica proves. The Japanese izakaya opened in 2019 as the first U.S. location of the Uno family’s famed Tokyo restaurant. But back to that chirashi: Wonderfully scented sushi rice is covered in bite-sized slices of various fish, arranged to look like a dazzling jewelry box. Cucumber and bright-orange tobiko add a pop of color — and delightful freshness — to elevate this dish from good to “must fight the urge to order every single day” levels of great.

— Kat Hong, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I absolute love the happy hour…

… at The Manchester. They have a very nice bar, their Sichuan chicken wings are quite excellent, and their namesake Manchester burger is great and an incredible deal at just $6 during happy hour (from 4 to 6 p.m. daily).

— Matt Eichler, Hospitality Coordinator

I’m so glad more Caribbean dishes…

… are popping up across our city, like the jerk duck with coconut pea risotto and escovitch peppers at Linden, and everything at Bridgetown Roti. But the latest, Lucia, on Fairfax (near Canter’s), is an all-in-one: a client dinner spot, best friend hang, date night, and catch-a-cutie’s-eye bar scene.

I went on a Friday and by 8 p.m. the bar was three deep with gorgeous people drinking okra martinis and passionfruit soursop jungle birds. There’s rich, crispy coconut fried chicken with fermented chile aioli, casserole-like baked Trini mac and cheese, and a ruby fruit crudo punctuated with scallops. The wines were lovely with the crudo and poultry, especially the Great Heart chardonnay from South Africa and the Havemeyer riesling from Mosel. Such a nice addition to Fairfax.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Had no clue how sexy the vibe was going to be…

… when I met up with some work friends at Lucia on a recent Friday evening. Clam shell-topped booths encircle the space, which is anchored by a bar featuring what looks like an up-lit coral reef up above. As the night wore on, that bar filled up with hordes of well-dressed patrons sipping on okra martinis and lychee margaritas. The sultry ambiance befits the upscale Afro-Caribbean menu, which features beautifully presented riffs on classics like coconut fried chicken, Trini mac pie, and snapper escovitch. It was certainly the coolest working dinner I’ve had in a while — and totally worth the drive from the Valley.

— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

When I went to see the Alabama Shakes at Hollywood Bowl…

… my husband and I dined on the open-air terrace at Ann’s Wine Bar by a.o.c. and it was pretty divine. The organic, biodynamic wine list is hit after hit, with arinto, picpoul, sangiovese, and xinomavro (my fave of the glasses). Soaking up the parade of funky, eclectic Bowl-goer fashion over super farm-fresh snacks and apps was a major upgrade to our favorite summer custom.

My picks: start with marinated olives; bacon-wrapped dates with parm; grilled bread; a stone fruit and arugula salad; and focaccia with crispy speck, Taleggio, leeks, and a mushroom persillade. For entrées, get the Nola-inspired prawns with cornbread and Tasso ham, and a tough choice: either the sea bass with crispy skin, super fragrant pea shoots, rich French feta, and salsa verde; or the hanger steak with horseradish butter and Weiser fingerling chips.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Bonus: The golden hour light streaming through the trees…

… was worth the drive to Farmhouse Restaurant at Descanso Gardens on its own. The new restaurant sits at the edge of the 150-acre botanical garden in La Cañada Flintridge and boasts gorgeous views. Pair that with a seasonal farmers market menu and you’ve got a hit: we loved dishes like coriander and cumin-scented carrots, peach- and prosciutto-topped pizza, and grilled beef short ribs. Make sure to order the peach margarita if they have it.

— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

More Los Angeles staff picks, right this way.