The Los Angeles Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now

We all know the true star of…

… a Benedict is the hollandaise. Marmalade offers a crab cake Benedict as well as a lobster Benedict that put on quite a show, but it’s their well-prepared emulsion that gets the standing ovation. Not only is the hollandaise rich, they also spice it up, which gives the dish a delicious kick. Also: Never have I ever tried a Nashville-style chicken sandwich in L.A., but Marmalade’s fiery preparation was so good, I could’ve sworn I was at the Grand Ole Opry. I can’t sing the praises of this juicy and tender taste of Tennessee enough.

— Alisha McKenith Williams, Hospitality Coordinator

For months, I’ve been meaning to check out…

… Doto near where I live in Virgil Village, and when I edited Kelly Dobkin’s love letter to the neighborhood gem, I knew I had to get myself into gear. The menu is a little funny, a little funky: a hamachi handroll with salsa macha here, tempura fish tacos there, a burger that’s already drawing crowds. It’s hard to describe, but that’s exactly the point. As Kelly puts it: this is a restaurant for people who love food, but are sick of categorizing it. Between the wide-ranging menu, the gentle pricing, and the cozy, lo-fi vibes, Doto feels perfectly suited to become a neighborhood go-to. In fact, I liked it so much, I went back a few days later — this time for breakfast — delighting in my good fortune.

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

Honest question: Who doesn’t love food on a stick?

Everyone does, right? Being handed a meaty kabob, fudgy popsicle, or corn dog certainly makes a day better. And one of my favorite places in Downtown also happens to be one of my favorite spots for skewered stuff. Like many delicious Asian restaurants in the Southland, Hatch, an izakaya, is located in a shopping center. It’s on the ground floor of The Bloc, an open-air mall conveniently located near the theaters on Broadway. Most importantly, it has a parking garage, which solves one of the most frustrating problems with frequenting Downtown. And Hatch validates. Easy peasy.

Yes, have a cocktail here. The Sunset Serenade with mezcal, passionfruit, and hibiscus was spot-on. Or opt for a dram from Hatch’s extensive list of Japanese whiskies. And yes, split a large plate or two, like the squid ink karaage or miso beer spare ribs. All good and worthy of your appetite’s attention, but really, save room for the yakitori. Hatch’s menu of skewers isn’t super extensive, but it’s well-appointed, loaded with crowd-pleasers, and everything is craveable: chicken meatballs, pork belly, unagi, eggplant and miso, all grilled to order. Easy to share — or very easy to hog all to yourself.

— Khuong Phan, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

I’m embarrassed to admit that…

… after eight years of living in L.A., I only recently dined at All Time (for the first time) and, well, I get it. Firstly, an appreciation nod to the volume level that allowed me and my three friends to actually catch up. The grilled branzino with market greens dressed in sesame oil and sesame seeds atop a golden-crisp rice cake was notable, second only to the sweet and savory sweet potato side — the potatoes were roasted and lightly pressed into thick, plank-like pieces, and topped with a medley of nuts, giving the dish textural variety.

— Sharon Brenner, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Although I’ve been many times…

… this was my first time having breakfast at Jon & Vinny’s and it was well worth the early arrival. My almond milk cortado arrived with a classic avocado toast and soft scrambled eggs on the side, while my friend went with Rocky’s matcha latte and the soft scrambled eggs plate. We proceeded to have a leisurely celebratory catch-up at a cozy corner table: the perfect combination of true hospitality and comfort cuisine.

— Courtney Allen, Senior Support Operations Manager

It’d been a couple of years since I last ate…

… at Little Dom’s. When I turned up to meet a friend recently, it was just as good and vibey as ever. The wood-grilled artichoke, little gem salad, pepperoni pizza, and chicken parm were as solid as I remembered. And the Italian and California wines by the glass were even better — I had an incredible crisp apple pinot bianco from Alto Adige and a juicy, vibrant Scar of the Sea pinot noir from California’s Central Coast. The dark and moody bistro-inspired atmosphere was lively and fun, with more celeb sightings than I’d ever seen in a single night (including regular Jon Hamm). I hope it’s not another couple of years before I return.

— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

The perfect spot to grab sweets and cocktails…

… before a dinner reservation is Bottega Louie. We found ourselves walking around West Hollywood with time to spare and the inside of this location (they have another in DTLA) is stunning. We sat at the bar, but would sit in the back room filled with all the greenery next time.

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Trade and Industry Marketing

I’m so glad to know about…

… L.A.’s Victor Heights neighborhood, and it’s all thanks to Baby Bistro. The environment is super cool and welcoming, the staff is on point from start to finish, and the food is stellar. There was at least one component in every dish that made us pause and consider what we were eating, but never in a way that felt overly precious. The menu is designed for two people, but I recommend going as a group of three or four, so you can include the add-ons without being too full (and doubling up on some of the other dishes). The prawns were delicious and had what we called “baby Cheetos” (they were fried little enoki mushrooms, in fact). And the way cucumber was introduced in the dessert course is something we’ll be thinking about for a long time.

— Brett Luevanos Elms, Partner Success Manager

I’d been wanting to try it for a while…

… as I’d only ever heard good things about Quarter Sheets. Showing up early on a Tuesday finally paid off, and we immediately found two seats at the bar. We tried a variety of dishes, from the peaches and peppers and gigante beans to the essential pizza slices (one tomato, the other pepperoni), followed by a bowl of rainbow sherbet that was so good, I could’ve ordered a second serving. Quarter Sheets really does live up to the hype and I look forward to another visit.

— Courtney Allen, Senior Support Operations Manager

I was recently compelled…

… to venture westward to Hakata Izakaya Hero. The celery kimchi, seasonal squid ink yakisoba, and Jidori chicken karaage alongside a tall, cold beer brought me and my husband right back to a trip to Japan. This cozy, no-frills izakaya is well worth the trip for east siders.

— Sharon Brenner, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

More Los Angeles staff picks, right this way.

The views expressed in this article reflect personal experiences of American Express employees at the applicable restaurants — not American Express — and do not constitute professional business advice.