The Los Angeles Restaurants We Loved in January

I’ve never wanted to gatekeep a restaurant before…

… but luckily, Sushi Takeda is no secret. This is my favorite omakase spot in the city: an eight-seat sushi counter in Little Tokyo’s Weller Court, where chef-owner Hideyuki “Hide” Takeda offers, in my opinion, one of L.A.’s most valuable meals. Dinner here costs $300 a head, though I wouldn’t know: I haven’t been to dinner. For me, Sushi Takeda is a lunch spot — the perfect lunch spot — where I go to celebrate solo, or accompanied by one very privileged guest. The price of admission for lunch at the sushi bar is $110 per person (on weekends, $120), where one is treated to a 16-course omakase that’s simple yet elegant, and showcases chef Takeda’s extensive background in making Edomae-style sushi.

— Kat Hong, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Perfection is…

… brunch at a patio table at Queen’s Raw Bar on a warm winter day. Do get a seafood tower. Do get the shrimp and grits. Do get a martini. Don’t worry that it’s only noon. (I didn’t.)

— Brett Luevanos-Elms, Partner Success Manager

Cheers to a new date night spot…

I’m thrilled to have Hermon’s (located in the namesake neighborhood) close by, only minutes away from Highland Park. The restaurant space is beautiful and full of character, and I anticipate being a regular at the bar for the burger and martinis alone. But the star for us was the two-sheet vongole, a product of necessity (the kitchen wanted to find a pasta they could make with the setup they have), which was unique, delicious, and a real show-stopper.

— Brett Luevanos-Elms, Partner Success Manager

Some of my favorites dishes on the Westside right now…

… are the tuna tartare toast and the “Caesar goes vegan” salad at Crudo e Nudo. The salad is perfectly dressed and uses peak produce to make every bite crunchy and delicious. And the tuna tartare toast is just texturally amazing — a good crunch from the bread, with well dressed, freshly caught tuna. So good.

— Hayley Sedlock, Partner Success Manager

I can’t stop thinking about…

… the fried chicken wings at The Mulberry. Everything is polished, from the soy-marinated blue prawns with pollack roe and barley rice to the squat steamed mandu served with a little saucer of brown rice vinegar. The dining room hums with a lively neighborhood energy, and the menu differentiates itself enough from more traditional spots in Koreatown to justify the trip to the Westside.

— Patricia Kelly Yeo, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

It’s no surprise that…

… Komal has received accolades from media and diners alike. Tucked inside L.A.’s historic Mercado La Paloma food hall in South L.A., Komal is where chef Fátima Juárez’s reverence for corn is on full display. As a bean-lover, I was drawn to the artistically plated flautas de ayocote (a bean I love to cook at home), stuffed with ayocote bean purée and topped with gently spiced house mole, queso fresco, and crema. The tacos Sonia were also a favorite, with tender pork chorizo, potatoes, and molcajete sauce. This dish was the perfect way to experience the all-female team’s pillowy house tortillas, which highlight Komal’s incredible devotion to masa and corn culture as a whole. We are so lucky to have access to this kind of cooking in L.A.

— Sharon Brenner, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

This new chophouse is an instant classic…

Introducing The Wilkes from chef Dana Slatkin, located in a namesake building on the corner of Barrington Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. There are five different martini options on the cocktail menu, a seriously decadent pork chop with roasted apple and braised cabbage, and a somehow airy chicken latke schnitzel accented by dill crème fraîche. Brentwood Village just got a major upgrade, but it’s one of many to come in the neighborhood this year, so keep an eye out.

— Caitlin White, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

For a fun and amazing al fresco meal…

… go to the very pretty and festive Latin rooftop restaurant, Üca (pronounced “yu-ca,” and yes, they do serve next-level yuca fries). You’ll have to make your way through the quiet Delphi Hotel lobby, up an escalator, and be escorted to an elevator to get to the roof. You’ll see a bar to the right where everyone’s mingling, and tables on the left (outfitted with heat lamps) in front of a stage — on Thursdays, they host jazz nights featuring rotating artists.

On the night I went, the band was bringing the heat with some throwback R&B mixed in with very up-tempo jazz — people were ditching their steak for dancing. The food was delicious and beautifully plated in ceramic soup bowls and Mexican-style ceramics. My picks: the tacos gobernador, with marinated shrimp and mozzarella; the tender steak and longaniza platter; the mushroom queso fundido; the trio of salsas (the verde and pepita are killer); the torta burger with extra jalapeños; and the horchata tres leches cake for dessert. We wore our warmest faux fur and had to snap some glamour shots by the pool, naturally. Just make sure to reserve ahead for the jazz nights.

— Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

A perfect evening…

… at Nerano goes like this: Start off with some cocktails and pizza — opt for the California cocktail if you love gin, but know that the team nails a Negroni as well. Their Margherita pie was great (exactly what a Margherita should be like) and both the handmade mushroom pappardelle and the beef cheek agnolotti were outstanding. Our server had recommended we pair the pastas with a bottle of Querciabella’s Chianti classico, and truly, the wine with the agnolotti was one of the best wine pairings I’ve ever had.

— Matthew Eichler, Hospitality Coordinator

If you’re looking for a great place to celebrate a birthday…

… may I suggest the Highland Park institution that is Hippo? We were a large party and shared everything family style, starting with some shaved brussels sprouts and burrata before going into pasta dishes (butternut squash cappellacci and pork ragu tagliatelle), and polishing off hanger steak and chicken thighs. We wrapped up the meal with dessert, a candle ready to be blown out, and a round of “Happy Birthday.”

— Courtney Allen, Senior Resy Support Operations Manager

I was late to get myself over to…

… Betsy, former All Time owner Tyler Wells’ new project in Altadena. The restaurant has quite the backstory — Wells spoke to us about his emotional journey — and it’s been packed every night since (re)opening, so I was happy to snag two bar seats a few weeks ago. This is one of the warmest rooms in L.A. — both physically, due to the roaring open hearth that powers most of the menu, and vibe-wise, thanks to the custom wood-paneled aesthetic and friendly service. We split a truly behemoth bone-in pork chop, grilled over said fire, served alongside beautifully blistered winter vegetables and a tangy mustard sauce. The brothy beans were lighter on the palate but no less flavorful, given depth from the smoke of the fire as well, which touches almost everything here, including the unmissable burnt (and they mean it) Basque cheesecake for dessert.

— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor

I wish I lived closer to…

… Little Fish in Melrose Hill. While I’ve visited the Echo Park takeout window before, I don’t believe I ever fully grokked just how clever the restaurant could be in a more elevated setting. The pork and shellfish sausage is a must-order, as is the beef carpaccio, suspended on tiny canoes made out of crispy potato.

— Patricia Kelly Yeo, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

Brunch with an ocean view…

… sometimes comes at the expense of great food. Thankfully, Sirena offers both. The spacious outdoor terrace on Ocean Avenue is the primary restaurant at The Georgian Hotel, but it works just as well for locals. A killer breakfast sandwich — with either bacon or sausage and eggs your way — served with roasted fingerling potatoes, or a French-style omelet with goat cheese, herbs, and asparagus are both fantastic picks. Paired with a glass of Trebbiano orange from Abruzzo (one of many on their by-the-glass wine list), it was the perfect perch to sit and enjoy the sun and a view of the waves.

— Caitlin White, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial

It’s everything I love in a restaurant…

RVR has amazing food and drinks, friendly and attentive service, and overall great energy in the room. And it absolutely delivers on flavor. The pork gyoza are a must (perfectly crisp with a juicy, savory filling), the aji sandwich special is a sleeper standout, and the duck meatballs are rich, tender, and totally unforgettable. I’ve been a few times and am still trying to work through the menu — there are so many hits.

— Jonathan Toobi, Senior Regional Manager, Los Angeles

A must-hit on any trip to Los Angeles…

… is RVR, which boasts the ultimate vibe, no matter the night. Their reverence for seasonal vegetables is unmatched in an izakaya setting, where a deceptively complex greens salad can be the banger of the dinner. The rest of the meal is binchotan-kissed small-bite perfection. I even caught chef-owner Travis Lett come out of the kitchen to work the vinyl playlist. I have to come back for the ramen.

— Drew Nordstrom, Strategic Partnerships

Seeking a quick and comforting meal…

… on our way to a David Byrne concert at the Dolby, we stopped by Mr. T’s. I’d already been once to this casual spot for French-California fare, and we weren’t disappointed — the chou fleur salad (light and refreshing), the Mr. T burger (whose Comté mousse is torched tableside), and the pepperoni pizza were exactly what we needed on this chilly L.A. night.

— Courtney Allen, Senior Resy Support Operations Manager

The perfect weekend brunch spot…

… might just be Superba in Venice Beach with its bright, laid-back vibe and incredible baked goods. The food is especially unbeatable — do order the gooey cinnamon sticky bun and the extra fresh and flavorful avocado toast. They also have a few fresh juices — and because life is all about balance — I opted for their organic kale juice filled with greens.

— Kayla Demma, Restaurant Trade and Industry Marketing

I rang in an early NYE…

… at Laurel Grill in Culver City with friends, and it was a perfect place to do so. The ambiance inside was warm and inviting, and the menu had something for everyone. Plus, we love a place that swaps out your martini glass with a fresh, icy one mid-way through your drink — it’s such a nice touch.

As for the food, we kicked off our meal with some hamachi crudo, the bacon-wrapped dates, and the hot bread from their wood-fired oven, a favorite of the table — you can really tell the difference their oak hearth makes on every dish. We moved onto a super fresh and flavorful chopped salad, split an oven-fired pepperoni pizza (drizzled in an incredible Calabrian chile honey), plus two items from the hearth: a rotisserie chicken and the New York strip. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a slightly elevated dinner in the heart of downtown Culver City.

— Emily Holbrook, Revenue Operations Director

Everything is always top tier…

… at Budonoki. My personal favorite dishes are the spicy tuna hand roll, the curry pan, and the miso butter sweet potatoes. The ambience is always so fun and welcoming (without feeling overwhelming), and the service and food is top notch, too.

— Hayley Sedlock, Partner Success Manager

“Is there a Mrs. Donut Man?” …

… I wonder, gazing up at The Donut Man’s iconic neon sign on Route 66, basking in its famed yellow-pink glow. I adore these doughnuts. They are gorgeously glazed and always hot. Getting here’s a trek for anyone living west of South Azusa Avenue, which is why I suspect a second location was placed in the (very accessible) Grand Central Market. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed more than my fair share of strawberry-stuffed doughnuts — peach-stuffed, in the summertime — as well as glossy chocolate-glazes, normal glazes, and gigantic bear claws at The Donut Man’s Downtown L.A. outpost, but on some level, the heart craves authenticity. A desk figurine of Degas’ “Little Dancer” is nice to have, but her soul, that quintessential nature, cannot be replicated. The “Little Dancer” resides in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. So, what’s a drive to Glendora?

— Kat Hong, 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.