The Los Angeles Restaurants We’re Loving Right Now
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If there’s one thing you must know about the people who work at Resy and Tock, it’s that we genuinely love restaurants …
This month, Team Resy and Tock fell for kanpachi al pastor and uni taco bites, sought silken tofu stew and head-on prawns, and celebrated an anniversary with red-sauce comfort food.
When it comes to celebrating anniversaries…
… my partner and I don’t want white tablecloths and a tasting menu — we want somewhere we know and love, where we’ll be comfortable and well-taken care of, and where the food will satisfy. Donna’s fits the bill at every level. It’s a neighborhood spot par excellence, with soulful red-sauce fare executed with finesse, warm service, and one of the most charming dining rooms on the East side. Sometimes you just want to celebrate with a bowl of fusilli alla vodka. And in those moments, Donna’s is here for you.
— Jamie Feldmar, Resy Los Angeles Editor
It was a hot day in the Valley…
… when I escaped to Crudo e Nudo’s breezy patio for a glass of wine and a seafood snack. I got lucky with uni taco bites on the à la carte menu: The thick slabs of urchin atop masago in a seaweed shell went down wonderfully with a glass of bubbles in the cool ocean air.
— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial
Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs…
We went to Origin Korean BBQ in K-Town and ordered the Origin duo special for two and added an order of the gochujang pork, a steamed egg, and a seafood pancake, not realizing that the set menu also came with a giant brisket soybean paste hot pot with noodles. But we are so glad that we did, because everything was delicious, and it was such a great value for all of the food that we ordered.
— Brett Luevanos Elms, Partner Success Manager
The must-order dishes…
… at San Damián are an umami-laden crab tostada with avocado and furikake and the kanpachi al pastor that’s sliced like a hanger steak and served with a pineapple butter accoutrement. Adorning the shared plates (which you’ll need, in order to split both) is a half man-half prawn figure, expertly illustrating the playfulness of this mariscos paradise.
A riotous celebration of Pacific ingredients, this new concept from Enrique Olvera takes over the celebrated chef’s former westside outpost, Atla. With chef Chuy Cervantes at the helm, San Damián preserves the laidback, light-filled room but upends the menu. Aside from the two standouts mentioned above, a row of head-on prawns al ajillo (glistening with garlic and topped with fresh lemon) and a rockfish ceviche (crowned with sea urchin) are just as delightful. String it all together for a full dinner, or stick with one or two plates and lean into the cocktail menu, where acclaimed beverage director Sebastian Tollius’ sherry and mezcal spritz anchors a series of complex yet satisfying cocktails.
— Caitlin White, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial
After meaning to get to there for years…
… I finally made it to Rustic Canyon for the first time this summer, and have thought about going back every week since. Its farmers market fare is exactly what I want to eat: dishes like marinated olives, garden lettuces, and Flannery ribeye with mojo de ago butter are simple but incredibly flavorful. And beverage director Kathryn Coker’s by-the-glass list offers what I want to drink — coveted small producers that are hard to find elsewhere.
— Sara Ventiera, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial
If you’re looking for your next Sawtelle obsession…
… make it The Mulberry. The kimchi pancake delivers all the crunch you’re hoping for, the beef short ribs are deeply flavorful, and the bluefin tuna rice bowl is one of those dishes you’ll be thinking about days later. Add in a beautiful dining room and genuinely warm hospitality, and it’s easy to see why this place has become one of the neighborhood’s hottest reservations.
— Jonathan Toobi, Senior Regional Manager, Los Angeles
If you can manage to grab a table at…
… The Mulberry (currently one of the most coveted tables on buzzy Sawtelle Boulevard) snap it up quickly. Once you settle in, the city’s appreciation for this Korean American hub is easy to understand — even before the food arrives, the vibes are high. Kick off your night with one of many thoughtfully constructed cocktails from bar director Zak Kellum (formerly of RVR), all of which use Asian ingredients and small producers to create cohesive pairings. I’ve tried most of his drink menu and have yet to hit a dud, so follow your bliss.
Speaking of bliss, the blue prawns marinated in soy and a crispy kimchi pancake with bean sprouts are on practically every table for a reason, followed closely by plump pork and garlic dumplings with brown rice vinegar. Pork or beef spare ribs, accompanied by ribbons of scallion salad, and silken tofu stew with wagyu and a poached egg are the kind of warming fare that makes connection feel easy.
— Caitlin White, Los Angeles Writer, Resy Editorial
I love everything on the menu…
… at Muse a beautiful restaurant in Santa Monica. The foie bonbons are always a perfect way to start, and the tiramisu (or brioche ice cream) is the only way to end your meal here.
— Hayley Sedlock, Partner Success Manager
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.
