Where to Eat in December: Konbi Ni, Majordōmo, Casa Vega, and More

Although Eastsiders were bummed to learn that Konbi’s original Echo Park location was closing, chef-owners Akira Akuto and Nick Montgomery have delivered swiftly on their promise of a new-and-improved concept, better suited to the tiny space. Enter Konbi Ni: a French-Japanese restaurant with three distinct meal formats. In the morning, Japanese set meals centered around grilled fish cost $35. Lunchtime leans French (think steak frites with salsa verde), and is served a la carte. And for dinner, a seasonally changing tasting menu will cost you $95. The only question is which to try first?

Another Jon & Vinny’s has landed on the map, this time in swanky Beverly Hills. And with it comes an updated version of its in-house wine shop, Helen’s Wines. Instead of a jewelbox store, the Helen’s at Beverly Hills is an all-day bar, with espresso and pastries in the morning and spritzes, snacks, and — natch — wine later on. (In case Nutella toast and spicy fusilli weren’t reason enough to hit the newest location.)

Over in Alhambra, Yang’s Kitchen is appropriately hyped for its daytime dishes like cornmeal mochi pancakes and bento-esque, market-driven plates. Now, they’re serving dinner, too, from Friday through Sunday. On the nighttime menu are creative takes on Chinese classics, such as Hainan fish (as opposed to chicken) and dan dan campanelle with mushrooms, plus wine, sake, and beer.

Find more info here.

It feels like holiday season year-round at Casa Vega, which makes December an especially lovely time to visit this long-standing family-run Mexican institution. From the red vinyl booths to the string lights, margarita pitchers, and tableside guac, it’s a perfect venue for a festive group dinner. Order a bunch from the house specials section of the menu, and share it all.

Chinese food on Christmas Day — or anytime during Christmas season — is a tried-and-true tradition. Yang Chow in Chinatown, with its worn-in feel, wall of fame, and better-than-they-need-to-be Mandarin and Szechuan staples, is a good bet for observance. The restaurant is famous for its fried and sticky-sweet slippery shrimp, and rightfully so, which are equally good the next day as leftovers. Other dishes worth ordering include cold sesame noodles to start, and beef and broccoli.

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If you’ve never had the cinnamon bun at All Time, you should really consider changing that. Splitting one with a friend over a cup of coffee, followed by salmon bowls and breakfast burritos, is a pro daytime move. Also, All Time recently debuted a handsome, wood-paneled wine room where you can have a glass or two and snack on anchovies with potatoes, hunks of Comté, and housemade bread.

Sizzling bibimbap, spicy shredded brisket soup, bubbling sooyuk, and bulgogi hot pot are just a handful of what KTown’s Jinsol Gukbap has to offer in terms of soul-warming wintertime foods. Better yet, the space is a cozy enclave encased in blonde wood and frosted windows. Come here on a chilly night and leave feeling toasty from head to toe.

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Yet another stellar option for holiday dining is Majordomo. Dave Chang’s Chinatown restaurant is known for its splurgy large-format plates, like smoked bo ssam and short rib with beef rice, both of which come with accouterments and a bit of fanfare. It’s caviar season, too, and here you can scoop it up with fluffy bing. Just make sure to call ahead (at least 24 hours in advance) if you want the short rib, as they only make a few each night.

There are many reasons to love Ruen Pair, one of the shiniest gems of Thai Town’s restaurant scene. First, it’s open until 11 p.m., whereas most spots close by 10 p.m., and thus is likely to still be open after you get out of a 7 p.m. movie. Second is the fried egg salad with green onion, chile, and lime juice — a masterful, craveworthy dish. Third is the fact that pretty much everything is excellent here: issan sausage, morning glory with crispy pork, tom yum soup, and the list goes on.

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Keep Honey Hi in mind if you feel a cold coming on or you’re simply in need of wholesome, healthy-feeling fare. Their smoothies are some of the best in the city (try the Pink Drink, add almond butter), as are the veggie-packed bowls. Plus, now that temps have dropped, look out for special curries and warming stews.

Find more info here.