The Resy Hit List: Where In L.A. You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

Over on Sawtelle, the Mulberry (named after hanji, the paper that comes from the mulberry tree) is a modern Korean American bistro backed by incredible talent, including a chef (Curtis Park) with experience at fine dining stars Benu in San Francisco and Commis in Oakland; and a beverage program crafted by the whiz (Zak Kellum) behind the stellar drinks at RVR. You’ll find dishes like steak tartare served over warm crispy rice in a stone pot, charcoal-grilled beef short ribs, and soy-marinated blue prawns—a refined take on the Korean classic ganjang gejang, served over barley rice and roe. The intimate dining room feels like an upscale neighborhood spot, with leather booth seating, a coveted corner section framed by a tree stretching nearby, and lovely linen curtains.

Once upon a time, Angelenos chased Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle’s coveted fried fish sandwich pop-up across the city like it was a rare celestial event, but with their second permanent outpost—this time, in trendy Melrose Hill—the duo proves Little Fish is not only here to stay, but that it has more to offer than just a really good lunch. Compared to its Echo Park counterpart, Little Fish’s Melrose Hill location is more grown up: locally sourced seafood is served in a stylish bistro, where warm wood glows in the daytime and marble tabletops shine at night. While you can—and should—order that panko-encrusted icon during the day, stay for dinner, when the kitchen flexes its fine dining muscles with rotating dishes like bay scallop crudo, lobster grilled with a persimmon glaze, and pan-fried skate wing with brown butter and sauerkraut.

The latest restaurant from Last Word Hospitality, Hermon’s joins siblings Found Oyster, Barra Santos, Queen’s, and Rasarumah in a bid for East Side supremacy. Named after the tiny neighborhood it’s situated in, tucked between Highland Park and South Pasadena, Hermon’s is a rustic, 89-seat space that combines Art Deco vibes with the area’s prevalent Craftsman style. The menu is defined by chophouse-style dishes with modern twists, like loaded potato fritters, two-sheet lasagna vongole (inspired by the clam toast at Dudley Market, where chef DK Kolender previously worked), and mushroom Bourguignon with a dash of miso. The bar program, created by Eric Alperin and Angus McShane, centers on classic, ice-cold martinis served in freezer-stored glasses, available in both regular and “tiny” portions, proving that good things can indeed come in small packages.

At Darling, James Beard-lauded chef (and certified audiophile) Sean Brock embraces two of his passions: live-fire cooking and high-fidelity tunes. Spontaneity burns bright at this West Hollywood restaurant, where the 12-dish menu rotates monthly and DJs spin rare vinyls from Brock’s personal archive. To start, there are oysters from Japan, served with a splash of tangy-sweet Weiser melon juice. Larger-format dishes include bone-in strip steak prepared over the flames of a custom wood-burning grill, and a dry-aged burger that’s become a hot commodity: only 24 are made each night. Like the food menu, cocktails from bar director Jason Lee (previously of Pijja Palace and N/Soto) highlight hyper-seasonal ingredients and change monthly, like the “Eggplant,” a roasted-vegetable spin on the piña colada.

Chef Karla Subero Pittol’s cult-favorite garage pop-up has been reborn as a brick-and-mortar cafe that defies easy categorization, blurring the lines between bakery, neighborhood diner, and a forthcoming wine bar next door. The tiny, colorful space is a playful patchwork of yellow hues and cozy barstools, its menu hand-scrawled onto a mirror, evoking the casual warmth of Latin American hangouts. At the center of the operation is Subero Pittol’s legendary passionfruit lime icebox pie, a beauty to behold, set in a graham cracker crust and slathered in Salvadoran cream whip and a citrus sugar that makes your mouth curl in delight. But don’t let the pastry case distract you from the savory menu: the Venezuelan-inspired dishes, particularly the crispy, panko-encrusted pork collar milanesa with lemon pepper nata, and the amply-filled arepas, offer a comforting counterpoint to all those sweets.

No reservations; more info here. 

Perched on the edge of Chinatown, Baby Bistro joins its Alpine Street neighbors Perilla, Baker’s Bench, Cassell’s, and Heavy Water Coffee in what is quickly becoming one of the city’s quirkiest courtyards, and a must-visit destination for in-the-know diners. A self-described “bistro of sorts,” the former roving pop-up is the brainchild of chef Miles Thompson (formerly of Michael’s and Konbi) and co-owner Andy Schwartz, a seasoned wine pro from Lolo in East Hollywood. Set in a restored 100-year-old Victorian bungalow, the intimate 35-seat dining room feels plucked from a different era (or maybe just Europe), with its warm-wood interior, built-in wine shelves, and rustic outdoor seating. The menu is focused and tight, with eight-ish dishes that rotate with the seasons. Or you could just ask them to fire the whole menu. Yeah, maybe do that.

Inspired by the cured meat shops and kitchens of Italy, this is Echo Park’s newest shiny addition, a cozy all-day space that seamlessly transitions from a sun-drenched market-deli by day to a candlelit dinner destination at night. Owner Max Lesser, an alum of Chi Spacca, has crafted a menu that feels both deeply Californian and nostalgically Roman, where you might grab a chicken Milanese sandwich topped with radicchio and Caesar aioli for lunch, or settle in later for short rib rigatoni or ricotta dumplings stuffed with chanterelle mushrooms. The dining room is a fun, eclectic mishmash of mismatched art and banquette seating, the ideal backdrop for lingering over a glass of delicious wine, curated by Katie Vonderheide (previously of Silverlake Wine).

A pandemic-era pop-up and Heather Tierney’s reverence for Japanese listening bars formed the genesis of this downstairs component of Venice’s newest destination. Professional DJs and neighborhood regulars take turns spinning records, pulled from the restaurant’s formidable collection. This Westside block party is the ideal setting for drinking natural wines—Fres.co’s “Fire Fuego” skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc tastes like peach candy—and snacking on veggie-forward dishes like sweet corn ravioli and sumac-scented hummus on flatbread. Or, ascend the building’s staircase to find Force of Nature, Leena Culhane’s (of Crudo e Nudo) ethereal speakeasy celebrating female winemakers. The wood-fired pizzas served within come from Fiorelli Pizza below, hoisted up, delightfully, by an old-fashioned pulley system.

Originally a pop-up at Marvin, Marvito in West Hollywood is the latest high fidelity space to get your listening on, blessedly open until midnight seven days a week. Expect to hear old-school rock and roll while you sink into Tex-Mex comfort food in the location that once housed Gardens of Taxco. Crispy shrimp tacos are brushed with salsa on the outside of the shell and loaded with creamy avocado. Churros arrive cinnamon-dusted alongside a rich chocolate dipping sauce. And there are Italian American classics, too, like a must-order chicken picatta served with buttered linguini and veal parmigiana smothered with tomato sauce and melted cheese.  To drink, look for original cocktails like the La Picosa, an Old Fashioned where bourbon is replaced with mezcal, as well as a tasty margarita (dubbed the Marvarita), plus a bunch of classics, including a Negroni, a Bloody Mary, a saiquiri and a Tom Collins.

Nestled in the foothills below the San Gabriel Mountains in Sierra Madre, you’ll find Bess, where thrifted vintage furniture fills the dining room, creating an intimate, natural charm: multi-globe lamps glow incandescently above the retro wood-paneled photo booth; red leather stools sit symmetrically across soft black leather booths. It’s the perfect scene-setting for giant platters of salumi and silky slips of prosciutto, or Bess’s signature lasagna, spread thick with herbaceous lemon ricotta. Pair them with wines from a thoughtful list anchored in classic regions (think Tuscany, Piedmont, Bordeaux, the Loire, and Beaujolais), plus some always-welcome California representation. The non-alcoholic Italian sodas are a treat, too: icy glasses brimming with seasonal flavors like lemon, red grapefruit, and lavender.

The family-run restaurant, led by chef Sang Tae, serves inventive Japanese food in a space that feels sophisticated and polished without theatrics. The earnestness feels like a tangible part of Ine: dishes capture Tae’s sincere love of Japanese cooking, in a dual menu that changes almost entirely between lunch and dinner. Daytime offerings include Kyoto-style ramen noodles and plenty of hand rolls (kelp-cured salmon, seared yellowtail belly, and cucumber paired with tart, fermented plum). Evenings usher in elegant remixes, like a miso-enhanced ratatouille, clam and squid ravioli, and a riff on gyudon featuring one whole savoy cabbage leaf—blistered and subtly sweet—covering the rice and tender beef.

What began as a series of Monday night pop-ups at his parents’ legendary Kobawoo House in Koreatown has matured into Melrose Hill’s most compelling fine-dining reservation. To reach chef Brian Baik’s sanctum, one must slip past the chatter of Bar 109 and cross the threshold into a serene, walnut-clad dinner theater designed by Montalba Architects (Nobu Malibu, among others). Here, just 10 seats face a glowing open kitchen where the evening unfolds as a genre-bending seafood omakase imbued with personal meaning. Baik (who has previously worked at fine-dining institutions including Eleven Madison Park, Sushi Noz, Bouley, and Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare) sources pristine catch from Japan to orchestrate an eleven-course menu, a highlight of which is his signature aji toast, where house-made milk bread is topped with a glorious cut of horse mackerel, an aioli-esque spread, and pickled red peppers.

Book on Tock. 

Café Tondo is proof that it is, in fact, possible to romanticize an all-day café situated beneath the metro. On the outskirts of Chinatown next to the A Line station (in the former Oriel space), this Mexico-City inspired café charms by day with freshly baked conchas and café de olla spiced with piloncillo and cinnamon. As the sun sets, Café Tondo morphs into one of the coolest bars in the city. Weekly jazz, bolero, and DJ sets invite guests to linger long into the night. Beverage-wise, there are meticulously selected wines by the glass, beers, and micheladas, complemented by small, shareable plates like empanadas and gildas. Thanks to stunning design work by Aunt Studio, Café Tondo’s ambience is equally inviting; its intimate space filled with hand-crafted wooden tables, exposed ceilings, and warm, earthy tones.

At this new slice shop on Hollywood Blvd, chef Jeff Vance (previously of Seattle’s Spur, Navy Strength, and No Anchor, plus a stint at Konbi), has created a strictly nostalgic vibe. Pies here channel the spirit of a 1980s Pizza Hut personal pan pizza, but are made with a 56-hour cold-fermented dough that yields a golden, focaccia-like crust with an audible crunch. While the “Godson” pepperoni square is a throwback classic (get it with hot honey), Vance’s vegan roots shine in the “Utica Tomato Pie,” a plant-based marvel where vegan mozzarella and parmesan meet tomatoes in a way that proves inclusivity doesn’t require compromising on taste. Don’t sleep on the seasonal salads, either, like a “Saigon Caesar” loaded with lime and fresh herbs.  With its yellow walls, counter ordering and casual seating, and Dodger banners on display, Old Gold is an unpretentious neighborhood spot that remembers a central truth: pizza should be fun.

No reservations; more info here. 

Name a temple of haute cuisine, and chances are Craig Hopson has worked there (Le Cirque, Guy Savoy, and Picholine, to name a few). After spending decades mastering French fine dining, Hopson has settled in Mar Vista, where last summer he and his wife, Mai Sakai, opened Electric Bleu on buzzy Centinela Avenue. The ultramarine-hued modern bistro playfully reflects Hobson’s rock ‘n’ roll Perth roots and Sakai’s eye for design. Food, however, remains serious business. You’ll want the roasted chicken, a juicy classic with crispy skin, plus an order of “electric fries” dusted with chicken salt (a misnomer; the spice blend contains zero meat). Sakai curates a wine list heavy on esoteric French varietals, plus lots of sake. For the indecisive diner, Electric Bleu also offers a four-course tasting menu ($64).