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.

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.

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 Award-winning 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.

Altadena isn’t going anywhere, and Betsy’s here to prove it. Originally dubbed Bernee, the burgeoning restaurant was forced to close in January 2025, barely a month after it opened, due to the devastating Eaton Fire.  Miraculously, the building survived, though Bernee did not. Now it is reborn, and rechristened as Betsy (named for the grandmother of owner Tyler Wells, previously of All Time.) To say that Betsy is a cozy neighborhood spot where charred snap peas, blistered focaccia, and grilled steaks all pass through the custom-built hearth is true, but also an understatement: it’s a triumph, both for a neighborhood in the midst of rebuilding, and for all who appreciate thoughtful live-fire fare.

Santa Monica’s Georgian Room encapsulates everything you want out of an old-fashioned Hollywood haunt: gorgeous lighting, plush booth seating, self-important rules (please, no pictures inside), and a world-class Caesar salad. Push the buzzer, descend down the stairs, and step into a resurrected Prohibition-era speakeasy where Clarke Gable, Judy Garland, and Bugsy Siegel once held court. After decades dormant, it’s been retrofitted as an Italian steakhouse that still retains a mysterious, under-the-radar feel. Dry-aged steaks are buttery, caviar is available in 10-gram increments (and comes with tater tots), and on Sunday, there’s a $65 prix-fixe spaghetti dinner. Utter perfection.

Buvons sits quietly in Long Beach’s Zaferia district. It’s a women-owned natural wine bar, shop, and French-Mediterranean restaurant, and each part of that operation is imbued with a true sense of care — you get the sense that you’ve stumbled upon something really special here. The enchanting garden patio, open for lunch and dinner, is ideal for snacking on freshly shucked oysters, house-made pâté, or pasta alla norma, a traditional Sicilian dish with silky-tender fried eggplant. Buvon’s thoughtful selection of small-production, low-intervention wines is handpicked by the staff, so you’ll want to take your time with it — check out the rare bottles from Jura, Burgundy, and Champagne that are seldom found elsewhere in Long Beach.

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.

The talent at this new South Pasadena bistro does the talking while you dive in.  Helmed by Matt Molina and Joe Capella, two titans of the L.A. dining scene, Cannonball is the latest addition to their already impressive portfolio, which also includes Hippo, Triple Beam Pizza, and Everson Royce Bar. Their latest is moody and sophisticated: walls are painted in a heavy dark blue and Art Deco lighting fixtures twinkle overhead. The globally-influenced menu (think fideos alongside potstickers) pays homage to Molina’s previous hits, including a burger outfitted with a four-inch thick patty made of prime chuck, and golden, flaky biscuits slathered in honey butter. At the bar, Capella flexes his beverage expertise, with a wide-ranging selection of international wines and crafted cocktails.

Like chef-owner Travis Lett’s previous ventures (Gjelina, Gjusta, that impossibly tasteful apartment on the Westside the restaurant group casually rents out, etc.), RVR is a certified hit. Sure, the stylish Japanese izakaya (pronounced “river”) feels light-years away from the smoke-filled dens of Tokyo. (Between its dreamy Abbot Kinney digs and the floor-to-ceiling vinyl collection, RVR shares more DNA with Japanese listening bars than the country’s drinking taverns.) But fussy details like that tend to fade away while you’re eating roasted mushrooms draped in miso butter, or gyoza stuffed with Peads & Barnetts pork belly. At the helm at RVR are executive chef Ian Robinson and wine director Maggie Glasheen (previously of Anajak Thai), who’ve teamed up for a robust menu of hand rolls, binchōtan charcoal-grilled meats and seafood, and ramen served with house-made noodles.

Bar 109 is the kind of moody, intimate hangout that makes you want to cancel your real plans, text your best friend, and settle in for the night. Tucked into Brian Baik’s much-anticipated Corridor 109, this Melrose Hill gem is the cocktail bar this neighborhood has been waiting for. The marble bar glows under dim lighting; elliptical communal tables somehow make strangers feel like friends. Superstar bartender Kayla Garcia (previously of Beard award-winning Kumiko in Chicago and Echo Park’s Thunderbolt) is doing remarkable things with cocktails — the Mikan Old Fashioned is a dreamy, bright take on the classic, while the Sanshito brings together citrus and rum to create tropical bliss. Baik’s debut bar bites are a lot of fun, too, including a velvety smoked salmon dip, crispy fish sandwich, and wagyu hot dog.

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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.

In a strip mall on Jefferson Blvd. where Culver City meets Palms sits this completely unassuming omakase restaurant without any tricks up its sleeve — just fantastic nigiri served by a certified sushi veteran. While other places rely on flashy gimmicks or overpriced accoutrements (we’re looking at you, gold leaf), Kusano bothers itself not with such theatrics. For $160, guests are treated to a one-man show from chef Yasu Kusano, a legend who’s done stints at Gonpachi and Yasu, and is credited by KinKan’s Nan Yimcharoen as being her sushi mentor. Kusano himself does it all effortlessly:‌ he takes orders, chats with customers, deftly slices fish, and even busses tables. The menu showcases pristine fish with minimal flourishes — fatty chu-toro comes with a brush of soy sauce; a spritz of lemon complements hirame’s clean, delicate taste. Craftsmanship and skill over spectacle, that’s the motto.

Two years (and many hours of construction) later, Beethoven Market has undergone a stunning transformation from beloved neighborhood grocery into a Mar Vista hotspot with a rustic-chic vibe that Nancy Meyers would approve of. The California-Italian menu has everything you need for a mellow summer hang, including handmade pizzas and pastas; focaccia smeared with whipped ricotta and avocado tree honey; and suppli al telefono, crispy little fried rice ball stuffed with fior di latte cheese — plus a stunning patio space. Knowing how much this space meant to the neighborhood, owner Jeremy Adler also ensured the protection and preservation of the building’s bones. Luckily, they’re quite beautiful, particularly the original wooden ceiling and its gorgeous soaring beams, which remain intact today.