Effective Wednesday 11/25 at 10pm, LA County has ordered restaurants and bars to cease outdoor dining - find more information here. The good news is, almost all the spots on our Openings Guide are still available for takeout and/or delivery.
If you tried to keep track of every brand new restaurant in Los Angeles, you might go a little bit crazy. So just read this list instead. These are the new restaurant openings that seem like they have the most potential - although keep in mind, for the ones we haven’t tried, we make no promises. Go forth and be a pioneer.
Oh, and even though we’ve been sheltering in place, we’ve still been eating. Check out our favorite pop-ups, meals, and more, in our Best Of 2020 Collection.
JANUARY

After a long hiatus, the team behind Baroo Canteen - our Best New Restaurant Of 2019 - have returned. And, like almost everything during the pandemic, they’re doing things a little bit differently. Their newest joint is Shiku, a homestyle Korean stall located in the Grand Central Market. They just finished their soft opening over the weekend, where they served a variety of banchan and pantry items like kimchi, braised mu radish, homemade gochujang, and sesame oil. Their full menu is set to drop Thursday evening, with pick-ups beginning on Friday. Set your calendars now.

Taco Vega
Fairfax has a new addition - Taco Vega, a 100% plant-based restaurant focusing on Mexican cuisine. That means tacos filled with vegan/vegetarian options like spiced quinoa, tempura cauliflower, grilled yuba pastor, and roasted Okinawa yams, and asada fries topped with grilled oyster mushrooms and chipotle tahini crema. Taco Vega also serves a variety of salads, burritos, bowls, and some pretty fun merch. And you know how much we love good merch. Available for takeout and delivery.

Korean American restaurant vets Ki Kim and Arnold Byun (who’ve worked at high-profile NYC restaurants such as Blanca and Eleven Madison Park) have returned to their California roots to launch Naemo, a new pop-up pairing Korean flavors and farmers market produce. Beautiful boxes are filled with Koshihikari rice, steamed turnips, braised lotus roots, and perilla oil, and their seasonal soup is made with shiitake mushrooms, shrimp dashi, and soft tofu. They also have a variety of cold and hot banchan boxes for sale, place an order through Tock.

Oste
Oste (short for Osteria, of course) is a new Italian spot located on W. Third St. Beginning on January 13th, you’ll be able to order from their short, concise menu of pinsa (Roman-style pizzas) - an ancient dough recipe that’s made with a high concentration of water and endures a long, cold fermentation period. The menu includes margherita, prosciutto, pepperoni, carbonara, mushroom, and boquerones pies, with the option to add black truffles, Calabrian chili, burrata, and arugula to any order. Maybe get all of the above? Available for takeout.

Mama D's African Cuisine
In Boyle Heights, chef Dorothy Wanki (a.k.a. the titular “Mama D”), is serving a variety of meals, pastries, and snacks originating from Cameroon. There’s achu, a traditional dish made with cocoyams, yellow sauce, and smoked meat, as well as the peanut-based ndole (served with rice and fried plantains), goat meat pepper soup, African meat pies, and jollof rice. How much would it cost to order one of everything? Asking for a friend.

Yess Aquatic is an “experimental seafood truck” serving on-the-go versions of complex dishes, like sashimi salad dressed with roasted chili oil and fried almonds, sauteed fish curry made in the style of bouillabaisse, and “banh mi-style” ridgeback prawn sandwiches (served with pâté, Sambal, and pickled daikon and carrots). If you’re thinking that all sounds pretty fancy for a food truck, you’re not wrong: Yess Aquatic also plans on opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant later this year.
La Puglia
Santa Monica’s newest resident is La Puglia, an all-day Southern Italian restaurant serving a vast array of pizzas, pastas, and pastries. Starters include meatballs in tomato sauce, 24-month-aged prosciutto di Parma, and eggplant parmesan, and pizzas are topped with everything from artichokes to spicy salami to Italian ham. Plus, there’s an entire section dedicated to different kinds of bruschetta. So if you’re curious how we’re spending our stimulus check, now you know.

SYTK Sullungtang
If you’re looking to start the new year off with a warm, nourishing soup, first, read our guide to The Best Noodle Soups In Los Angeles. Then check out SYTK. The new Ktown shop specializes in sullungtang, or ox bone soup, which is served with green onions, beef flank, and a clear, rich broth. Aside from the classic sullungtang, SYTK also offers soups made with spicy beef, mixed ox bone, and dried pollack, as well as plates of sogogi suyuk (boiled pork).
Cobi’s Curries features a menu inspired by Thailand, India, Japan, and South Africa, as well as Ayurvedic herb and spice practices. That means dishes like curry laksa, butter chicken, beef rendang, and “The Devil,” a super-hot curry made with chicken, dried and fresh chilis, galangal, and shrimp paste. Emergency glass of milk not included.
DECEMBER

Jyan Isaac Bread
If you’re looking to buy some dough, head to Harvey’s Cafe in Beverly Grove. Located below Easton Gym Co. on Beverly Blvd., this lovely (or is it loaf-ley?) bakery pop-up offers all sorts of bread made with naturally fermented sourdough like baguettes, city loaves containing Himalyan pink salt, and dark Danish rye breads, as well as pre-packaged goods like mixed berry jams and cultured butter. Available for takeout and delivery.
Much like the baby pitbull we were this close to adopting last month, the excellent wood-fired pizza pop-up, La Morra, has now found a forever home. They’re no longer driving around town, popping up at farmers markets, private events, and at the back of Tabula Rasa, but rather, have set-up permanently on W. 3rd Street. In addition to their excellent Neapolitan-style pies - which come topped with pepperoni, caprese, BBQ chicken, and more - La Morra is also offering a new menu of packaged goods like frozen pizzas, organic olive oil, and jars of hand-crushed chili flakes. Available for takeout and delivery.

One More Kitchen
New to Little Bangladesh is One More Kitchen, a half-Italian restaurant, half-coffee shop that’s serving everything from Dalgonna lattes to butha carbonara pasta. Open from 10am to 9pm, the menu is filled with an eclectic mix of Japanese, Korean, and Italian foods, like fried chicken karaage, vongole pasta made with littleneck clams, kimchi French fries, and stir-fried beef brisket. It seems like it’ll be awhile until we can all safely travel, so in the meantime maybe just eat here instead? Available for takeout and delivery.

Sunset Sushi
Sunset Sushi takes over the old Ma’am Sir spot on (you guessed it) Sunset Blvd. Takeout and delivery options include loaded chirashi and kaisendon (a slight variation of the raw seafood box, made with non-vinegared rice) boxes that come with tuna, salmon, golden eye snapper, and sweet shrimp, as well as house rolls, premium boxes of sashimi, and omakase sets. Orders can be placed through their website

The Jolly Oyster
Get your seafood fix at this brand-new raw bar in Downtown Culver City. Located in the Citizen Public Market, this former Smorgasburg spot is dedicated to providing top-quality oysters and clams to West LA, sourcing their seafood from their very own family-run hatchery. They specialize Kumamoto and Pacific oysters - plus their own namesake variety, a cross between the two - as well as uni trays, scallop ceviche, garlic-steamed Manila clams, and at-home oyster kits. Happy shucking. Available for pick-up only.
Bootleg Pizza - Pico
One of our favorite roaming pie shops, Bootleg Pizza now has a brick-and-mortar space on Pico Blvd. Unlike other super-specific pizza spots, the slices at Bootleg combine elements of Sicilian-, Detroit-, and Jersey-style pies - which results in a pizza that’s heavy on the tomato sauce, topped with everything from veggies to hot sausage, and features a thick, square crust. Available for pick-up only.
Kaz The Soba Place
The city’s latest soba specialist is Kaz The Soba Place, a new restaurant on Sawtelle specializing in the Japanese buckwheat noodles. They have both hot and cold versions of the dish, like “The Osaka,” which comes with sweet and tender sukiyaki beef, served with an original hot soup stock, as well as “The Tokyo” - a cold soba served simply with noodles, nori (shredded seaweed), green onions, wasabi, and a side of broth. Available for takeout and delivery.

Meet Ditroit, the backdoor counterpart of the recently opened Damian. After serving their last sit-down meal on 11/25 - due to the latest round of outdoor dining shut-downs - the upscale Mexican spot quickly pivoted to a more casual set-up in the back of their Arts District restaurant. The menu is filled with a seasonal array of items, such as suadero tacos, fish flautas, Chicatana esquites, and Oaxacan fudge paletas (!!). They also have a small marketplace selling salsas and mole. Orders can be placed through Tock.
We checked out Ditroit and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Grain Traders
Grain Traders, a half-market, half-tea shop originally founded in Singapore, has made its way to West Hollywood. All of the meals here are composed of whole grains, seasonal vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and lean meats - which results in a menu of dishes like seared yellowfin tuna tataki, gochujang tofu steaks, and forbidden black rice mixed with caramelized leeks and onions. Available for takeout and delivery.

LA’s latest fried chicken concept comes from the chef behind Go Go Gyoza. Go Go Bird serves boxed combos featuring everything from chicken strips to whole birds to wings. Each comes with their signature Szechuan dry rub, as well as a side of chili oil and maple syrup dipping sauces. Sides include French fries, sweet and savory pickles, mashed potatoes with Japanese gravy, and cheddar biscuits made with honey miso butter and condensed milk. Available for takeout and delivery.
We checked out Go Go Bird and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.
The Quiet Dumpling
This brand-new East Hollywood pop-up is making the argument that dumplings should be seen, not heard. They’re offering an eclectic mix of Chinese dishes, like chicken yuzu wontons, vegan mapo tofu dumplings, cold peanut noodles, and “everything crab & cream cheese rangoons” made with everything bagel seasoning and mae ploy. Genius. Place an order for delivery or pickup through their website.
This Week’s Reopenings: After a pandemic-long closure, Freedman’s in Silver Lake is reopening just in time for Hanukkah - head to their website to see their holiday menu. (Why, yes, it does include their incredible glazed brisket.)

A new pizza company has taken over the ground floor of The Paramount, a historic venue in Boyle Heights that’s been open for nearly 100 years. In addition to a knock-out menu of Oaxacan-style mole pizzas, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos chicken wings, and capirotada, a traditional Mexican dessert made with toasted bolillo bread, vanilla ice cream, rompope, and cajeta (thick, caramelized goat milk), this “community pizzeria” also supports important neighborhood organizations such as The Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory and C-Cap, a nonprofit that empowers underserved youth through the culinary arts. Available for takeout and delivery.
We checked out Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Company and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Atwater Village’s latest addition is Morihiro, a new restaurant serving “the finest of Japanese comfort food.” What does that mean, exactly? The menu is filled with a mix of sushi and home-style cooking, including omakase sets, seasonal bento boxes, and onigiri stuffed with grilled salmon, umeboshi, and okaka (dried bonito fish flakes mixed with soy sauce). The price point here is slightly lower than the chef’s other restaurants, which include Mori Sushi and Shiki in Beverly Hills, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily cheap - think birthday takeout or a Zoom date where the other person offers to pay. Which, now that we say it, should be always? Morihiro is available for takeout - call (323)522-3993 or order online.
We checked out Morihiro, read our first thoughts here.

La Paloma Cafe
Up in Santa Barbara, La Paloma Cafe has just opened in the space that was home to the iconic Paradise Cafe for more than 35 years. This new restaurant, inspired by modern day California cuisine, as well as the fiestas put on by vaqueros who ran the local cattle ranches in the 1800s, is currently open for dinner only, with a menu that features dishes like angus tri-tip, pork shoulder served with comal-roasted tomatillo salsa, and Abuelita’s chocolate pot de creme for dessert. La Paloma Cafe offers outdoor dining and takeout, call (805) 966-7029 for more information, or to place an order.
NOVEMBER

LA’s latest ghost kitchen operation (spooky) is Supamu - a new takeout-only spot bringing Okinawan-style onigiri to LA. Unlike the triangularly shaped rice balls made in mainland Japan, the Okinawan nigiri looks more like a sandwich or taco - folded in half, and filled with ingredients like Spam, egg, chicken katsu, and braised pork belly. Supamu is available for takeout and delivery most major apps, and pick-up at the Melrose Food Co.

Opening 11/27 for takeout, Chifa is a new Eagle Rock restaurant featuring a unique mix of Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Peruvian flavors. The menu is packed with dishes like dan dan noodles, pollo ala brasa, traditional zongi (handcrafted sticky rice), and “Dad’s Beef Noodle Soup,” which is made with a braised brisket that’s been slow-cooked for three days. And in one of the greatest collaborations of all time, our favorite Vaporwave pop-up artist, Lexie Park of Nunchi, is premiering a new dessert here - an opaque, light purple almond jelly made with real bits of corn and chicha morada syrup.
We checked out Chifa and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Sestina
Sestina is a new plant-based pasta bar by chef Matthew Kenney (Double Zero, Plant Food + Wine). In addition to a long list of wines and cocktails, this downtown Culver City spot also offers dishes like dairy-free caprese (made with cashew-milk mozzerella) as well as pumpkin ravioli, spicy rigatoni, and radiatori made with smokey sugo sauce. Sestina is available for takeout and delivery.
Lokal Sandwich Shop
Over in Downtown LA, Lokal Sandwich Shop is on a mission to “satisfy those who crave classic banh mi sandwiches and fresh-brewed coffee.” Which… isn’t that all of us? Their menu has a variety of different Vietnamese sandwiches -ranging from traditional cold cuts made with pork loaf, ham, and pâté - as well as tuna melts, grilled cheeses, and a whole lot more. Lokal Sandwich Shop is available for takeout and delivery, find them on most major third-party apps or call (213) 266-8545 to place an order.

One of the most well-known pizzerias in NYC has arrived in LA with a takeaway location (just like the original) on Sunset in Weho. They’ve got their iconic square slices with tiny, curly edged pepperoni and traditional NY-style cheese slices, and they’re also debuting an all-new slice with spicy vodka sauce. And before you start talking about how this version won’t be as good because of something to do with NYC plumbing, we’ll stop you: They’ve installed a water filtration system that is meant to replicate New York City water.
A new spot in the busiest part of La Cienega in West Hollywood, Fellow Traveler is a wine bar run by Rick Arline, the former sommelier at the now-closed Auburn. You’ll find wine-friendly food like duck rillettes, chicken liver mousse, and a country pork pate (and a burger, too), plus a huge selection of both natural and traditional wines. They’ve got a big dining room that can’t open yet, so they’re running a retail wine shop, along with wine and food for delivery and pick-up.
Madre
The original Madre! in Torrance is one of our favorite Oaxacan restaurants in the city - and now, after a few months of running a limited-menu soft opening, their Weho location is making its debut. The menu makes use of the wood-fired pizza oven in the kitchen from the previous tenants for dishes like pescado sarandeado (flayed, whole-cooked fish), lamb barbacoa, and costillas with salsa Madre. They’re also bringing hundreds of bottles from their extensive mezcal collection, perhaps the best in Los Angeles. There’s outdoor dining for now, and a huge dining room for when restrictions are lifted.

Citizen Public Market
A long-awaited marketplace in Culver City, Citizen Public Market features a half-dozen vendor areas, an upstairs bar, extensive communal outdoor seating, and more - all spread out over 8,000 square feet. Dining options include coffee roaster Goodboybob, The Weho Sausage Company, serving beef and sausage patty burgers alongside an extensive beer list, and Pizzette, a new fast-casual pizza spot from Nancy Silverton.
Bottega Louie
Fans of Bottega Louie rejoice - while the massive original DTLA location of this Italian spot remains closed, they’ve opened a new location on Santa Monica in West Hollywood. For now, they’re just serving pastries, desserts, and coffee for takeout, but they’ll eventually launch for full service with a back patio for dine-in.
This Week’s Reopenings: Found Oyster, one of our favorite new restaurants of the year, re-opened last weekend for limited outdoor dining, as did classic Westside spots Nate ’n Al and Apple Pan.

Adrift Burger Bar
The latest contender seeking to enter LA’s Best Burger pantheon is Adrift Burger Bar, a brand-new pop-up by chef David Myers. Located on Venice’s Abbot Kinney, the chef’s latest venture seems a bit more casual than his previous restaurants, Comme Ça and Hinoki + The Bird, featuring simple burgers like the “1940s Classic” (with lettuce, tomato, onions, and house sauce) and the “DM Burger,” which comes with aged-Vermont cheddar, secret sauce, and a brioche bun. Opening this week (it was supposed to be 11/11, but, hey, things happen), Adrift is available for takeout, delivery, and al fresco dining.
We checked out Adrift Burger Bar and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.
Gigi’s Hollywood
Hollywood’s newest addition is Gigi’s - a haute, chic French bistro with an incredible hand-painted mural. Although their 60-seat dining room remains closed for the time being, the Sycamore Ave. restaurant still offers plenty of al fresco seating, in addition to a full raw bar and a comprehensive wine list. The menu itself is filled with classic bistro dishes such as Parisian gnocchi and 32-oz dry-aged ribeye steaks, as well as appetizers like foie gras torchon, smoked trout rillettes, and omelets served with caviar. Opening on 11/13, reservations can be made through their website.
Frank Coffee
Taking over the old Tactile Coffee space in Historic Filipinotown is Frank Coffee - a tiny espresso bar serving a variety of cold brews, flat whites, cortados, and buttery croissants. Frank Coffee is open daily, 8am-3pm.
Burosu Ramen
Over in Studio City is Burosu Ramen, a brand-new Japanese restaurant that’s perfect for LA’s upcoming winter months (yes, 60 degrees does count as cold, East Coast transplants). In addition to gyoza, sashimi, and hand rolls, Burosu also offers a variety of ramen, like the Reddo - made with a creamy, spicy broth made with soy milk, sesame paste, and Japanese chili oils, or the Kurimu, which is flavored with miso.
We checked out Burosu and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.
Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen - Eagle Rock
Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen now has a third location, this one in Eagle Rock. Located under the new Perch apartment complex on Eagle Rock Blvd., expect the same great menu of brunch foods like breakfast sandwiches made with bacon and spicy mayo, bowls of quinoa dotted with roasted pepitas, and short rib grilled cheeses, in addition to coffee, teas, and cold brews. Open for takeout, limited patio seating available.
Phenakite
Phenakite is a new fine-dining pop-up by chef Minh Phan. This latest venture is a bit of a departure from her other restaurant, Porridge & Puffs, and will take place in the coworking space Second Home in Hollywood, where chef Phan will host a recurring series of nine(ish)-course meals inspired by her personal narrative, specifically reflecting on the last eight months. Tickets for upcoming dinners can be purchased through their site.

E Stretto - East Hollywood
Starting on November 6th, E Stretto will be bringing their excellent deli sandwiches to East Hollywood. This is the casual lunch spot’s second LA location, and will be sharing a space with Flaco, a taqueria on Hollywood Blvd. Expect the same menu of outstanding roast beef sandwiches, Bay Cities-adjacent cold cut subs, and some of the best merch in town.

Stick BBQ
Much like the impromptu hand-poked tattoo we got in college, this new Thai BBQ spot in Thai Town understands an essential truth - some things are better with sticks. There’s not a lot on this lean menu - you get your choice of chicken, pork, or beef skewers, all of which are marinated in a signature house-made Thai-style BBQ sauce then grilled. Open for takeout and delivery, limited patio seating available.

Osteria La Buca - Sherman Oaks
One of our favorite Italian restaurants (and definitely in the running for best gluten-free pasta in LA), Osteria La Buca, now has a second location in Sherman Oaks. Which is good news for anyone in The Valley - you’re now just a short car ride away from Osteria La Buca’s bowls of pappardelle Bolognese, short rib ravioli, and their pièce de résistance - a bucatini carbonara that we may or may not have dreams about. Open for takeout, delivery, and curbside pick-up.

Oh My Crab - Hancock Park
Cajun/Creole seafood restaurant Oh My Crab just launched their second outpost, this time in Hancock Park. Located on that busy strip of Melrose next to Paramount Studios, you’ll find a variety of New Orleans-style seafood, like po’ boys, baskets of soft shell crab, jambalaya, and bags full of boiled lobster, mussels, crawfish, and of course, the eponymous crab, rubbed in a mix of their signature seasonings. Open for takeout and delivery, limited patio seating available.
Mazal
Mazal is a new Israeli restaurant in Lincoln Heights that specializes in homemade spreads. Inspired by the cooking done by the owner’s mother, all of the tahini, hummus, babaganoush, and madbukha are made in-house, and can be paired with dishes like freshly baked pita, flaky bourekas, and roasted cauliflower. In addition to their handcrafted spreads, Mazal also offers a wide range of craft beers, as well as natural and organic wines. Open for takeout, limited patio seating available.

Barbie-Q
Encino’s latest opening is Barbie-Q, a new Midwestern soul food restaurant on Ventura Blvd. The menu here features a variety of comfort food favorites, like Reuben sandwiches, chicken wings, bacon mac and cheese, and Southern ribs, a.k.a. just the kind of stuff we’ll probably need, like, a lot of this week. Open for takeout and delivery, limited patio seating available.
This Week’s Reopenings: And they’re back! Westside favorite Tar & Roses returns November 4th for limited outdoor dining. Reservations can be made through their website.
OCTOBER
The latest addition to LA’s Chinatown is Angry Egret Dinette, a new sandwich shop by former Guerrilla Tacos chef Wes Avila. The focus here is Avila’s take on tortas (just don’t call it a “torta shop”), filled with either fried chicken, prosciutto, or thin cuts of beef (suadero), plus Hawaiian shave ice for dessert. Available for takeout and limited outdoor dining, Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm.
We checked out Angry Egret and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Over in Virgil Village, popular bicycle delivery pop-up Courage Bagels now has a brick-and-mortar bakery. Over the last few months, owner Ari Skye has worked to completely transform their corner space on Virgil Ave., where she now serves her signature Montreal-style bagels - a thin, dense bagel that’s been baked in a wood-fired oven - topped with a mix of market fresh ingredients like parsley, salmon roe, and cucumbers.
We checked out Courage Bagels and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Magpies Softserve - Highland Park
Magpies - home of one of our favorite ice creams in the city - just launched their latest storefront in Highland Park. In addition to their signature soft serve (which comes in flavors like sweetened cream and pumpkin spice latte), their newest shop will also offer quart-sized double-pints to-go and a variety of decadent pies.
Holdaak
The Orange Country fried chicken joint (and creator of the best tagline of all time, “Fry now, cry later”) has arrived in Highland Park. Located across the street from Joy on York Blvd., this Korean chicken shop serves everything from wings to chicken strips to spicy chicken sandwiches, all of which can be ordered with sides like fries, popcorn chicken, and daikon slaw. Open for delivery and takeout.
Noodle Street
The Westfield Santa Anita mall is now home to Noodle Street - a fast-growing Chinese takeout chain specializing in lamian, or hand-pulled noodles. In addition to their signature beef noodle soup, which is served in a broth filled with beef shank, radishes, chili oil, and hand-pulled wheat noodles, Noodle Street also offers dishes like cha-shu pork fried rice, pan-fried scallion pancakes, and pork cabbage dumplings. Open for delivery, takeout, and limited outdoor dining.
Shlap Muan
Shlap Muan, a pop-up from the Bay Area, is now serving their Cambodian-style wings in Long Beach. Open only on the weekends, they currently share a space with Golden Chinese Express, and serve wings doused in either sauces like sweet spicy garlic, orange habanero, and water buffalo (their take on Buffalo sauce), or rubbed with seasonings such as Pekang Wang, Jalapeno MSG, and Cambodian Dirt. Shlap Muan is available for delivery, takeout, and outdoor seating.
Reopenings: Fried chicken food truck Phat Birds is back in Boyle Heights on November 8th, and upscale seafood restaurant Angler has just reopened with a new covered patio in the Beverly Center.

Giti Thai
Windsor Hill’s latest addition is Giti Thai, a new Southeast Asian restaurant located on West Slauson Ave. The menu is filled with traditional dishes like panang curry and larb doused in spicy lime vinaigrette, but also includes more unique options, like New York strip with green curry sauce and Giti Thai tacos made with yellow corn taco shells, ground chicken or beef, fresh basil leaves, and Thai chilis. Giti Thai is available for takeout and delivery.

Over in the Arts District is Damian, a new Mexican restaurant by the chefs behind Cosme, Atla, and Pujol. Much like those other spots, Damian features contemporary takes Mexican dishes like uni tostada, cous cous chicharrón, and shrimp caldo made with black cod, potatoes, and carrots. Damian opens Wednesday, October 21 for al fresco dining only, reservations can be made through Resy.
We checked out Damian, read our first thoughts here.
The Barish
LA culinary heavyweight Nancy Silverton (a.k.a. The woman behind spots like Chi Spacca and Pizzeria Mozza) is opening her first restaurant in seven years. Called The Barish, the old-school Hollywood steakhouse features dishes like pork chops smothered in fennel and chrysanthemum, 30-day-aged New York strips, and lamb chops served with salsa verde. Barish opens Wednesday, October 21 in the Roosevelt Hotel. Reservations can be made through Opentable.
Reopenings: This week, we’ve got a hot, new reopening for Fellow, a semi-French restaurant in Westwood that has everything from al fresco dining to a built-in art gallery. Reservations can be made here. Over in Silver Lake, All Day Baby has a brand-new patio called Helluva Time (reservations can be made here). In Jefferson Park, Harold & Belles has added a “to-geaux” window to their operations, and in Venice, The Waterfront will reopen their beachside taqueria, Boardwalk Tacos, on Friday. Also, good news - not only are breweries back, but so is classique Silver Lake bar The Friend - now open Thursday-Sunday from 6pm-12am.

Forma - Venice
Good news for Venice - Forma has officially done the impastable and opened a second location, this one on the corner of Main and Navy. Which, OK, isn’t necessarily impastable (we just like to pun), but it’s still pretty cool - currently open for dinner, the popular Italian restaurant will continue to serve the same line-up of fresh pastas presented in giant, hollowed-out wheels of cheese, like black pepper-studded cacio e pepe, fettuccine Bolognese, and risotto made with saffron, veal, and grana padano cheese. Forma is open for dinner, from 4-10pm daily (10:30 on weekends).

Today Starts Here is a new brunch pop-up by the team behind Pine & Crane. Located in Chinatown, this weekend-only spot features a variety of Taiwanese dishes like dan bing (crepes made with eggs, scallions, cabbage, and corn), daikon rice cakes, and long, oblong fan tuan - hot, sticky rice rolls stuffed with pork floss, braised egg, and you-tiao. Available for takeout only, order through Toast.
We checked out Today Starts Here and added it to The Hit List, our guide to the best new restaurants in LA.

Mora Rooftop At Comoncy
Encino’s Mora Italiano has opened a new outpost in Beverly Grove. Located on W. Third St., they have everything from a candlelit al fresco patio to dishes such as pomodoro bucatini pasta, whole roasted branzino, funghi pizza made with maitake mushrooms, as well as tiramisu and gluten-free chocolate cake for dessert. Dinner reservations can be made through Opentable.

Moeem
If you’ve been missing your KBBQ fix in quarantine, Moeem is here to fix that - the new Koreatown restaurant is complete with al fresco BBQ tables, premium cuts of meat, braised beef ribs, and huge pots of lobster, octopus, mussels, abalone, crab, and other assorted seafoods, which sort of resembles a Southern seafood boil or like, every food fantasy we’ve ever had.

The Bombay Frankie Company - Culver City
Over on the Westside, The Bombay Frankie Company has relocated Culver City. Previously operating out of the family’s Chevron station on Santa Monica Blvd., starting on October 15th, the Indian street food restaurant moves to the Westfield Culver City mall (well, technically, just outside the mall). The menu will consist of their signature frankies (essentially Indian burritos), as well as curry bowls, samosas, and biryanis. The Bombay Frankie Company will be available for takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining.
Reopenings: The Airliner - a recently renovated spot in Lincoln Heights with well-made cocktails, good beer, and a big back patio - is back open for outdoor dining.

Nick The Greek
California chain Nick The Greek has landed in Westwood. The Mediterranean street-food spot offers a variety of traditional dishes, like souvlaki and beefteki (ground beef made with a mix of oregano, mint, and onion), as well as original menu items like Nick’s Fries, which come smothered in feta, garlic, spicy yogurt, and gyro meat or falafel. Nick The Greek opens on October 8th, and will be offering a free lunch for all people living and working in Westwood from 11am-3pm while supplies last.

A Fish & Friends
Down in the South Bay is A Fish & Friends, a new al fresco seafood restaurant (not to be confused with A Phish & Friends). Taking over the space previously occupied by A Basq Kitchen, this waterfront restaurant serves shrimp and lobster rolls, grilled octopus with black pepper aioli potatoes, a vegan passionfruit coconut ceviche, and fish and chips - which, based on their name, is presumably made with all of their closest mates? Eek. Reservations available online.
La Chuperia The Miche Spot
La Chuperia is a new Mexican restaurant specializing in micheladas. Located on S. Flower St., the Downtown LA spot serves micheladas featuring everything from ceviche to deep-fried bacon-wrapped shrimp to mangos and White Claws (seriously), plus a menu of botanas like taquitos, nachos, and tacos. La Chuperia is available for takeout, curbside pick-up, and outdoor dining.

Little Llama
Little Llama, but not too much! The popular Smorgasburg vendor is set to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant on October 10th in Downtown LA. Expect a bright, colorful patio as well as Peruvian dishes like avocado ceviche tostadas, rocoto miso butter salad, and tacos made with aji panca pepper-marinated chicken. Little Llama is available for delivery, takeout, and patio seating.

Clark Street - Brentwood
Much like Aubrey Plaza in 2017, Clark Street has gone West. Now open in Brentwood, this is the bread company’s fourth outpost, and offers a mix of pastries, baked goods, takeaway loaves of bread, coffee, and breakfast items such as avocado toast and quiche Lorraine. No word on whether they’ll be serving their incredible burger at 7:30 am, though.