Photograph: Courtesy Laya
Upscale bistros, affordable Asian eats and more: These are the L.A. openings worth checking out this month.
Written by Patricia Kelly Yeo
Food & Drink Editor, Time Out Los Angeles
Contributor: Michael Juliano
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Before the Yelp ratings and “best of” accolades start to roll in, how do you know what’s actually good or not among L.A.’s just-opened eateries? Every month, I put myself through the ringer attempting to visit every new, notable restaurant around Los Angeles. Usually, I enjoy revisiting the city’s best eateries and sipping cocktails at tried-and-true bars, but scouting for the best new restaurants and bars in L.A. is, to put it nicely, kind of a grab bag. Whenever I’m out scouting for the latest openings or my next starred review, I’m just as likely to blow hundreds of dollars on an overhyped dud as I am to stumble upon the city’s next truly great restaurant.
With Time Out’s guide to L.A.’s best new restaurants (with a few exceptions, I’ve personally checked out every single one), you don’t need to sift through pay-to-play influencer videos and user-generated reviews to decide where to head next—we’ve done the work for you, from looking for parking and waiting in line to trying those ultra-pricey items ($55 short rib pizza, anyone?), since there’s nothing worse when dining out than wasting your precious free time and, of course, money.
How do I decide which restaurants are worth including? I take into account the quality of cuisine, overall ambience and, of course, the final bill. Not every notable new restaurant I try will make my list (which is why you won’t find the Benjamin on Melrose or Pasadena’s Star Leaf in this month’s update). I offer suggestions on what to order and let you know what to expect in terms of crowd, ambience and cuisine. If necessary, I also make recommendations as to when, and how, to fit these red-hot openings into your schedule and budget—whether they’re worth going out of your way for or better suited for locals in the neighborhood. Read on for August’s best new restaurants, ranked.
August 2024: This summer has been extremely slow for restaurant openings, but that hasn’t stopped these red-hot debuts from making a splash in the L.A. dining scene. Among our three additions are a gorgeous French-Japanese restaurant in the Arts District from two L.A. food and beverage veterans; a Middle Eastern lounge in Hollywood with serious culinary chops; and a fast-casual Chinese restaurant in West L.A. partially powered by robot chefs. (Yes, really.) We’re also saying goodbye to one heavy hitter that’s aged off this list: Holy Basil Atwater Village, which has already become a beloved neighborhood fixture in Northeast L.A.
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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Gotta try ’em all: Our favorite new restaurants in L.A.
- Brasseries
- Downtown Arts District
price 3 of 4
Time after time, I eagerly await buzzy openings, only to find they largely fall flat. The only exception this year is Camélia, the long-awaited French-Japanese bistro by Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan of Echo Park’s Tsubaki and OTOTO. Wood panels and handsome leather booths have given the former Church & State (and short-lived Caboco) space a distinctly polished feel, and the eight-seat bar is already drawing in local residents pairing their wine or sake with Camélia’s outstanding dry-aged burger. In the dining room, hearty dishes like Japanese-style spaghetti bolognese and croque madame made with ham katsu and milk bread deftly skirt the lines between culinary genres. Who knew shiso and ponzu jelly could pair so well with burrata? Save room for dessert; there’s an excellent caramel pudding topped with fruit, whipped cream and crunchy buckwheat, but you’d be equally pleased with the chocolate black sesame gâteau or Harry’s Berries pistachio tart. Outdoor dining available. $16 valet and street parking.
- Persian
- Silver Lake
price 2 of 4
With a name that fittingly translates to “my dear” in Farsi, this casual Persian eatery in Silver Lake takes a page from the Pine & Crane playbook (where co-owner Cody Ma once worked) with counter service and the sort of high-quality cooking you’ll cherish time and time again. Ma and his partner Misha Sesar serve an array of delightful homestyle dishes, including a standout turmeric-braised jidori chicken (dampokhtak) and matzo-like kofte tabrizi, a giant beef meatball that hides a mix of walnuts and dried fruits at the center. Smaller mazeh plates like the classic mast-o-musir (shallot, garlic and mint oil yogurt) with housemade flatbread and Sesar’s excellent dessert program bookend a delicious meal that showcases a cozier, lighter side of Persian cuisine that’s hard to find outside of home kitchens. Just be aware the small space gets packed, especially on weekends—you’re not the only one chasing this culinary high. Outdoor dining available. Street parking.
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- Korean
- Koreatown
price 2 of 4
Run by the same team behind Park's, KTeam BBQ takes over the space that once held Ong Ga Nae, which quietly closed last year. The Vermont Avenue newcomer offers a more affordable, pork-centric Korean barbecue experience—albeit with the same meat quality, bounty of banchan and excellent prepared dishes as its older, critically acclaimed sibling across the street. Cheerful orange-and-white checkered tile tables serve as the backdrop for a reasonably priced à la carte menu that includes a phenomenal bowl of chilled spicy acorn noodles; delightfully chewy tteokbokki, served with one or more barbecue orders; and three types of beef. The star of the show, however, is the thinly sliced frozen pork belly, a cut popular in South Korea. Paired with supplemental myeonglan paste (pollack roe) or the classic trio of spicy soybean paste, garlic and jalapeño, each lettuce or perilla-wrapped bite will transport you to Seoul.Limited street parking and $5 valet.
- Sandwich shops
- Santa Monica
After a year-long delay, Jordan Snyder and Alex Williams’s artisanal sandwich shop has finally opened its doors on Montana Avenue—and while the square footage might be limited, the ample flavors and attention to detail make Bread Head a worthwhile daytime dining destination. The beautiful, impossibly crackly focaccia crust and high-quality ingredients make every bit of difference here. Made fresh daily, each focaccia slice’s golden, buttery half combines with high-quality meats, luscious cheeses and a mélange of flavorful spreads. The duo have also added newer items like the Combo Grinder (Bread Head’s take on a classic Italian sub), plus weekday-only hot sandwich specials, housemade Arnold Palmer and excellent chocolate espresso crinkle cookies. Metered and free two hour street parking.
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- Lebanese
- Hollywood
price 3 of 4
Located in the sprawling former Le Jardin space, this upscale Middle Eastern concept comes from Top Chef Middle East winner Charbel Hayek, the Lebanese-born chef behind West Hollywood’s Ladyhawk. The minimalist-meets-Tulum design feels warm and inviting, with plenty of comfortable lounge seating, a fire pit and two bars perfect for catching a drink before or after a nearby show. Among Laya’s smaller appetizers, I enjoyed the Australian Wagyu kibbeh nayeh and freshly made pitas paired with olives, balls of goat cheese and za’atar spice in olive oil. There’s also a section of straightforward, vegan-friendly kebabs and larger entrées. For dessert, ask about the off-menu knafeh, which pairs sweet cheese and phyllo dough with a fragrant simple syrup, or opt for the showier rose soft serve topped with a delightful cotton candy cloud. A meal at Laya largely stays within the lines of a see-and-be-seen Hollywood hot spot, but Hayek’s thoughtful sourcing and attention to detail still manages to make almost every dish shine.Outdoor dining available. $20 valet and metered street parking.
- French
- Santa Monica
price 3 of 4
Housed in the former Stout space in Santa Monica, this Parisian-inspired burger bar caught our eye with its attention to detail, excellent cheese and charcuterie selection and some seriously great between-bun action. Like its sibling Bar Monette next door, Burgette serves upscale comfort food and small plates alongside an excellent wine list—but this time, chef Sean MacDonald has turned his attention to the flat-top grill. There are six unique burgers on the menu, including pescatarian and vegetarian options, but our favorite is the La Vivianne, a decadent mix of bone marrow butter, melted raclette cheese and sweet tomato jam that hits all the right notes. Don’t skip the fries, which offer the same salty crisp as McDonald’s sans the vaguely chemical aftertaste. We’ll be curious to see how Burgette holds up in the long run, but thus far, the restaurant has impressed us so much it’s already landed spots on our burgerand fried chicken sando guides. 90 minutes free parking in the nearby Second Street Plaza Garage.
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- Japanese
- Torrance
price 2 of 4
One of Japan’s most popular ramen chains has finally landed in a South Bay strip mall after opening several locations in the OC. Unlike most of L.A.’s tonkotsu joints, Kitakata’s specialty is a clear, flavorful pork-based shoyu broth paired with shina soba—a wavy, softer Chinese-style noodle—and tender slices of chashu. For a spice kick, order the green chili shio ramen, which swaps the soy base out for salt and adds a pile of scallions on top. The tiny strip mall joint also serves excellent gyoza and other sides, plus plain and spicy miso, tan tan and vegan broth options. In our eyes, however, what makes Kitakata a countywide destination is the signature shoyu bowl, as well as the unique tsukemen, which uses a sesame-inflected dashi shoyu in place of a usually fatty dipping broth. On weekends, add yourself to the Yelp waitlist ahead of time to cut down on your wait. On-site lot parking.
- Chinese
- Sawtelle
price 1 of 4
In the narrow, high-turnover spaces that line the ground floor of Sawtelle’s One Westside shopping center, the newest player to enter the ring is Tigawok, a Chinese fast-casual concept powered by automated woks, a.k.a. “robot chefs.” (In reality, they look more like washing machines.) Each tiny, snack-size bowl costs between $3 and $6, with 18 unique entrées to choose from. As of writing, lines already form early and last throughout the day, with diners happy to line up for fairly well-executed, affordable Chinese cuisine. On my visit, I tried every single item on the menu (a feat that requires only about $85), and while not every dish won me over, I would recommend Hunan spicy beef, “Tiga cola” chicken and any of the vegetable sides, as well as the soy-braised Wagyu rice bowl and astonishingly good soup dumplings. Where Tigawok does distinguish itself, however, is on cost—and at a time when dining out is more expensive than ever, I’m more than happy to come back. Outdoor dining available. Two-hour parking on-site and metered street parking.
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- Pizza
- La Brea
price 3 of 4
For a certain type of well-to-do L.A. diner, there’s nothing more appealing in a restaurant than a Michelin pedigree, high-quality ingredients and an ever-changing seasonal menu. Bay Area chef Joshua Skenes—founder of Saison and the now-closed Angler Los Angeles—checks all these boxes and more in his new “casual” neighborhood pizzeria, if one considers an average multi-course dinner bill of $100 per head, pricey cocktails and supplemental osetra caviar casual. The cost of entry at Leopardo is worth it, however, for those who view pizza as an art form, or anyone jonesing for Angler’s famously creamy soft-serve. The black-spotted, crust-dominant pies give the city’s best neo-Neapolitan pizzas a run for their money, with a chewy, high-hydration crust and accoutrements like housemade giardiniera and stracciatella cheese. Equally compelling raw dishes and wood-fired mains, plus a superb dessert selection, make it easy to run up your bill, but the pizza is still the star of the show—and the cheapest way to enjoy a meal here. Outdoor dining available. Metered street parking.
- Korean
- Koreatown
price 1 of 4
With affordable bansang sets built around proteins and straightforward sides, Kisa Sikdang is already making waves in Koreatown’s ultra-competitive dining scene. The casual but sleekly appointed restaurant takes over the former Oyabun space and is modeled and named after South Korea’s kisa sikdangs, a type of casual roadside eatery primarily favored by taxi drivers. Lunch sets go for $19 (11am–3pm), while dinner tops out at $24 (5–9pm), though you can also opt for a $17.99 bowl of spicy naengmyeon, a $35cozy family-style bowl of spicy fish stew and $21yukjeon, or pan-fried battered beef patties. Given the rising cost of going out to eat, we consider the opening of Kisa Sikdang a major win for L.A.’s budget-friendly dining scene. The fare here is tasty and straightforward, there’s beer and soju on offer, and you can get out of here after tax and tip for under $40—what’s not to love?
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- Korean
- Koreatown
price 2 of 4
The oversized deep-fried pork cutlets have already made this Koreatown newcomer go viral on TikTok and Instagram, but Lasung House lives up to the hype with a delicious, surprisingly light schnitzel-like crust, fusion-style noodle dishes and a refreshing rice sikhye slushie drink that’s liable to conjure childhood memories for plenty of Korean Americans. Nostalgia plays aside, the comfort food menu hits the sweet spot between price and quality at a time when the average price of dining out is higher than ever, all while adding something fairly unique to the neighborhood’s sprawling, densely packed dining scene. Beyond the pork cutlet, which you can also top with cheese or order spicy, we’d also recommend the refreshing buckwheat noodles and mild spaghetti bolognese. It might not be the most exciting concept on paper, but if you’re looking for an affordable, tasty new place to try, put Lasung House at the top of your list. Small private lot and street parking.
- Japanese
- Hollywood
price 2 of 4
Located on the ground floor of a Hollywood office building, this 12-seat hand roll bar from the team behind Koreatown’s Iki Ramen serves a delicious, high-quality array of temaki, nigiri and sashimi that expands and improves upon the widely imitated hand roll bar menu first popularized by Kazunori. For a reasonable splurge, look to Iki Nori’s $44 special hand roll set. Though not completely filling (you’ll likely still want to order another hand roll à la carte or some nigiri), the set includes toro caviar, salmon truffle, scallop uni and a thin, lightly seared slice of A5 Wagyu topped with yuzu kosho and a brush of sweet shoyu. Sake and shochu by the glass, plus a large bottle selection in the cooler, make it easy to linger awhile, but if you’re stopping in for a quick lunch or a pre-show dinner, Iki Nori has your back—and then some more. Metered street and on-site lot parking.
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- Italian
- Beverly
price 3 of 4
Does L.A. need another glitzy Italian restaurant? If you ask any developer within a two-mile radius of Beverly Hills, the answer is always yes. Fortunately for those of us without bottomless expense accounts, the Italian fine-dining at Stella is actually worth ponying up for. Chef Rob Gentile and his design-oriented business partner, Janet Zuccarini (who also masterminded Evan Funke’s Felix) have created a dinner destination that rivals L.A.’s best Italian restaurants. The moody subterranean level feels like a modern supper club, while the brighter first-floor dining room imparts a slightly more formal ambience. Gentile’s take on the oft-tired genre of Cal-Italian is sometimes inconsistent, but dazzling standouts like branzino crudo carved tableside and su filindeu, one of the world’s rarest pastas still hit the spot. For dessert, splurge on the cassata siciliana—a symphony of cake, ricotta, pistachio, chocolate and amarena cherries. $22 valet parking for the first two and a half hours, plus metered street parking.
- Pizza
- Westlake
price 2 of 4
This bright and airy Detroit-style pizzeria comes from Alex and Sun Sohn, the same couple behind Calic Bagel. Housed within the space on the border between Koreatown and Westlake, Seven Tigers Pie Club serves maximalist L.A.-inspired pies best described as a gourmet stoner’s delight. We’re talking grandma-style squares topped with the likes of tender short rib galbi—this one is $55, just a heads up!—and a homage to al pastor tacos stacked with pickled onions and pineapple. (Unfortunately, the pork itself is nothing to write home about.) Craveable tater tots dripping in garlic butter—the same one used on Calic Bagel’s viral garlic cheese bagel—and lunch-friendly focaccia sandwiches round out the ambitious menu here. While the jury’s still out on if Seven Tigers has what it takes to be one of the city’s best pizzerias, it’s certainly one of the most ambitious—and for that, we’ll give it props.Outdoor dining available. On-site parking.
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- Japanese
- Century City
price 1 of 4
For some odd reason, Westfield Century City is now home to three different Japanese noodle shops. The newest is Ramen Ochi, the first international outpost of a Japanese restaurant group with outposts in Saitama, Chiba and Tokyo. While Ramen Nagi is still the most destination-worthy of the upscale mall’s three ramenyas (and the food court’s Ramen King Keisuke is just plain bad), Ramen Ochi offers a unique soup base made with chicken, pork and beef that’s topped with soy-braised pork belly and a raw egg yolk—or soft-boiled, if you prefer. The end result is vaguely reminiscent of a sweet sukiyaki, though the red onions and minced garlic on top cut through the thick, fairly decadent broth. Ramen Ochi also serves rice bowls, gyoza, karaage and a vegan ramen made with seaweed, shiitake mushrooms and tomatoes. There’s also a tsukemen (dipping) broth and two kinds of tamago kake men—cold ramen noodles topped with your choice of meat, seasoned soy sauce and freshly cracked raw egg. Outdoor dining available; 60 minutes free on-site parking, $2 each 20 minutes thereafter.
- Bistros
- West Hollywood
price 2 of 4
If not for the charming, well-heated patio and decent hors d’oeuvres, we wouldn’t necessarily give this new West Hollywood bistro our stamp of approval. That being said, the second location of this Venice cocktail joint fills a solid niche within the upscale neighborhood—a stylish date night spot with excellent drinks, decent, not-too-expensive bar bites. It all makes for an easy slide from drinks into dinner at Coucou, where Bouchon Vegas alum Jacob Wetherington offers a cheese-covered “l’haute” dog, a vegan-friendly French dip made with king oyster mushrooms andother straightforward, slightly salty fare that gets the job done. Our suggestion? Skip the mains, go all in on appetizers and order Coucou’s popular soft-serve for dessert—it comes with a delicious housemade chocolate magic shell. Outdoor dining available; $20 valet and limited metered street parking.
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- Japanese
- Echo Park
price 2 of 4
Izakayas are few and far in between in L.A., but this Osaka-style skewer specialist in Echo Park scratches the itch with brisk service, an extensive selection of beer, whiskey, sake and shochu and over 20 varieties of kushikatsu, or deep-fried and battered skewers. Sip on a shiso-inflected gin martini as you enjoy drinking food like Wagyu corned beef and chilled housemade tofu topped with a peanut-forward chili crisp. A $20 set meal gets you five kushikatsu and some raw seasonal veggies, which serve as a palate cleanser after feasting on surprisingly filling deep-fried mochi, vegetables and meat on sticks. Kissed with a touch of salt, hot mustard or tonkatsu sauce (available at every table or bar seat), the skewers offer a satisfying diversity of texture and flavor. Open from 4 to 11pm, Wednesday to Sunday, Kushiba has set its sights on capturing the pre- and post-Dodger game crowd—and while the tiny menu isn’t all that exciting, it’s a great option for Echo Park locals or whenever you find yourself in the area.Outdoor dining available; private lot and nearby metered street parking.
- Seafood
- Old Pasadena
price 3 of 4
Downtown’s Pez Cantina trades its chips and guac (and margs) approach for more of a California-meets-Mediterranean affair at this similarly seafood-focused outpost in Old Pasadena. The beachy dining room brings some welcomed buoyancy to this formerly pubby street corner, though Pez Coastal Kitchen feels like more of an upscale neighborhood joint than destination-worthy Union and Perle. Load up on starters and crudo for the menu’s most inventive entries, like the “ravioli,” a pasta-free dish of scallop-wrapped ahi tuna in a delicious ponzu bath. Cocktails emphasize gin, tequila and mezcal (we particularly liked the Lady Bug, a beautiful-and-balanced mix of tequila, amaro and blackberry), while the hyperlocal beers are practically begging to be paired with the crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside yam skins. Street parking, $12 valet across the street and a nearby public lot (171 North Raymond Avenue.)
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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