These Dining Destinations Will Knock Your Socks Off

In a bustling, diverse city like Los Angeles, a splashy new dining destination seems to be in the spotlight almost every day. A big thanks to social media, who always does the most to spread the word! 

Known for regularly reinventing itself, the City of Angels is always adding new establishments to the ranks—sending foodies into a full-fledged frenzy. It can be tough to keep up with the latest cream of the culinary crop, but someone has to do it! From the newest innovations in Japanese fusion to popular pizzas, Korean classics, American staples, Italian eats and sushi that’s worth salivating over, allow us to introduce you to 11 of the best new restaurants in Los Angeles.

 

Star Leaf

With 43 locations throughout Asia, the team behind the renowned restaurant Star Leaf has chosen Pasadena for the franchise’s official US flagship. Blending elements from a global range of cooking styles and cuisines—from Vietnamese and Indonesian to French, Dutch, Filipino, Singaporean and Chinese, just to name a few—this continental chain was conceived and helmed by a powerhouse female restaurateur, now bringing its signature culinary creativity and curated cocktails to the West Coast. 

Filled with flavors from all across Southeast Asia, a masterful menu boasts a marvel of edible aesthetics, from Saigon Summer Rice Paper Rolls stuffed with soft-shell crab and avocado to Spicy Tom Yum Soup loaded with whole prawns and a disc of Royal Crown Fried Rice, topped with a colorful coating of wild Icelandic fish roe. 

Location: Pasadena

 

The Benjamin

Since opening its doors in late June, The Benjamin has been creating a stir on the LA social scene. A new face in the dining space, this dreamy destination on the corner of Melrose and Formosa has the feel of a buzzy bistro, serving up sophisticated American fare and elevated eats in a polished, wood-paneled interior with a sprawling bar, low lighting and plush seating. A robust beverage program includes nine marvelous martinis and a slew of creative cocktails (served with monogrammed ice cubes). On the food side, the menu features house signatures, including hearty burgers, roasted heirloom chicken and seared branzino and superior sides, like a twice-baked potato topped with caviar. 

Location: Hollywood

 

Leopardo

Gluten eaters, rejoice! With its house motto, “Unfamiliar takes on the familiar,” La Brea’s newest neighborhood nook is bringing the wood-fired pizzas of your dreams into reality. Known and named for its mottled crusts, spotted with crisp and crunchy air bubbles, Leopardo (“leopard” with an Italian twist, get it?) gets it right every time with inventive pies, garnished with to-die-for toppings like country ham and Calabrian chilis and festooned with fresh formaggio. Slice up your creation any way you like with special scissors for easy distribution, and sample a selection of unique bites like purple sea urchin topped with caviar or savory ocean whitefish, before dipping into a display of dreamy desserts. 

Location: La Brea

 

Danbi

Head on down to Koreatown and duck into Danbi—a reincarnation of former fan-favorite Tokki, run by the same team and revamped in the same 6th Street spot. Putting a contemporary spin on Korean classics with its Michelin-recognized menu and sleek industrial space, this buzzy new Los Angeles restaurant is already garnering a loyal following thanks to its creative cuisine. Chock-full of crowd-pleasers, from classic crudo and cold noodles to the crispy scallop pancake (affectionately described as a “seafood pizza”) that 86s the squid and prawns in favor of baby bay scallops and a housemade mentaiko cream sauce, Danbi knows the way to blend time-honored traditions with fun and fresh flavors. 

Location: Koreatown

 

Osteria Vera

Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Italian countryside by way of Brentwood with the arrival of Osteria Vera—the newest venture from restaurateur Giorgio Pierangeli (owner of nearby Pecorino) and celebrated chef Nicola Mastronardi. Dine your way through all the greatest hits of classic Italiano cuisine, with a menu reminiscent of a rendezvous in Rome or an affair on the Amalfi Coast. Think homemade pasta (ravioli, pappardelle and tagliolini—oh my!) in sumptuous sauces and a creamy cacio e pepe prepared tableside. Guests can also slice into a hearty bistecca or buttery branzino. To satisfy a craving while awaiting your plating, snack on crispy calamari or fresh focaccia bread paired with an irresistible truffle cheese fondue.

Location: Brentwood

 

Mori Nozomi

Setting up shop in the coveted Mori Sushi space on Pico Boulevard is a carefully curated omakase operation, eponymously named in honor of its creative chef, Mori Nozomi. With just eight seats surrounding the contemporary counter in a meticulously minimalist, streamlined space on the west side, Nozomi serves up a superb sushi experience, slicing and preparing an elegant 20 courses of superior seafood in the theatrical tradition of Japanese hospitality. The pièce de resistance is the matcha tea ceremony that serves as a finale for the palate, delicately designed and delivered by Nozomi’s small but mighty, fully female team. 

Location: Sawtelle

 

Layla

If you still think of the Clapton song when you hear the name Layla and still refer to the Beacon Hotel on Ocean Avenue as the Shangri-La, then it’s time to take a trip to Santa Monica to visit this new restaurant in Los Angeles. Stretching inside from the lobby along the ground floor of the hallowed hotel is the newly opened Jordanian eatery, Layla—brought to you by Chef Chris Sayegh (who’s also behind the newly opened fave, The Coco Club on the swinging rooftop). With a menu of mouthwatering Middle Eastern delicacies inspired by the recipes of Sayegh’s grandmother, guests can expect sizable shared plates (mezze) of wood-fired pita with colorful dips, like traditional hummus, labneh tapenade, and smoked eggplant. There’s also a selection of kebabs, frites, and elevated entrees, all served in a chic space with a side of sweeping ocean views.

Location: Santa Monica

 

Burgette

When the mood strikes to satisfy a craving for a boujee burger—a “burgette,” if you will—look no further than this fabulous fast-growing foodie favorite. Sophisticated Santa Monica sister to beloved Bar Monette, Burgette centers its culinary leanings on French-focused flavors and Parisian plats-du-jour. Forget your basic burger’s traditional lettuce-and-tomato toppings because around here, you’ll bite into a pretty patty, piled high with pungent raclette, bathed in bone marrow butter and spiced tomato jam, then stabbed through the bun with a serrated knife. Cut into classic charcuterie and dip your toe into the world of French fromage, where cheese becomes even more than its own food group—it’s a lifestyle. 

Location: Santa Monica

 

Fiorelli Pizza

If you’ve ever dreamed of eating pizza in the middle of an herb garden animal sanctuary, head over to Abbott Kinney and discover the new Los Angeles restaurant, Fiorelli Pizza. This unassuming vegetable oasis (known as The Cook’s Garden) is tucked away in the heart of Venice, where rescue chickens, ducks and rabbits roam, and the pizzas are fired up in a cozy brick oven. Neapolitan meets New York style—the pies are topped with fresh fennel, herbs and kale that’s grown literally just a few feet away from your pretty picnic table. Longtime LA chef Michael Fiorelli and co-founder Liz Gutierrez hand-toss dreamy dough and fire up their pizza creations on-site in the (not so) secret garden, Thursday-Sunday weekly. 

Location: Venice

 

Mama’s Boy

Blending Italian eats and homey hospitality with a heavy pour of Southern charm, Mama’s Boy puts a Texas twist on classic comfort food. Described as “an Italian dinner club with a Southern accent,” Chef Wes Whitsell takes us below the Mason-Dixon line, drawing inspiration from his regional roots and home-cooked meals, with an array of Italian favorites. These include pimento cheese arancini and crispy polenta, popular pasta like manicotti, ravioli and pasta pomodoro and hearty mains where classic chicken parm sits alongside gulf shrimp and Anson Mill grits. If you’re in the mood for a slice, try one of the signature house Dad Pies with a crispy ultra-thin crust topped with everything from baby broccoli and Canadian bacon to country ham and jalapeño.

Location: Venice

 

Jade Beverly Hills

Taking over where Paris Tokyo left off, Jade Beverly Hills is the latest incarnation of the prime corner space on Canon Drive that was once known as the fine wine bar, Héritage. Like its predecessor, Jade is a jewel box of a Japanese fusion concept, dreamed up by French restaurateur Jordane Andrieu (who’s been evolving the space since his Héritage days) and fiancée Tamara Fox. With a soft palette of muted greens and serene seafoam, a sleek bar with plush velvet seating, roomy banquettes and a dazzling ceiling display of cloud-like illuminations, this cozy new restaurant in LA has been an instant Instagram hit since its glow-up reveal in May. It serves up theatrical displays of sushi with a steady stream of smoke and plenty of fanfare.

Location: Beverly Hills