The Freshest Tables, Boldest Flavors and Buzziest Openings Across LA
These new restaurants in Los Angeles prove the city’s appetite for bold flavors, striking design and unforgettable dining experiences is as insatiable as ever in 2026. New LA restaurants span Westside, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and beyond. They feature global cuisines including Spanish, French, Swedish, Italian, Japanese and Mexican-American across elevated dining rooms and rooftop spaces. Top openings include Casa Dani (Westfield Century City), La Monique (Santa Monica), Broken Spanish Comedor (Culver City), Clark’s Oyster Bar (Malibu), Duke’s Malibu (reopened), Baldi (Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills) and Lielle (Beverlywood). The hottest restaurants in LA range from $7 tapas hour at Casa Dani to $150 four-course prix fixe at Michelin-recognized Lielle, with reservations recommended across all 22 openings.
WESTSIDE & BEACH CITIES
1. Marbella Meets the Mall
First up: Step into Casa Dani and find yourself transported to Andalusia, where sunlit flavors and Michelin-starred flair meet modern design. Here, three-Michelin-starred chef Dani García’s menu blends traditional Spanish flavors with modern creativity. Think oxtail brioche with bull sauce, Iberico ham croquettes, grilled octopus and prawns with kimchi aioli. The 17,000-square-foot space, designed by David Rockwell, pairs warm earth tones and artful textures with plush banquettes and an open kitchen. Plus, the three striking bars and terrace offer sweeping views of Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills. There’s even an outdoor beer garden shared with its neighboring Katsuya. Pop in for $7 tapas at happy hour (daily 5–6:30 p.m.) or settle in for an indulgent dinner. Whichever suits your mood, Casa Dani makes mall dining feel like a night in Marbella.
Casa Dani
10250 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 1799
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310.361.8679
Daily, 5–9:30 p.m.
2. The French Kiss on Ocean Avenue
With its Hollywood Regency-inspired flair, designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, La Monique brings timeless French brasserie tradition to the Oceana Santa Monica LXR Hotel. Executive chef David Fricaud, with 25-plus years of global French culinary expertise, leads a menu rooted in seafood, steak and seasonal produce. Menu highlights include duck confit gyozas, butternut squash agnolotti with brown butter and pecans, and a bone-in filet mignon. The cocktail program shimmers with creations like the Miss Monique, a coconut oil-washed clarified Tito’s Cosmopolitan with cherry-nutmeg foam and rose water mist. The design whispers “soirée,” the service leans confident and each plate feels like an invitation to linger.
La Monique
849 Ocean Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310.656.6000
Daily, 5:30–10 p.m.
3. The Comeback Kid of Culver City
Chef Ray Garcia returns with a dinner table filled with flavor, nostalgia and a fresh take on Mexican-American cuisine. This iteration of Broken Spanish opened October 23 in a beloved A-frame building with a heated patio, launching on a neighborhood-centric model with real punch. Inspired by Garcia’s East LA childhood and refined by years of Euro-centric fine dining, the menu delivers duck albondigas with chipotle, chicharrón reimagined as a pork belly pinwheel, fideo verde (fennel, hoja santa, avocado and parmesan) and smoked tuna flautas topped with avocado crema.
An in-house nixtamal program turns out handmade tortillas from diverse landrace corn varieties, and the takeout menu spans enchiladas, moles and a dedicated kids’ menu. Esquire Magazine named Garcia “Chef of the Year” in 2015, and this comeback feels like a love letter to LA’s dining scene. Pull up a bar stool for daily happy hour (4–6 p.m.), come in for weekend brunch or settle in for dinner. Reservations and walk-ins both welcome.
Broken Spanish Comedor
12565 Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
747.946.7118
M–Th, 4–9 p.m.; F, 4–9:30 p.m.; Sa, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. & 4–9:30 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. & 4–9 p.m.
4. East Coast Charm, Pacific Coast Cool
If your idea of the best new restaurants in LA includes fresh-shucked oysters, crisp martinis and sunlit coastal vibes, Clark’s delivers. Clark’s Oyster Bar brings its beloved East Coast charm to Malibu, the brand’s sixth location and its first LA outpost following its Montecito sister spot. Clark’s serves an all-day coastal American menu that stretches from breakfast through late dinner. Expect oysters and a raw bar front and center alongside lobster rolls, chowder, linguine with clams, fresh grilled daily catch and a signature burger. The wine list highlights California classics and French whites from Burgundy and the Loire. Vintage glamour meets seaside ease, and happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3–5 p.m.
Clark’s Oyster Bar
23465 Civic Center Way Ste 210
Malibu, CA 90265
310.879.8508
Su–Th, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.; F–Sa, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
5. Aloha, We Missed You
The spirit of Aloha is officially back in the Pacific. Duke’s Malibu reopened in March 2026 after a 14-month closure that tested every emotion. First the Palisades Fire, then a mudslide that sent four feet of debris into the building. The community showed up for its comeback, and the restaurant, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, more than showed up back. The fully renovated dining room reopened with 300-plus feet of picture windows overlooking the surf. The original management team and executive chef are in place, and the menu is as warming as the occasion demands. Think poke tacos, crispy coconut shrimp, fish ‘n’ chips and the legendary Hula Pie. The Barefoot Bar pours tropical cocktails like the guava daiquiri for afternoons that stretch into golden-hour sunsets. Its return is one of the most resonant stories in LA dining right now.
Duke’s Malibu
21150 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90265
310.317.0777
Wed, Th & Su, 11:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m.
BEVERLY HILLS, BEVERLYWOOD & CENTURY CITY
6. Fire, Family and Florentine Flair
For close to four decades, the Baldi family has shaped LA’s Italian dining landscape through Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica and e.Baldi in Beverly Hills. Now, chef Edoardo “Edo” Baldi has taken it a step further, opening Baldi, a Tuscan steakhouse inside the flagship Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. The former Jean-Georges space has been transformed into a warm, family-centric dining room anchored by an olive wood-fired grill. Hand-selected USDA Prime and Wagyu cuts are cooked with nothing but fire, time and restraint, accompanied by house-made pastas and thin-crust pizzas at the bar. The design by Ezequiel Farca Studio features a Drawing Room NYC mural depicting an Italian dinner party scene because at Baldi, it’s always about the gathering. Book the chef’s counter or settle into a plush booth, and let the Negroni Classico di Baldi do the rest.
Baldi
9850 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.860.6798
Daily, 5–10 p.m.; Bar: Daily, 5–11 p.m.
7. Lagom: Just Enough, and Then Some
“Fine dining has spent too long trying to impress people instead of taking care of them,” says chef Marcus Jernmark, and he means it. The Swedish chef’s résumé includes three Michelin stars at Stockholm’s Restaurant Frantzén, plus tenures at Aquavit in New York and Per Se. He opened Lielle in the former Bicyclette/Manzke space in Beverlywood. It’s a subterranean 42-seat room lined with wine-toned leather banquettes, custom cherry wood tables, vaulted cork ceilings and Scandinavian lighting. The four-course prix fixe ($150 per person) showcases his concept of “California Bistronomy.” Expect seasonal, product-driven dishes like dry-aged bluefin tuna, koji rice with lobster, duck rôti and wing jus, and strawberry, elderflower and sake lees ice cream. Lielle takes its name from Jernmark’s daughter, and it earned immediate Michelin recognition.
Lielle
9575 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
213.376.6374
Tu-Sat, 5–9 p.m.
WEST HOLLYWOOD & HOLLYWOOD
8. The Rooftop the City Has Been Waiting For
SUSHISAMBA is back in America, and it landed exactly where it belongs. The internationally acclaimed Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian brand returned to the US in March 2026, with a spectacular 11,000-square-foot rooftop. The retractable roof transitions seamlessly from sun-drenched afternoons to glittering evening views of the Hollywood Hills. Chefs Maxwell Terheggen and John Um run the kitchen, fusing sushi and sashimi with robata-grilled dishes, including a signature Samba LA roll with A5 wagyu and soft-shell crab tempura developed just for this location. The cocktail-forward bar program includes live entertainment bursting in five- to ten-minute sets throughout the night. Weekend brunch, a late-night menu and a private dining room with its own elevator round out the experience. Dress sharp. The vibe demands it.
SUSHISAMBA
639 N La Peer Dr
West Hollywood, CA 90069
213.444.0424
M–T, 5 p.m.–midnight; W, 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. & 5 p.m.–midnight; Th–F, 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. & 5 p.m.–1 a.m.; Sa, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. & 5 p.m.–1 a.m.; Su, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. & 5 p.m.–midnight
DOWNTOWN LA & CHINATOWN
9. Skyline, Tequila and Tableside Theatre
Downtown LA’s skyline shimmers a little brighter at this upscale Mexican restaurant that turns dinner into an experience. Javier’s DTLA occupies a dramatic, church-like space designed by Gulla Jónsdóttir. Think hand-trowelled plaster, natural stone, aged metals and soft sun-washed tones that architect-speak calls “post-pandemic yearning for joy.”
The open-air layout offers layers of discovery, from intimate al fresco patios to private dining rooms surrounding one of the West Coast’s largest collections of rare tequilas. The menu elevates Mexican tradition with fresh aguachile, shrimp enchiladas, mesquite-grilled carne asada and a guacamole ritual that’s worth the trip alone. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the downtown skyline, making every visit feel like a special occasion in the heart of the city.
Javier’s DTLA
1200 S. Figueroa St Unit C
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213.222.4592
Su–Th, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
10. Fresh Is Boring (And That’s the Point)
Self-taught fishmonger Liwei Liao (born in Taiwan, raised in Queens and driven by a deep sense of ikigai) founded Joint Seafood in 2018 on a bold premise: fresh isn’t always best. The DTLA flagship is home to the largest dry-aging fish facility in the world, where moisture, temperature and humidity are carefully balanced to concentrate flavor, eliminate fishiness and produce a melt-in-your-mouth texture that changes everything you thought you knew about seafood.
The market carries dry-aged Ora King salmon, branzino, miso-marinated black cod, smoked black cod and rotating seasonal cuts, all available to take home or enjoy on-site. The sister concept Uoichiba takes it further as a casual temaki bar, with traditional hand rolls alongside creative takes like a Wagyu Cheeseburger hand roll that packs a serious punch. Pick up your weekly fish haul, grab a roll on the way out and never look at a “fresh” filet the same way again. A Sherman Oaks location is also open for the Westside crowd.
Joint Seafood
600 E First St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
469.640.6814
Café: T–Su, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Market: T–Su 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
11. Rocks, Beats and Raw Fish
Grammy-winning Mumford & Sons member Ben Lovett does a lot of things well, and adding a bar-and-sushi concept to his growing hospitality empire is one of them. Mitsi opened in April 2026 next door to his Pacific Electric music venue at the intersection of Chinatown and Mission Junction. It’s a sleek, 150-seat space with cavernous ceilings covered in lit arches reminiscent of the historic bridges visible from the patio. Chef Jon Kim handles the tight sushi menu. Fresh nigiri, sashimi, temaki and snackables like edamame complement Mitsi’s excellent cocktail program. Classic drinks are reimagined with intention, like a 50/50 martini with tomato and fresh cilantro, or an amaro-laden old-fashioned under $20. The natural wine list gets more serious. It’s the perfect pre- or post-show stop. Or just a reason to show up on a Thursday.
Mitsi
1737 Naud St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.259.3905
Th, 6 p.m.–1 a.m.; F–Sa, 6 p.m.–2 a.m.
WEST ADAMS
12. A World Market, One Spectacular Roof
Step into a 10,000-square-foot warehouse where live fire and global vendors collide in one breathtaking communal space. Maydan Market is restaurateur Rose Previte’s long-anticipated West Coast debut, six years in the making and already earning rave reviews since its October 2025 opening. Seven food businesses from every corner of LA all gather around Maydan’s shared live-fire hearth. There’s Afro-Mexican cuisine, chicken wings, Zapotec-inspired dishes, Southeast Asian barbecue, a market with pantry staples and more. Two resident restaurants anchor the experience. Compass Rose is the beloved D.C. café-bar now resurrected on the West Coast. And Maydan, the Middle Eastern restaurant, offers a $95 per person family-style “tawle” menu with dishes like seven-spice lamb shoulder, chicken shish kebab and mahalabia milk pudding. Order from any vendor via QR code. The food comes to you.
Maydan Market
4301 W Jefferson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
T–Su, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 5–10 p.m. (Maydan restaurant: T–Th & Sun, 5–10 p.m.; F, 5–10:30 p.m.)
ECHO PARK & SILVER LAKE
13. The Art of the Grain
Precision meets poetry at Morihiro, a Michelin-starred sushi destination. Each nigiri is sculpted with the care of a haiku, and the Akitakomachi rice (grown on chef Morihiro Onodera’s family farm in Iwate, Japan) is milled daily on-site. Morihiro’s new Echo Park location at The Elysian expanded the concept from omakase-only into a more versatile experience. The celebrated four-seat personal omakase ($400 per person, beginning at 6:30 p.m.) runs alongside an à la carte menu offering the same specialized rice, aged red vinegar and handmade ceramics the chef crafts himself. Order the sakura-smoked Jidori chicken, the salmon skin salad or a classic California roll made by one of Japan’s most revered hands. The 18-seat dining room is intimate by design, as it should be.
Morihiro
1115 W Sunset Blvd Ste 100
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213.737.1588
Tu–Sa, 5:30–9 p.m.
14. Cibao Heat in Silver Lake
Chef Alejandro Eusebio has spent 25 years in Los Angeles kitchens, including a season on Top Chef, and Amiguita is his most personal project yet. The snug 34-seat Afro-Caribbean restaurant opened March 11, 2026, in the former Ruby Fruit space on Sunset. It brings the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic to Silver Lake with grill-driven, family-style cooking from a Mibrasa charcoal oven. The menu is tight and intentional. Think Mibrasa Vaca Frita with hanger steak, sour orange mojo and black garlic aioli, plantain gnocchi, guava-grilled wings and Caribbean moules frites. The seven-seat bar anchors a beverage program led by Mara Herbkersman. It features fermented cocktails, small-production wines and zero-proof options, including a house-made take on the traditional Dominican Morir Soñando. Walk-ins are always welcome.
Amiguita
3510 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213.539.3389
M–F, 5–10 p.m.; Sa, noon–10 p.m.; Su, noon–9 p.m.
MID-CITY & FAIRFAX
15. Napa’s Finest, Finally South of the Grapevine
Anyone who’s done the Napa circuit knows a detour to Gott’s Roadside is non-negotiable. Now, Angelenos don’t need to leave the city to get their fix. Gott’s Roadside, the Napa Valley institution, opened its first SoCal flagship at The Original Farmers Market on March 6, 2026. The retro Americana aesthetic fits right with a large shaded patio and an indoor-outdoor layout perfect for families. There’s also a dedicated soft-serve window pouring Strauss organic vanilla, chocolate and swirl. The menu brings the brand’s biggest hits south. Expect crispy fried Brussels sprouts, Baja fish tacos, a fried egg and bacon-topped California Burger and hand-spun organic milkshakes. The bar highlights Napa Valley producers, including Joel Gott Wines, Rombauer and Opus One. A Santa Monica location is coming later in Fall 2026.
Gott’s Roadside
6333 W Third St Ste 706
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.287.2184
Daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
16. Tikka Poutine Gets a Beach Tan
Brothers Nakul and Arjun Mahendro have spent over a decade rewriting the rules of Indian dining in LA. First downtown, then Fairfax and now, their Venice debut is their most elevated move yet. Badmaash landed on Abbot Kinney in March 2026, featuring blackened brick walls, denim banquettes and tie-dyed leather cushions that feel equal parts Mumbai and Malibu. The menu brings beloved signatures. Think chicken tikka poutine, butter chicken, Dad’s famous coconut curry mussels, serrano chili and cheddar naan. Plus, Venice-specific additions like hamachi crudo with crispy garlic, lamb neck korma with brown butter and roasted nuts, and steak frites with meat masala au poivre. It’s also the first Badmaash location with a full cocktail program, led by Steve LaFountain, with natural wines and drinks like a Badmaash dirty martini.
Badmaash
1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
310.310.2580
W–Su, 4:30–11 p.m.
17. Come for Dinner. Stay for Trouble.
West Hollywood’s newest Italian-inspired bar and bistro isn’t playing it safe, and neither should you. Scarlett arrived with candlelit Italian-Californian energy, a menu built for sharing and a late-night pulse that builds as the evening unfolds. The menu covers a raw bar with yellowtail crudo and tuna tartare, and classic spuntini like fried mozzarella carrozza and PEI mussels in white wine butter. Plus, there’s handmade pastas (spaghetti carbonara and pappardelle with braised short ragù) and showstoppers like whole branzino and a bone-in tomahawk for the table. The cocktail program is equally confident. A Scarlett’s Negroni with mezcal and Strega, a Dirty Pear with vodka and thyme and an Espresso Martini that earns its place on every order. The door behind the bookshelf? You’ll have to find that one yourself.
Scarlett
8715 Beverly Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
628.210.3165
W–Su, 5–10 p.m.
KOREATOWN
18. The Tuna King Has Arrived
Koreatown’s Chapman Market got a jolt of excitement with the US debut of Sushi Zanmai. It’s a Tokyo-born institution famous for its tuna mastery and founded by “Tuna King” Kiyoshi Kimura, whose life-sized smiling statue welcomes guests. The opening day featured a live bluefin tuna butchery demonstration, a sign this spot values culinary theater as much as flavor. Tablet-style ordering, a common sight in Japan, makes navigating the wide selection a breeze. The $42 Tuna Zanmai sampler (a 10-piece nigiri set with lean tuna, fatty tuna, medium-fatty tuna, seared toro, negitoro and more) is large enough to split. Beyond the tuna, the menu covers sashimi, chicken karaage, asparagus goma-ae, ramen, bento-style sets and late-night crowd-pleasers that keep the energy alive past midnight. Sushi Zanmai delivers both the spectacle and satisfaction that sushi lovers crave.
Sushi Zanmai
3465 W Sixth St Ste 150
Los Angeles, CA 90020
213.529.4008
Su–Th, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & 5:30–11 p.m.; F–Sa, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–midnight
COMING SOON
19. D.C.’s Best-Kept Tasting Secret, Coming West
Washington D.C.’s acclaimed fine-dining destination, Jônt, heads to Beverly Hills this summer, taking over the legendary former Somni space inside the SLS Hotel. Ôde by Jônt will offer an intimate chef’s-counter tasting of about 20 courses drawing from French and Japanese cuisine, with a focus on the finest seasonal seafood and local produce. Dinner is approximately $275 per person, with optional beverage pairings. Think chef’s-counter theater at the highest level, in a room that already has history. Coming Summer 2026.
20. Tokyo Meets Naples, Now With Room to Breathe
LA’s most obsessively discussed pizza is moving. Pizzeria Sei is relocating from Pico-Robertson to a much larger address in Palms. The new space brings about 30 seats, a patio and an expanded kitchen, while the puffy wood-fired pies stay the focus. They’ll be joined by crispy double-baked square pies and a more comprehensive wine program. The original Pico location will become a takeout-only Sei Pizza Bar. Coming Summer 2026.
21. The Palisades Rises Again
Pacific Palisades gets its most anticipated dining anchor as part of Palisades Village’s post-fire rebuild. Spacca Tutto, meaning “go for it” in Italian, is an Italian American steakhouse from four-time James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton. It was developed in partnership with developer Rick Caruso and filmmaker McG’s River Jetty Restaurant Group. Designed by AvroKO and inspired by Silverton’s acclaimed chi SPACCA, the 3,500-square-foot space will open onto the park with a prominent bar. Expect nearly 250 Italian and domestic wines and a menu blending American steak classics with Silverton’s signature Italian warmth. More than a restaurant, it’s a symbol. Coming August 2026.
22. A Taiwanese Day That Becomes a Steak Night
Chinatown’s beloved tea and cocktail haunt, Steep, is expanding its footprint in Mandarin Plaza with Souu LA, an all-day Taiwanese concept taking over the former Angry Egret Dinette space. By day: sticky rice rolls (fan tuan), egg crepes (dan bing), fresh soy milk, coffee and tea. By night: a Taiwanese steakhouse with signature black pepper steak plates. Until they open, you can find them popping up every Sunday at Smorgasburg. Coming late 2026.
Q: What are the best new restaurants in LA right now?
A: 2026 has been a stacked year for openings. Casa Dani brings three-Michelin-starred chef Dani García’s Spanish cooking to Century City. Lielle earned immediate Michelin recognition for its $150 California Bistronomy prix fixe in Beverlywood. Baldi turns out fire-grilled Tuscan steaks inside the Waldorf Astoria, and SUSHISAMBA returned to the US with a sweeping West Hollywood rooftop. For Mexican-American flavor, chef Ray Garcia’s Broken Spanish Comedor is a triumphant comeback.
Q: What new LA restaurants have the best happy hour deals?
A: A few openings reward the early crowd. Casa Dani pours $7 tapas daily from 5 to 6:30 p.m., a steal for Michelin-pedigree Spanish bites. Broken Spanish Comedor runs a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. And Clark’s Oyster Bar in Malibu shucks oysters and shakes martinis Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Q: Which new LA restaurants are worth the splurge?
A: For a special occasion, several deliver. Lielle’s four-course prix fixe runs $150 per person from a three-Michelin-star alum. Morihiro’s four-seat omakase reaches $400 with rice grown on the chef’s family farm in Japan. And two summer arrivals raise the bar further: Ôde by Jônt brings a roughly 20-course tasting (about $275) to Beverly Hills, while Spacca Tutto marks Nancy Silverton’s Palisades steakhouse debut.
Q: What are the most anticipated LA restaurant openings coming in 2026?
A: The pipeline is strong. Ôde by Jônt brings D.C.’s acclaimed tasting menu to the former Somni space this summer. Cult favorite Pizzeria Sei relocates to a larger Palms home, also this summer. Spacca Tutto, Nancy Silverton’s Italian-American steakhouse with Rick Caruso, anchors the Palisades rebuild in August. And Souu LA debuts an all-day Taiwanese concept in Chinatown later in the year.
Q: Where can you find the buzziest new restaurants across LA’s neighborhoods?
A: The openings span the whole city. The Westside and beach cities landed Casa Dani, La Monique, Clark’s and the reopened Duke’s Malibu. Beverly Hills got Baldi and Lielle, while West Hollywood drew SUSHISAMBA and Scarlett. Downtown added Javier’s, Joint Seafood and Mitsi, and the Eastside picked up Morihiro in Echo Park and Amiguita in Silver Lake. Koreatown rounds it out with Sushi Zanmai.
Fact-check note: All addresses, hours and phone numbers verified against current listings as of June 2026. Hours for newly opened restaurants are subject to change. Always confirm before booking.
