In a city where the weather is perfect almost every day, sometimes we have to define the seasons by events. It's a good thing, then, that DineLA Restaurant Week comes around like clockwork every summer and winter, descending upon the city like a budget dining fairy that doles out $20 multi-course lunches and $40 dinners at some of the best restaurants in LA. The list of participating restaurants is lengthy enough to make you feel FOMO for skipping even one, so we've highlighted the best new restaurants to join the DineLA roster this summer. If you haven't made it to these newcomers yet, make your reservations now—DineLA runs from July 13-26.
B.S. Taqueria: Chef Ray Garcia recently introduced elevated tacos to Downtown's lunch and dinner crowd, creating B.S. Taqueria as a prelude to his newest restaurant, Broken Spanish. The DineLA menu hasn't been released yet, but we're hoping it includes Garcia's fantastic clams and lardo tacos, along with his unbelievable churros. $30 dinner, Downtown, call 213-622-3744 for reservations
Cadet: Cadet opened late last year, but this is the first time they've participated in dineLA. Good thing, too, since their rabbit meatballs—arguably the best dish at this Santa Monica spot—are on their restaurant week menu. Also available: Jidori chicken, tomato tartine, wood grilled shrimp and a couple of seasonal dessert options. $50 dinner, Santa Monica, call 310-828-3300 for reservations
Catch & Release: Come for lunch or dinner at chef Jason Neroni's new seafood spot in Marina del Rey, where you can indulge in an appetizer, entrée and dessert for either $25 or $50. During lunch, the lobster, shrimp and crab salad on a parker house roll is a solid pick; during dinner, you can wolf down oysters before choosing from fish and chips, whole roasted trout or a clam bake. $25 lunch / $50 dinner, Marina del Rey, call 310-893-6100 for reservations
Maradentro: The Valley may not be the first place you think to head for seafood, but this Studio City spot has some serious street cred. Jesse Gomez and Jose Acevedo are behind both Yxta Cocina Mexicana and the Mercado restaurant group, and you can find that same quality of food at Maradentro: try their guacamole to start, followed by carnitas, chile relleno or fideo del mar, and either flan or tres leches budino for dessert. $40, dinner, Studio City, call 818-358-3423 for reservations
Redbird: A three-course meal at Redbird for $25? Bless you, DineLA. The normally pricey DTLA hot spot is offering a great lunch deal during restaurant week, with dishes like sweet corn soup, Wyoming trout and stone fruit crisp. It's power lunching on a budget. $25, lunch, Downtown, call 213-788-1191 for reservations
The Running Goose: This new patio restaurant opened on Cahuenga Corridor without much fanfare, but their lunch menu has a burger topped with white cheddar fondue, so we're taking notice. For more adventurous diners, the dinner menu includes blood sausage, octopus and duck confit. Basically, there is no wrong way to order here. $20 lunch / $40 dinner, Hollywood, call 323-469-1080 for reservations
Sambar: Three courses of starters, curries and tandoori, and dessert make up Sambar's DineLA menu, with dishes like kashmiri lamb curry and banana pudding making it onto the list. The Indian restaurant has already made quite a splash in Culver City, so we're thinking restaurant week is the perfect time to check it out. $30, dinner, Culver City, call 310-558-8800 for reservations
White Horse: The drinking scene in Old Town Pasadena is moving away from bro-centric bars—just look at White Horse, a newcomer that specializes in whiskey and pub fare. Their three-course DineLA dinner includes standouts like a ghost chili cheese mac and cheese, braised short rib tacos and—get this—twinkies fried in Cola batter. $40, dinner, Pasadena, call 626-583-9013 for reservations