The best new restaurants in Los Angeles to try right now

What is it: Chef Debbie Lee’s new-school take on a Korean gastropub in Highland Park—a fusion of her Northern Korean heritage, Southern upbringing, and decades in Los Angeles.   

Why we love it: Debbie's not trying to do Korean the OG authentic way—there's plenty of great restaurants in Koreatown for that, she'll tell you herself. At Yi Cha, she's putting a modern spin on what Korean food looks like, which earns her the occasional side-eye from Korean aunties but also a devoted couple who drives from Venice, orders the whole menu, and calls their leftovers meal prep for the week. A lineup of cocktails and Korean spirits pair well with the food, which, as you can imagine, has a lip-smacking quality to it. The menu is divided into sections: bar bites, small plates, medium plates, and large plates. The Ahn-Joo platter, a callback to her food truck days, is a sampling of all the bar bites. The mandu lumpia ssam style is a collaboration with her Filipino-American sous chef—her family's halmuni pork-and-shrimp filling, his preparation, finished with yuja cha chile sauce. And if you can round up a group (the best way to enjoy Yi Cha), order the gamtajang—or as Chef Deb likes to call it, hangover stew.

Time Out tip: Save room for the fried Asian sweet potato pie with pear creme fraiche and chile peanut brittle—born out of Debbie’s anger towards McDonald's for switching to baked and a holdover from her Ahnjoo food truck days. 

Address: 5715 N Figueroa St suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Opening hours: Wed-Thu 5-11pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-2am; Sun noon-9pm

What is it: Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat and Tongkamal “Joy” Yuon’s continued expansion of their famous DTLA window—dishing out Thai street food made with hyper-local ingredients—now on the Westside.

Why we love it: Bright, busy and boisterous, Holy Basil Santa Monica is a love letter to Bangkok. Communal tables and little-to-no separation (save for counter seating) between the dining room and open kitchen, where flames from the wok fly high every few minutes, is part of the thrill. So is an ever-evolving menu that doesn’t have a single dud and highlights what’s fresh, sustainable, and in season. Right now, that’s Baja scallops, which get an aguachile treatment. Or a crackling whole fried sea bream swimming in a tangy, citrusy fish sauce. A crisp, acid-forward Thai rendition of a Caesar comes with generous amounts of Parmesan and pickled onions, and is dotted with four white anchovies. Ration the white anchovies accordingly across bites. There’s a reason the signature Bangkok wok-fried jasberry fried rice loaded with dungeness crab and “holy” seasoning blend is ordered by every table, but don’t overlook the braised beef shank with paccheri noodles in zesty, nutty and creamy curry. It deserves a moment of meditation. 

Time Out tip: Don’t sleep on the non-alcoholic beverages—think Hibiscus agave oolong and dragonfruit rosemary, thoughtfully concocted by Joy. 

Address: 2828 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Opening hours: Tue 5-9pm; Wed-Sun noon-2:30pm, 5-9pm

What is it: The beloved Venice pop-up from Cook's Garden—Michael Fiorelli's encore from fine dining—now a quaint permanent neighborhood fixture in Beverly Grove.

Why we love it: Michael Fiorelli and business partner Liz Gutierrez invested their life savings into a pizza oven and started slinging pies out of Cook's Garden on Abbot Kinney with no plan other than to make a great product. They'd prep and wash dishes at home. For months, they sold only a handful of pizzas daily, then word got around. Long story short, the duo now has a home on West Third and an expanded menu of more than three pizzas, tinned fish, and their addictive chili garlic cucumbers with pistachio feta. Guests who begged Fiorelli for a salad for months on end at the pop-up can delight in the chopped chicory Caesar with white anchovies, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs, which is wonderfully bitter, briny, and earthy. What’s more, the Love & Salt and Olivetta alum is showing off his pasta skills with a perfectly al dente lamb bolognese. The pizzas are a Neapolitan-New York hybrid—blistered and charred at the edges, sturdy enough to hold their toppings without flopping in the center. You can’t go wrong with the Fiorelli classic or pepperoni, but the white pies deserve just as much praise. Prior to trying Michael’s fennel sausage and black kale pie, Gutierrez hated white pizzas. Now it’s her favorite. The 750-square-foot space, with only seven indoor seats and eight on the patio, is reminiscent of mom-and-pop restaurants in Italy. And while their takeout and delivery operation is dialed in, nothing beats fresh pizza and Gutierrez’s warm hospitality. 

Time Out tip: Westsiders who miss Fiorelli and are unwilling to make the trek can get their fix via DoorDash—Fiorelli’s arranged delivery beyond the app's usual radius. Just note the distance in your order and they'll send it raw so you can bake it fresh at home. Plus, Gutierrez might even throw in a chocolate chip cookie. Like we said, warm hospitality. 

Address: 8236 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 11am-9pm

What is it: A Highland Park neighborhood gem from Terry Park, a former sushi chef at Osen Izakaya in Silver Lake.

Why we love it: A self-described Japanese bistro, INE is a family affair and a labor of love. Korean-born siblings Terry and Annie Park pooled their money to open it—he cooks, she serves (though she's also responsible for some of the desserts). Even mom is behind the chef's counter, hand-rolling ravioli for a clam and squid number with two types of pasta sheets that ditch the egg to make for a toothier bite. Terry's cooking is rooted in Japanese technique but filtered through his Korean heritage and extensive travels, resulting in a personal twist. Exhibit A: his tuna crispy sushi rice, rolled into a cylinder with the nori fried, not the rice. If you're comparing it to the tuna crispy rice you've had everywhere else, you're missing the point. Terry sources from local markets and fishermen, and pays reverence to the fish with various worthwhile carpaccios, crudos, and handrolls. I enjoyed the ramen—a light, clean, and entirely sea-driven version, with a sea bream and dashi broth, salt drawn from kelp, and a fish meatball to cap it off (do add the baked sea bream)—though its “Kyoto-style” description is a bit of a misnomer. Tempura is delicate and crisp, enhancing the shiso, basil, and vegetables it envelops. With fish, the wasabi tempura turns up the volume. With no more than a dozen counter seats and about eight tables, INE puts you in the front row for what feels like a rising chef finding his stride. Get in before the rest of the city catches on.

Time Out tip: Try the sweet potato uni as a palate cleanser, or even as a savory dessert. With a buttery biscuit bottom, sweet potato mousse, and a heaping portion of uni on top, it’s basically an oceanic dirt cup. Purists beware, this dish might not be your cup of uni. 

Address: 4672 york blvd, los Angeles, CA 90041

Opening hours: Mon, Tues noon-3pm, 5-9pm; Wed 5-9pm; Thu noon-3pm, 5-9pm; Fri noon-3pm, 5-9:45pm; Sat, Sun noon-9:45pm 

What is it: A breakfast-all-day diner in Larchmont Village from Everybody Loves Raymond creator and Somebody Feed Phil host Phil Rosenthal and chef Nancy Silverton—where even Steven Spielberg has to wait for a table.

Why we love it: When places are this overhyped, my expectations are usually unmet. But Max & Helen's is well worth the hoopla. Weekend waits have reportedly hit five hours, though a recent Saturday around 1pm clocked in at one, palatable especially if you have business in the neighborhood. The retro diner charm, with tattersall-plaid booths and counter seating, is transporting, and the food that punches above its weight is a reason to return. I loved the L.E.O.—the classic lox, eggs, and onions scramble, nicely elevated with Gingrass smoked salmon and copious bright dill. A double-stack of blueberry pancakes—fluffy inside, crisp at the edges—left me with leftovers, which were surprisingly good on the reheat. The Larchmont Slam covers all your breakfast bases with two eggs, home fries, a pancake, and bacon or sausage. At lunch and dinner, the matzoh ball soup, pastrami Reubens, and tuna melts hold their own against the breakfast hits. Max & Helen's isn't trying to reinvent the diner—just execute classics with better ingredients than your everyday diner. That comes at a price: a meal for two without drinks ran $58 with tax and tip, putting it in République and Destroyer territory.

Time Out tip: Off-hours—between 2:30 and 5pm—are your best bet for shorter waits. Dining solo? Phil's daughter and creative director Lily might just seat you next to someone special at what she calls "the most engaging counter spots." Her matchmaking skills have resulted in two guests who are still dating.

Address: 127 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Opening hours: Daily 8am-8pm

What is it: A neighborhood joint from the team behind Found Oyster and Rasarumah and chef-partner DK Kolender (Tartine, Dudley Market) that's putting the lesser-known neighborhood of Hermon on L.A.’s culinary map.

Why we love it: Before you even walk inside Hermon's, its Art Deco facade and warm, emanating glow give you the feeling that you’ll want to stay a while—a result of its former life as a church banquet hall, perhaps. The feeling only intensifies once inside, where—between the all-booth dining room or u-shaped bar—there isn't a single uncomfortable seat in the house. The staff is extremely welcoming, too. Chef DK Kolender delivers dishes without pretense, chats up patrons at the bar, and works the pass with calmness and swagger. Tables of double dates are having a swell time, downing on-tap yuzu margaritas and walnut old fashioneds at incomprehensible speeds. And the food is coursed out in a way that invites you to kick back and enjoy. You'd be remiss not to start with the garlic bread for the table (I skipped it and paid the price of regret). Yellowfin tuna crudo packs a nice, unexpected heat courtesy of tangerine kosho. A mountain of market greens is delicately dressed in mustard miso vinaigrette, letting all the herbs do the talking. As a vongole purist, I was skeptical about the two-sheet vongole—especially after seeing it hyped all over social media—but it proved to be a highlight of the meal. The inventive take folds a sheet of pasta, layering in whipped ricotta and then topping it off with clams, cream, guanciale, parmesan, and breadcrumbs. For a sweet finish, the chocolate chip cookie is a stand-out, baked and served in a skillet with vanilla ice cream and Maldon salt. It sadly outshone the baked Alaska, which I wanted to love—though to be fair, no baked Alaska has measured up in my book since Daniel Boulud’s DBGB shuttered, so it's a tall order. 

Time Out tip: Get in line before 5pm and you might just score walk-in seats at the bar. What’s more, Hermon’s hour slings martinis and yuzu margaritas for $10 till 6pm, so drink up, then order the sesame milk bun cheeseburger (originally created for Chez Renée, which burned in the Palisades fire).

Address: 5800 Monterey Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Opening hours: Daily 5-10pm

What is it: Galerie is exactly what you’d imagine if a Parisian bistro from Pigalle got a second life on the Sunset Strip—a lively supper club directly across from Chateau Marmont, appropriate for late dinner, nightcaps, or a meeting that might lead to a party in the hills and more…

Why we love it: With a menu crafted by Dudley Market alum, chef Gabriel Lindsey, and cocktails from Employees Only co-founder Dushan Zaric, Galerie stands out among Sunset Strip restaurants. A meal here isn’t going to change your life, but that’s not what you’re coming for. You’re coming for solid cocktails, a good hang, and terrific people-watching. Picture rising CAA-types who are hot for anything “Hollywood,” a dirty-thirty celebration complete with sashes and cone hats, and first dates hoping to get lucky. You might be tempted to follow the crowd and order espresso martinis or the Galerie margarita, but the passionfruit daiquiri with green chartreuse or the color-changing double take with butterfly pea flower-infused mezcal, elderflower, passionfruit, and amaro are much more interesting. As for the food, I enjoyed the seasonal crudo, simple yet refreshing little gem lettuces with a chardonnay and shallot vinaigrette, wagyu beef and shishito skewers, and halibut in dill beurre blanc. Hot take: I’d skip the server’s recommendation of the lumache pasta that’s “gone viral on TikTok” and opt for the Galerie burger with gruyere, a proper house pickle, and French onion (yes, as in French onion soup) sauce instead. Do not—I repeat, do not—leave without a chocolate chip cookie. 

Time Out tip: Come on Thursdays at 9pm when weekly jazz sets the mood. It’s an entirely different vibe. 

Address: 8226 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Opening hours: Tue-Wed 6-10:30pm, Thu-Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat 5:30pm-2am 

What is it? The more casually oriented Culver City spinoff of Ray Garcia’s Broken Spanish.

Why we love it: Housed within the short-lived Best Bet space, Broken Spanish Comedor is the triumphant revival of Garcia’s signature “authentically inauthentic” Mexican restaurant. Unlike the Downtown original, the bulk of Broken Spanish Comedor’s menu consists of more accessibly priced dishes in the $15 to $22 range. The additional name modifier nods to Mexico’s classic comedores: small, typically mom-and-pop restaurants and street stalls serving homestyle cuisine. During my meal, I loved the pesto-like fideo flavored with avocado and hoja santa and classic enchiladas verde inspired by Garcia’s childhood meals. The critically acclaimed Mexican American chef has also brought back three signature dishes; the duck and bacon albondigas topped with nopales; the refried lentils (an earthy, flavorful mashup between dal and traditional refried beans); and the must-try crispy, crackly chicharrón in garlic mojo, which comes with a beautiful red cabbage slaw and a fiery salsa morita. Given the price point and wealth of memorable dishes, there isn’t another new opening I can recommend more highly in Los Angeles right now than here. $15 valet and street parking.

Time Out tip: The camote—coal roasted Japanese sweet potato with salsa macha butter, pork rinds, and chives—packs a punch of heat and is a total sleeper on the menu.

Address: 12565 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Opening hours: Sun, Mon–Thu 4–9pm; Fri, Sat 4-9:30pm

What is it? The Michelin-starred sushi bar of L.A. culinary icon Morihiro Onodera—now with a more accessibly priced, à la carte menu.

Why we love it: Freshly relocated to Victor Heights (the sliver of neighborhood between Chinatown and Echo Park), the new Morihiro offers standout sushi rolls made with the same specialized rice, aged red vinegar and housemade ceramics used in the restaurant’s signature omakase ($400). The latter is still available, albeit for just four diners a night, but everyone else—including walk-ins—can order the chef’s precise rendition of a California roll, plus nigiri by the piece and thoughtfully executed hot items. The kitchen impresses even with standard dishes, from the jalapeño-tinged spicy edamame to the cherrywood-smoked jidori chicken, which puts most other yakitori dishes I’ve had in L.A. to shame. The salmon skin salad, in particular, offers lush farmers’ market produce, perfectly crisped fish and a light, flavorful citrus dressing. Of course, the chef’s magnum opus is still the omakase, which features a mix of kaiseki-style appetizers and a diverse array of fish, both dry-aged and fresh—and if money is no object, I recommend springing for it. What thrills me more as a lifelong sushi lover, however, is the à la carte menu; starting around $100 to $150 per person (post tax and tip), you can experience some of the city’s best sushi, plus flawless service and excellent desserts to cap off your evening. $20 valet and street parking.

Time Out tip: Order the musk melon panna cotta for dessert.

Address: 1115 Sunset Blvd Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–10pm

What is it? A phenomenal Australian-inflected bistro in Mar Vista.

Why we love it: Electric Bleu is the rare Westside restaurant worth coming out of the way for. Perth native and chef-owner Craig Hopson first wowed me nearly a decade ago at the Butcher, the Baker, the Cappuccino Maker in West Hollywood with his spaghetti pomodoro and other daytime fare. Now, the veteran of NYC’s famed Le Cirque has finally opened his own restaurant—and the results are quite simply fantastic. Genre classics like roast chicken and steak au poivre are cooked with utmost precision; there’s also an elegant pate en croute that would satisfy any Francophile. Hopson also brings a bit of autumnal flair to the menu with seasonal fare like butternut squash soup and a take-home spread for Thanksgiving geared towards neighborhood locals. Best of all on my comped media visit were the housemade “electric” fries, dusted with chicken salt, a slightly esoteric delicacy from Down Under. On the beverage side, you’ll also find a compelling list of unique, predominantly French wines and Japanese sake—a remarkable find anywhere, but especially on the Westside. On-site lot and street parking.

Time Out tip: Time Out tip: If you can’t decide on what to order, you can also order a four-course chef’s tasting menu for $64 with an optional $45 wine pairing.

Address: 3523 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 5–10pm, Sun 4–9pm

What is it? An upscale Persian concept from London, located on the ground floor of Soho Warehouse.

Why we love it: Berenjak takes the standard kebab house formula—dips, skewers, stews, rice, bread—and elevates it with winning details, including two kinds of housemade bread and light citrus dressing on the panir sabzi (or cheese and herb platter). Since opening the first Berenjak in London back in 2018, chef Kian Samyani has expanded to Qatar (Doha), the UAE (Dubai, Sharjah) and NYC, but the glitzy, wide-reaching expansions have seemingly done little to detract from the flavorful, beautifully presented platters of kebabs and gleaming silver plates carrying mast-o-musir (shallot-topped creamy yogurt), salad olivieh (a Persian spin on Russian salad olivier) and hashk-e bademjan (roasted eggplant and whey dip). An equally interesting beverage menu includes a clarified, boozy take on doogh, a classic Persian savory yogurt drink; a refreshing vodka watermelon cocktail playfully named “shumpine;” and a Persian-style black lime soda known as sharbat. While the Berenjak in the Arts District isn’t the first of its kind in the U.S., it’s the first one that’s available to the public. This is some of the best, if not necessarily the most interesting, Persian cuisine I’ve had in Los Angeles—and that’s coming from someone who’s been to essentially every major sit-down Persian restaurant in the county twice over. $15 valet and street parking.

Time Out tip: For dessert, I loved the date and white chocolate cookies—and a few sips of the grape sag aragh (a distilled high-ABV spirit similar to Italian grappa) will put hair on your chest.

Address: 1010 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–11pm

What is it? A stunning terrace restaurant atop Dior’s Rodeo Drive flagship helmed by the first, and thus far only, female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars.  

Why we love it: Given the area code, it should go without saying that you’ll be paying upwards of $150 to enjoy a three-course lunch here—but surprisingly, I found the service, cuisine and atmosphere to be well worth the money. Open since mid-October, Monsieur Dior in Beverly Hills features Dior-branded everything, from the silverware to the table linens, plus the typical Golden Triangle clientele of flashily dressed tourists and 90210 locals. The dishes here are technical marvels, and I appreciated the inclusion of amuse-bouche and mignardises. All of the savory items I tried during a recent leisurely lunch were tasty, if slightly safe, and beautifully presented. Where Crenn truly distinguishes herself is in the pastry department. Each meal begins with a complimentary bread course accompanied by a rose-shaped pat of butter; I sampled both options (sourdough and laminated brioche) and found both to be exemplary. The dreamy coconut rose tart comes with two concentric circles of rose-stamped white chocolate, destroyed with a few delightful cracks of one’s spoon. While I’ve yet to experience dinner service (launching November 12), I can decisively say Monsieur Dior is the ideal ritzy new place to splurge on lunch or run the company card. Two hours’ free parking before 6pm and $6 thereafter in nearby public parking lots.

Time Out tip: Don’t come here expecting to be purely wowed by food.

Address: 323 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Opening hours: Mon, Tue 11am–7pm; Wed-Fri 11am–9pm; Sat 10am–9pm; Sun 11am–7pm

What is it? A fast-casual Chinese American restaurant in Santa Monica from Bryant Ng and Kim Luu-Ng, the couple behind now-closed Cassia. 

Why we love it: The slop bowl is alive and well in L.A.’s ever-shrinking weekday lunch landscape—and Jade Rabbit’s well-composed, health-conscious rendition of a build-your-own combo meal is a welcome upgrade from the likes of Sweetgreen and Panda Express. For Ng, Jade Rabbit also represents a culinary homecoming: both his parents and grandparents operated Chinese restaurants in the L.A. area. After decades of upscale cooking, the Chinese American chef is bringing it all back with Jade Rabbit. Combos (two bases, two vegetables and a main) start at $13, with upgrades for premium proteins like garlic chili shrimp, a lomo saltado-inspired beef and broccoli, and Sichuan-flavored spicy minced lamb. I also enjoyed the almond roca chocolate chip cookie and Cantonese-style lemon iced tea. Everything I tried on the main menu was delicious, and some of it was even healthy. Most importantly, however, everything I tried was affordable. At a time when dining out is more expensive than ever, it’s places like Jade Rabbit that represent the sweet spot for the average diner, offering a little cheffy flair without breaking the bank. For those on the Westside, it’s a worthy way to spend your lunch break and a great spot to pick up dinner on the way home. Street parking, plus six guest parking spots behind the restaurant (enter off 23rd Street).

Time Out tip: If the on-site spots and nearby meters are taken, look for parking on nearby Arizona Avenue, located about a block away from the restaurant.

Address: 2301 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm

What is it? The first U.S. location of Sushi Zanmai, one of Japan’s most popular middle-tier sushi chains.

Why we love it: With late-night hours, reasonable prices and surprisingly solid nigiri, Sushi Zanmai is poised to become an absolute juggernaut within L.A.’s competitive sushi scene. On my visit, I enjoyed both the sweet yukhoe tuna crispy rice and its more conventional spicy tuna counterpart. Every single one of the nigiri I tried was just above-average, but excellent for the price, and the cooked items (chicken karaage, asparagus goma-ae and vegetable toban) were tasty as well. Most importantly, the final bill for a party of four came out to around $200 before gratuity, an absolute steal in this current economy. The only dish I didn't like was the salmon skin roll, which featured a soggy, unappealing uramaki. The server we had was friendly and helped explain the tablet-style ordering system—a common sight at restaurants in Japan, but relatively rare in Los Angeles, even in the wake of the pandemic. Limited valet and metered street parking.

Time Out tip: Sushi Zanmai has yet to receive its liquor license, but that should change mid-March.

Address: 3465 W 6th St Ste 150, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am–3pm, 5pm–11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-3pm, 5pm-midnight; Sun 11am–3pm, 5pm–11pm

What is it? A broadly Middle Eastern and North African restaurant and the namesake anchor concept inside West Adams’ Maydan Market.

Why we love it: Chef-founder Rose Previte’s deftly crafted menu pulls from all over the region with an approachable array of dips, kebabs, vegetables and mains guaranteed to please picky eaters and large groups with conflicting allergies and dietary restrictions; the restaurant even serves certified halal meat. To be honest, I can’t say that the fully hosted meal I had at Maydan was on par with Bavel, Saffy’s or even Skaf’s (which is technically purely Lebanese), but the sprawling, slightly more accessibly priced dinner menu and bustling atmosphere fills a particular price-quality niche that L.A. has long been missing. The $95 per person family-style tawle menu—Arabic for “table”—offers first-timers and overthinkers a dizzying, but thorough spin through the menu, with the option to try the Syrian seven spice lamb shoulder for an additional $20. I also enjoyed the restaurant’s take on mahalabia (milk pudding), which came topped with mixed seasonal citrus and finely crushed rose petals. It’s also worth noting that Maydan is the only concept within Maydan Market that offers full-service dining—so if that’s important to you, then I recommend dining here. 

Time Out tip: Take the time to check out the rest of the market, including Sook, a retail concept stocked with spices, cookbooks and other specialty items. 

Address: 4301 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 5–10pm

What is it? A newly opened upscale chain inside Westfield Santa Anita specializing in northwestern Chinese cuisine. 

Why we love it: Taking over the old Meizhou Dongpo space, Xibei offers Angelenos a unique glimpse into the culinary world of Inner Mongolia, which relies heavily on wheat, oat and lamb as staple ingredients. Technically, the Arcadia outpost isn’t the first of its kind in L.A. County; its umbrella hospitality group, Xibei Catering Group, also operates a smaller, takeout-oriented outpost in Silver Lake that serves a mere sliver of the same menu. For the full experience, though, you really need to get out to Arcadia, where regional delights like honeycomb-shaped oat noodles and an entire lamb shank combine with more familiar dishes, such as Xinjiang-style big plate chicken and sizzling cumin lamb for an eclectic, family-style meal you can only find out in the San Gabriel Valley. Personally, I liked the shredded chicken with chilled oat noodles, reminiscent of Bistro Na’s mixed spicy cold noodles and Japanese hiyashi chuka; the delicate shumai filled with leek and shrimp (which you can also find in Silver Lake); and the sweet-and-sour whole fried fish, skillfully fileted to resemble a blossom. For best results, come in with a party of four or more  and follow the trail of stars on the menu to get a signature taste of Inner Mongolia. On-site parking lot.

Time Out tip: The restaurant only accepts reservations over the phone for parties of six or more on weekdays, with a minimum spend of $300. On the weekends, that number increases to eight or more guests.

Address: 400 S Baldwin Ave #2045, Arcadia, CA 91007

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–9:30pm; Sun 11:30am–9pm

What is it? A breezy Downtown rooftop restaurant atop the old Standard hotel with Tulum-inspired design and vaguely Yucatecan cuisine. 

Why we love it: It’s nice to see one of Downtown’s most iconic hotel rooftops being given new life. Nothing here blew my mind, but most diners in search of dinner with a view will be happy with the tasty agave-based cocktails (get the dessert-like Street Mango and spicy marg-like Carrot Dorado) and dutifully executed starters, tacos and entrées. Standouts include the queso fundido topped with pork longaniza and branzino marinated in achiote. However, you can’t go wrong with the juicy steak and longaniza, served with the traditional blistered green onions and peppers. I also liked the tangy mango habanero salsa, served with every main, and the horchata tres leches for dessert. The area’s nightlife scene might be struggling overall, but Uca is worth the trip downtown for the next time you’re searching for a vibes-first night out. $15 valet, street parking.

Time Out tip: On Thursday nights, Uca also hosts a live jazz act after sunset. 

Address: 550 Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 4–11pm; Fri, Thu-Sat 4pm–midnight; Sun 4–10pm