Los Angeles continues to see a steady stream of new restaurant openings, with everything from upscale steakhouses to casual neighborhood eateries debuting across the region. This growth occurs despite operators facing significant challenges, including the lingering effects of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes, the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, and systemic slowdowns affecting the global food supply.
Following the January 2025 fires, Palisades Village has reopened, introducing Alphabet Bar and Grill. Helmed by the H.Wood Group with Chef Timothy Hollingsworth, the menu offers familiar comfort foods like grilled cheese and tomato soup, cheeseburgers, and rotisserie chicken.
Mid-City favorite Met Her at a Bar has expanded westward with a new location on Main Street in Santa Monica, serving an all-day menu from breakfast and brunch to dinner. In Chinatown, the team behind General Lee’s has opened Bamboo Room, a tiki bar in the former Mom’s Bar space, offering specialty cocktails and tiki classics.
Across the Valley, Van Nuys now has Egg Boat, a casual option for cheese-laden Georgian khachapuri and calzones. In Studio City, El Ruso, known for its flour tortilla-wrapped tacos and burritos, has opened its first permanent restaurant. The Valley French institution, Mistral, has also reopened with restaurateur Jonah Freedman and culinary director Josh Migdal, featuring a refreshed interior and updated bistro classics.
In Silver Lake, the TTFB group, also behind Century City’s Very Thai, introduced Bobo Thai, focusing on various pad Thai preparations and Bangkok street food. Echo Park’s Bar Bandini now hosts Onul Coffee during the day, a Korean-inspired cafe offering classic drinks and unique specialties. Little Tokyo’s Kasa Rin, located on a third floor, serves udon pasta, crudo, and karaage, alongside sake and wine. The Arts District welcomed Lucky’s, a tony steakhouse with existing locations in Montecito and Malibu, mirroring their classic steakhouse menu.
South Los Angeles now has Doner Haus, New York’s first West Coast outpost, providing classic doner sandwiches with a full dining room. In Highland Park, Mokja, a Korean cafe and market from Chef Debbie Lee and Frank and Michelle La of Be Bright Coffee, offers a build-your-own instant ramen bar and grab-and-go banchan. Baja Mar Taco has expanded from Pico Rivera to Alhambra, bringing its popular fish and shrimp tacos, while Pasadena’s Milk Brew specializes in coffee steeped overnight in milk.
