Why LA is becoming the most exciting place in the country to dine out
Just when you thought the dining scene in Los Angeles couldn’t get any better, a whole new slew of exciting restaurants are just months—several a few short weeks—away. Some are the work of decorated local chefs Michael Hung and the Hatfields, while others are passion projects by some of the country’s best restaurateurs.
Even iconic rapper Nas will make his LA restaurant debut with the opening of fried chicken joint Sweet Chick, and New York’s Tao Group opens a major multiple-concept complex in the heart of Hollywood. Here now, the most anticipated spring restaurant openings in Los Angeles.
Mama Lion
Address: 601 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA
The Situation: Koreatown has been a major hub of restaurant activity these days. Adding to the excitement is Mama Lion, the new restaurant by chef Michael Hung who you may remember from his time at Viviane and Faith & Flower. Add on cocktails by beverage director Aidan Demarest (Seven Grand, The Spare Room, Neat Bar) and a stunning Kelly Architects-designed space rife with gold accents, and you have all the makings for the neighborhood’s next major player.
Projected Opening: Spring 2017
The Mighty
Address: 108 W. 2nd St. #105., Los Angeles, CA
The Situation: The next addition to Quinn and Karen Hatfield’s restaurant empire (Odys & Penelope, The Sycamore Kitchen) is The Mighty, just steps from Redbird and Badmaash Downtown. Something of an evolution of the duo’s casual The Sycamore Kitchen, The Mighty will be an all-day affair with everything from Stumptown coffee and pastries in the morning to rotisserie chicken, housemade pastas, and beer and wine in the evenings.
Projected Opening: May 2017
Verlaine
Address: 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, CA
The Situation: Verlaine, the upcoming restaurant by celebrated chef Diego Hernandez, is furthering LA’s modern Mexican legacy built by chefs like Broken Spanish’s Ray Garcia. The man behind Baja Mexico’s award-winning Corazon de Tierra has paired up with Select Hospitality and former Salazar bar director Aaron Melendrez to revamp the former Dominick’s space into what will surely be a major boost for LA’s dining scene.
Projected Opening: Spring 2017
Vespertine
Address: 3599 Hayden Ave., Culver City, CA
The Situation: The opening of the casual breakfast and lunch eatery Destroyer by Jordan Kahn was a surprising move for the former Red Medicine chef. After announcing a $250 tasting menu restaurant in the adjacent building, however, all the puzzle pieces have come together. The 20-course fine dining concept has been developed in partnership with architect Eric Owen Moss, with Moss having a hand in designing not only iconic The Waffle building in which the restaurant is housed, but also everything down to the banquettes and even the pitchers on the table.
Projected Opening: Spring 2017
Lunetta / Lunetta All Day
Address: 2424 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
The Situation: The former Josie space in Santa Monica is being flipped into two different concepts, thanks to JiRaffe chef Raphael Lunetta. Expect morning pastries, coffee, sandwiches, and salads at the casual Lunetta All Day side. At Lunetta, the chef will prepare modern classics in a sexy, dark-wood and gold accented room.
Projected Opening: April 2017
The Proud Bird
Address: 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
The Situation: The Proud Bird, an LAX-adjacent restaurant and event space that dates backs to the mid-1960s, began an extensive renovation last year. Westsiders and antique plane lovers can get excited for the massive, 50,000 square foot aviation-themed food hall that boasts decommissioned planes and global, fast-casual vendors for a food hall experience.
Projected Opening: April 2017
Gus's Burbank
Address: 509 S. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA
The Situation: Los Angeles has very much become a spicy fried chicken town in recent years, in part thanks to the Tennessee-based Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Gus’s quickly became a popular fried chicken and chess pie destination down on Pico, but soon, Valley denizens will have a much closer location to call their own when it opens in the shuttered Momotaro restaurant in Burbank.
Projected Opening: Spring 2017
Journeymen
Address: 3219 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village, CA
The Situation: Two Gjelina/Gjusta vets jump out on their own, taking over the beloved Canele in Atwater Village. Chef David Wilcox and front of house/operations lead Guy Tabibian have plans to remake the modern restaurant model in the process, opening a casual California restaurant with a Spanish tapas service style.
Projected Opening: April/May 2017
Botanica
Address: 1620 Silverlake Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
The Situation: The upcoming Botanica in Silver Lake will be more than a restaurant. Part food magazine, the multi-pronged project comes from Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling, who promise healthful food (with a patio, takeaway food, and lots of greens) in a casual space right across the street from L&E Oyster Bar.
Projected Opening: Late spring/early summer 2017
Rossoblu
Address: 1124 San Julian St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Steve Samson, Dina Samson
The Situation: Things are heating up at City Market South, the planned new Fashion District multi-use complex that will soon house Sotto chef Steve Samson’s massive new Rossoblu. The name and the food are both derived from the middle mountain regions of Italy, where Samson spent time growing up. Expect highly regional food from roughly the Emilia-Romagna and Bologna areas (plus lots of wine), housed in an indoor-outdoor space with tons of patio seating and a downstairs private dining room.
Projected Opening: May 2017
Felix
Address: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA
Major Player: Evan Funke, Gusto 54 Group
The Situation: It was a sad day when pasta maestro Evan Funke closed his beloved Bucato. Thankfully the chef’s handmade pasta and focus on market-driven fare is making a triumphant comeback via Felix, his new restaurant inside Venice fine dining stalwart Joe’s on Abbott Kinney. Funke will offer abundant pasta-watching to go along with some serious pizza-making in the open kitchen.
Projected Opening: March 2017
Cosa Buona
Address: 2100 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Zach Pollack
The Situation: Alimento lead Zach Pollack is turning to Italian-American takeout fare, with a renewed focus on pizza at his new Echo Park spot Cosa Buona. You’ll also find classics like garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, shrimp scampi, and meatballs to enjoy in a tall corner space that formerly housed the long-running restaurant Pizza Buona. And yes, you'll even be able to get your food delivered.
Projected Opening: April 2017
Rosaline
Address: 8479 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA
Major Player: Ricardo Zarate
The Situation: Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate is making a furious comeback to the LA dining scene after departing his three restaurants Picca, Paiche, and Mo Chica (the latter two have since closed while the former is still kicking on Pico Blvd). Zarate takes over the dormant former Comme Ca space,with a restaurant named after his own mother. Ultimately, Rosaliné will be an intimate look into the chef’s commitment to his native cuisine.
Projected Opening: Late spring 2017
Tao Group
Address: 6417 Selma Ave, Los Angeles
Major Player: Tao Group
The Situation: Tao Group is opening quite a few concepts in or adjacent to the upcoming Dream Hollywood. First up is the eponymous Tao, one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country with locations in New York and Las Vegas, which is finally bringing its pan-Asian cuisine to the city of Angels. Also on deck is Beauty & Essex, Avenue Nightclub, The Highlight Room, and Alvin Cailan’s Luchini Pizzeria.
Projected Opening: Spring 2017
Sweet Chick
Address: 448 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: John Seymour, Nas
The Situation: Following on the heels of their success in Brooklyn, the Sweet Chick team plans toopen right on Fairfax inside the former Rosewood Tavern space. Bringing a tried-and-true combo of fried chicken and waffles, this Nas-backed concept should own brunch in the neighborhood once it arrives.
Projected Opening: Late spring 2017
Freehand/Broken Shaker/Exchange
Address: 416 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Sydell Group (The Line, NoMad), Bar Lab (Gabe Orta, Elad Zvi), Alex Chang
The Situation: Downtown’s hotel growth continues with the upcoming arrival of Freehand, a Miami-based project from the Sydell Group that will include award-winning cocktail bar Broken Shaker, as well as a downstairs high-end option called Rudolph’s Bar & Tea. Dinner keeps a Middle Eastern style and comes from chef Alex Chang of the Paladar dinner series.
Projected Opening: Late spring 2017
Hotel Figueroa
Address: 939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA
Major Player: Casey Lane, Dushan Zaric
The Situation: The total revamp of Hotel Figueroa is nearly complete, with an entirely new food and beverage side operating under chef Casey Lane and with drinks from Dushan Zaric. Expect multiple bars and a casual Italian option called Veranda to operate out by the pool, and just steps from buzzy L.A. Live.
Projected Opening: May 2017