Addison discussed a bit about how he and Jenn Harris came up with this year’s list.
Which places had opened in the last year that we’d really loved, that would give some fresh energy to the mix?
3 Likes
There’s a lot of competition for Asian slots.
- Japanese: 9
- Chinese: 7 (counting Kato, which to me is debatable)
- Korean: 6
- Thai: 3
- Filipino: 1
- Vietnamese: 1
So 27 Asian out of 101. Maybe they think Southeast Asian is weaker than Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, or maybe they’re biased in favor of those cuisines.
One of the guys I was with and I looked at each other in surprise when Somni was revealed so soon. I get what you’re saying but it’s not like they weren’t new and newsworthy this year with breakthrough food and presentation, or at least that’s what you guys tell me.
1 Like
I think putting two- and three-star Michelin restaurants down the list is deliberate, or at least a reflection of a fundamental rejection of that narrowminded notion of “best.”
I’m happy to see Kato ranked above all of them.
5 Likes
How many are less than a year or so old I don’t know, but per Addison over 30 of them weren’t on the list last year. At least eight on last year’s list closed.
Bestia was added to the Hall of Fame.
They should maybe purge that list once in a while? Are they all still worthy?
1 Like
This hall of fame thing is a great idea. No they shouldn’t purge the list. The whole point is to capture the restaurants that were most admired by foodies in the past. The list should even have defunct restaurants.
5 Likes
Agreed. That’s exactly how Hall’s of Fame are supposed to work. If at some point in time your achievements were Hall of Fame worthy then you go into the Hall of Fame. Look at the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Alice Cooper is a cartoon character now but at the time he was doing something no one else was doing and inspired others to do the same. Doesn’t matter that over time his impact and appeal waned. In the arts, and obviously food is an art when done to Hall of Fame standards, you are eventually destined to lose relevance, uniqueness, impact, etc…
4 Likes
His concert 6 weeks ago was as good as always - he has made his “horror” show for the last 40+ years but his music is still far from a cartoon character
2 Likes
Yeah maybe that was a bit harsh. Maybe I should have just pointed out the decrease in relevancy which is probably the same complaint folks would have with some of the older restaurants in the HOF. Or just pissed off Cheap Trick fans instead. 
Sorry I offended.
Not offended but I think you underestimate the relevance of Alice for many metal heads as his recent albums are some of his best of the last 15-30 years (and I read that his concert crowds on average are the biggest for many years for him - I guess we are all afraid to see some of the dinosaurs for the (potentially) last time). Cheap Trick on the other hand…
1 Like
It’s not like us here to veer off topic but would like to say something about Alice Cooper. This song is incredible and way underrated:
It’s one of those songs like Led Zeppelin’s All My Love, The Moody Blues’ Your Wildest Dreams, Roxy Music’s More Than This, and Genesis’s Invisible Touch that the artists’ fans often don’t like because they don’t sound like the artists’ classic works but I as a casual enthusiast think are the artists’ best songs.
1 Like
Funny you mention that. I think Cooper fans probably feel the same about I Never Cry. I heard that one for the first time in eons on a road trip thanksgiving weekend. I listened straight through. Of course it was because I was forcing my 20 something daughter to listen to a full 40 year old American Top Forty, but it certainly wasn’t the worst song I heard on that drive. Not by a long shot.
3 Likes
yeah there are a lot of new additions, but at best as i can tell for 2025 openings–Ki, Cafe 2001, and Baby Bistro.
there are few other places that opened in october/november of last year, shortly before the old list went out (e.g., Tomat, Somerville, Tun Lahmajo)
i’m sure there’s all kinds of stuff i’m missing, though.
Oh damn I’d never heard that song. I can’t believe it. 1976! Sounds like an 80s ballad.
Actually the point of creating it was to allow more turnover on the 101 list.
2 Likes
Dumb question…as I don’t have access to the list…paywall won’t let me through. Are we back to LA 101? Or is it the expanded weird geographical list from last year?
Places on the list range from Northridge to Pasadena to San Juan Capistrano. I think they’re all in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, which is the least expansive common definition of Greater Los Angeles.
2 Likes
is the list available anywhere for people without la times subscriptions? asking for a friend.
1 Like