All Day Baby
Alta Adams
Anajak Thai
Antico
A.O.C.
Apey Kade
Badmaash
Bavel
Birdie G’s
Brent’s Deli
Brodard
Brothers Sushi
Burritos La Palma
La Casita Mexicana
Cassia
Chaak Kitchen
The Chori-Man
Cluck2Go
Connie & Ted’s
Crafted Kitchen
Dear John’s
Dulan’s
Evil Cooks
Forn Al Hara
Found Oyster
Grand Central Market
Guelaguetza
Guerrilla Tacos
Guisados
Gusto Bread
Hail Mary
Lauren Halsey
Hangari Kalguksu
Hawkins House of Burgers
Hayato
Heritage BBQ
Hippo
Holbox/Chichén Itzá
HomeState
Hotville
Howlin’ Ray’s
Jitlada
Kali
Kato
Katsu Sando
Evan Kleiman
Kobee Factory
Kogi BBQ
Konbi
Kra Z Kai’s Laotian Barbecue
Lalibela
Lasa
Lodge Bread Co.
Lucky Boy
Lunasia
Mariscos El Faro
Mariscos Jalisco
Mayura
Meals by Genet
Mian
Mini Kabob
n/naka
No Us Without You
Northern Thai Food Club
Now Serving
Orsa & Winston
Park’s BBQ
Pasjoli
Pearl River Deli
Petit Trois
Petite Peso
Minh Phan
Phnom Penh Noodle Shack
Pizzana
Post & Beam
Jocelyn Ramirez
République
Rossoblu
El Ruso
Shibumi
Shunji
Sichuan Impression
Soban
Socalo
Sonoratown
Spoon & Pork
Spoon by H
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe
Sun Nong Dan
Taco Maria
Tamales Elena Y Antojitos
Taste of Tehran
Sara and Steve Valdes
Valle
Vendedores en Acción
Vespertine
The Win-Dow at American Beauty
Woodspoon
X’tiosu Kitchen
Yang’s Kitchen
Zhengyalov Hatz
I think the thing that stands out the most to me is how many of the places on the list are mom n pop small business. Many are FTC favorites and I hope we can continue to support these guys through the next few months.
Agreed. There are always a million ways to argue against this list, and I’ve got plenty of quibbles, but on a basic level it’s a solid group that does a good job highlighting the breadth of the cuisine here with some interesting, relatively obscure places.
Bummed it’s behind the paywall. It’s so great to see some names on this list like Now Serving and Chef Phan–folks that are restaurant adjacent and others that are spreading their talents across multiple projects.
I know it’s early but biggest snubs? No Majordomo? Bavel is there but not Bestia? No Rustic Canyon? No Mozza?
It’s interesting how they combined some restaurants (ie: GCM) but didn’t combine others like recognizing the Centenoplex with both Orsa & Winston and Bar Ama.
No Providence?
I was wondering the same thing, maybe they weren’t open during the times they were reviewing? Maybe they’re on some sort of Legacy list? Mozzaplex, Providence, etc
It’s why I’d like to read the write ups and I guess I’ll have to wait for the print edition. Just wondering why they combined some (Holbox/Chicén Itzá) or recognized an individual chef (Chef Phan) but not others.
Dear Johns is the only Josiah Citrin spot, as is Connie and Ted’s for Cimarusti as @JLee points out.
Obviously there’s too many great restaurants/important people in LA to truly fit on what is supposed to be a curated list, but that’s why it sucks to have this locked behind a paywall. Many people will probably want to see why this or that, or wonder about where XYZ is, but without the details we can’t know
Thank you for sharing the list. Began looking up the names I’m unfamiliar with for new spots to try the next time in L.A. Flan taco at Evil Cooks? Sign me up! (Has anyone here tried it?)
Who compiled the list? Not to incite another contentious thread, but is Patricia Escárcega still involved?
Throwing in the names of a few people and groups is just weird. I had to look up Vendedores en Acción (and maybe that’s their point, right there - like forced re-education).
Evan Kleiman…hmmm…why? Because she does a radio show?
The list is contentious enough without dropping precious spots to include some movers and (salt) shakers. Of course, this just my opinion, and maybe it will change when I read the piece itself.
Regarding the paywall - I go to lapl.org, log in with my library card, select the “databases” option, and read tons of newspapers and magazines that are normally behind paywalls. The LA Times is usually available day of.
It’s not just a 101 best-restaurants list anymore. I imagine the authors are trying to acknowledge people/orgs who/that are influential in how and what we eat. And if that’s the case, maybe they should give a nod to FTC…
Very few new-American/French/high end restaurants. The Michelin-ish dining format is a category more than any other that’s dropping like flies and have always struggled in LA as opposed to NYC or SF. Howlin Ray’s and Sonoratown are going to be fine. Something like Providence, Angler or Nightshade that require more servers/employees I predict are most likely to get the axe.
Can someone explain Sonoratown’s appeal to me? I went for the first time this weekend (bang-bang w/ Holy Basil). The tortilla is lovely (and we took a bag home) and the filling (chorizo) was… fine (perhaps a bit too smoky for me, and I normally LOVE smoky). I liked it. But I certainly don’t crave it. What’s the fuss about? Maybe I misordered?
