Aftertaste LA

Darling in West Hollywood is celebrity chef Sean Brock's first restaurant outside the American south, initially opening in 2025 as a Californian, seasonally-driven restaurant. This did not go over well with Angelenos; they wanted the cornbread and the grits and the fried chicken, they wanted the classics. And we don't blame them. Imagine a rock star band coming to town and playing none of their hits? Same thing.

Darling is now being marketed as a southern-heritage restaurant with a kiss of California, taking advantage of the freshest and highest quality produce in the country. The cornbread is here...

Bar 109 is a cocktail bar in Melrose Hill, Los Angeles, that serves as the entry into 1-star Michelin restaurant Corridor 109 from Chef Brian Baik.

Lucky for us, Bar 109 is also open for guests not wanting to shell out $325 a head plus 20% service, as you do in the back room.

Up front, the cocktail menu and full suite of wines and sakes on offer are all available to order, as well as, a small food menu of mostly snacks, all created by chef Baik. Tuesday night is burger night at Bar 109, and begins at 8pm. It's...

Lapaba, or La Pasta Bar, aims to be exactly that: a neighborhood pasta bar. Given that the neighborhood in question is Koreatown, it makes all the more sense to incorporate the Korean cuisine LA is known for into the cooking. But don't let that fool you into thinking this is a Korean restaurant. Lapaba is, at its core, LA-style Italian.⁠ ⁠

Husband-and-wife chefs McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim are behind the stove, coming full circle back to their time together at Osteria Mozza to deliver a fresh take on Italian cuisine. And it doesn't hurt to have LA's godm...

Electric Bleu is a brand new French Bistro in Mar Vista by husband-wife duo chef Craig Hopson and creative director Mai Sakai.⁠ ⁠ Chef Craig's resume is truly impressive with stints at Troisgros, Guy Savoy, Le Cirque, and Picholine — absolute titans of the French dining world.

Don't let that scare you away from trying the food here because the prices are some of the most reasonable we have seen in town for the level of food coming out of that kitchen.⁠ Electric Bleu boasts elite-level cooking and a fantastic wine list in a relaxed environment that is a perfect...

Not No Bar in Santa Monica comes to us from the team behind Dudley Market, transforming the old Isla space into a vibing tiki disco with solid Neapolitan pizzas and great cocktails. The space is small, loud, and what one could confidently call "a scene."⁠ ⁠

The place stays busy and becomes quite a party on weekends, usually with a line to enter and a DJ working the vintage hi-fi turntable. Leather booths line the perimeter, with the rest of the indoor area devoted to standing room high top tables. The large outdoor patio area boasts more seats and...

Alta in West Adams is a completely revamped restaurant with a fresh concept, new menu, and a makeover of the dining room, but the story of Alta is the story of its chef and owner, Keith Corbin. ⁠

The professional kitchen has always been one of the great second-chance rooms in the American workplace where one's grit, grind, and determination are tested every night. Plenty of cooks come up through hard roads, including hard time, and food service is one of the few industries willing to take a chance on them. Keith Corbin took that chance and turned it...

Lielle just earned its first Michelin star, and it took four short months into its run at the former Bicyclette space for Marcus Jernmark, the executive chef who helped Stockholm's Frantzén earn three Michelin stars, and his team to secure it.

You enter down a staircase into a moody wine cave: cork barrel-vaulted ceilings, warm antique lighting, smoked cherrywood tables and cozy leather booths meant to be shared side-by-side.⁠ ⁠

Lielle carries the kind of résumé that usually comes with a stuffier room and a much bigger check. On paper, $150 for four courses sounds steep...

We spent our anniversary on a bite-and-sip tour through New York, hitting 7 bars from North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, including 3 of the top 4 and the current #1. We came home and asked the obvious question: where does LA actually stand?

We break down what each bar does well, where we would go back, and take a hard look at where LA's bar scene trails New York, where it can compete, and what we think LA needs to do to close the gap.

Bars in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

3:45 – Sip & Guzzle

12:17 – Angel's Share

1...

Curtis Stone's Michelin-starred steakhouse Gwen is Hollywood's award-winning destination for dry-aged meat — ranked #42 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. ⁠

The space exudes modern Hollywood elegance without feeling gaudy, and features glass-enclosed dry aging rooms, open kitchen, and a fully operational retail butcher shop. ⁠ ⁠

The menu is anchored by seafood, vegetables, and dry aged meat cooked on an Asador-style grill using almond wood, as well as, an open-fire grill, and a coal Josper oven. Other offerings include house made charcuterie (also available for retail purchase), pastas, risottos, and market vegetables from local farms.⁠ ⁠

The beverage...

LA finally has an answer to NYC in the elite cocktail bar space — and it's tucked into Los Feliz on Hillhurst Ave. We're calling Vandell our new favorite bar in Los Angeles. In this episode of Aftertaste LA, we break down why this neighborhood cocktail bar is the real deal.

It only took 4 short months after opening for Vandell to be named #68 on the 100 best bars in North America. It's creative, it's cocktail nerdy, and it has all the momentum to become one of the best bars in the country.

Vandell feels like a relaxed ne...

The restaurant has positioned itself as THE neighborhood ⁠bar & grill; a place that does the simple things right. Easy on paper, but a tough feat to actually pull off. ⁠

A classic bar & grill MUST nail specific essentials to be great. A burger, a steak, fries, a martini, comfortable seats, and a staff that knows how to make you feel like you're in your living room. It seems they have done their homework.

⁠⁠For 122 years, Hermon - a small, largely overlooked neighborhood of northeast LA-went without a single restaurant. But in this tiny hamlet, Last Word Hospital...

When the pandemic caused the original Broken Spanish to close, Los Angeles lost an absolutely outstanding restaurant.

https://brokenspanishcomedor.com

Broken Spanish Comedor continues the ‘authentically inauthentic’ philosophy of Chef Ray with a more approachable price point and clear nod to Mexico’s comedores: small, typically mom-and-pop restaurants and stalls serving home style cuisine.

Chef Ray Garcia, a born and raised Angeleno, has triumphantly resurrected an evolved version of the original in the former A-Frame space in Culver City.

The bar program is heavily tequila and mezcal based, with some premium Mexica...

“Sool jib” translates literally to “drinking establishment,” and that is exactly what Jilli is. The vibe here is drinks come first, but incredible food is a close second. ⁠ ⁠ The team behind Chimmelier — the Korean fried chicken spot that blew up in Ktown — took over the former Kinn space and turned it into one of the most fun places to eat and drink in the neighborhood. The dining area at Jilli is a small, purple-twilit room, with 2000s hiphop pounding on the speakers, the perfect environment for everyone at the bar to have a great night. ⁠

⁠ The food is mostly small plat...

Avner Levi, a Bestia alum, started Cento as a pasta pop-up inside a downtown LA bar. Now he's got a permanent home in West Adams — and two very different restaurants to show for it.⁠⁠

Cento Pasta Bar is the concept that put him on the map: a modern and sleek room built around handmade pasta and a chef's counter where you can watch every bowl come together. The food is Italian at its core, but Levi isn't precious about it — global influences creep in at the edges in ways that feel natural rather than forced. Remind us to alway...

Lucia on Fairfax is owner Sam Jordan's vision of a restaurant that feels like an event the moment you walk in. ⁠⁠The European influence drives the room: a late-night party atmosphere complete with a live DJ, but never crosses into tacky clubstaurant territory. (They do have a dress code — no hats, no sleeveless shirts — though enforcement is...flexible.)⁠⁠The food and drinks take you on a trip through the Caribbean, dressed up in European fine dining techniques and plating, with a touch of Los Angeles woven in. The menu evolves constantly with the seasons, but some dishes seem to have stayed...

Electric Bleu is a brand new French Bistro in Mar Vista by husband-wife duo chef Craig Hopson and creative director Mai Sakai.⁠ ⁠

Chef Craig's resume is truly impressive with stints at Troisgros, Guy Savoy, Le Cirque, and Picholine — absolute titans of the French dining world. Don't let that scare you away from trying the food here because the prices are some of the most reasonable we have seen in town for the level of food coming out of that kitchen.⁠

Electric Bleu boasts elite-level cooking and a fantastic wine list in a relaxed environment that is a per...

Our Meal At Daisy Margarita Bar | Sherman Oaks | Los Angeles| California | Opened April 2025

https://www.daisyla.com/

@daisy.losangeles

Daisy is a Northern Mexico–inspired cantina from the team behind Mirate in Los Feliz.⁠⁠

Come to Daisy if you covet flawlessly executed, high-craft cocktails and margaritas. The beverage program is unapologetically focused on showcasing Mexican-made spirits and ingredients, with all the liquor on the menu imported from our neighbors to the south.⁠⁠

The food program is equally well-crafted, with an emphasis on snackable small plates, ceviches, tacos, and a few larger...

Our Meal At Bar Benjamin | Bar Review | Melrose | Los Angeles | California | Opened May 2025

Bar Benjamin sits above The Benjamin on Melrose, delivering a modern day Hollywood cocktail den built for date nights and lingering rounds. The space feels classic, with wood tones, Art Deco style, and mohair banquettes. It’s intimate, it’s elegant, and that’s before you even get to the drinks.

The drinks are where Bar Benjamin flexes: technique-forward originals and clever riffs that pull from culinary flavors as much as cocktail tradition.

The food program is mostly bar snacks that r...

Our Meal At Firstborn | Restaurant Review | Chinatown | Los Angeles | California | Opened March 2025

https://www.firstborn.la

@firstborn.la

⁠Chef/Owner Anthony Wang took over the former Pok Pok space and transformed it into his vision of a modern Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. The menu is a journey through Chef Anthony’s biography—both personal and professional.⁠

The food is whimsical in execution and traditional in flavor. Classic dishes like Mapo Tofu, Chongqing Chicken, and Beef with Broccoli are reinvented while always maintaining their foundation.⁠

The bar is helmed by Kenzo H...

Our Meal At Cobi's | Restaurant Review | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2021

https://www.cobis.la/

@cobis.la

Cobi’s began as a pandemic pop up called Cobi’s Curries started by Chef Cobi Marsh. Its popularity was enough to open a brick and mortar in the former Dhaba space on Main Street in Santa Monica.

The food is heavily inspired by Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian, and Indian cuisines with big bold flavors, spicy sambals, and a large array of regional curries.

Our Meal At Alba | West Hollywood | Los Angeles | California | Opened February 2025

https://www.cucinaalba.com/

@cucinaalba (NY AND LA shared)

When Cucina Alba opened in New York in 2022, it became an instant classic. Earlier this year, its sister restaurant, simply called Alba, opened in West Hollywood and has garnered positive reviews, quickly becoming one of the premier classic Italian destinations in Los Angeles.

The space is large, with an outdoor patio that feels grand, lively, and a bit like a Las Vegas version of a...

Our Meal At Baby Bistro | Victor Heights | Los Angeles | California | Opened April 2024

https://babybistrola.com/

@babybistro.la

What happens when you take a Victorian-style house with a

lush courtyard and convert it into a small dining room? Baby

Bistro.

It's supposed to feel like a dinner party at a friend’s house

complete with tons of natural wine and a concise menu of

eccentric combinations.

The menu is only 6-7 items and is evolving constantly wi...

Our Meal At Budonoki | Restaurant Review | Virgil Village | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2023

https://www.budonoki.la/

@budonokila

Budonoki is a modern Japanese Izakaya that serves mostly snacks as well as traditional pressed Japanese sushi and a few entrees, pairing perfectly with the sake-forward drinks menu. If you want to be transported to a cool-clubby underground bar in Tokyo then this is definitely the place for you.

This is a perfect restaurant for Los Angeles and a great neighborhood addition to Virgil Village. The energy is party-like and relaxed...

Our Meal At Dunsmoor | Eagle Rock | Los Angeles | California | Opened June 2022

www.dunsmoor.la

@dunsmoor.la

Dunsmoor is the namesake restaurant of chef-owner Brian Dunsmoor and is his years-in-the-making vision of heritage cooking. The restaurant is housed in a 1929 Spanish revival-type building that has been converted into a rustic restaurant, which is centered around a large hearth that provides all the coals used to prepare their hearty menu. You will find no blenders, food processors, mixers, or gas stoves here. All of their cooking and preperations are done using knives, hand tools, and...

Our Meal At Alto | Studio City | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2025

www.Alto.la

@altolosangeles

Alto in Studio City a "fire to table" restaurant showcasing the cuisine of Rio de la Plata, which borders Argentina and Uruguay. Chefs Esteban and Juana have brought their culinary roots and fine dining experience from Michelin restaurants to their first restaurant together.

The menu highlights asado culture, with grilled meats being front and center. The beverage program showcases classic Rio de la Plata drinks with a modern flare. The combination of deeply rooted tradition and...

Our Meal At Manuela | DTLA | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2016

https://manuela-la.com/

https://www.instagram.com/manueladtla/

Manuela is located inside the Hauser and Wirth gallery complex in the Arts District of downtown LA and is surrounded by contemporary art, restored industrial architecture, and lush green courtyards.

The food is bolstered by an in-house garden nestled inside the Hauser and Wirth courtyard which provides fresh herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables for both the kitchen and the beverage program. They have their own chickens that...

Our Meal At Kurrypinch | Thai Town | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2025

https://www.kurrypinch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kurrypinch/

Wine featured during the episode:

https://www.villagepopwine.com/

Originally opened in Van Nuys as a mostly takeout operation, Kurrypinch, and its Chef/Owner Shaheen Ghazaly have just reopened with a more modern dining room in East Hollywood

Kurrypinch's cuisine leans traditional Sri-Lankan with some fun and creative twists. The food is flavorful, spicy, and deeply reliant on heavy spice blends, coconut, and of course, rice. There are...

Our Meal At Butchr Bar | Echo Park | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2024

https://www.butchr.bar/

https://www.instagram.com/butchr.bar

Butchr Bar is a combination wine bar + retail butcher shop showcasing beef and lamb from Australia alongside natural wines, charcuterie (all made in-house), and small bites. Their aim is to offer a more relaxed alternative to a traditional steakhouse without sacrificing quality.

The space is cozy and stylish with some kitschy decor with a large concrete bar, some small tables, and an outdoor...

Chef Johnny Lee, previously with Pearl River Deli, is behind the stove bringing his extensive experience eating and traveling through most of the Malay archipelago along with him, with a little bit of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cantonese techniques thrown in the mix.

This is the type of restaurant that you wish would open next to you. Its cuisine is filled with unique and powerful flavors without being too intimidating. Perfect for sharing whether you are on a date or with a big group.

The exceptional restaurant design and service is a testiment to the efficiency...

Our Meal At Pasjoli | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept 2019

https://www.pasjoli.com

https://www.instagram.com/pasjoli.sm

Opened Sept 2019 in Santa Monica, Open Daily 5pm-10pm

Type: Focusing on Classic French Cuisine with Californian Flare and Ingredients

Executive Chef: Dave Beran

Awards and Recognition: Michelin Star 2021, Michelin Plate 2022, James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant

Specialties/Signature Dish: Duck A la Presse Tableside $350

Ambiance: Business Casual, Well suited for dates, celebrations, and special occasions

<...

Lasita started off as Lasa in 2017 by brothers Chad and Chase Valencia and was a fine dining, tasting menu restaurant before covid. They re-launched as Lasita in 2021 focusing on a more casual approach to their modern filipino fare.

Lasita has done a great job of bridging the gap between fine fining and casual with its modern take on filipino cuisine, centered around a rotisserie, and natural-wine bar program that is hailed by many as delicious, unpretentious, and authentic to its Filipino roots.

Ronan | Fairfax | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept. 2018

https://www.ronanla.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ronan_la

Ronan is helmed by couple duo Daniel and Caitlin who both worked at now-closed Sotto as well as Alimento before opening Ronan.

The pizza is Neopolitan-style with leopard crusts and sourdough tang that's become a mainstay in the ever-evolving pizza scene in Los Angeles. One thing that sets Ronan apart is its focus on local produce and chef-driven small plates in case you want something other than pizza. There is something for everybody at...

RVR | Abbot Kinney | Venice Beach | California | Opened Oct. 2024

https://www.instagram.com/rvr.venice/

https://www.rvr.la/

RVR has become one of the hardest reservations to get in Los Angeles, with Travis Lett making his triumphant return to Los Angeles.

RVR's cuisine is a continuation of Letts’ love letter to California produce and Izakaya-style dining, a concept he explored at his former restaurant, MTN. The menu showcases seasonal, locally sourced vegetables often prepared simply but vibrantly.