Los Angeles is no stranger to restaurant openings, whether splashy openings in iconic buildings helmed by big-name chefs, a humble neighborhood spot, or a pop-up leaping into a permanent space. Consider this monthly rundown a go-to guide for the newest and boldest debuts across the Southland.
Xiao long bao at Paradise Dynasy. Katrina Frederick
Shrimp noodle soup at Le Shrimp Noodle Bar. Katrina Frederick
Paradise Dynasty and Le Shrimp Noodle Bar — Glendale
After years of anticipation, xiao long bao specialist Paradise Dynasty made its Los Angeles debut on November 21. The Singapore-based chain opened at the Americana at Brand, in the former Din Tai Fung space, with its signature eight flavors of xiao long bao filled with black truffle, kimchi, garlic, barbecue pulled pork, crab roe, and more. Joining Paradise Dynasty at the Americana is Le Shrimp Noodle Bar, a sister restaurant serving shrimp broth noodles with whole prawns, prawn and chicken wontons, and ebiko prawn paste meatballs.
Arepas. Oscar Mendoza
Chainsaw — Melrose Hill
Chef Karla Subero Pittol has found a permanent home for her popular dinner party pop-up Chainsaw in Melrose Hill. On the menu at the pint-sized cafe, find savory dishes that draw from Subero Pittol’s Venezuelan heritage, like arepas, empanadas, and pabellón criollo, alongside Chainsaw’s famous passionfruit lime icebox pie and a double-crust fruit pie. The cafe is open for morning service until 3 p.m., before reopening at 5 p.m. for dinner.
Battered sea bass and mint. Kort Havens
Wilde’s, a new British-tinged neighborhood restaurant and bakery, debuted on a busy stretch of Hillhurst in Los Feliz in late October. Opened by lifelong friends Natasha Price and Tatiana Ettensberger, Wilde’s serves natural wines, Welsh rarebit, and meat pie filled with guinea fowl in the evening, and sausage rolls and pastries during the day from its bakery window.
Fennel sausage pizza at Fiorelli Pizza. Andrea D’Agosto
Fiorelli Pizza — Beverly Grove
Liz Gutierrez and chef Michael Fiorelli’s pizza pop-up Fiorelli Pizza, which initially debuted at Venice’s Cook’s Garden, has found a permanent home in Beverly Grove. Fiorelli Pizza opened on November 5 in a space adjacent to Joan’s on Third with a menu of pepperoni and mushroom-topped pies, as well as a vegan pie and a white pizza with fennel sausage. A chopped chicory Caesar, tinned fish, and meatballs fried in olive oil and tomato sauce round out the menu.
Korean-inspired aguachile. Bonjwing Lee
The Mulberry — Sawtelle Japantown
The Mulberry, a new Korean American bistro from owners Jennifer Chon and David Lee, opened on November 12 in the former Plan Check Sawtelle Japantown space. With chef Curtis Park at the helm, the neighborhood restaurant serves updated takes on classic, homey Korean dishes paired with cocktails. Park’s menu centers around dishes he grew up eating, infused with California ingredients like a Korean aguachile nestled in cold kimchi broth and spicy braised black cod in a stone bowl.
Latke chicken schnitzel with dill creme fraiche, apple compote. Carolina Korman
Dana Slatkin, the founder and chef of Westwood bistro Violet, and Brian Rigsby, an alumnus of Animal and Son of a Gun, opened the Wilkes in a historic Brentwood building on November 3. The menu opens with molasses bread with salted date butter, steak tartare, and raw oysters, before moving into larger dishes like fish and chips and a latke-encrusted chicken schnitzel. Desserts like a cinnamon apple crumble come from Maude’s former pastry chef, Yesenia Cruz.