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Discover Los AngelesLos Angeles Tops Bon Appétit's 50 Best New Restaurants in America
Updated on November 18, 2014
In 2013, Alma in Downtown L.A. was named Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurant in America. Bon Appétit’s Restaurant and Drinks Editor, Andrew Knowlton, has posted his 50 nominees for this year’s list. Los Angeles has five restaurants in the list, more than any other city in the country. Read on and find out more about L.A.’s multicultural nominees for the Best New Restaurant in America.
Opened in Downtown L.A. in 1917, the landmark Grand Central Market features dozens of food stalls that represent the full spectrum of L.A.’s multicultural cuisines, from old school Mexican to a new generation of artisan vendors. Knowlton describes the “delicious” and “unique” Grand Central Market as a “one-stop, culinary snapshot of the L.A. food scene.” In addition to “one of the country's best burgers” at Belcampo, Knowlton recommends the O.G. Pastrami at Wexler's Deli; pupusas at Sarita's Pupuseria; Thai barbecued chicken at Sticky Rice; the Slut at Eggslut; and Texas brisket at Horse Thief BBQ.
NIGHT + MARKET Song
Knowlton credits Kris Yenbamroong and a few other chefs “for the overall upping of America's Thai food game, and we couldn't be happier.” Opened in Silver Lake in March 2014, Night + Market Song features Yenbamroong’s adventurous menu of spicy northern Thai street food. Suggested dishes include: hor ab (catfish and pork fat tamale baked in a banana leaf with chile and herbs); gaeng pa nok saap (jungle curry with wild ginger, young peppercorns, Thai eggplant, holy basil, and minced chicken thigh); and larb tod (fried larb "meatballs" made of pork, pork liver, and pork blood).
3322 West Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90046Orsa & Winston
Orsa & Winston is the latest venture from chef Josef Centeno, following his previous Downtown successes, Bäco Mercat and Bar Amá. Located next door to Bar Amá, Orsa & Winston is a high-end showcase for exquisite presentations of Centeno’s multicultural small plates. The tasting menus change daily and are available with wine pairings. Omakase options include five courses for $60 per person; eight courses for $85; and a family-style, four-course option for $50. The Super Omakase is $195 for 20+ courses; 72-hour reservation is required and it’s only available at the chef’s counter. Knowlton says that Centeno “exceeds expectations, pulling disparate sources of inspiration (Japan, Italy, L.A.) together into precise dishes presented in thoughtful tasting menus.”
122 W. 4th Street Los Angeles, CA 90071Q
Dubbed “a zone of seafood meditation for hard-core sushi fans,” Q showcases the Edo-style sushi of Hiroyuki “Hiro” Naruke, who relocated to Los Angeles from Japan after the 2011 tsunami. His intimate Downtown L.A. restaurant offers one of the city’s top sushi deals: a 10-course omakase lunch for $75. The menu changes daily, but lunch might include high-quality dishes like baby squid with miso; fluke from Korea brushed with soy sauce; kohada (gizzard shad); and Santa Barbara uni.
521 W. 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90014Trois Mec
From helming the kitchens of the acclaimed L’Orangerie and Bastide (both earned the prestigious Mobil Travel Guide Five Star Award), to his wildly popular LudoBites series of pop-up restaurants and his recurring role as a judge on The Taste, Ludo Lefebvre continues to make a considerable impact on the culinary scene in L.A. and beyond. In April 2013, Lefebvre teamed with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo to open his first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Trois Mec. Located in a minimall off Highland Avenue near Melrose, the intimate restaurant offers a $75 five-course dinner to guests who can score a presale ticket. Knowlton says, “If you're lucky, there will be insanely delicious garlic bread and popped salt-and-vinegar-flavored buckwheat on the menu.”
716 N Highland Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038
