L.A.’s Culinary Landscape Evolves: Best New Restaurants of 2024
The year 2024 in Los Angeles dining was a whirlwind – a thrilling and sometimes chaotic dance punctuated by both exciting openings and bittersweet closures. Following a quiet season last winter and early spring, the city energized with new restaurant debuts. Many highly anticipated projects were delayed until fall, while others, like Sushi Nakazawa and Jônt, never materialized. Over the past 365 days, I’ve embarked on a culinary journey, visiting (and revisiting) 90 new establishments while keeping tabs on countless others, some unfortunately short-lived.
Natural Wine Reigns Supreme
This year, a clear trend emerged: the rise of the natural wine (and occasional cocktail) bar. This dynamic dining-slash-drinking category brought us gems like Bar Sinizki in Atwater Village, Zizou in Lincoln Heights, Bar Etoile in East Hollywood, and the charming Sam’s Place in Highland Park. Each offered a unique atmosphere and thoughtfully curated menus, showcasing both the versatility of natural wines and creative cocktails.
Navigating L.A.’s Culinary Map
Geography played a crucial role in shaping my experiences. My explorations led me to splurge on pricey meals in West Hollywood and Hancock Park, some leaving me disappointed. However, the San Gabriel Valley and Northeast Los Angeles offered abundant culinary redemption. Northeast L.A. emerged as a particularly exciting region, continuing its streak as one of the city’s most innovative areas for diverse dining experiences.
A Wave of Closures Casts a Shadow
Yet, even amidst the excitement of new openings, a lingering sense of loss overshadowed the scene. The continuous stream of high-profile restaurant closures, a trend that began picking up steam last year, showed no signs of abating.
In March, the stunning news broke of the Manzkes’ decision to shutter their namesake Michelin-starred restaurant and its more casual sister establishment, Bicyclette. Zach Pollack’s formerly reliable Alimento in Silver Lake also shut its doors in early September, leaving a void in the neighborhood’s dining scene.
More recently, All Day Baby and the beloved Rose in Venice announced plans to cease operations in mid-December, further highlighting the challenges facing restaurateurs in a city as demanding as Los Angeles.
“These days, it’s harder than ever to open a restaurant in L.A. and consistently execute a creative, ambitious (not to mention delicious!) menu that will successfully convince Angelenos to gamble with their hard-earned money and finite hours of free time,” observed one seasoned restaurateur.
Celebrating the Triumphs: L.A.’s Top New Restaurants
Against this backdrop of challenges, the triumphs of the restaurants that *did* succeed feel even more meaningful. After extensive research and months of careful consideration, I’ve selected the top 10 new restaurants that truly stood out in 2024. (Note: This list excludes any restaurants that opened after mid-September, but they will be eligible for next year’s roundup.) Each of these establishments boasts exceptional culinary chops, whether operating from a beautifully appointed dining room or a more casual setting.
Prepare for an eclectic mix: polished bistro fare, a delightful female-run omakase experience, and more than a few unexpected surprises. These are the eateries that not only dared to open their doors in LA’s competitive culinary landscape but proved to be innovative, enduring gems.
