LAGuide
LA's 9 Most Exciting Fall Openings
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Summer in LA is coming to an end. And while that means fewer beach days, it also means some big new restaurants opening in the coming months. We’re talking about the city’s most anticipated fried fish sandwich, the Thai food legend opening a second location, and a whole bunch of roving pop-ups moving into brick-and-mortar spaces. We've got the details on the most promising-looking spots. So when your friends are inevitably discussing these LA restaurants a few months from now, you can tell them they're late to the party.
THE SPOTS
Projected Opening: Late September
This popular gay bar is opening a new sports-themed hang in Los Feliz (right next door to Mírate), bringing along its Tuesday trivia nights, weekly DJ sets, and Happy Hour specials. Much like Hi Tops West Hollywood, it’ll have more TVs than a Costco entryway. So bring some friends on game day for nachos and pitchers or eat a corndog on the patio while you update your Grindr profile.
photo credit: Izakaya Dongame
Izakaya Dongame
Projected Opening: Late September
This Osaka-based izakaya chain is opening its first U.S. location in Echo Park where you can get a plate of whole grilled mackerel the length of your arm, garlicky clam soup studded with bonito flakes, and plenty of sashimi. The new Sunset Blvd space sits in a former Blue Bottle coffee shop (so, it's not going to be huge). They'll also have beer and wine.
Projected Opening: Late September
Shrimp and scallop katsu. Salmon oshizushi. Char siu pork jowl. These dishes are the stars of Budonoki’s Japanese pop-up dinner series, which has developed a loyal following over the last three years. After roving from bar venue to bar venue, the team finally secured a permanent location in Virgil Village. Located on the ground floor of a condo, the corner space will start out serving dinner (plus beer, sake, and shochu cocktails) inside before expanding to the patio a few months later.
Projected Opening: Late September
The people behind Fly By Jing (of Sichuan chili crisp fame) are opening an Asian market in Larchmont. It'll have everything you need for a well-stocked kitchen—think vinegars and sauces sourced largely from AAPI producers, cold sesame noodles, pre-packaged Sichuan shredded chicken salads, and vegan mapo tofu packs.
Projected Opening: October
Watching Little Fish evolve from a rookie pop-up doing weekly seafood plates to a sold-out fish fry with a famous sandwich was like witnessing the birth of a supernova. They’ve flooded our feeds with photos of their deluxe Filet-o-fish, hand-drawn illustrations, and dozens of collaborations ever since. Now they’re opening an all-day seafood spot in Echo Park. It’ll be the kind of place where you can pick up coffee and pastries, or stick around for housemade lox and that famous beer-battered bass on a fluffy potato bun.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Holy Basil
Projected Opening: October
Holy Basil is a tiny lunch counter in DTLA that makes standard Thai dishes like tom yum soup and green curry feel new and exciting. That’s why we’re counting down the days until they debut a full-service dinner menu with an eight-course tasting option in Atwater Village. Due to some construction damage and a series of delays, the team is currently crowdfunding for support with building expenses here.
Projected Opening: October
This family-run Chinese restaurant in Historic Filipinotown is incredibly efficient: you order at the counter, they give you a number, and, within ten minutes, you’re eating delicious Shanghainese dishes like beef noodles, tender pork belly over rice, and flaky scallion pancakes. In the coming months, they’re bringing this reliable flow back to their hometown of Pasadena to open up a second location. The new Woon will be open for lunch and dinner in a much larger space with a pretty serious natural wine program.
Projected Opening: November
This one’s for the patio princesses. Lalou is a new French place opening in the former Ago space—after a glamorous remodel to the plant-filled courtyard—right in the heart of West Hollywood. It’s from the people behind Olivetta, so expect opulence. The menu will show off seafood like tuna crudo and grilled shrimp, as well as an elaborate dessert situation involving gold-flaked profiteroles that arrive at your table on a vintage dining cart.
Projected Opening: December
For anyone who has escaped the name Daniel Boulud, the context here is that the man owns many fancy restaurants across the globe, including his namesake French cafe in NYC. Naturally, he’s opening a new location of this upscale spot at the Mandarin Oriental Residences Beverly Hills with things like swiss chard ravioli, foie gras torchon, and roast duck with peaches.
