“I always believed interaction is a really key part of an experience,” says Somni chef Aitor Zabala. In June, the Barcelona native’s seven-month-old Spanish tasting menu concept became the first restaurant in Los Angeles to be awarded three Michelin stars (alongside another tasting menu experience, Michael Cimarusti’s seafood stalwart Providence).
Zabala grew acquainted with the 20-plus-course tasting menu format while working in Spain at El Bulli — chef Ferran Adrià’s famed three-Michelin-starred modernist trailblazer that once ranked as the best restaurant in the world. “In Spain, we have history with small plates,” Zabala says. However, while he noticed a boom in tasting menus in the late ’90s and 2000s, when he first came to L.A. 14 years ago (to work with fellow Spanish chef José Andrés), he recalls few tasting menus existing.
Somni, born as a restaurant-within-a-restaurant inside The Bazaar in 2018, presented something new. “It was like you’re sitting in front of a stage, seeing a performance of people [preparing] food, and you eat that performance,” says Zabala, who revived the elaborate tasting menu experience at a permanent space in November 2024. There, at what he calls Somni 2.0, Zabala and staff finish plates tableside and serve — with the synchrony of a dance troupe — more than 20 visually stunning courses to 14 diners lined up at a chef’s counter.
Tasting menus are no longer a difficult sell. Zabala’s seen how people “trust and believe in” the format more than before, and he loves the variety of tasting menu restaurants that exist now. “I like Hayato, Kato, Mélisse, Providence and Vespertine,” he says, also calling out newer restaurants like Ki — a 10-seat spot in Little Tokyo that serves a modern Korean tasting menu.
That’s not all: This year also saw the opening of cozy Santa Monica gem Seline, where Pasjoli chef Dave Beran conveys his culinary and personal journey through 15-plus seasonal, cerebral courses. At the 35-seat Baby Bistro in Chinatown, chef Miles Thompson’s menu of six inventive and flavorful dishes is designed to be ordered as a tasting menu and split between two people. And at hip Venice izakaya RVR, Gjelina veteran Travis Lett applies Japanese techniques to California ingredients and produce, resulting in satisfying small plates, from chicken karaage to roasted sweet potato, perfect for sharing barside in the sociable setting.
It’s been a year marked by showstopping tasting menus, progressions of small plates, chef-interfacing preparations and immersive shared dining experiences. But for Zabala, that’s always been his thing. “Tasting menus [afford guests] the opportunity to taste more things and [have] different feelings,” he says. “You can provoke different emotions in the guests, so they give you more options. For me, it’s how I express myself and the team better. And that’s why we’ve done a tasting menu from the beginning.”
1. Somni
Credit: Irvin Rivera
Spanish
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9045 Nemo St., West Hollywood, somnirestaurant.com
After wowing guests with the avant-garde, 20-plus-course tasting menu experience Saam — which operated inside The Bazaar at the SLS Beverly Hills for nearly a decade — in 2018, chef Aitor Zabala transformed the cutting-edge Spanish concept into Somni (Catalan for “dream”). There, the Barcelona native employed what he’d learned about molecular gastronomy from chef Ferran Adrià and performance art from José Andrés, with whom he also opened Minibar in Washington, D.C. and é in Vegas.
While the original two-Michelin-starred Somni closed during the pandemic, Zabala brought it back to life in November 2024 in a whimsical indoor-outdoor WeHo space that previously housed a Donna Karan boutique. Each night, 14 guests begin the experience with assorted snacks in the courtyard (Spanish-style) before entering the intimate interior and sitting along a wooden chef’s counter, where, for three hours, Zabala and team will stimulate all of their senses in something of a culinary show. More than 20 stunning small courses are finished tableside and served in synchrony — paired with worldly wines or nonalcoholic concoctions. Artistic dishes, from a dehydrated egg white pizza to a shiso tartare tempura to a playful “Cow and Her Milk” cheese course, reflect Zabala’s Basque and Catalan roots. Currently, the three-Michelin-starred experience books its one seating per night within minutes of releasing reservations and attracts diners from around the world.
2. RVR
Gyoza with Peads & Barnetts pork rib and bellyCredit: Graydon Herriott
Japanese Izakaya
1305 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, rvr.la
Chef Travis Lett proved his deftness with vegetables when he founded Abbot Kinney pioneer Gjelina in 2008, however, in 2019, he departed the beloved restaurant group.
He took a five-year hiatus before acquiring a nearby Venice space in early 2024, at which he established the ephemeral MTN (pronounced “mountain”) followed by another Japanese izakaya, RVR (“river”).
Upon opening Oct. 1, 2024, the rustic space, replete with wood and vintage records and designed by Matt Winter of M Winter Design, quickly became packed with fans. A seat at RVR’s bar affords diners prime people-watching as well as an equally steamy view of the food being prepared by the team — which includes executive chef Ian Robinson, who honed his skills at Toronto’s Skippa and in Fukuoka, Japan. Flavorful vegetable dishes like roasted sweet potato and grilled baby bok choy steal the show, though the menu also includes memorable hand rolls, authentic pork rib and belly gyoza, crispy chicken thigh karaage in chili honey and roasted citrus-shoyu Santa Barbara black cod.
Pair the Japanese inflected comfort dishes with highballs, classic cocktails, beer, wines (from orange sauvignon blanc to chilled red gamay and German rieslings) and stellar sakes selected by Anajak Thai alum Maggie Glasheen.
3. Seline
Pheasant in Falling LeavesCredit: Pete Lee
New American
3110 Main St. Ste. 132, Santa Monica, selinerestaurant.com
After perfecting his craft at Chicago’s three-Michelin-starred Alinea and helming Next, chef Dave Beran opened Dialogue in Santa Monica. The 18-seat, 20-course tasting concept on the Third Street Promenade earned a Michelin star in 2019 — but Beran always intended for Dialogue to grow out of that space.
In the interim, he launched his French bistro Pasjoli. But even before closing Dialogue during the pandemic, he’d been searching for a new Santa Monica venue. Named after the Latin translation of his daughter Harvest Moon’s name, Seline — which opened Dec. 3, 2024 — is an evolution of Dialogue and Beran’s most personal project yet.
The 38-seat restaurant modeled after his grandparents’ warm Midwestern kitchen offers a 15-to-18-course experience that Beran designed to be exploratory — to foster connections and encourage diners to figure things out. Every detail of the dishes, which evoke various seasons, tells the story of Beran’s upbringing and culinary background. Fall brings a venison tartare covered by celery root, a roasted squash with truffle, a beef tendon with yuzu suspended from branches, a pot roast-inspired short rib and even a leaf dipped in passion fruit and frozen before you.
4. Betsy
Betsy’s cozy bar seating Credit: Danielle Evonne
American
875 E. Mariposa St., Altadena, betsyaltadena.com
In Dec. 2024, Tyler Wells (of Los Feliz cafe All Time) opened the intimate restaurant Bernee in Altadena for what would amount to 31 nights before the Eaton fire devastated the area.
The space was spared, and in Aug. 2025, Wells revived what he considers to be the dream restaurant he’s worked toward for 20 years: a simple, rustic neighborhood spot serving food entirely sourced from farmers, fishermen and purveyors he loves, all cooked over an open fire. Traditional appliances and gas service are forgone in favor of simple ingredients and attentive cooking.
The cozy eatery radiates warmth, especially for those sitting at the bar before the hearth. Start with warm dinner rolls topped with Normandy butter and a well-dressed Caesar salad coated in parmesan before moving on to hearty meats, like the New York strip or Tomahawk rib-eye.
Vegetables grilled over the fire shine, from the wood-oven cabbage to tallow-roasted potatoes, and the decadent ricotta gnocchi has a home-made feel. Finish with two crowd-favorite desserts: the cheesecake with charred crust and Betsy’s fruit cobbler.
A wine list is equally rustic and personable, featuring selections from Wells’ friends and growers who respect the soil. Betsy (named after Wells’ late mother) is a solid neighborhood option with a homey vibe and food well worth the trip from other parts of L.A.
5. Restaurant Ki
Tomato salad with perilla sorbetCredit: Wonho Frank Lee
New Korean
111 S. San Pedro St. B2, Little Tokyo, restaurantki.com
Chef Ki Kim’s restaurant tucked below a Little Tokyo parking structure earned a Michelin star just six months after opening. An odyssey of New Korean cuisine, Restaurant Ki is a victory lap for the South Korea-born chef-owner, whose celebrated Koreatown establishment Kinn closed in 2023.
The 10-seat counter poises diners for an intimate omakase experience led by Kim and his small team. Set in a minimalist setting marked by concrete walls and a touch of art pieces, Restaurant Ki is all-in on creative vibrancy by way of food. A duck liver dish arrives in a glass chicken-shaped jar, while a lobster and morel plate with doenjang sauce gets a final touch with a sprinkling of raspberry powder.
The multicourse meal begins with a few “snacks” (like the perfectly crisp, expertly tender octopus) before moving onto robust plates, including a noodle bowl with pine mushroom and Dungeness crab, and ending with dessert courses. Should you choose the wine pairing, vino and sake pours enhance this seasonality celebration (the menu regularly changes). Ultimately, Ki and team foster a relaxed, informative environment that primes visitors for maximum enjoyment.
6. Baby Bistro
Credit: Kort Havens
American
1027 Alpine St., Building B, Chinatown, babybistrola.com
Inside the Alpine Courtyard complex is a restaurant so unassuming and residential-looking — it’s housed in a century-old Victorian bungalow — you could almost miss it. But don’t: The intimate new neighbor to Perilla, bordering Chinatown and Echo Park, is one of the most unique and homey experiences in Los Angeles.
Upon stepping inside, you’ll see chef Miles Thompson at work in a steamy open kitchen — as if you were stepping into his home. The founder of former Echo Park restaurant Allumette, who began his career at Nobu and with Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo at Animal and Son of a Gun, earned James Beard Rising Star nominations when he took the helm of Michael’s Santa Monica. After teaming with wine connoisseur Andy Schwartz (Lolo Wine Bar) on Baby Bistro pop-ups, the two gave the concept a permanent home in May 2025.
A seasonal produce-forward menu offers only six dishes, designed to be ordered as a tasting menu and split between two guests. Start with the signature onion bread, topped with cheese and rotating veggies, before moving on to inventive dishes like spaghetti squash, spiny lobster, squid with rice and Spanish mackerel — flaunting surprising combinations of flavors and textures. Pair dishes with eclectic California and European wines and finish with pine nut cookies enhanced with cucumber cream and rhubarb.
7. Marea
Credit: Courtesy Marea
Italian
430 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, marearestaurant.com
Angelenos have former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse to thank for this award-winning Italian seafood stunner — beloved by the Obamas, Jay-Z and Beyoncé since opening on New York’s Central Park South 16 years ago.
Bossi entreated Altamarea Group CEO Ahmass Fakahany (with more than 20 restaurants in the U.S., Asia and the Middle East) to bring his first concept, Marea, to Beverly Hills, and the hot spot opened in a coveted space on Camden Drive in January 2025.
Inside an upscale dining room boasting the brand’s signature onyx bar, a blue Murano chandelier and artwork of Sophia Loren, well-heeled fans gather for top-notch crudo and lavish seafood dishes from chef PJ Calapa (of New York’s Bouley, Eleven Madison Park and the group’s Ai Fiori).
Italian for “tide,” Marea serves what Fakahany calls “lighter-side Italian.” Start with the decadent bruschetta topped with Kaluga caviar and burrata, a crudo sampling and raw bar offerings. Then, move on to staples such as the branzino tartare, lobster with burrata, fusilli with bone marrow and the Dover sole — along with newer creations made with California ingredients like Dungeness crab and Santa Barbara sea urchin.
A weekday aperitivo hour offers shoppers an afternoon reprieve with caviar and lobster rolls. The restaurant also recently debuted a three-course Sunday Supper as well as cocktails inspired by Loren’s beloved films.
8. Electric Bleu
The duck breastCredit: Irvin Rivera
French
3523 S. Centinela Ave., Mar Vista, electricbleu.com
Electric Bleu was a long time coming for Australia native and 30-year industry veteran Craig Hopson, who worked for three-Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris as well as at New York’s iconic Le Cirque before moving to Los Angeles in 2015.
Hopson toiled at Farmhouse and The Strand House before taking the reins in 2023 at Shirley Brasserie, where the French-trained chef put out stellar French onion soup and beef oxtail bourguignon from the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.
Hopson had been trying to open his own place for years when he found the former Rustic Kitchen space in Mar Vista. Hopson and his wife, creative director Mai Sakai, debuted the 60-seat indoor-outdoor Electric Bleu on Aug. 13.
The cozy neighborhood spot conjures their favorite Parisian neo-bistros and features blue accents that reference its namesake, a color coined by French artist Yves Klein. Here, Hopson is cooking what he’s passionate about. His mix of classic and contemporary French dishes range from steak au poivre to roast chicken to duck breast. Don’t miss the smoked salmon blini, French fries with chicken salt and chocolate mousse. Pair dishes with French and California wines as offbeat, adventurous and accessible as the restaurant itself.
9. Alba Los Angeles
Roman artichokes and the Accanto saladCredit: Courtesy Alba Los Angeles
Italian
8451 Melsrose Ave., West Hollywood, cucinaalba.com
After launching Italian hot spot Cucina Alba in Manhattan in 2022, Prince Street Hospitality partners Cobi Levy and Will Makris (New York’s Little Prince, Lola Taverna) teamed up with Julian Black (Major Food Group) to bring the concept to L.A.
The team transformed a parking lot into a whimsical open-air dining room that conjures an Italian garden, with wooden trellises and vibrant murals by Alex Proba. But the 10,000-square-foot eatery that debuted Feb. 6 isn’t just a looker: Angelenos (including Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber) have been flocking to the sexy space due to chef Adam Leonti’s dishes.
An alum of Philadelphia’s Vetri Cucina and the founder of Brooklyn Bread Lab, Leonti employs California ingredients in what he’s deemed “vacation Italian” cuisine (the food you eat on holiday). All meals should start with the focaccia he has down to a science, accompanied by whipped ricotta. The chicken alla diavola with spicy bomba sauce is another staple — alongside addictive pastas like agnolotti with black truffle fonduta and an orecchiette arrabbiata topped with burrata snipped up tableside. The more market-driven L.A. menu draws from local seafood and produce in regularly changing dishes. Pair them with bright spritzes, martinis and Negronis, and finish with the white tiramisu.
10. Max & Helen’s
Lily Rosenthal Credit: Catherine Dzilensk
American
127 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont, maxandhelens.com
On a May 2022 episode of his Netflix travel show Somebody Feed Phil, producer and host Phil Rosenthal visited Maine’s historic 15-seat Palace Diner. Blown away by the elevated classics served inside a 1927 train car, he decided to open a diner for his Larchmont community.
Mozza investor Rosenthal enlisted chef Nancy Silverton, who reinvented traditional diner staples, from a New York-style bacon, egg and cheese to a Larchmont grand slam to a patty melt modeled after Ships Coffee Shop’s Ship Shape Burger.
Vintage buff Matt Winter of M Winter Design transformed the former Le Petit Greek space into what Rosenthal envisioned as a diner from 100 years ago. The 6,100-square-foot restaurant, which seats 45 inside, conjures a train car with wooden booths and vintage fixtures. Personal details honor Rosenthal’s parents Max and Helen, to whom the diner is a tribute — and Rosenthal’s daughter Lily and her husband, chef Mason Royal, are on the team.
Max’s favorite fluffy scrambled eggs and Helen’s matzo ball soup are on the menu, but the biggest crowd-pleaser is Silverton’s waffle — topped with “maple butter,” her clever combination of butter and maple syrup.
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