Although 2025 is drawing to a close, Angelenos have plenty to look forward to in 2026: the year opens with a slate of exciting new openings coming this winter. This year has been a challenging year for the city, with its rich dining scene impacted by wildfires in January; ongoing strain from the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes; and the effects of ICE raids, protests, and curfews, primarily concentrated Downtown. Yet Los Angeles remains one of the country’s most resilient and compelling restaurant cities with near-constant new openings. Looking forward, winter will bring a classic Montecito steakhouse, a new fusion pasta restaurant from Nancy Silverton, and a churrería from Mexico City.
Here are the most anticipated restaurants opening in Los Angeles this winter.
A rendering for El Moro in Echo Park. El Moro
Projected opening: January
Major player: Santiago Iriarte
Legendary Mexico City churrería El Moro will open its Los Angeles flagship this winter in the former Patra Burgers in Echo Park. The Echo Park outpost will be El Moro’s second Southern California location; the churrería also operates out of Costa Mesa’s Mercado González by Northgate González. Founded in Mexico City in 1935 by the Iriarte family, El Moro will dramatically transform a key corner in the neighborhood. Set on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Laveta Terrace, the churrería will sport a clean, modern look with a creamy white exterior, signature blue neon signage, colorful artwork, outdoor dining, and, thankfully, an attached parking lot. Expect churros with seven types of chocolate for dipping or drinking, as well as the classic champurrado, café de olla, and horchata lattes. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Pad Thai from Very Thai.
Very Thai — Century City
Major players: TTFB restaurant group
Anticipated opening date: January
Los Angeles will be the first city outside of the Asian continent to try Very Thai. Very Thai Century City will be the flagship location for the popular chain by Taiwanese restaurant group TTFB, which plans to open it in the booming Westfield Century City. Founded in 1995, Very Thai is known for its shrimp mooncakes, which sell almost one million each year. The Century City outpost will span 5,000 square feet and seat 131 with a full bar and private dining room. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Lucha VaVOOM’s Halloween Spectacular at Mayan Theater in 2018. (Photo by Harmony Gerber/Getty Images) Getty Images
Anticipated opening date: January
After closing its doors in September, Downtown’s historic venue, the Mayan, will reopen in January. CoStar reports that the new operator will relaunch the 100-year-old building as a nightclub. The Mayan first opened in 1927 as one of Downtown’s most striking buildings. It was designed by Mexican sculptor and anthropologist Francisco Cornejo, according to the Los Angeles Times. The structure is one of the country’s most notable examples of the 1920s and 1930s Mayan Revival architectural movement with its pre-Columbian Mesoamerican style. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Lucky’s Steakhouse. Lucky’s Steakhouse
Lucky’s Steakhouse — Arts District
Projected opening: February
Major players: Gene Montesano, Jimmy Argyropoulos, and Herb Simon
Montecito steakhouse Lucky’s is set to open a new outpost in the Arts District this February. Friends Gene Montesano, Jimmy Argyropoulos, and Herb Simon opened the first location in tony Montecito in 2000, taking over the historic Montecito bungalows. The restaurant attracts a star-studded crowd, including the likes of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. In the years since, Lucky’s Steakhouse has expanded to Malibu, New York City, and is developing a location in the Hamptons. Expect plenty of steaks, surf-and-turf platters, a lineup of classic steakhouse salads, and more. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
A digital drawing of Sushi Samba’s rooftop restaurant in West Hollywood. Dizon Collective
Sushi Samba — West Hollywood
Projected opening: February
Major players: Sushi Samba Restaurant Group and Dubai-based investment firm Shamal Holding
Construction for the international high-end chain Sushi Samba is nearly complete in West Hollywood, with the restaurant set to open in February at 639 North La Peer Drive. This latest U.S. expansion follows Sushi Samba’s longtime locations in London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. The restaurant runs 17,500 square feet with a 360-degree view and retractable roof. The West Hollywood outpost marks an ambitious return for the international brand, as its last U.S. location opened in 2008 in Las Vegas. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Steak at Baldi. Kim Fox
Major players: Chef Edoardo “Edo” Baldi
Anticipated opening: February
A new Tuscan steakhouse will open inside the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in February. Baldi is by chef Edoardo “Edo” Baldi, and his team will source meats from hand-selected farms and prepare them over an olive wood–fired grill. Beyond that, the Italian-born chef will serve freshly baked Etruscan-style focaccia, seasonal vegetables, and fresh pastas like fettuccini and gnudi with sage-infused browned butter. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest
Lapaba. Ira Edelman
Projected opening: Winter
Major player: Nancy Silverton, Joe Bastianich, Tanya Bastianich, Robert Kim
Nancy Silverton’s next Los Angeles dining destination will open in Koreatown this fall. Lapaba, a new restaurant blending Italian and Korean cooking, will debut in winter 2025 on the corner of Sixth Street and Western Avenue. The name is a portmanteau of “la pasta bar,” a language device often used in Korean. Husband-and-wife chef team McKenna Lelah and Matthew Kim, who met while working at Osteria Mozza under Silverton, will lead the kitchen at Lapaba. Expect classic Italian dishes with Korean twists, like kimchi supplì stuffed with Spam and mozzarella, and a little gem Caesar with doenjang. Pastas, which will be made on site in a dedicated pasta room, include cappelletti in a galbi brodo with mandu filling and campanella with basil and perilla pesto.
Silverton will open the restaurant with partners Robert Kim (Norikaya, AB Steak, Mama Lion), and siblings Tanya and Joe Bastianich, who are also co-owners at Osteria Mozza, Chi Spacca, and Mozza2Go. — Rebecca Roland, deputy editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest