These are some of the newest and hottest restaurants in the Los Angeles area:
Having opened in January at 5803 North Figueroa, this Highland Park offshoot of the Luscious Dumplings located in Monrovia is a quick service version in a strip mall. The family still hand-makes their boiled, pan-steamed, and pan-fried pork dumplings at the original restaurant and delivers them here along with other Chinese classics.
This classy steakhouse and whiskey bar in Whittier, named for President Nixon who was a long-time local, is a new location for Katsuji Tanabe. Specialties include surf and turf with a Mexican twist, maple-glazed pork chops, a whole pig’s head, a Tempura Cauliflower sandwich for vegetarians, impressive cocktails, and a brunch. The happy hour menu includes chicharones with a honey dip, a double patty burger, and other selections.
Having just opened on February 8, Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina’s Roman-style pizzeria is in the heart of Highland Park at 5916 North Figueroa. The unique pizza is in long and thin sheets in various varieties, cut by length, paid for by weight, and served at room temperature as they do in Rome or heated. Sandwiches are also offered as is beer and $8.00 glasses of wine due to the joint venture with Silverlake Wine.
“Sahm” means three in Thai, and Kris and Sarah Yenbamroong opened a “three-peat” of their popular Thai street food restaurant on February 2 with this 70-seat, 2,000-square-foot Westside outlet at 2533 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice. Local residents can enjoy plates of larb, pad thai, crispy rice salad, khao soi, and other Thai classics, all of which can be washed down with natural wines and beers.
This artsy brewpub, The Dankness Dojo, right in the heart of the South Park neighborhood at 832 South Olive Street in Downtown LA, is an expansion of a San Diego brewery. It opened on January 22 with over two dozen craft beers made on site and a limited menu of tacos, a double burger, and fried jalapeno hush puppies. A cafe and full kitchen up front features pastries and coffee in the mornings and a lunch and dinner vegan menu.