Restaurant Round Up Szn
As 2022 comes to a close, everyone is dropping their restaurant power rankings for the year. Read on to see my top 5 and a few other fun round ups too!
My Top 5 New Restaurants of 2022
To me, eating at a restaurant isn’t just about consuming food. I’m seeking out experiences. Whether it’s a unique hybrid of flavors I’ve never tasted before, a spin on a traditional dish, or simply a special feeling I get when I’m seated in the middle of the restaurant’s atmosphere - eating out is expensive and I want to make it worth my while! Here are my top 5 new restaurants this year (+ an honorable mention)!
De La Nonna
Why It’s Different: De La Nonna has this very comfortable ambiance that makes you feel like you’re eating at a friend’s house - a very trendy friend that also knows how to make excellent doughy pizza. The vibes are right here and the food delivers too. I love this spot for a group dinner - affordable but high quality, plus you’re just a block off the Arts District and can hit a bar or two after!
Must Try Dish: Pepp Pizza - ADD SPICY HONEY! They’ve also got a great deal known as the “Nonna Pack” - 2 Pizzas, 1 Caesar, and a bottle of wine for $75! GREAT for groups!
Pijja Palace
Why It’s Different: Listen… Pijja Palace is DIFFERENT DIFFERENT. Have you ever heard of a restaurant described as an Indian sports bar? Come on. The Indian flavors mixed with comfort foods like pizza, pasta and onion rings is dynamite. Not to mention - every time I’ve dined here, the customer service experience has been above and beyond. I have nothing but love for this place!
Must Try Dish: Malai Rigatoni, Dosa Onion Rings, and truly any pizza
Yangban Society
Why It’s Different: Yangban Society coins themselves a “Korean American deli”. Though you should probably make a reservation and prepare to spend $$ on a nice dinner, you’re seated in a casual, sexy deli setting. Korean dishes range from wings to acorn noodles and drinks can be found in fun mini bottles in Yangban’s marketplace area.
Must Try Dish: Yangban Wings
Bar Moruno
Why It’s Different: Spanish food is surprisingly hard to come by in LA, and Bar Moruno is doing it right. Simple dishes like the tinned fish platter or pan con tomate are just as impressive and delicious as their larger entrees. I personally prefer going with a few friends and ordering an assortment of smaller dishes to taste!
Must Try Dish: Chorizo Scotch Egg, Salmon Martini (yes, you read that right)
Agnes
Why It’s Different: Similarly to my sentiments towards De La Nonna, Agnes gave me this very comfortable, warm and fuzzy feeling as soon I walked in. Not to mention, the food is fantastic. Created by two chefs that previously worked at SF’s Flour + Water, the menu is diverse and offers all kinds of options. Light woods and pale colored linens create a cozy interior here, and charming patterns like plaid make you feel like you’re at grandma’s house which as it turns out - is very intentional: the restaurant is named after the executive chef’s grandmother, Mary Agnes.
Must Try Dish: Pimento Cheese Omelet, Crispy Porchetta, and pick up some fancy cheeses on your way out!
Honorable Mention - Clark Street Diner
Why It’s Different: Clark Street Diner is one of my favorite places to dine in LA, and most definitely falls into the category of “I feel warm and fuzzy and safe when I step into this space”. The reason I’ve kept it out of my top 5 is two-fold - I tried to focus on fine dining / dinner experiences for my top 5, and as much as I love it - Clark Street is very much a diner serving diner food. I go here for reliable, tasty, greasy breakfast and VERY good diner coffee. And that’s all I want it to be!
Must Try Dish: Banana pancakes, breakfast sausage, and make sure to snag all of their small batch hot sauces off neighboring tables to sample.
A beautiful mess of a spread at Yangban Society. And yes, the scissors for the Pork Katsu were absolutely necessary.
Some more 2022 restaurant round ups for your review and safekeeping
Send me your hot takes!
What were your favorite meals of 2022? Where do I need to book my next reservation? Tell me all!