Little Sister
Chef Tin Vuong and partner Jed Sanford of Blackhouse Hospitality Management (Día de Campo, Steak & Whisky, Abigaile, Wildcraft) are bringing a new edition of Manhattan Beach’s acclaimed Little Sister to L.A.’s Historic Core. “We’re hungry to be a part of the dynamic dining revolution in downtown L.A. and eager to introduce locals and visitors alike to Little Sister,” says Vuong, who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and is fluent in multiple cuisines. A trendy French colonial setting features private and communal tables, a kitchen-view counter and a hand-painted mural of butterflies—a Little Sister trademark. Signature dishes include deep-fried Balinese meatballs with banana ketchup (a Filipino condiment) and a salt-andpepper lobster dish that’s apt to turn first-time diners into Little Sister regulars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 523 W. 7th St., downtown, 213.628.3146. LittleSisterLA.com
Pok Pok L.A.
Opens Oct. 28. Chef Andy Ricker’s groundbreaking Thai restaurant with outposts in Portland and NYC arrives in Chinatown, serving lunch and dinner. Chef Ricker has engrossed himself in the food of Thailand to offer an menu that draws on the food found at pubs, restaurants and streets of Southeast Asia. The menu’s main categories include: “drinking food,” “grilled things,” “one plate meals,” “food eaten with rice as a part of a shared meal” and “sweet things.” Through Nov. 25, to snag a seat at the hotly anticipated eatery, you have to pick up a non-refundable ticket priced from $15-$20/pp. The price is applied to your dining bill and tickets can be purchased online only. Weds.-Sun. 11:30 a.m.-midnight. 978 N. Broadway, downtown, 213.613.1831. pokpokla.com
Estrella
California fare from Executive Chef Dakota Weiss (Top Chef season 9) and fresh cocktails from mixologist Gia St. George collide on the Sunset Strip at Estrella. The new restaurant aims to channel Hollywood Hills bungalow culture of the ’60s and ’70s with a Laurel Canyon-esque layered restaurant, bar, patio, and lounge space with glistening pendants, vintage found pieces and lush plants. Dine for breakfast, lunch (grab-and-go style until January) and dinner on comforting dishes like chai-spiced French toast; sous vide hangar steak with orange-habanero chimichurri; truffle honey grilled cheese; roasted bone marrow with confit quail, kabocha squash spatzel and red wine-truffle jus; and honey fried chicken with cornbread. Cocktails are mixed with house made juices and small batch spirits and include selections like the Sex, Drugs and Rock ’N’ Roll, inspired by Ian Dury and a spin on the classic “Penicillin,” featuring reposado tequila, mezcal, lime, ginger syrup, rosemary honey and nutmeg. 8800 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.6613. estrellasunset.com
Circa 55
In celebration of the Beverly Hilton’s 60th anniversary, Executive Chef Troy Thompson has unveiled a new menu at chic poolside dining destination Circa 55. Highlights include shaved candy cane beet salad with lemon and olive oil; crispy Spanish octopus with “German” potato salad; steelhead salmon with fava bean puree; 100-day dry aged Harris Range porterhouse steak in a red wine sauce; in addition to Madmen coffee creme brûlée and a mini waffle cone flight of house made ice cream and sorbet. 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.887.6055. beverlyhilton.com
Gudetama Menu at Plan Check Kitchen + Bar
Oct. 30-Nov. 29. Stop by any Plan Check location to delight in a new multi-course Gudetama x Plan Check menu. The neighborhood restaurant draws its inspiration from Hello Kitty’s newest friend—a lazy egg that likes to sleep under slabs of bacon and swim in bowls of udon noodles. The multi-course menu will include variety of egg dishes have been created by Executive Chef Ernesto Uchimura. Highlights include a crispy blanket egg, soy sauce egg, spicy pork belly sausage and miso aioli; Gudetama sliders (two beef sliders sunny fried quail egg, cheese two ways, bacon two ways, ketchup leather and hot sauce); a chocolate custard pudding; an apricot thumbprint cookie and an orange-ginger egg cream soda. plancheck.com
Yalla
The Bay Area’s fast-casual Mediterranean concept arrives in Burbank. This is just the first of three planned locations with Culver City and Torrance outposts to follow. Expect flavors from Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Tunisia and Egypt channeled in dishes that utilize locally sourced produce and hormone-free and responsibly raised meats, wild-caught fish, and dairy from cows raised without growth hormones. You can order everything from shawarma to skewers to falafel as a salad, plate or wrap, straight-up or customized with a variety of toppings and sauces. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Burbank Empire Center, 1781 N. Victory Place, Burbank. yallamedi.com
Maru
After a brief stint on the scene back in late 2013, Chef Jason Park is back with his eclectic French-and-Japanese-inspired restaurant. Menu offerings include prosciutto and walnut salad, scallop risotto and pear tart. When Park isn’t firing up the stoves, expect to find him browsing Santa Monica’s farmers markets for inspiration and fresh seasonal produce, often paired with fish flown in overnight from Japan, which is also utilized by sushi veteran Itsuroku Kimura who heads up the restaurant’s omakase program. 12400 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 424.832.7118. marusantamonica.com
Viviane
Restaurateur Stephane Bombet (Bombet Hospitality Group) and Executive Chef Michael Hung align to bring a refined culinary oasis to the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills. Chef Hung will present his interpretation of Continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch through technique-driven seasonal fare. The menu features dishes like lemon ricotta pancakes, Fuyu persimmon and corn salad, herb-baked turkey sandwich, handmade linguine with geoduck and Manila clams, shellfish boudin blanc with Maine lobster, scallops, Gulf shrimp and sauce Américaine. Also, find modernized cocktails from the mid-20th century and an extensive wine list, all in a chic mid-century space designed by Kelly Wearstler. 9400 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.407.7791. vivianerestaurant.com
Blue Star Donuts
The wait is finally over. Beloved Portland doughnut shop, Blue Star Donuts has officially opened their first California outpost. Aside from their over-the-top gourmet doughnut offerings—think blueberry bourbon basil, hard apple cider fritter and the O.G. (Orxata Glaze)—confection-crazed fans line up because the purveyor uses high-end ingredients like European-style butter and cage-free eggs, and an 18-hour process to make its signature brioche-style dough. In addition to doughnut decadence, the 1,000 square-foot white tiled shop on Abbot Kinney Blvd. also offers Stumptown Roasters coffee and cold brew. 1142 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.5630. bluestardonuts.com