2020 will be the year that revolutionized the restaurant industry. It is difficult to talk about the year under review, when everything changed, when people and companies suffered during the pandemic. In light of the challenging year for everyone in Los Angeles, we asked food writers and industry folks to discuss the most exciting new restaurants and food outlets that opened last year because the venues continued to open and serve amazing things to eat .
Mona Holmes, Eater LA Reporter
When the following words jump out at you, “LA’s first African-Mexican restaurant”, it’s on. Tamales Elena y Antojitos is the restaurant that reaches all the right flavor notes for me: family, family recipes, regional Mexican food, the owners are true Angelenos and immigrants who have worked in some of the best restaurants in LA over the years. And the food is solid. Tamales Elena even has an ideal component for a pandemic: a drive-thru. It is wonderful to see all of Los Angeles reacting to this business. And I hope they will exist for years to come.
Hillary Dixler Canavan, editor of Eater restaurant
Browsing my Instagram reminded me of how fun early 2020 was in terms of food. It also reminded me of the incredible meal I had when Xiang La Hui was a newcomer in January. Unfortunately, the twin pressures of pandemic life and newborn life mean that I have not come back to test my hypothesis that Xiang La Hui deserves the title of “SGV’s best toothpick lamb”.
Joshua Lurie, founder of FoodGPS.com
It’s not a restaurant yet, but the homemade Filipino food from chef Lord Maynard Llera Kuya Lord was incredible. Trays fully loaded with chicken thighs grilled on firewood, crispy kawali lechon and pancit with shrimp topping have dazzled us for days.
Danielle Dorsey, LA publisher, Thrillist
South LA Cafe. I am very impressed by this team of husband and wife who are also native to southern Los Angeles. They not only launched their cafe and community center during a pandemic, but quickly turned to serving their community’s needs, donating about 150 boxes of fresh produce a week to needy neighbors. In addition, the café menu is delicious and the outdoor patio offers a welcoming atmosphere, with “Clean” and “Dirty” table signs that speed up cleaning among guests.
Esther Tseng, freelance writer
Considering that it has been a strange market for restaurant openings, with people trying to stay safe and, at the same time, supporting those trying to stay in business, it was difficult to get excited about newcomers that year. But I am grateful for All Day Baby and its delivery window.
Jim Thurman, freelance writer
Medan cuisine; Tamales Elenas y Antojitos; Hui Lau Shan arriving at SGV
Farley Elliott, senior editor at Eater LA
Little Coyote has been a blessing in Long Beach, and I’m really excited to see the Sightglass team in Hollywood continue to work hard to give their immediate community what it needs. Talk about the change of direction in 2020.
Oren Peleg, Eater LA contributor, freelance writer
Found Oyster, which is not only a delightful and lively place, but represents a shift from the blockbuster restaurant to the idiosyncratic neighborhood restaurant.
Cathy Chaplin, associate editor at Eater LA
A&J Seafood Shack – Long Beach, Medan Kitchen – Rosemead, Today Starts Here – Chinatown
Hadley Tomicki, LA Taco
Josh Gil’s Mirame in Beverly Hills surprised me. Sitting on the patio, looking at the fireplace with a tepache – rum cocktail in hand, it looked like the restaurant I always wanted to be at.
Matthew Kang, editor of Eater LA
Mírame, for a new approach to modern Mexican in the heart of Beverly Hills. Sushi Tama was a great addition to West Hollywood, and I can’t wait to sit down for a full omakase meal there when it is safe. Tamales Elena had the best tamales I have ever eaten in my life. Damian will probably be considered an LA classic, but my outdoor meal there was very good. Xiang La Hui was an incredible discovery on SGV’s Sichuan scene. Ospi was my new favorite Italian restaurant, with stellar pizzas and memorable pastas. Little Coyote brings the best New York-style pizza, perhaps, in LA.