Oriel’s Suave Wine Bar Vibes Mesh Perfectly With Chinatown

Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Dustin Lancaster, who’s done stylish places like Bar Covell and Augustine to more laid back Eastside hangouts Crawford’s, Hi-Hat, and Hermosillo, has opened a cool new wine bar in Chinatown called Oriel. The oddly-shaped but charming space debuted last Saturday, October 21 with a stylish interior from Sally Breer, who also designed Hotel Covell in Los Feliz.

Augustine chef Evan Algorri (Union Square Cafe, Bouley, NYC) opens the place with a classic French bistro menu of onion soup, steak tartare, bone marrow, chicken liver mousse, and bavette steak frites. To drink, there’s a tight wine menu chock full of French bottles and glasses from a bright Dom de la Batardiere muscadet to a sturdier cote du rhones from F. Balthazar.

Michael Blackman partners with Lancaster on the project, while they bring on Alain Jeu, formerly the general manager at Bar Marmont for eight years. Hours run 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on weekends. They’ll add on weekend brunch service in about four weeks time.

Oriel. 1135 N. Alameda St. Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA