This absolutely huge, multi-faceted pan-Mediterranean restaurant comes from three siblings who seem determined to add a major dining destination to this part of the San Fernando Valley. Located in a standalone structure in Woodland Hills, Casaléna’s wide menu ranges includes pizza, pasta, intricately plated burrata appetizers, and seared wagyu bavette steaks. Expect an extensive array of shaken cocktails to please a crowd too, like a basil and cucumber-tinted Spanish gin & tonic or a zero-alcohol orange cordial with rosemary. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

Chef Sandra Cordero has been cooking Spanish food in greater Los Angeles for years, but this is her first foray into the busy Westside restaurant scene. At Xuntos, diners can find a proper Spanish pintxos experience filled with many of the familiar snacks and flavors from the Iberian Peninsula proper. That means the classic Gilda, or pepper, olive, and anchovy skewer, served as an amuse-bouche, along with the sweet and salty bikini, or sandwich with caramelized onions, mozzarella, and truffle, as a tapa. There’s plenty of Spanish wine and vermouth too, of course, all served in a laid-back, homey bar space on Santa Monica Boulevard. — Farley Elliott, senior editor

Kevin Bludso isn’t just Los Angeles barbecue royalty, he’s also an international smoked meat sensation. The television host, author, and restaurateur’s latest location in Santa Monica is a big get for Westside Angelenos who have come to love Bludso’s cooking in Compton and on La Brea. Head towards the ocean for all the hot links, brisket, and sides this city deserves. — Farley Elliott, senior editor

Jason Neroni’s four-year takeover of the former A-Frame in Culver City is finally complete, and the results are immense, even mind-bending. Littered with ’70s pop culture references from his upbringing, Neroni sees Best Bet as a magnum opus, a California Italian menu that seamlessly blends the flavors of both cuisines. Rotisserie duck seasoned a la Sicily with hints of Levantine spices folds beautifully into plush, blistered pizza dough, while lardo-topped, wood-roasted peaches burst with juicy, porky flavor. Best Bet encapsulates a risky foray into the outer reaches of Californian cuisine and mostly succeeds from the get-go by melding Neroni’s storied career with pristine, in-season produce. No wonder diners eagerly line up right at the opening to nab a coveted table. —Matthew Kang, lead editor

There’s no denying that Funke is the place to be and be seen in Los Angeles at this moment. From the ground floor’s plush red booths and art-filled walls to the rooftop’s impressive views and pink quartz bar, Funke’s three stories perfectly captures the glitz of Beverly Hills. While the restaurant’s ambiance is certainly something to take in, pastas are at the literal heart of the operation – just peer inside the pasta laboratory to see a dozen different shapes made from scratch. Come with a group and order a little bit of everything to share: focaccia, pizza, pasta, and every dessert on Shannon Swindle’s impeccable list. — Cathy Chaplin, senior reporter/editor

Though only a few weeks old, some are saying that Tommy & Atticus may already be the best bakery going for the South Bay — or at least the best in recent memory. Owners Garrett McPerry and Lauren Rosen work up loads of sourdough bread as well as pastries — made with Central Milling flour, French butter, and local produce, naturally — sandwiches, and other carb-friendly creations. The sunny, spare space is inviting all on its own, making Tommy & Atticus a destination for usually sleepy Redondo Beach. — Farley Elliott, senior editor

Tuệ Nguyễn, better known by her online moniker Tway Da Bae, has more than a million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Đi Đi is Nguyễn’s first foray into a restaurant of her own and comes about in the former Petite Taqueria space with help from the prolific H.Wood Group. Find signature dishes honey-glazed shrimp and Vietnamese coffee creme brulee served in a fun, Saigon-reminiscent space on La Cienega. — Farley Elliott, senior editor

Perched atop a prominent Melrose Avenue space, Ubuntu arrives from James Beard Award semifinalist Shenarri “Greens” Freeman, previously of New York City’s Cadence. The colorful, bright dining room centers on African food and flavors with a focus on plants, like a Senegalese jackfruit yassa or Nigerian suya that traditionally uses smoked meats but instead uses seitan. Creativity doesn’t stop there, with curried jollof arancini, charred okra salad, or fonio grits with oyster mushrooms plated with a fine dining sensibility. —Matthew Kang, lead editor

In a return to Downtown, chef Sammy Monsour pairs up with wife and beverage director Kassady Wiggins for a one-two Southern punch at Joyce, their new seafood-centric restaurant inspired by Monsour’s time in South Carolina. Monsour, formerly of Preux & Proper, helped that restaurant gain a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand designation before it closed in late 2020. Here at Joyce, the narrative is focused on a complete dedication to big, bold Southern flavors served in a suave space designed in part by co-owners Prince and Athena Riley. —Matthew Kang, lead editor

Italian American food is all the rage in LA, with the likes of La Dolce Vita, Dante, and now Donna’s in Echo Park helping to cement the trend. Red sauce fans will appreciate the grandma’s house-style decor, with heaping plates of spaghetti with meatballs, veal piccata, and layered tiramisu to finish. What nonna might not have served (but works great here in Echo Park) are thoughtful cocktails, like the Ginny’s tonic with housemade orange tonic and rosemary. —Matthew Kang, lead editor

Queen St. is a years-in-the-making passion project for chef Ari Kolender and the busy Last Word Hospitality (Found Oyster) team. The bright build-out took a long time to come together, but the wait seems to have been worth it for the crew. Crowds have flocked early (and gobbled up all recent reservations), eager to score raw bar platters, grilled squid, and other seafood dishes reminiscent of Kolender’s time in South Carolina. Snag an early walk-up seat at the large horseshoe bar, and just start pointing; there’s good stuff everywhere here. — Farley Elliott, senior editor