The family from Fairfax’s longstanding Chao Krung opened Tuk Tuk Thai with a mostly street food menu in early 2022. Find classic dishes like Isaan sour sausage and prik khing moo grob in the small but cozy space. There’s a handy patio too for streetside al fresco dining.

This brightly lit yakiniku spot writes its daily specials on a marker board. Pair the fantastic tsukune (chicken meatballs) with one of the restaurant’s draft sakes. If in need of the popular skewers, it’s best to arrive early before they sell out.

Just a few blocks north of the main drag of Sawtelle, the classic Tempura House serves reasonably-priced bento of homestyle Japanese fare, from chicken katsu and hamburg steak to the restaurant’s namesake fried shrimp. Open since 1949, it’s one of LA’s oldest Japanese restaurants.

Sawtelle is filled with Asian food, from Filipino and Japanese to Korean and Chinese, but Sonoritas prepares some of the best-quality carne asada using actual steak cuts — something one would see in Mexicali and other places in Sonora. There’s also weekend brunch.

If a long meal or solid cocktail hour is required, Bar Hermanito is the place to go. Not only are Mexican dishes on display like the yellowtail tostada with Japanese pickles, but so are the tacos, El Mescalero cocktail, and one of the Westside’s best patios. Order the al pastor, shrimp, and quesabirria tacos are complemented by a Peking duck platter (which isn’t available every day, so check in advance).

Located across the street from Tsujita, the Annex location has become just as popular as the original. With thicker noodles and an ultra-rich broth that's chock-full of garlic and pork back fat, this isn’t a noodle soup for the faint of heart. The dippable tsukemen is tinged with a vinegary kick, which is always a good bet.

Sawtelle Japantown is also known as soba noodle central, so Kaz The Soba Place fits right in. Opened in late 2020, Kaz’s buckwheat strands come in traditional and innovative ways including “the Shanghai” served in a Sichuan soup, or “the Genova” with Italian soup stock, basil, bacon, and cherry tomatoes.

Spoon & Pork is the result of friends Raymond Yaptinchay and Jay Tuga’s street-eating childhood in the Philippines. The chefs put together a menu of dishes that pay homage to Filipino comfort foods including sisig with Duroc pork jowl and a slow-cooked fried pork shank.

Known for its stunning pastries, Artelice Patisserie opened on Olympic and Sawtelle in early 2017. There’s even a Burbank location to help increase the bakery’s output including macarons, tarts, eclairs, and some of the most gorgeous cakes in the city. Visit and gawk at the display case, especially the sun-colored pistachio sponge cake with mango, banana, and passion fruit.

Matcha Village’s Sawtelle location is only one of many Chinese chain restaurants to move into to Los Angeles in recent years. Matcha Village’s goal is to introduce locals to Chinese-style matcha desserts. Though the matcha soft serve is satisfying, the showstopper is the 69-layer matcha mille crepes, which take 48 hours to make.

A group of seasoned LA restaurant veterans opened the cozy Wine House Kitchen slightly off the main Sawtelle drag but quickly secured a spot as a hidden gem where chef Maiki Le crafted an LA-meets-French-Vietnamese menu with outstanding cocktails and wine list. Order Le’s carbonara deviled egg or the salmon imperial roll.