Los Angeles isn’t running short on new places to eat. This fall, the city’s dining scene has welcomed an upscale Korean barbecue restaurant in Culver City, a Vietnamese favorite at the Beverly Center, and a pair of familiar food brands making their way into LAX.
There are also fresh reasons to visit the Westside, from a revived Santa Monica restaurant to a new neighborhood wine bar. Whether you’re after a full dinner, a quick sandwich, or a cocktail somewhere unexpected, these eight recent openings and new locations are worth getting to know.
1. Hwa-On KBBQ
Culver City’s former Citizen Public Market building has found a new purpose, and this time, tabletop grills are part of the experience. Hwa-On KBBQ, located at 9355 Culver Boulevard, is an upscale Korean barbecue restaurant from the team behind Mikomi Sushi.
The focus is firmly on beef, with combination platters featuring cuts such as wagyu brisket and galbi. Combos start at $165 for two to three people, making this more of a planned group dinner than an everyday lunch stop.
The menu goes beyond grilled meat, with Korean barbecue staples including kimchi pancakes and stews. Drinks are equally adventurous: gochujang palomas and doenjang caramel matcha bring Korean ingredients into unexpected combinations.
For groups who enjoy cooking at the table and trying different cuts, Hwa-On offers a distinctive new addition to Culver City’s restaurant scene.
2. Kogi BBQ
Roy Choi’s Kogi BBQ isn’t new to Los Angeles, but its latest location is. The Korean-Mexican food truck pioneer has opened an outpost at LAX, bringing its signature fusion dishes to travelers passing through Terminal 1.
The airport location is designed to resemble a taco truck, a nod to the mobile operation that helped make Kogi famous. Its menu includes tacos and burritos filled with short rib, spicy pork, chicken, or tofu.
Travelers can also find kimchi quesadillas, kimchi-cheddar loaded fries, short rib sliders, and a hot dog topped with caramelized kimchi and sesame mayo.
It’s a welcome alternative to a routine airport sandwich, especially for passengers who want a taste of one of LA’s most recognizable street-food concepts before their flight.
3. Marathon Burger
Marathon Burger is another familiar LA name with a new airport address. The burger chain founded by Nipsey Hussle’s brother has opened its fifth location at LAX’s Terminal 1.
The menu keeps the brand’s double smashburgers at the center, alongside wings and fries. But the airport location also brings something different: breakfast burritos and sandwiches made specifically for travelers.
That means passengers arriving early have options beyond the usual burger-and-fries combination, while those flying later can still order the food that built the brand’s following.
The opening gives Marathon Burger another connection to the city where its story began, this time in a setting that introduces the concept to visitors from well beyond Los Angeles.
4. Little Sister
Little Sister has brought its Vietnamese cooking to the Beverly Center, taking over the former Angler restaurant space at 8500 Beverly Boulevard.
The new location is a substantial addition to the shopping center’s dining options, with a menu built around fresh herbs, bold sauces, and Southeast Asian flavors.
Among the standout dishes are shrimp-stuffed bánh xèo, a Vietnamese-style crispy pancake, and bò kho beef served with toasted baguette and pâté. The kitchen also offers a Vietnamese-inspired bouillabaisse, bringing seafood into the restaurant’s already varied lineup.
Little Sister has an established reputation in Southern California, but this Beverly Center location gives diners a new place to explore its cooking without heading to the South Bay.
5. Birdie G’s
Birdie G’s is getting a second chapter. After closing its Santa Monica location at the end of 2025, chef Jeremy Fox’s restaurant has returned in Century City, taking over the former Lumière space at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
The new setting brings a broader all-day approach. Mornings feature coffee and pastries, while lunch and brunch take advantage of patio seating.
Dinner shifts toward steaks, fish, and pasta.
Fans of the original restaurant will be pleased to know that signature dishes such as matzo ball soup and rose petal pie remain part of the experience.
It’s a reopening rather than a brand-new concept, but the move gives Birdie G’s a different rhythm and a new audience in one of LA’s busiest business and hotel districts.
6. Gilbert Perez Bar
Sherman Oaks has a new cocktail destination with an unusual story behind its name. Gilbert Pérez Bar, at 14633 Ventura Boulevard, comes from the team behind Mírate and Daisy Margarita Bar and occupies a space directly above Daisy.
The concept draws inspiration from the legend of a Spanish soldier who supposedly traveled mysteriously from the Philippines to Mexico City in the 1500s.
That story shapes the bar’s atmosphere, with decor influenced by different regions of Mexico and a cocktail program centered on Mexican rum.
There’s also a distinctive house rule: no photography. Instead of encouraging guests to document every corner, Gilbert Pérez Bar is designed to be experienced in the moment.
For a night out focused on cocktails and atmosphere, it’s one of the Valley’s more intriguing recent arrivals.
7. Jyan Isaac Bread
Silver Lake now has its own outpost of Jyan Isaac Bread, the popular bakery previously associated with Santa Monica. The new location at 2800 Hyperion Avenue brings its bread-focused menu to the east side of Los Angeles.
Sourdough loaves and bagels are part of the appeal, but the sandwiches make this more than a place to pick up bread for home.
The menu includes a Chicago beef sandwich with spicy giardiniera and a tuna melt served on marbled rye. On weekends, the bakery expands into brunch, with dishes such as cereal milk-soaked shokupan French toast.
For Silver Lake residents who previously had to travel across town for Jyan Isaac’s baked goods, the new shop makes a familiar LA favorite considerably more accessible.
8. Bar Fortuna
Santa Monica’s Main Street has welcomed Bar Fortuna, an all-day wine bar from the chef behind Crudo e Nudo. Located at 2917 Main Street, the new restaurant replaces the former Vamos Vamos space.
The concept changes character throughout the day. In the morning, an espresso walk-up window serves customers looking for a quick coffee.
Lunch and dinner bring a more substantial menu centered on handmade pasta, vegetable dishes, and pork chops.
Wine is an important part of the experience, but the full liquor license also makes room for cocktails, including several takes on the negroni.
That combination of morning coffee, pasta, and evening drinks gives Bar Fortuna a flexible identity. It’s the sort of neighborhood addition that can work for more than one occasion, depending on when you stop by.
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