27-01-2025
Best New Restaurants 2025: Standout Casual Spots
Visit these casual restaurants for the best flavors and special occasion dishes in a welcoming and relaxed environment and see how many have helped with L.A. fire relief since appearing in our print edition, via updates below. Also see our other Best New Restaurant winners here.
With homestyle Persian dishes like mazeh (small bites served cold) and hot dishes like turmeric-braised Jidori chicken and eggplant khoresht, this Silver Lake counter restaurant conjures community and comfort with authentic flavors accessible to all. 2943 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, is donating all profits from their hot dog, the Sosi Bandari special, to fire relief efforts.
Fresh, hot, made-to-order pizza that's every bit as good as those made by pizzaiolos in Naples is the specialty of this al fresco Venice eatery centered around a woodfired Neapolitan oven. The adjacent garden adds to its immersive atmosphere. 1039 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, Pizza has sent over 1,000 pizzas to first responders and people affected by the wildfires. Until the end of January, for every pizza bought in-store or through DoorDash, Fiorelli will donate two pizzas to first responders and those in need.
Little Fish's signature crispy seafood sandwich helped turn this pop-up into a permanent pit stop in 2024. The rest of the menu, including breakfast and lunch items like smoked fish tartine and mushroom congee, will reel you in, too. 1606 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, January 9 Little Fish donated 20% of their proceeds to wildfire relief. The restaurant continued to support relief efforts by distributing 2,000 meals, half of which were cooked at Little Fish.
Chef Rashida Holmes' Caribbean food spot started as a pop-up with tasty patties and rotis during the pandemic. Her expanded menu of family recipes like mac and cheese pie and fish cakes made her new restaurant a hit. 858 N. Vermont Ave., East Hollywood, Roti partnered with Odds & Ends L.A. 15 to distribute 300 meals to first responders and the L.A. Dream Center. They also provided free meals to first responders and fire victims and will be donating 10% of proceeds from their Honey Jerk Chicken meals to fire relief efforts.
Specializing in guan tang bao (a soup dumpling from southwest Beijing), this Rosemead strip mall restaurant keeps customers coming back for its heavenly chicken broth-filled dough and everything from clay pot pork to crispy beef rolls. 8450 E. Valley Blvd. #108, Rosemead, @good_alley
The sister to its bistro next door, Express offers homestyle Southern Thai food like Hat Yai fried chicken, roasted duck rice and tasty curries. It's a culinary experience to 'luv,' especially for fans of hot food. 6666 W. Sunset Blvd., Unit L, Hollywood, @ Thai Bistro and Noree Thai on Beverly to deliver meals to first responders working in Malibu and the Hollywood hills. The restaurants had also prepared and donated 800 meals at Santa Anita Park.
This cocina artesanal (artisanal kitchen) serves inventively rich rancho dishes — tacos, tamales and more — inside a hip, black-walled space with communal tables to encourage sharing. 5831 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park, @carnalfoodla
Thailand-born chefs Tongkamal 'Joy' Yuon and Wedchayan 'Deau' Arpapornnopparat expanded their Bangkok-meets-Central Thai street food menu at this favorite noodle and stir fry spot. 3170 Glendale Blvd., Unit C., Atwater Village, Basil are collaborating with Na Na Thai to host dinners on Jan. 26-27 with proceeds donated to Los Angeles fire relief.
The home of the 'falafel taco,' MidEast took over the corner location that housed Mh Zh. Armenian ingredients meet Mexican traditions in an array of meat and seasoning-packed tortilla-wrapped offerings. 3536 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, January 9th through 19th Mideast Tacos offered free meals to first responders.
