Before the Yelp ratings and “best of” accolades start to roll in, how do you know what’s actually good or not among L.A.’s just-opened eateries? Every month, I put myself through the wringer attempting to visit every new, notable restaurant around Los Angeles. Usually, I enjoy revisiting the city’s best eateries and sipping cocktails at tried-and-true bars, but scouting for the best new restaurants and bars in L.A. is, to put it nicely, kind of a grab bag. Whenever I’m out scouting for the latest openings, I’m just as likely to blow hundreds of dollars on an overhyped dud as I am to stumble upon the city’s next truly great restaurant.
With Time Out’s guide to L.A.’s best new restaurants, you don’t need to sift through pay-to-play influencer videos and user-generated reviews to decide where to head next—I’ve done the work for you, from looking for parking and waiting in line to trying those ultra-pricey tasting menus, since there’s nothing worse when dining out than wasting your precious free time and, of course, money. I also strive to include valet prices and parking information for every restaurant—further taking the headache out of trying the next great new spot.
Questions I ask myself before including a spot on this guide: Does this new restaurant offer something more interesting, delicious or unique than any of L.A.’s existing restaurants? Is it worth the hype (and money)? Is it worth going out of the way for? If the answer to any of these is “No,” I don’t include it. Generally, I take into account the quality of cuisine, overall ambience and, of course, the final bill. Not every notable new restaurant will make my list. I also contextualize how these buzzy openings fit into L.A.’s existing dining scene—whether they’re truly worth going out of your way for or better suited for novelty-chasers or neighborhood locals. Read on for June’s best new restaurants, ranked.
June 2025: Over the course of May, I visited 10 new restaurants and cafés, including the reopening of Baekjeong and a spot I unfortunately had to call the health department on. This month brings five new additions: a seasonal small plates joint at the border of Chinatown and Echo Park, a margarita bar with standout botanas in Sherman Oaks, a cozy Koreatown restaurant serving a dazzling table spread, and two different Japanese openings in Culver City. After a revisit, I’ve also revised Marea’s listing and downgraded its rating from four to three stars. Departing this month’s guide are Rasarumah, Somerville, American Beauty Fairfax and Kyuramen x TBaar.
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