4 RESTAURANTS TO TRY THIS WEEKEND IN LOS ANGELES: AUGUST 2

Every Friday our editors compile a trusty list of recommendations to answer the most pressing of questions: “Where should I eat?“ Here now are four places to check out this weekend in Los Angeles. And if you need some ideas on where to drink, here’s our list of the hottest places to get cocktails in town.

For the hottest French bistro with Japanese flourishes: Camélia

One of the highest anticipated restaurant openings of the year, Camélia transforms the former Church & State/Caboco space into a suave, almost retro ’70s diner vibe with rounded wood panels, comfy leather banquettes, and cafe-styling chairs. The recipe is simple: French bistro fare elevated with fancy touches and Japanese ingredients. The starters shine here like the black sesame Parker House rolls served with smooth butter and house-marinated ikura. Momotaro tomatoes properly peeled and served in ripe wedges surrounded a rich mound of burrata, a ponzu gelee providing additional savory punch. The aioli garni, an array of pickled vegetables and crudites plucked right off the farmer’s market table, is too pretty to eat. And the cauliflower soup with parmesan cream recalls something from Bouley NYC, itself a renowned blend of French and Japanese sensibilities. But Camélia displays its own style, something effortless and very Angeleno with sharp cooking and gorgeous plating, and I’m smitten already. 1850 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90021 — Matthew Kang, lead editor

For weekend wine-sipping: Tabula Rasa

There comes a time during most summer weekends when it is just too hot to do anything except sip a chilled red without the sun beating down on you. Often, I’ll opt for a bottle to take home and split, but for the days when I don’t feel like turning on my own AC, I head to Tabula Rasa. This Thai Town wine bar still feels like a local spot even after eight years of being open. With 20 wines available by the glass, and 200 by the bottle, there is always something new to try at almost any budget. Watch the bar’s Instagram for regular pop-ups on the back patio. 5125 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor

For Korean barbecue and a history lesson: Origin

One of the best things about working at Eater is calling restaurant aficionados my colleagues. When two in-house experts nodded in agreement that Origin is the Korean barbecue spot they recommend most, the restaurant shot up on my list of places to check out. Inspired by the kind of Korean barbecue that owner Eun Joo Lee grew up eating in the 1960s in Seoul, Origin does not disappoint with its attentive service, plethora of banchan, and of course, sizzling meat. Order the Origin Special Set for a proper overview of the restaurant’s greatest hits. It includes beef brisket, pork belly, bulgogi, and short ribs; rice papers and greens for wrapping; and plenty of kimchi. The housemade ssamjang is especially flavorful and can be refilled upon request. 3465 W. 6th Street #20, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Cathy Chaplin, senior editor

For a noodle spot that skips the massive Din Tai Fung line: Noodle Street in Arcadia’s Shoppes at Santa Anita

It was a weekday night and we approached the stand at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia’s Shoppes at Santa Anita (formerly the Westfield) with temerity, hoping the wait would be reasonable. 90 minutes. Not what I consider a reasonable wait when there’s a hungry toddler. Thank goodness for Noodle St, located right next to the mall restaurant serving a tight set of hand-pulled noodle dishes that come out a few minutes after ordering. Order the cucumber salad, laden with so much garlic you’ll almost breathe stinky anti-vampire breath after dinner (I say this in a good way). The beef noodle soup comes with a choice of four different kinds of noodles: standard round, flat, triangle, and knife-cut. It’s not going to be a city-class version of the dish, but it’s something most palates can enjoy. The highlight for me was the egg and tomato noodle, which I ordered with chewy knife-cut noodles that soaked up the broth. I didn’t grow up eating this classic homestyle Chinese dish, but I really wish I did, with its comforting flavors tasting a bit like the greatest version of Spaghettios ever. 400 S. Baldwin Avenue, M10, Arcadia, CA, 91007. — Matthew Kang, lead editor

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