The vastness and diversity of food in Los Angeles is unlike what you’ll find in any other American city. When you look at the top L.A. restaurant openings of 2023 on a map, you might notice there are 40 miles in between some of them. And on the way from point A to point B, you’ll pass vibrant culinary neighborhoods that consistently get more delicious. From pizza and tapas by the beach, to uncompromising standouts in Thai Town, Koreatown and City of Industry, to a glorious Mexican-Indian mashup of a restaurant, these are the new spots we want to visit again and again.

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109 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Is Bar Monette a sexy tapas bar, a top-tier pizzeria or one of the most creative new restaurants with some of the most elegantly plated food in Los Angeles? The answer, of course, is all of the above. Talented chef Sean MacDonald is so good with flavor combinations that even a seemingly simple plate of jamon de Paris with manchego, pickled peppers and brown butter becomes a beautiful and stunningly delicious dish that’s greater than the sum of its parts. There are also excellent salads, sumptuous potato agnolotti and splurge-worthy A5 wagyu rib cap with anchovy agrodolce. The puffy pizzas, like a wonderful Margherita (which can be topped with caviar and truffle), are why a lot of people come here. You’ll probably want a side of jalapeno tonnato sauce for dipping the crust. MacDonald is also a pastry savant. If he’s got cake or........

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