L.A.’s Best December Restaurant Openings

As 2025 comes to a close, Los Angeles is still pulling out all the stops for new dining experiences. One of the most highly anticipated spots was Holy Basil, which finally opened its doors on November 29 after months of anticipation. The brainchild of celebrity chef Nancy Silverton and actor Phil Rosenthal's restaurant empire, Max and Helen's also made a successful debut at the same time. Fans waited patiently in line for over two hours daily to try out these new eateries.

Meanwhile, Paradise Dynasty brought its colorful xiao long bao from the East Coast to Glendale's Americana. In Sawtelle, The Mulberry introduced a moody Korean bistro vibe that will surely attract foodies. For those eager to explore new flavors in December, Hermon’s at Last Word Hospitality is a must-visit, while Vandell in Los Feliz promises a hip cocktail experience near Highland Park.

Last Word Hospitality also launched Tex-Mex newcomer HomeState in Santa Monica and Japanese comfort food spot Robata Jinya in Hollywood. Classic French fare will be available on West 3rd Street, providing something for every taste in the city. For those seeking unique dining experiences during December, these spots offer an exciting conclusion to this year's culinary scene.
 
omg i cant even right now!! 🤯 los angeles is like totally insane with all the new diners poppin up!! i went to holy basil last nite and OMG it was LIFE.CHANGING!!! 🍴👀 i mean i know max and helen's was already open but i had to wait in line for 2 hours tho lol! anyway, paradise dynasty's xiao long bao is SO on point rn 😋 and the mulberry in sawtelle looks like my kinda vibe lol. i also need to try hermon's at last word hospitality and vandell ASAP!!! 🤤 what's ur fave spot rn?
 
im lovin how los angeles is gettin so extra with its new restaurants 🤩 like holy basil and max & helen's are def worth the 2 hour wait in line lol i mean cant wait to try out paradise dynasty's xiao long bao too, but kinda bummed theyre just bringin it from the east coast 🙄 still, sawtelle's mulberry sounds fire, and hermon's is def on my list for dec. also, who doesnt love a good tex-mex spot? homestate in santa monica cant wait to try that out!
 
Man, can you believe how crazy busy Los Angeles is? Like, people are literally waiting in line for hours to try out new restaurants... I'm no chef, but even I know you gotta warm up those taste buds first 😂. But seriously, it's awesome that there are so many talented chefs and restaurateurs coming up with innovative spots like Holy Basil and Paradise Dynasty. And hey, who doesn't love a good xiao long bao 🤩? The mulberry bistro vibe in Sawtelle sounds super trendy, but I'm more of a "gobble it all down" kind of guy myself 🍴. On the other hand, Hermon’s at Last Word Hospitality is already on my radar for December - their Japanese comfort food spot Robata Jinya in Hollywood looks like a winner!
 
🤗 I'm loving how LA is pushing boundaries with new eateries! I mean, who needs a fancy Michelin star when you can have celebrity chefs and actors bringing their passion to the table? 😊 Holy Basil is giving me major cravings for those holy basil-infused cocktails and xiao long bao! And omg, HomeState in Santa Monica sounds like a total fiesta - I'm all about that Tex-Mex vibe! 🎉 It's crazy how these new spots are already bringing people out of their seats (and into line, lol) for the chance to try something new. I'm low-key excited to see what the rest of 2025 has in store for LA's food scene! 🍴👀
 
omg i'm so stoked that LA is still killing it when it comes to new restaurants!!! 🤯 holy basil and max & helen's are literally on my must-visit list rn... i've heard great things about paradise dynasty's xiao long bao tho, have you tried them yet? 🍴 i also need to get to hermon's ASAP - their food pics look soooo good! 👌 do u think we'll see more celebrity chefs open up restaurants in LA soon? and btw, what's the vibe like at the mulberry bistro? is it more on the fancy side or relaxed? 🤔
 
I'm so done with all the hype around Holy Basil 🤯. I mean, it's just another overpriced restaurant that serves "gourmet" Asian food 🤷‍♂️. Everyone's lining up for hours just to say they've been there, and honestly, I'd rather eat at a food truck any day 🚀. And don't even get me started on the Instagram influencers who are going to make it go viral in no time... ugh! 📸 Give me a break. I'm still waiting for someone to open up a good ol' fashioned diner that serves actual comfort food, not fancy-schmancy nonsense 🍔👎
 
Ugh, can't believe I have to wait over 2 hours just to try out a new restaurant... like, what's up with that? 🤯 And have you seen the prices at some of these places? Outrageous! 😱 Not to mention the hype around Holy Basil and Max and Helen's was so crazy, I don't even know if they live up to the hype. And honestly, I'm not a huge fan of lines, can't we just order online or something like that? 🤦‍♀️
 
🍴 I think what's crazy is how LA keeps pushing the boundaries of foodie heaven 🤯. With all these new openings, it feels like you can literally taste your way through different cultures and cuisines 🌎. From Nancy Silverton's Holy Basil to Paradise Dynasty's xiao long bao, there's something for everyone - whether you're in the mood for Korean comfort food or classic French fare 🍽️. I love how Last Word Hospitality is bringing on more unique spots like HomeState and Robata Jinya, giving us a taste of Tex-Mex and Japanese foodie vibes 🤤. And let's not forget the cool cocktail bars like Vandell - perfect for sipping on something tasty with friends ☕️. Overall, I'm hyped to see what 2026 brings for LA's food scene! 😊
 
omg, can't believe all these new spots are finally opening up!!! 🤩 i mean, who wouldn't want to try out Holy Basil or Max and Helen's after all the hype? 🍴 phil rosenthal is a genius for teaming up with nancy silverton, btw! 👏 i'm also low-key obsessed with the idea of homestate in santa monica - tex mex sounds soooo good right about now 🤤 sawtelle just got even cooler with The Mulberry too, love that korean bistro vibe 😎 and robata jinya in hollywood is calling my name... need to get there ASAP 🚀
 
just had brunch at homestate in santa monica and omg the chilaquiles were LIFE CHANGING 🤩🌯 i know it sounds simple but trust me its a game changer they have so many creative variations too i was thinking of trying all of them 😂 anyway just wondering if anyone else tried these new spots yet?
 
Just visited Holy Basil and it's OUT OF THIS WORLD 🌟! Nancy Silverton and Phil Rosenthal really knocked it out of the park with their new spot. The line was crazy long but trust me, it was worth it. I had the pork belly buns and they were to die for... like, literally died from how good they were 😂. And don't even get me started on the ambiance - super chic and cozy. Max and Helen's is giving Holy Basil some serious competition too 🤔. All in all, LA's dining scene is still on fire 🔥 can't wait to see what 2026 brings!
 
man I'm so hyped about all these new restaurants popping up in LA 🤩! Holy Basil and Max and Helen's were already on my radar from months ago but I didn't think they'd be opening at the same time 🕰️. And wow, Paradise Dynasty brought those xiao long bao to Glendale which is a total game changer for me 😋. Sawtelle's got that new Korean spot The Mulberry and Hermon’s at Last Word Hospitality is supposed to have some amazing comfort food...I'm thinking of trying it all out in December 🎉. Anyways, it's gonna be a tough year deciding which restaurant to hit up first!
 
man these new restaurants are popping up left and right in LA 🤯! i'm not mad about it tho, foodie heaven aint no thing. sawtelle's getting that korean bistro vibe and glendale's got xiao long bao - what more can u want? hermon's at last word hospitality is lookin like the place to be for new flavors, i'll def be checkin out some of these spots this december 🎄🍴. vandell in los feliz sounds like a cool spot for cocktails too, and max & helen's got phil rosenthal's name behind it so u know it's gonna be good 👌
 
L.A. is just on fire this holiday season... and by that I mean it's going to be SO crowded 🤯. I'm not mad at all that I have to wait over 2 hours in line for a table at these trendy new spots. I mean, who needs their life back when you can try some xiao long bao from the East Coast? 😂 And don't even get me started on the "hip" vibes in Sawtelle... I'm pretty sure my grandma could've come up with that moody Korean aesthetic too 🙄. Anyways, if anyone knows of any good hidden gems this holiday season, let me know before I have to resort to ordering takeout for the 10th time 😂.
 
🤩 I got the scoop that Nancy Silverton and Phil Rosenthal are planning to expand their empire even further next year... apparently they're looking at opening a few new restaurants in other LA neighborhoods too! 📝 Also, heard from a source (lol) that Max & Helen's is actually going to have a secret menu item for loyal customers - gotta keep it on the down low though! 😉 But honestly, the food scene in LA is always popping and I'm excited to try out these new spots. That Robata Jinya in Hollywood sounds like a must-visit, and Hermon’s at Last Word Hospitality has some great connections with local farmers... fingers crossed they'll bring that magic to their menu! 🍴
 
just saw this news and i'm beyond excited for all these new food spots in LA! holy basil already got a line out the door on opening day 🤯 - that's what i call hype! max and helen's, paradise dynasty, mulberry, hermon's... it's like they're speaking our language or something 😋. and i love how last word hospitality is bringing all these different flavors to the table (literally) 🌮🍜. december can't come soon enough for me - time to try out all these new eats! 💖
 
OMG, I'm soooo glad LA is still trying to keep up with its foodie reputation 🤣. It feels like we're stuck in a never-ending loop of new restaurants and trendy bars. I mean, how many times can one person try xiao long bao or Korean BBQ before they just wanna cry? 😂 But hey, if you're into that sorta thing, I guess Holy Basil is pretty cute and Nancy Silverton's all about the farm-to-table vibes 🌱. Can't wait to see what 2026 has in store... maybe a new food truck fest? 🚨
 
🍴🎉 I'm so excited for all these new eats in LA! It's like they're bringing a whole different world of flavors to our plates 🌎. I mean, Nancy Silverton and Phil Rosenthal are legends in the food game – their restaurants always bring that special something ✨. And I love how Paradise Dynasty is sharing its xiao long bao magic with us here in Glendale 🤩! It's gonna be a wild ride trying all these new places out, but I'm down for it 😋... who needs Netflix when you've got LA food scene to binge? 📺
 
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