Lalitha Rao Pentapati lists some notable and emerging California restaurants.

1. Visit These Five
California Restaurants
in 2018
Lalitha Rao Pentapati

2. Mason's Dumpling Shop
Having opened in January at 5803 North
Figueroa, this Highland Park offshoot of the
Luscious Dumplings located in Monrovia is a
quick service version in a strip mall. The family
still hand-makes their boiled, pan-steamed,
and pan-fried pork dumplings at the original
restaurant and delivers them here along with
other Chinese classics.

3. The Nixon Chops and
Whiskey
This classy steakhouse and whiskey bar in Whittier, named
for President Nixon who was a long-time local, is a new
location for Katsuji Tanabe. Specialties include surf and turf
with a Mexican twist, maple-glazed pork chops, a whole pig’s
head, a Tempura Cauliflower sandwich for vegetarians,
impressive cocktails, and a brunch. The happy hour menu
includes chicharones with a honey dip, a double patty burger,
and other selections.

4. Triple Beam pizza
Having just opened on February 8, Nancy Silverton
and Matt Molina’s Roman-style pizzeria is in the
heart of Highland Park at 5916 North Figueroa. The
unique pizza is in long and thin sheets in various
varieties, cut by length, paid for by weight, and
served at room temperature as they do in Rome or
heated. Sandwiches are also offered as is beer and
$8.00 glasses of wine due to the joint venture with
Silverlake Wine.

5. Night + market sahm
“Sahm” means three in Thai, and Kris and Sarah
Yenbamroong opened a “three-peat” of their popular
Thai street food restaurant on February 2 with this
70-seat, 2,000-square-foot Westside outlet at 2533
Lincoln Boulevard, Venice. Local residents can enjoy
plates of larb, pad thai, crispy rice salad, khao soi,
and other Thai classics, all of which can be washed
down with natural wines and beers.

6. Modern times brewery
This artsy brewpub, The Dankness Dojo, right in the
heart of the South Park neighborhood at 832 South
Olive Street in Downtown LA, is an expansion of a San
Diego brewery. It opened on January 22 with over two
dozen craft beers made on site and a limited menu of
tacos, a double burger, and fried jalapeno hush puppies.
A cafe and full kitchen up front features pastries and
coffee in the mornings and a lunch and dinner vegan
menu.