December 12, 2025

Inside the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants List With Bill Addison and Jenn Harris. Plus, Biggest Drops, Rising Stars, and Notable Exclusions with Father Sal.

1 hour 45 minutes

The LA food equivalent of a new Taylor Swift album dropped this week. The Los Angeles Times has released its annual 101 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles list, and Acquired Taste got early access before anyone else.

On this episode of The LA Food Podcast, Luca Servodio sits down with LA Times restaurant critics Bill Addison and Jenn Harris at Mercado La Paloma, which was named the number one restaurant on the 101 for 2025. The trio digs deep into how the list is made, how hundreds of meals are evaluated, and why this year’s top pick reflects something bigger about Los Angeles dining, community, and resilience.

Bill and Jenn break down the theme of the year, how catastrophe and creativity shaped the list, and what it means to rank restaurants during one of the toughest years the city has faced. They also explain major jumps and drops, including Damian, Stir Crazy, Vespertine, and Restaurant Ki, discuss the emotional weight of cutting restaurants from the list, and address the ongoing debate over whether food lists should consider community impact alongside culinary excellence.

In Part 2, Father Sal joins Luca for their signature Frankly Psychotic Analysis of the 101. They examine rising stars, surprising omissions, restaurants that keep climbing, and those that seem to yo-yo year after year, plus the places that intrigue them most heading into 2026.

Note: Luca’s audio dips briefly about 20 minutes into the conversation, but Bill Addison and Jenn Harris remain loud and clear throughout.

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