On this episode of The LA Food Podcast, we’re doing a little bit of everything — industry analysis, hot takes, and a long, thoughtful sit-down with two people quietly shaping what neighborhood dining looks like in Los Angeles right now.

In Part 1, Father Sal joins Luca to break down the 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists. LA had a massive showing this year, but how does it stack up against past years — and which semifinalists actually have a real shot at winning? We dig into the numbers, the narratives, and what Beard recognition really means in 2026. In Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we cover Noma selling out in three minutes (and then making bagels), Bill Addison taking the gloves off, Firstborn LA going all-in on prix fixe, and a handful of LA chefs landing on one of the year’s most anticipated culinary TV shows.

In Part 2, Luca sits down with Adam Weisblatt, Co-Founder and Partner of Last Word Hospitality, and DK Kolender, Chef and Partner of Hermon’s, one of LA’s most talked-about new neighborhood restaurants. We start with Hermon’s — the vision, the food, the drinks, and why it already feels like it’s been here forever — before zooming out to talk about Last Word’s broader strategy behind Found Oyster, Queen’s, Barra Santos, and more. Adam and DK share hard-earned perspective on building restaurants people actually return to, thriving as a restaurant group in today’s LA, and how they think about growth, praise, and sustainability. We close with reflections on Last Word Hospitality’s recent James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur nomination and what success looks like moving forward.

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On this episode of The LA Food Podcast, Luca sits down with Chef Jon Yao and Ryan Bailey (Co-owner, DOO & Wine Director) of Kato, one of Los Angeles’s most acclaimed and ambitious restaurants. The conversation traces Kato’s evolution from its pre-Michelin West LA strip-mall era to its Arts District rebirth — unpacking how Jon and Ryan built a fine-dining institution that balances Taiwanese & SGV roots, Western technique, fermentation, hearth cooking, and one of the most forward-thinking beverage and non-alcoholic programs in the country.

We talk about the moment before Ryan joined in 2018, how their partnership transformed the restaurant’s trajectory, the decision to relocate to Row DTLA, the philosophy behind fermentation and “SGV food,” why the hearth is used with restraint, how the NA program went beyond trend to become identity, and what it means to operate a restaurant with one eye on legislation, labor, and rising costs.

We also get real about external validation — from Michelin stars to LA Times #1 rankings to World’s 50 Best “One to Watch” — and whether Kato is still pushing toward the “French Laundry” tier of long-term cultural significance in Los Angeles.

If you love LA dining, fine dining, Taiwanese cuisine, SGV food culture, fermentation, hospitality, Michelin, or restaurants building for the future, this conversation is for you.

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Keywords: Kato LA, Jon Yao, Ryan Bailey, Taiwanese food LA, SGV food, Michelin LA, World’s 50 Best, fermentation, non-alcoholic pairings, Arts District restaurants, fine dining Los Angeles, LA restaurant podcast, LA food scene, hospitality, wine programs LA

Today on The LA Food Podcast, we break down the LA food story that set the internet on fire: René Redzepi brings Noma to Silver Lake at $1500 per person. With guest Karen Palmer, we dissect the announcement, the backlash, the economics, and whether the outrage is justified—plus why “reindeer penis” somehow became part of the discourse.

Then on Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we tackle the surprise return of Gourmet Magazine, a Westside restaurant losing its liquor license to NIMBY neighbors, the growing case for anonymous food critics, and whether it’s acceptable for couples to order the same entree.

In Recent Eats, we run through meals at Little Fish, Electric Blue, Vandell, Bar Etoile, The Mulberry, and an Tacos Entre Amigos.

Finally, in Part 2, we sit down with Jason Lee of Expense Account, the breakout new food podcaster published by Feed Me, for a fun conversation on food media, the LA vs NYC rivalry, and what it takes to build a hit food show in 2026.

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Welcome back to The LA Food Podcast! In our second episode of 2026, Father Sal and Luca kick things off with Recent Eats, covering Hermon’s, Superba, Connie & Ted’s, and Etra. Then we dive into the new California food laws taking effect in 2026 — including updates to minimum wage, plastic bag rules, delivery app regulations, tortilla fortification, allergen menu labeling, retirement plan requirements, outdoor dining extensions, and more.

Using reporting from Eater LA’s Mona Holmes, we break down how these policy changes affect restaurants, diners, delivery drivers, street vendors, and the broader hospitality industry. Are these laws a win for consumers? Added pressure for already-strained restaurants? Or a mixed bag lawmakers will need to refine?

Plus, in Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we hit:• Horses shuttering amid “catgate” fallout and tax liens• The closure of LA County’s oldest restaurant• A surprise Downtown comeback from a beloved chef• Pete Wells’ health-focused reset after stepping away from criticism• Blackbird’s 56 wild restaurant ideas for 2026

If you care about LA dining culture, food policy, restaurant trends, and what's ahead for hospitality in 2026, this episode is a must-listen.

SEO Keywords Included: new California food laws 2026, LA restaurants, delivery app regulations, California minimum wage 2026, Eater LA, Mona Holmes, restaurant trends 2026, Horses LA closure, Pete Wells health, LA dining news, LA food podcast

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It’s the first episode of The LA Food Podcast in 2026, and Luca Servodio and Father Sal are kicking off the new year the only way they know how: with food resolutions, trend forecasting, and a healthy dose of Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss.

On this episode, Luca and Sal trade three food-related resolutions each, from how they plan to dine out in 2026 to charitable goals that may or may not end in regret. Luca also officially announces the food category he’ll be counting down for the 2026 LA Countdown, while Father Sal attempts to prove he’s finally qualified to host a Los Angeles food podcast.

In Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, the guys break down what’s in and out for 2026, reacting to food predictions from The New York Times, Helen Rosner, and Matt Rodbard of This Is TASTE. Topics include quieter restaurants, comfort food, texture-driven cooking, value dining, non-alcoholic buzzes, food media’s future, and whether food culture is finally moving away from spectacle and back toward warmth, intention, and community.

They also revisit last year’s predictions to see what actually held up, debate whether desserts truly require a glass of milk, and, of course, read a pair of truly unhinged Yelp reviews.

If you care about LA dining, food trends, restaurant culture, and where food media is headed in 2026, this is the perfect way to start the year.

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It’s a Christmas-week episode of The LA Food Podcast, and we’re celebrating with one of the most joyful restaurants in Los Angeles.

This week, Luca Servodio sits down with Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley, the hospitality-driven duo behind Budonoki, the wildly popular Virgil Village izakaya that started as a roaming pop-up and grew into one of LA’s most electric dining rooms.

In this How I Built This–style conversation, Eric and Josh walk us through how they met, how Budonoki evolved from college dinner parties to pop-ups at Melody and Ototo, and how they partnered with chef Dan Rabilwongse to create a restaurant that blends Japanese izakaya spirit with Thai, Vietnamese, and distinctly Angeleno influences. We dig into the details that define Budonoki — from front-of-house philosophy and menu experimentation to building a “party restaurant” that still takes food and hospitality seriously.

We also talk candidly about the realities of running a restaurant in 2025, how tough the year has been for hospitality, what it’s like to receive glowing critical praise while being left off certain lists, and how the team stays grounded amid the hype. And, of course, we close with our holiday tradition: Eric and Josh share the three Los Angeles restaurants they’re loving right now.

Consider this your Christmas gift if you love LA food, restaurant origin stories, and the people who make this city such a special place to eat.

🎄✨

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The LA Food Podcast does awards… our way. In this first-ever LA Food Awards, Luca Servodio and Father Sal toss out the tired “Best Chef / Best New Restaurant” formula and replace it with an audio awards ceremony celebrating the restaurants, chefs, and cultural moments that actually defined LA dining in 2025. At least for us. 

From the FOMO Award for the restaurants we’re most anxious to finally visit, to debates over the hottest restaurants in LA — both physically and spiritually, we dig into what it really means to be a hot concept in Los Angeles right now. Along the way, we hand out awards for the chef we most want to grab a beer with, the restaurant we’ll never agree on, and the dining experiences that transcended a great meal and edged into something closer to the sublime.

It’s irreverent, occasionally unhinged, and ultimately thoughtful. A holiday-season reflection on why we dine out, what makes a restaurant matter, and how LA continues to influence the way America eats. Happy holidays from The LA Food Podcast — thanks for listening, and welcome to the inaugural LA Food Awards.

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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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Welcome back to The LA Food Podcast. This week, Luca and Karen Palmer dive into one of the most fascinating food stories of the year: the global fight over wagyu. Karen breaks down what Japanese producers are trying to protect, whether A5 wagyu is actually worth the hype, and why the debate mirrors DOP fights in Italy over ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes and Neapolitan pizza standards.

We also unpack Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America 2025, where California dominated the list and Los Angeles landed an incredible six spots, including Travis Lett’s RVR crowned Restaurant of the Year. Karen explains what stood out, how the 5 C’s rubric plays into national lists, and which LA restaurants might have been unlucky snubs.

In Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we break down Michael Nagrant’s viral takedown of the James Beard Awards, Greg Dulan winning the LA Times Gold Award, The New York Times critics on what defines a four-star restaurant, DoorDash entering the reservation game, and The Infatuation declaring where you should host your office holiday party.

Plus, Part 2 brings a festive return from Luca’s wife, who drops the hottest gift guide of the season. From Veso vermouth to butter bells, homemade shortbread to A24’s Scrounging cookbook, and at-home wine tasting to Kitchen Lingo classes, this guide has you covered for cocktail lovers, hosts, family, and anyone scrambling for last-minute inspiration.

If you love LA dining, restaurant news, and smart food media commentary, this episode is packed.

Keywords: LA restaurants, LA dining, wagyu beef, Esquire Best New Restaurants, Travis Lett RVR, James Beard Awards controversy, Greg Dulan, NYT food critics, DoorDash reservations, LA Times Gold Award, holiday gift guide, Los Angeles food podcast.

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This week on The LA Food Podcast, Luca welcomes back Nancy DaSilva, co-host of Compliments to the Chef, certified New Yorker, and our official ambassador from LA’s louder, older, and more globally hyped culinary sibling: New York City.

We kick things off with a Thanksgiving ice-breaker before diving straight into the State of Dining in NYC. Is the vibe doom, boom, or mellow in-between? Nancy walks us through the restaurant openings shaping 2025, the spots she loves, the ones that let her down, and the trends taking over New York—while we compare them to LA’s little-gem-salad, Bub-and-Grandma’s-bread era.

We also get into the NY food-media moment: the new critics at The New York Times, the rise of Feed Me and J. Lee’s podcast, and what it means for how diners discover restaurants. Then it’s Michelin time—what shocked Nancy in the 2025 Guide, how New Yorkers actually use it, and how it stacks up to LA’s still-evolving Michelin culture.

From impossible New York reservations to Blackbird’s traction on both coasts, we break down how people are actually eating, booking and talking about restaurants right now. And yes, Nancy finally answers the question every Angeleno secretly wants to know: In 2025, does New York respect LA dining?

Then we close with a special Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss lightning round featuring:
• turkey prices soaring 70%
• Meadow Lane, NYC’s new luxury-grocery fever dream
• the rise of $945 caviar advent calendars
• Bukayo Saka’s deranged childhood breakfast

If you love restaurant culture, food media, LA vs NY banter, or just need a Thanksgiving distraction, this one is for you.