The best way to deal with the winter cold? Stay inside and eat some good food.

This winter season, Los Angeles will see many iconic restaurants open their doors, providing high-quality and diverse food to diners. From upscale steakhouses to fusion cuisines, Angelenos can look forward to a variety of foods that are sure to keep them coming back for the rest of the winter.

Read on for the Daily Bruin’s curated list of top restaurants opening this season.

Very Thai

LA is very hungry for this latest culinary arrival from across the world.

Very Thai, a brand of the Taiwan-based Tai Tong Food & Beverage Group, will open their first United States location at Westfield Century City after a nearly two-year long postponement. The restaurant blends traditional Thai flavors with an upscale urban style, allowing customers to enjoy a contemporary Asian dining experience. With 131 seats, a full bar and a private dining area, the Century City location promises to uphold the same chic aesthetic as the original Taiwanese flagship restaurant.

Established in 1995, Very Thai has gained popularity in Asia alongside sister brand Thai Town Cuisine, a family-style restaurant also under the TTFB. With Very Thai’s LA debut serving as its first overseas location, the TTFB hopes the opening will serve as a launchpad for future U.S. locations. Charles Hsu, founder and chairman of the restaurant group, said in a statement that he selected LA for its expansive food scene and worldwide influence, which no doubt reflects the bold colors and modern aesthetic teased on Very Thai’s U.S. website.

Foodies will surely be unable to resist the new spin American dining will put on this popular Asian chain.

– Gwendolyn Lopez

Lucky’s Steakhouse

A little more luck will soon be on the side of foodies in the Arts District.

A fifth Lucky’s Steakhouse is set to open later this month on Mateo Street, with existing establishments in both Montecito and Malibu. The Arts District location will feature a private outdoor patio and is situated in a renovated industrial building that was built in 1923 and refurbished in 2021.

The Lucky’s Steakhouse location in Montecito is already known for its high-class clientele, with guests including Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The menu for the Arts District location is predicted to feature similar items to the growing chain’s other restaurants, many of which are steakhouse classics. Judging from the Montecito menu, customers can expect ample choices of filet mignon and New York strip steak in addition to nine possible potato preparations, several salads and almost a dozen appetizer options.

Even if its prices might be out of reach for many Angelenos, Lucky’s Steakhouse promises a winning experience for those who score a table.

– Reid Sperisen

Sushi Samba

East meets West in Sushi Samba’s West Hollywood opening.

Sushi Samba will open their West Hollywood location this winter and will serve a wide fusion of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine – menu offerings range from nigiri and sashimi to arroz chaufa. Founded by entrepreneur Shimon Bokovza in New York City in 1999, Sushi Samba has since launched satellite locations around the globe, including iterations in London, Dubai and Singapore. The menu was inspired by the migration of Japanese immigrants to Peru and Brazil. The West Hollywood location is inspired by the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Visitors will dine at an open-air rooftop seating area overlooking the LA skyline that features ambient lighting and tropical greenery. The sushi bar and robata grill will allow patrons to watch the preparation of their food. Under the leadership of corporate chef John Um – known for his commitment to innovation and artistry – new dishes will accompany the restaurant’s signature pieces.

Sushi Samba might be returning home from abroad, but customers will still taste the global influence in their dishes.

– Julia Kinion

Noma

Noma’s four-month LA residency sold out in 60 seconds – even at $1,500 a seat.

Noma, a three Michelin star recipient and a historical fixture at the top end of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, will open its elusive Silver Lake pop-up from March 11 to June 26. Widely credited with defining New Nordic cuisine, the original Copenhagen location opened in 2003 and was founded by Claus Meyer and René Redzepi. The restaurant has since popped up in Tulum and Kyoto. Highly regarded for its season-centered, nose-to-tail ethos, Noma promises to transform local ingredients through its Danish imagination.

Dinner at Noma’s LA location will cost $1,500 a person – a price that includes the tasting menu, beverage pairing, tax and tip. While the price has sparked mixed reactions, the tickets sold out in a minute, Redzepi said on Instagram. As the team of over 130 staff members prepare for their 16-week residency, they are experimenting with American honey ants and 12 varieties of the region’s cacti.

For those who secured a seat, the countdown to one of the year’s most anticipated meals has begun.

– Presley Liu