Unsure where Los Angeles's in-the-know crowd is eating and drinking? It's easy to spot lines out the door, but some underlying trends are harder to see.
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which restaurants have been getting a notable increase in attention this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Los Angeles businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on the number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month and tracked businesses that consistently increase their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are worth exploring, right now.
Steakology
This steakhouse is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Steakhouses" on Yelp.
Citywide, steakhouses saw new reviews increase by a median of 1.9 percent over the past month, but Steakology saw an 81.8 percent increase, maintaining a solid 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 6320 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Unit 1625, in Woodland Hills, Steakology offers six cuts of steak, including filet mignon, ribeye and Wagyu sirloin, and an ahi tuna steak. Other menu items include ceviche salad, organic superfood slaw, salt and vinegar fingerling potatoes and apple cider pickles.
Nightshade
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about downtown Los Angeles's Nightshade, the New American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp increased their review count by a median of 1.9 percent over the past month, Nightshade bagged a substantial 117.5 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a convincing 4.5-star rating.
Open at 923 E. Third St., Suite 109, Nightshade offers savory items such as tamarind-glazed carrots with toasted coconut and carrot top emulsion, lasagna with pork ragu, tofu cream and prickly ash and sunchokes with strawberry mole and seeded granola. The sweets menu features almond sorbet with mandarin ice and silkened tofu with rhubarb, shiso and basil seeds.
BurgerIM
This spot to score burgers is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Burgers" on Yelp.
Citywide, businesses tagged "Burgers" saw a median 2.1 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but BurgerIM saw a 37.1 percent increase, with a slight downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today.
Located at 9034 Tampa Ave. in Northridge, BurgerIM offers a choice of 11 different three-ounce patties, including meat options like Wagyu beef, dry-aged beef and turkey, and non-meat options such as salmon and falafel. Customers also choose the bun, toppings and sauces.
Swagatham Vegetarian Cuisine
Is West Hills's Swagatham Vegetarian Cuisine on your radar? According to Yelp review data, the vegetarian Indian spot is getting plenty of attention.
While businesses categorized as "Vegetarian" on Yelp increased their review count by a median of 2.2 percent over the past month, Swagatham Vegetarian Cuisine nabbed a 38.9 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, with a modest downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to its current four stars.
Located at 22950 Vanowen St., Suite B, Swagatham Vegetarian Cuisine offers an extensive menu of dosas, rice dishes, uthappam, idli (steamed rice cakes), curries and more.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
