Unsure where Los Angeles's insiders are 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 uncover 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 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 getting plenty of attention this spring.
Kopan Sushi and Ramen Bar
Open since January, this sushi bar, which offers ramen and more, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Sushi Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, sushi bars saw a median 1.9 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Kopan Sushi and Ramen Bar saw a 93.5 percent increase, maintaining a solid 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 8562 W. Third St. in Beverly Grove, Kopan Sushi and Ramen Bar offers nigiri, sashimi and a wide selection of fresh riceless, baked and tempura sushi rolls.
Limericks Tavern
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about downtown Los Angeles' Limericks Tavern, the Irish pub, gastropub and New American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Gastropubs" on Yelp saw a median 1.2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Limericks Tavern DTLA bagged a 35.3 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a healthy 4.5-star rating.
Open at 615 S. Flower St. since January, Limericks Tavern offers Irish nachos, bacon mac and cheese, scallop sliders, Cubano sandwiches, Wagyu burgers and braised short ribs. View the menu here.
Mesa Thai Cuisine
Melrose's Mesa Thai Cuisine is the city's buzziest Thai spot by the numbers.
The Thai spot, which opened at 820 N. Western Ave., Suite 101 in 2018, increased its new review count by 45.8 percent over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1.9 percent for the Yelp category "Thai." It outperformed the previous month by gaining 4.2 times more reviews than expected based on past performance.
Mesa Thai Cuisine offers Thai sausages, beef satay, Thai pork skewers, tom yum soup, pho noodle soup, larb chicken, pad se ew, spicy fried rice, pineapple curry barbecue pork and more. View the menu here.
Tocaya
Westwood's Tocaya is currently on the upswing in the Mexican category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Mexican" on Yelp saw a median 2.3 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this Mexican spot increased its by 58.1 percent—and kept its rating consistent at four stars.
Open for business at 1140 Gayley Ave. since February, the business offers a seasonal menu, salads, bowls, tacos, burritos and more. Look for the keto bowl, the gluten-free burrito and the shredded kale and quinoa salad. View the menu here.
Nightshade
Open since December of last year, this cocktail bar and Asian fusion and Szechuan spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, businesses tagged "Cocktail Bars" saw a median 2.7 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Nightshade saw a 48.5 percent increase, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 923 E. Third St., Suite 109 in downtown Los Angeles, Nightshade offers savory and sweet bites, as well as handcrafted cocktails, beer and wine. Look for the No. 914, with mezcal, shishito-tequila, genepy, pineapple, lime and black garlic oil, or the No. 12, with gin, rhubarb, sour plum, nigori sake and tonic. View the menu here.
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.
