Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending at this very moment?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which restaurants have been in the limelight 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 increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are on a hot streak, right now.
Sugar Taco
Open since May, this vegan Mexican eatery is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Vegetarian" on Yelp.
Citywide, vegetarian spots saw a median 1.5 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Sugar Taco saw a substantial 110.5 percent increase, with a slight upward trend from a four-star rating a month ago to 4.5 stars today.
Located at 7257 Melrose Ave. in Melrose, Sugar Taco offers Mexican-inspired vegan eats like quesadillas, black bean burritos and plant-based carne asada tacos. (You can check out the full menu here.)
L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Hollywood's L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, the Italian spot, which offers pizza and more, is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Italian" on Yelp saw a median 1.7 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele bagged a 55.5 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a superior 4.5-star rating.
There's more that's trending on Los Angeles's Italian scene: Alameda Supper Club has seen a 32.4 percent increase in reviews.
Open at 1534 N. McCadden Place since May, L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele offers classic Italian eats such as margherita pizza and homemade pappardelle pasta with slow-cooked short rib. (You can view the full menu here.)
Penny Oven
Eagle Rock's Penny Oven is also making waves. Open since May at 2131 Colorado Blvd., the bakery and cafe has seen a 56.2 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.8 percent for all businesses tagged "Bakeries" on Yelp.
Penny Oven offers fresh baked treats like croissants, German chocolate cake and vegan blueberry muffins. Over the past month, it's maintained a convincing 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
BrewZ Sports Cafe & Grill
Canoga Park's BrewZ Sports Cafe & Grill is currently on the upswing in the sports bar category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Sports Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this sports bar, cafe and traditional American spot increased its new reviews by 44.1 percent—and kept its rating consistent at 4.5 stars.
Open for business at 7921 Canoga Ave., Suite C since April, the business offers an array of craft beers, as well as bar bites like wings, hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches.
Song Hak LA
Is Koreatown's Song Hak LA on your radar? According to Yelp review data, the Korean spot, which offers barbecue and more, is getting plenty of attention.
While businesses categorized as "Korean" on Yelp increased their media new review count by 2 percent over the past month, Song Hak LA nabbed a 33.7 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating.
Located at 356 S. Western Ave., Suite 201, Song Hak LA offers specialty Korean hot pot offerings such as grilled pork belly, corn cheese and kimchi stew. (See the full 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.
