With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Jonathan Gold Releases His Updated 101 Best Restaurants List
Taco Maria (Photo via Taco Maria/Facebook)
Another year, another round of Jonathan Gold must-try restaurants we need to add on our bucket lists. The famed L.A. Times food critic, who just so happened to win a Pulitzer Prize for his writing, has released his updated, annual 101 Best Restaurants list.
For the third year in a row, Gold has gifted Providence with the first-place spot, writing, "Providence in its quiet way embodies everything a restaurant should aspire to be." This time around, Spago dropped from its silver medal to bronze, with Costa Mesa's Taco María making a major leap from 72nd place to second place this year. He also gives them a rave review, saying that Taco María "may be the most important Mexican restaurant in California." Well, we're sold! Trois Mec moved it's way up to fourth on the list, with Rustic Canyon closing out the top five.
In the rest of the top 10, we see some familiar faces—like Shunji, Lucques, and the Mozzaplex—that are usually Gold's favorites. It's followed by first-timer on the list, Q, which features omakase sushi from Tokyo's Hiroyuki Naruke, whose manner of making sushi is pretty much as poetic as Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Some other newcomers to the list include Petit Trois, B.S. Taqueria and the SGV's Szechuan Impression. Grand Central Market as a whole also made the list for the first time. The downtown food market seems to be getting a lot of recognition throughout the nation as it was the only L.A. "restaurant" to make Bon Appetit's top 10 in their Top 50 Best New Restaurants list last year.
Sponsor
Gold's top 20 list can be seen here, but if you want to see full 101, you'll need a subscription, or buy a copy of the Times in print on Saturday.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
