Blog: LA Food Writers Offer Top Restaurant Headline Predictions for 2019

Welcome to Year in Eater, an annual review of some of the best and notable openings and restaurant news that took place in Los Angeles over the past year. Eater LA asks writers, editors, and food luminaries to pitch in to help summary the incredible year in dining that was 2018. Here now, LA food writers and editors try to predict the big stories for next year in headline format.

Andrea Chang, Food Writer, LA Times

The return of Michelin.

Joshua Lurie, Food GPS Founder

Recession Sends Shivers Through Restaurant Community

Danny Chau, Writer/Editor, The Ringer

“Tired Fire: At Salt Bae L.A., the Steaks Have Aged No Better Than the Meme”

Andy Wang, writer, Food & Wine

The Michelin Guide Returns to L.A.

Studio City Gets Great Modern Italian Restaurant

Yu Bo’s Tasting-Menu Restaurant Is Unlike Anything L.A. Has Ever Seen

Katherine Spiers, host of Smart Mouth and co-author of Rogue 99

Ban Male Chefs

Euno Lee, Eater LA Contributor

Kanye West and Drake to open No More Beef, a Vegan Eatery in Calabasas

Hadley Tomicki, Food Writer

“Are Restaurants Ruining the Environment?”

Garrett Snyder, Food Editor at LA Magazine

More of a request than a headline: Chrissy Teigen Opens Her Own L.A. Restaurant

Esther Tseng, Food Writer

LA a Sanctuary City For Migrant Cuisines Yet Ironically Understaffed

First Avocado Toast Consumed in Antarctica

Bulgur Wheat Bowls Strike Out on Their Own

Jeff Miller, Freelance writer and founding editor, Thrillist LA

“Poke Restaurant replaced by Hot-Pot Restaurant…again”

Bill Esparza, Eater LA Contributor

Enrique Olvera’s Cosme is the Mexican Restaurant LA has Always Needed. We are a Latino city, a Mexican city, and the best restaurant should be a Mexican restaurant. Olvera will help lead, along with local Alta California stars, a new era of Mexican and Latin-American cuisine in LA.

Gary Baum, Senior Writer at The Hollywood Reporter

“Hot Chicken Trend Continues Unabated”

Stephanie Breijo, Food & Drink Editor at Time Out

“Hollywood sues David Chang for mass noodle weight gain”

Kristie Hang, Food Writer

Less Sichuan food. I think people are tired of the Sichuan “mala” numbing spice. There’s such an over saturation right now. I think a lot of those restaurants are moving to the westside now, but I think for the San Gabriel Valley people are kind of tired of the every other restaurant being Sichuan style spicy food at the moment.

In the San Gabriel Valley, there used to be a boba shop on almost every street. In the last year, it’s become almost two per each street. I think many of those shops are going to close from over saturation as well.

Cathy Chaplin, Eater LA Associate Editor

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs For Sale All Hours, All Streets

Mona Holmes, Eater LA Reporter

Facing Severe Cook Shortage, LA Restaurants Rework Operating Strategy

Governor Newsom Signs Late Night Bar Bill, Making Last Call at 4 a.m.

Restaurant Valets and Parking Lots Are Now a Thing of The Past

Emboldened By The Bold State Law, Home Cooks Assume Huge Market Share of Restaurant-goers

Cannabis Consumption Lounges Spread Beyond WeHo And Throughout Los Angeles

X City Partners With X Nonprofit to Revitalize X Historic Area

Long Beach Now Has More Breweries Per Capita Than Any U.S. City

Farley Elliott, Eater LA Senior Editor

Salt Bae’s Burger Restaurant Lasts Under a Year in the Arts District

Who Eats at Hotel Restaurants in Los Angeles Anymore?

The Arts District Looks Complete, But Where Are All the People?

Matthew Kang, Eater LA Editor

Vespertine Listed in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants

Michelin Guide Returns to LA, Awards Somni and N/Naka Three Stars

LA’s Taco Scene Is Now on Par With Mexico’s

Transplants Realize LA Isn’t That Cheap, Flee to Portland Instead

20% of LA Restaurant Threaten to Close Because of Higher Minimum Wage

San Gabriel Valley Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Koreatown’s Mom and Pop Restaurants Close En Masse as First Generation Retires