Without overstating the obvious, it’s fair to say that 2020 was a devastation for many. The still-ongoing global coronavirus pandemic that began in March 2020 has taken tens of thousands of people from Los Angeles County, kept millions more sequestered in their homes for months on end, and up-ended the restaurant and hospitality sectorspermanently. But now, as Los Angeles and surrounding counties continue to ease restrictions thanks to robust vaccination efforts and low COVID-19 cases, the hope for a full summer reopening is very real.

The restaurant industry in particular feels like a place of optimism right now, albeit one tempered by enduring issues like worker rights, wage disparity, and overall equity across the board. Locally, new openings are happening almost daily, and some of the city’s most prominent underground pop-ups are beginning to move into the brick-and-mortar realm. There’s an increasing sense that this summer could shape up to be an economic bonanza for many, with restaurants helping to lead the charge.

And so, more than one year after Eater LA’s last anticipated opening post (dated March 10, 2020, just days before citywide lockdowns began), here now are 13 places to look forward to this summer, from big barbecue names in Lincoln Heights to seafood bars outside of Santa Barbara, presented in no particular order.

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Caldo Verde

Location: 1106 Broadway, Los Angeles

Proper Hotel [Official]

Major Players: Caroline Styne, Suzanne Goin

The Situation: After being delayed by a full year, Caldo Verde is coming back. Located on the ground floor of the Proper Hotel in Downtown’s South Park neighborhood, Caldo Verde will lean heavily into Portuguese, Spanish, and Moorish-by-way-of-California flavors, with a menu of shareable plates like octopus braised in squid ink and the famous pork and clams.

Projected Opening: July

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Bicyclette

Location: 9575 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles

Major Players: Margarita Manzke, Walter Manzke

Jakob N. Layman

The Situation: After a year of waiting and quiet work on the former Picca and Sotto spaces, Margarita and Walter Manzke are back on track. The plan is to open Bicyclette Bistro first as an upscale-casual French Bistro with even more Republique vibes, and more to come down the line.

Projected Opening: June

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Goldburger Los Feliz

Location: 1820 N. Vermont, Los Angeles

Major Players: Allen Yelent

Courtesy Goldburger

The Situation: There may be no more popular burger restaurant in LA right now (outside of In-N-Out, of course) than Goldburger, the takeaway stand in Highland Park. Now, founder Allen Yelent, the man who took his smashed patties from the streets to a storefront, is readying for round two with a new, equally small space in the heart of Los Feliz.

Projected Opening: July

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Yangban Society

Location: 712 S. Santa Fe, Los Angeles

Major Players: Katianna Hong, John Hong

Wonho Frank Lee

The Situation: Hopes are high for the incoming Yangban Society, landing with a modern American flair and lots of Korean influence. Co-owners and chefs Katianna Hong and John Hong hail from fine dining backgrounds at places like the three Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood, and now they’ll be running a more personal project in the former Bon Temps space, around the corner from Bestia.

Projected Opening: August

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Bar Le Côte

Location: 2375 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos, CA

Major Players: Daisy Ryan, Greg Ryan, Brad Mathews

Carter Hiyama

The Situation: In what has to be one of the most anticipated openings outside of LA this year, the Bell’s team from tiny Los Alamos, California are set to soon open their sophomore effort named Bar Le Côte. The Los Olivos restaurant will focus on French flavors and lots of local seafood and wine, an ode to the bounty of the region but done with a European twist.

Projected Opening: June

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Alma

Location: 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles

Major Players: Grupo Hunan

Grupo Hunan

The Situation: One of Mexico’s most renowned restaurant groups, Grupo Hunan, has landed in LA. The team takes over the former Dominique Ansel two-story space at the Grove, with plans to open a modern but uncomplicated Mexican restaurant that spans from brunch to dinner and drinks.

Projected Opening: August

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Moo’s Craft Barbecue

Location: 2118 N. Broadway, Los Angeles

Major Players: Andrew Muñoz, Michelle Muñoz

Farley Elliott

The Situation: At this point, Moo’s Craft Barbecue is synonymous with smoked meat in Los Angeles. The longtime Texas-inspired pop-up turned pandemic takeaway has been waiting for the right time to move into a robust restaurant of their own, and now they’ve found the perfect space in Lincoln Heights. Because the restaurant was already built out, look for a speedy arrival in just a few weeks’ time.

Projected Opening: June

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Matū

Location: 239 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills

Major Players: Jerry Greenberg

Marmol Radziner

The Situation: From Sugarfish, Uovo, and HiHo Cheeseburger co-founder Jerry Greenberg comes Matū, a new all-wagyu steak destination opening shortly in prime Beverly Hills. Don’t let the nearby Salt Bae restaurant hype fool you; this is going to be the spot for quality cuts, served in a dim, inviting space that doesn’t skimp on the details.

Projected Opening: July

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Blossom Market Hall

Location: 264 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, CA

Major Players: Chris Tran, Nellie Tran

Rori’s

The Situation: While food halls have mostly had to take a back seat in the past year as a result of the pandemic, plans are still moving ahead for Blossom Market Hall in San Gabriel. The 14-stall site will offer a variety of familiar names like Rory’s Artisanal Creamery, giving the greater San Gabriel Valley even more dining choice this year.

Projected Opening: July

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Benny Boy Brewing

Location: 1821 N. Daly St., Los Angeles

Major Players: Chelsey Rosetter and Benjamin Farber,

Courtesy of Benny Boy Brewing

The Situation: The past decade-plus of drinking in Los Angeles has been marked by the meteoric rise of craft beer, concentrated mostly in the South Bay at first before expanding to Downtown and the Valley. Now Lincoln Heights is getting in on the action with the upcoming opening of Benny Boy Brewing on Daly Street, complete with bespoke brews and more.

Projected Opening: September

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Bari

Location: 8422 West Third St., Los Angeles

Major Players: Chad Colby

Mozza

The Situation: With the success of Antico this past year, it’s time for Chad Colby to branch out beyond pandemic pizza and ice cream. Next up is Bari, a quick flip of the former Kassi Club space on West Third Street that will lean on the coastal expressions of the Italian region of Puglia. Expect wines from the area, meats on skewers, seafood, and cocktails to boot.

Projected Opening: June

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Little Coyote

Location: 3500 Los Coyotes Diagonal, Long Beach

Major Players: Jack Leahy, Jonathan Strader

Matthew Kang

The Situation: Former Hatchet Hall alums Jack Leahy and Jonathan Strader have found the perfect recipe for life in Long Beach, opening their mostly takeaway shop to great fanfare in the past year. Now the duo is making for a second location inside a former restaurant space along Los Coyotes Diagonal, with plans to use the big new kitchen to ramp up takeout and delivery across the area. There’s also a big patio for pizza-eating parties, and more to come from two of the Southland’s brightest stars.

Projected Opening: July-ish