Los Angeles's 5 Must Book restaurants for May

The beloved LA chef behind Guerilla Tacos, Wes Avila is back, alongside hospitality group sbe, with this ambitious West Hollywood Mexican steakhouse. Tacos, cuts of beef, and other classics are on the menu, but the real showstopper is the birria Wagyu beef martillo, a hunk of a shank that’s slow-braised and served with housemade tortillas and accoutrements. With its modern, neutral-toned dining room outfitted with greenery, MXO feels like an escape, and Avila’s flavors are part of the journey.

Peru-born chef Ricardo Zarate has put his stamp on Peruvian food in Los Angeles for decades. His latest, Hummingbird Ceviche House in Echo Park, is a colorful, intimate restaurant with a focus on super-fresh fish, featured in Nikkei-style hand rolls, ceviches, tostadas, and tiraditos. Go for the shrimp ceviche dumplings and papa no rellena, or, better yet, for the full Zarate experience, opt for the $60 tasting dinner that showcases the best of the menu.

The Middle Eastern food is as dialed-in as ever, the dining room is gorgeous (think: plush pink banquettes and a beautiful arched bar), and the vibe at Genevieve Gergis and Ori Menashe’s indoor-outdoor East Hollywood space is always lively. Dig into flavorful starters like green falafel with tahini before moving on to masterful skewers like spiced Wagyu kebabs. Gergis’s desserts are always a delight, so make sure to save room for something sweet like a silky orange blossom crème caramel.

Come to Pizzeria Bianco to see why Phoenix-based pizzaiolo Chris Bianco is credited for launching the artisanal pizza movement in the United States. The Downtown location is a temple of good dough and restraint: The menu centers around six dead-simple pies, like his famous pistachio-topped Rosa, that showcase his signature thin, crisp crust. Don’t overlook the handful of starters and salads, like an always-changing antipasti that features gems from the local markets.

Although it’s been around for more than 15 years, Abbot Kinney’s flagship restaurant still feels fresh, thanks in part to the gorgeous produce showcased in simple preparations and in salads on the voluminous menu. The cavernous restaurant, garden, and rooftop are always full of tables digging into crisp, charred pizzas topped with everything from house-made chorizo to puffy squash blossoms. With its extensive natural wine list and overall cool-kid vibe, Gjelina isn’t slowing down anytime soon.