New Openings in Studio City: Places to Eat, Drink, and More in 2026

Published on June 24, 2026 by Leegie Parker

Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com

Little Lenny's in Studio CIty

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Studio City's Ventura Boulevard is in the middle of a genuine restaurant boom. More than a dozen new places have opened along the Boulevard in the past several months, spanning open-fire Argentine dining, coastal Italian crudo, all-day brunch, craft coffee, a post-apocalyptic bar, an East Coast bagel shop on the way, and a brand-new entertainment venue in the former Oil Can Harry's space. If you have not been out to explore lately, now is a great time to go.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

•        Over a dozen new restaurants, cafes, and venues have opened or are opening soon along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in 2026.

•        Alto Fire to Table (12969 Ventura) is the buzziest dinner reservation in the Valley right now, drawing comparisons to Michelin-caliber South American restaurants across LA.

•        Rosetta Osteria & Crudo Bar (12345 Ventura) brings serious Italian coastal cooking to Studio City from the owner of nearby Leona's, a Michelin Plate-awarded sushi bar.

•        Little Lenny's (11923 Ventura) is the neighborhood's new spot for kosher Mexican food, and they just started catering.

•        Ventura Boulevard's legendary Sushi Row, anchored by restaurants like Katsu-ya, Asanebo, and Teru Sushi, continues to be one of the great sushi corridors in the country, and the new openings are building on that tradition of culinary ambition.

•        Pop Up Bagels is coming soon to 12184 Ventura, bringing its cult East Coast-style bagels to the Valley for the first time.

Ventura Boulevard in Studio City has always had a great dining scene. But something different is happening right now. In the past several months, a wave of genuinely interesting new restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues has landed on the Boulevard, and the energy is noticeable. The stretch feels more alive, more ambitious, and more worth the drive than it has in years.

I have been watching this play out both as someone who works these neighborhoods every day and as someone who genuinely loves this community. And I wanted to write it all down in one place, because the list has gotten long enough to deserve it.

Here is what is new in Studio City in 2026, plus a little context on what has always made this neighborhood worth knowing.

New Dinner Destinations on Ventura Boulevard

Alto Fire to Table | 12969 Ventura Blvd

If you have been waiting for a dinner spot in the Valley that feels like a real occasion, Alto is it. This upscale Argentinian concept is built around a fully open-flame kitchen, so the cooking itself is part of the show: you can watch virtually every dish come to life over live fire from anywhere in the dining room. The menu is dinner-only and the standouts are the premium dry-aged steaks and the bread service, traditional chipa and criollo breads served with house-whipped herb butter that people genuinely talk about after. Tableside cocktail service adds to the sense of occasion. This is the kind of restaurant that makes Studio City the destination, not a stop on the way somewhere else. Reservations at alto.la.

Rosetta Osteria & Crudo Bar | 12345 Ventura Blvd

Frank Leon is one of those restaurateurs who genuinely knows this neighborhood, and Rosetta feels like the project he has been building toward. Leon already runs Leona's nearby, which has earned a Michelin Plate, and now he has taken on coastal Italian with the same level of seriousness. The room is warmly lit and beautiful, opening into a late-night bar scene as the evening progresses. Start with the crudo program: hamachi, branzino, and Hokkaido scallops dressed in chili crunch and citrus are the kind of thing you order and then immediately wish you had ordered more of. Then move to the pastas, especially the spaghetti alle vongole with saffron. For anyone who has been driving to the Westside for this caliber of Italian food, Rosetta changes the math. Dinner Tuesday through Sunday at rosettala.com.

Vignette | 12023 Ventura Blvd

Vignette is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that earns its regulars fast. The team behind it comes from farming, butchery, bartending, and cooking, which shows up in the details: the menu changes because the kitchen shops directly at the Studio City Farmers Market, which sits about 50 yards from the front door. The market has always been the neighborhood's gathering place on Sunday mornings. Now it is also a restaurant supply chain, and there is something genuinely appealing about that. The food skews California, refined but not fussy: delicate raw preparations, whole branzino finished with citrus butter, and a wine list that is globally influenced but stays approachable on price. Dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations at vignetteonventura.com.

Little Lenny's | 11923 Ventura Blvd

I have been to Little Lenny's, and it is delicious. The team behind Lenny's Casita has taken their following and built something genuinely different here: completely kosher Mexican street food in a bright, casual, indoor-outdoor space with real neighborhood energy. I had the loaded fries (I have never met a fry I did not love) and the crunchwrap, and both were excellent. The mango habanero wings are also on my list for next time. One thing to know before you go: in keeping with traditional kosher practice, they close on Friday afternoons and reopen Saturday night after sundown for what I hear is a great late-night crowd. They also just started catering, which feels like a natural next step for a spot that has built this kind of following this quickly. Check littlelenny.com for hours and menus.

Ventura Boulevard in Studio City

Brunch, All-Day, and Morning-to-Night

Brunch & Sip LA Lounge | 11801 Ventura Blvd

Elevated all-day brunch has officially arrived on Ventura Boulevard. The Studio City location of Brunch & Sip is serving daily from 8 AM to 3 PM with extended bar hours on weekends, and the menu is the kind of thing people plan their Sunday around: Lobster and Pancakes, Crab Cake Benedict, D'Usse Lamb Chops, and a cocktail program built around mimosas, spritzes, and handcrafted drinks. The energy here is social and festive, which is exactly what a good brunch spot should be.

Great White | 12103 Ventura Place

Great White tucked itself onto Ventura Place, the short spur that cuts through the heart of the village, and it feels like it has always belonged there. The brand has loyal followings in West Hollywood, Larchmont, and Venice, and Studio City gets the same all-day California coastal menu: a breakfast burrito with a devoted fan base, a chickpea scramble that earns repeat visits, curry salmon, and genuinely good coffee. The room hums from morning through dinner in a way that good neighborhood spots do. More at greatwhite.cafe.

Highly Likely | 12401 Ventura Blvd

Longtime locals will recognize this address as the old Lemonade space, and the new tenant is worth getting to know. Highly Likely is doing something genuinely interesting with the all-day format: Japanese breakfast bowls in the morning, burgers and sandwiches through lunch, and steak frites with natural wine once the evening settles in. It is a new concept still finding its footing, and the neighborhood is behind it. Hours and updates at itshighlylikely.com.

Coffee, Matcha, and the New Cafe Scene

Cafe Matcha | 12070 Ventura Blvd

From the Alfred Coffee team comes Cafe Matcha, which has quickly become the Boulevard's green-hued gathering spot. The cloud cream matcha drinks are the draw, and the matcha-cold brew combination that regulars swear by is the kind of thing that turns a first visit into a habit. The pastry case is worth a detour on its own. Open daily at cafe-matcha.com.

Omake | 12437 Ventura Blvd - COMING SOON

Omake should be open soon. Omake is for people who think seriously about what is in their cup. It is a coffee and tea tasting room where the experience is guided: baristas walk you through the origin and craft behind each pour, from ceremonial matcha sourced in Japan to carefully selected single-origin coffees. The owner built Omake as a deliberate counterpoint to grab-and-go culture, and the space reflects that intention, finished in natural stone, walnut, and microcement. Worth carving out the time for once it opens. Details at omakesc.com.

Bars, Entertainment, and Something Completely Different

The Last Canteen | 10964 Ventura Blvd

In a neighborhood built on storytelling and production design, it makes a certain amount of sense that someone would open an immersive post-apocalyptic bar and restaurant on Ventura Boulevard. The Last Canteen is that place: designed to feel like a high-concept bomb shelter, complete with wasteland props, rugged decor, and a doomsday phone on the wall that rings at random. The cocktail program has earned genuinely good early reviews, and the draft options include house-made sarsaparilla. It’s a short walk from the Universal/Studio City Metro B Line station, which makes it easy to get to without a car. Details at thelastcanteen.com.

The Starlight Cabaret | 11502 Ventura Blvd

The old Oil Can Harry's space on Ventura has a new life, and the ownership alone makes it worth your attention. The Starlight Cabaret is co-owned by comedian Katie Cazorla and Walter Afanasieff, the legendary music producer behind some of the biggest pop recordings of the 1990s, including Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You.' The main room has an Old Hollywood art deco feel and hosts comedy and variety shows, live band country line dancing, and burlesque and magic acts. Upstairs, there is a speakeasy-style tiki bar with weekend karaoke. It is the kind of venue that only happens in a neighborhood like this one. Check thestarlightcabaret.com for the current schedule.

Coming Soon and Just Arrived: Sweet Additions

PopUp Bagels | 12184 Ventura Blvd

PopUp Bagels is bringing its East Coast-style bagels to 12184 Ventura Blvd, and Valley residents who have been making the drive to Brentwood for their fix will be happy to hear it. This will be the first location on the north side of the hill, and the 'coming soon' signage is already up. No official opening date yet, but worth watching. Check popupbagels.com for updates.

Junior Cookies | 12180 Ventura Blvd

Junior Cookies is now open on the Boulevard, and if you walk in without a plan to buy something, that plan will change quickly. The storefront is bright and modern and apparently smells incredible from the sidewalk. They are known for their six-ounce stuffed cookies, the Not-So-Junior sizes in flavors like Nutella and S'mores, alongside customizable multi-packs of the classic junior-sized treats. There is also a RennerVation pack that supports actor Jeremy Renner's foundation for youth in foster care, which adds a nice layer of community spirit to an already fun concept. And for anyone who walks the Boulevard with a dog, Junior Cookies bakes Junior-Pups peanut butter treats, making it one of the most dog-friendly stops on the strip. Details at juniorcookiesofficial.com.

And Always: Sushi Row

No piece about Studio City dining is complete without acknowledging what was already here before any of these openings. Ventura Boulevard's Sushi Row, which runs for roughly a mile on either side of Laurel Canyon, is one of the great sushi corridors in the country. This is where Katsuya Uechi opened Katsu-ya in 1997 and is credited with inventing spicy tuna crispy rice. It is where Asanebo, a Michelin-starred institution, operates out of a strip mall. It is where Teru Sushi has been serving the neighborhood since 1979. Sugarfish, Brothers Sushi, and Leona's (now with a neighboring Italian offshoot in Rosetta) round out a lineup that would hold its own against any sushi corridor in the city.

The new openings are building on top of that foundation, not replacing it. That is what makes this moment feel meaningful.

What This Means for the Neighborhood

I work in Studio City regularly, and I have watched the Boulevard's dining scene evolve over many years. What is happening right now is different. The new openings are not just filling vacant spaces: they are raising the ambition level for the whole corridor. Restaurants like Alto and Rosetta are bringing the kind of quality that once required a drive over the hill. That shifts the conversation about the neighborhood, and eventually, it shifts the market.

When a neighborhood becomes more desirable to spend time in, it tends to become more desirable to live in. That relationship is not always immediate, but it is real, and it is one of the things I pay attention to when I am advising clients about where to buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is new on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in 2026?

More than a dozen new restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues have opened along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City in 2026, including Alto Fire to Table, Rosetta Osteria & Crudo Bar, Little Lenny's, Vignette, Brunch & Sip LA Lounge, Great White, Highly Likely, Cafe Matcha, The Last Canteen, The Starlight Cabaret, and Junior Cookies. Pop Up Bagels is also coming soon to 12184 Ventura Blvd and Omake is opening soon as well at 12437 Ventura Blvd.

Is Studio City a good neighborhood for dining?

Studio City is one of the best dining neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley and has been for decades. Ventura Boulevard's Sushi Row is nationally recognized, with institutions like Katsu-ya (open since 1997), Asanebo (Michelin-starred), and Teru Sushi (open since 1979) anchoring the strip. The 2026 wave of new openings has added Italian, South American, Mexican, all-day dining, specialty coffee, and entertainment venues to an already strong foundation.

What is Sushi Row in Studio City?

Sushi Row is the stretch of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City renowned for its concentration of Japanese restaurants. The strip is widely considered one of the finest sushi corridors in the country, home to celebrated spots including Katsu-ya, Asanebo, Teru Sushi, Sugarfish, and Brothers Sushi, among many others. The row helped launch the careers of some of the most influential sushi chefs in Los Angeles.

Is Little Lenny's kosher?

Yes. Little Lenny's at 11923 Ventura Blvd in Studio City is a kosher Mexican restaurant from the team behind Lenny's Casita on Pico Boulevard. The menu has a strong selection of vegan and kosher options alongside mainstream Mexican dishes. The restaurant closes Friday afternoon and reopens Saturday night after sundown.

When is Pop Up Bagels opening in Studio City?

Pop Up Bagels has announced a coming soon location at 12184 Ventura Blvd in Studio City. Signage is up and the space is being prepared. An exact opening date has not been confirmed publicly as of this writing. Check popupbagels.com or local Studio City community accounts for updates.

If you live in or around Studio City, or if you have been thinking about a move to the San Fernando Valley, I would love to hear what is on your mind. This is a neighborhood I know well, and I am always happy to share what I am seeing in the market. Reach out anytime at Leegie@Leegie.com.

Leegie Parker

Real Estate Advisor, Compass

DRE 01020534

310-739-9202 | Leegie@Leegie.com | Leegie.com