Two Southern California eateries have been recognized on Bon Appétit's list of the 19 best new restaurants in the country for 2026. Broken Spanish Comedor in Culver City and Little Mountain in Montecito earned spots on the prestigious annual ranking.
Broken Spanish Comedor, which opened in October 2025, is helmed by acclaimed Los Angeles chef-owner Ray Garcia. Garcia previously operated Broken Spanish, which closed in 2020. The restaurant offers a modern take on Mexican cuisine, with dishes such as refried lentils, ceviche, chicharron, and tortillas. Bon Appétit noted Garcia's creations as "punchy, bold, and assertively spicy."
Garcia described Broken Spanish Comedor as a place designed for diners to connect with family and friends, whether they have a full evening or just an hour to spare. "You can still have a good bite, leave happy and come back when you have more time to explore even further into our mezcal list or more of the dishes that we’re doing," he told LAMag.
Little Mountain in Montecito, opened in late 2025, emphasizes locally sourced ingredients. The menu features daily catches of fish and shellfish, along with fresh produce from regional farms. Signature dishes include king salmon with pistachio and embered greens, bone-in pork chop with coal-roasted apple, and wood-fire-roasted chicken with yuzu and smoked chile.
Executive Chef Diego Moya, who relocated to California after years in New York's dining scene, sought a location rich in fresh ingredients. "Having traveled extensively, I can say that this place is magical for someone that loves bright ingredients with depth and vibrancy," Moya told The Santa Barbara Independent. Bon Appétit praised Little Mountain for balancing "California ease and deliberate refinement," describing the experience as leaving diners "as if awakened from a coastal daydream."
The publication also recognized Jules, a pizzeria in San Francisco, as part of its 2026 best new restaurants list.