Broken Spanish Comedor named among Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurants of 2026

Chef Ray Garcia’s new casual Mexican concept at 12565 Washington Blvd in Los Angeles has been listed as one of 19 restaurants nationwide on Bon Appétit’s 2026 Best New Restaurants roster.

Broken Spanish Comedor, the neighborhood-focused Mexican restaurant opened by chef Ray Garcia in 2025, earned a spot on Bon Appétit’s 2026 Best New Restaurants list, a national roundup that evaluates creative cooking, hospitality and other factors for eateries that launched between March 2025 and March 2026.

The inclusion places the Culver City-adjacent spot alongside 18 other newcomers from coast to coast, giving it recognition that stretches far beyond the Los Angeles market. Garcia announced the news on Instagram, saying the team was “so so so excited” to share the achievement.

Located at 12565 Washington Boulevard in the South Los Angeles neighborhood, Broken Spanish Comedor is a more casual, neighborhood-centric evolution of Garcia’s original Broken Spanish, which closed in 2020 after five years of modern Mexican dining in downtown LA.

Broken Spanish Comedor builds on Garcia’s inventive approach to Mexican cooking while dialing down price and formality. The space occupies a former A-frame building that once housed Roy Choi’s A-Frame, an IHOP and a pizzeria, and now features a wood-burning oven that fuels wood-fire flautas and a sweet potato roasted in ember-kissed heat, as described in Los Angeles Magazine.

The menu showcases dishes that blend tradition with bold twists: refried black lentils with quesillo, hand-pressed tortillas, ceviche, aguachile, enchiladas, barbacoa, and camote with salsa macha butter. Bon Appétit highlighted the coal-roasted Japanese sweet potato, creamy refried lentils and bay scallop aguachile as standout items, underscoring the restaurant’s flavorful depth.

Garcia emphasizes accessibility, aiming for a $15 price point on many plates and a relaxed atmosphere that invites families and friends to linger. The bar leans heavily on agave spirits and even offers a homemade orange Fanta, while the dining room’s green tiles and breezy curtains replace the former dark wallpaper, creating a light, community-oriented vibe.

Bon Appétit’s 2026 Best New Restaurants list features 19 establishments that opened between March 2025 and March 2026, chosen for creative cooking, hospitality and other criteria. The publication notes that inclusion signals a restaurant’s relevance on a national stage.

Alongside Broken Spanish Comedor, three other California restaurants made the cut: Jules and Maria Isabel in San Francisco and Little Mountain in Montecito. The remaining selections span the country, from Agnes and Sherman in Houston to The Wayland Mill in Seattle, illustrating the geographic breadth of the culinary conversation.

Being part of this curated group gives Broken Spanish Comedor a platform that reaches beyond the local scene, positioning Los Angeles as a continued incubator for innovative Mexican cuisine. The recognition also reinforces the city’s reputation for nurturing chefs who can translate personal heritage into concepts that resonate with a wider audience.

Broken Spanish Comedor’s national spotlight underscores how Los Angeles chefs can reinvent beloved Mexican flavors for everyday diners without sacrificing creativity. For Angelenos, the restaurant offers a fresh, affordable option that still feels like a culinary discovery, reinforcing the city’s role as a testing ground for concepts that may shape the next wave of neighborhood Mexican eateries.