A Burger in Tokyo, Hummus in Paris, and a Swiftie in Congress

From Jamie’s Desk:

The 2025 Jamie’s List Book, Vol. 2 is officially here. If you received the 2024 edition, you already know the drill. If not, here’s the quick backstory: last year I decided to create a year-end guide celebrating the best meals of 2024, handpicked by me and the Jamie’s List food crew. Think of it as my own spin on the beloved Zagat guides (thank you to Tim and Nina Zagat for the many decades of culinary homework you saved us all).

If you’re already a paying Jamie’s List subscriber, your copy is in the mail. If not, click here to join—paying subscribers get a free copy of the book. Plus you’ll unlock our full newsletter archive, so if you are traveling soon or just want to know where to eat in your city, you can always search the archives to get our tips. 

This year’s criteria stayed simple: what was your best meal of 2025? Anywhere in the world, any type of restaurant, just the one meal you can’t stop thinking about. The resulting list is exciting, dynamic, and global. I hope you love it as much as we loved putting it together.

What makes the Jamie’s List books special is the point of view. These aren’t curated by anonymous reviewers or editors writing from behind their computers. They’re shaped by the real meals our community of chefs, restaurateurs, and longtime crew members who spend a healthy amount of time thinking about where to eat actually ate this year. From Jessica Alba’s go-to spot in Australia to Vinny Dotolo’s favorite in London to Jordan Okun’s pick in Chicago, along with crew picks across Tokyo, Paris, and Mexico City, this is information you can’t Google (or ask ChatGPT). 

See below for a sample of five of our favorite meals pulled directly from the book. I hope you enjoy it, and that it leads you to many memorable meals in 2026.

Discussed in this issue: Some of our favorite meals from 2025, my latest conversation with Sarah McBride, LA Times 101 Best Restaurants, Taylor Swift’s docuseries.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

🎙️ Our next Lunch With Jamie conversation is on Monday 11/15 at 12:15 PT/3:15 ET with U.S. Senator Mark Kelly. Register here. I hope to see you there!

📍New York: Via Carota
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Adam Saper, Aaron Stern, Marc Rose, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Matt Karatz, Jerry Greenberg, David Nathanson, Max Shapiro, Rachel Halilej, Max Winkler, Ben Hundreds, Eli Meyer, Goop, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, NY Times, Eater, The Infatuation, James Beard Award, Michelin Guide
Good For: Date Night, Dinner With Friends, Great Wine List, Special Occassion
Pro Tip: Your best bet is to go for lunch, however reservations open up 30 days in advance and fill up quickly. But they take walk-ins. If you go that route, factor a 90 minute wait into your plan: you can either go get a drink, check out a movie, see a show at the Cherry Lane Theater or do some NYC strolling. Also if you go at night, hit up Marie’s Crisis next door.
What to Order: Insalata Verde, Insalata Di Castelfranco, Svizzerina, Carciofi Alla Griglia (Grilled Artichoke), Funghi (Mushrooms), Carote (Carrots), Fagioli All’Uccelletto (Cannellini Beans, Sausage and Tomato), Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu
Notes: This has quickly become one of my favorite spots in NYC. It is as good as Italian food gets in America. Not to mention, it’s in the heart of the West Village with indoor and outdoor seating, so it works for all seasons. The only real problem is that it’s nearly impossible to get a reservation, so I suggest you go early for lunch, or very late (or early) on a weeknight. I recently sent someone there at 6pm on a Friday and it was a 5 hour wait—which is too long for anywhere. But it’s worth going during off-hours. Every dish is wonderful, even the simple vegetables, which normally I would never order, but here they are using such fresh ingredients and cooking them so perfectly. The two must-orders: the insalata verde and the Svizzerina. The salad was called “the greatest salad in the world” by the NY Times. The Svizzerina sounds fancy, but in actuality is just a chopped steak. Honestly I have no idea how they do what they do, but it might be one of the top 5 dishes in the world.

📍Los Angeles: RVR (reviewed by Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEO of Baby2Baby)
Cuisine: Japanese
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Marc Rose, Chris Rice, Kate Burr, Matt Karatz, David Nathanson, Max Shapiro, Rachel Halilej, Alex Tse, Max Winkler, Ben Hundreds, Eli Meyer, Joseph Varet, Goop, Bon Appétit, LA Times, Eater, The Infatuation
Good For: Date Night, Dinner With Friends, Business, Great Wine List
Pro Tip: Make friends with the cute, fashionable host for a good table.
What to Order: Duck Meatballs, Crispy Aji Sandwich, Any of the Sashimis, Kombucha Squash, Hamachi & Yellowfin Tuna Handroll, Tempura Rock Cod Handroll, Uni Handroll (if you’re brave), Pork/Shrimp Gyoza, Lettuces, Burdock (a hot tip from Jon Yao on the way in), Pork Tonkatsu, Squid, Duck Ramen. For dessert, get the carrot cake and coffee gelato.
Notes: I don’t go to the westside ever or get on the 405 unless I’m going to the airport, but this was 100% worth it. There have been few restaurants to hit LA with this much praise in a long time and this one lived up to the hype. From the cozy decor downstairs to the rooftop patio, to the wide range of dishes from start to finish, this is basically a perfect restaurant. While I don’t frequent Venice often (except for Felix) I will be back for this or even just for the handrolls...yes, RVR was just that good. 

📍Paris: Shabour (reviewed by Joseph Varet, Co-owner of Various Small Fires Gallery)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Crew: Max Shapiro, Ben Hundreds, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, The Infatuation, Michelin Guide
Good For: Dinner With Friends, Date Night, Fine Dining, Solo Dining, Michelin Star
Pro Tip: Be sure to book seats at the open kitchen counter; open for lunch Saturdays only.
What to Order: Seasonal prix fixe menu—signature dessert of chocolate mousse with Dead Sea salt is life-changing.
Notes: Fellow crew member Ben Hundreds originally clued me in that the best Israeli restaurant on the planet is in Paris, not Tel Aviv. Chef Granit, one of the top celebrity chefs in Israel, is known for flawless renditions of authentic dishes and flavors. At his Michelin-starred Parisian jewel box “Shabour” (which means “broken”), diners get a literal front row seat around an open kitchen while charming servers guide you through an experience that breaks open the thrilling potential and diversity of Israeli cuisine and its influences. They venture boldly across flavors of the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa, all with a backbone of French technique. If you have any fondness whatsoever for Israeli or Middle Eastern food and are in the vicinity of Paris, do not miss Shabour.

📍NOLA: Saba
Cuisine: Israeli
Crew: Adam Saper, Marc Rose, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, David Nathanson, Condé Nast Traveler, Goop, The Infatuation, Michelin Guide
Good For: Date Night, Big Group, Business, Dinner With Friends, Good Drinks, Great Wine List
Pro Tip: Head here on a Thursday night, eat a late dinner and stop by Le Bon Temps after to check out the Soul Rebels.
What to Order: Pita, Classic Hummus, Harissa Roasted Chicken, Blue Crab Hummus, Jeweled Rice, Lutenitsa (Alon’s grandmother’s recipe)
Notes: It’s always hard to recommend a restaurant in New Orleans that doesn’t specialize in local cuisine, however this isn’t your parents’ New Orleans anymore. Now, some of my favorite NOLA restaurants include Indian, pastrami sandwiches, Senegalese and Israeli food. If you are lucky enough to get a reservation at Saba during your trip to NOLA, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Situated on a corner uptown, this place is the setting for a perfect night. They have a great patio and a beautiful dining room, so you can’t go wrong in either place. Alon Shaya is the genius who has been making some of the best Israeli food anywhere in the US for almost a decade, with the help of his business partner and wife Emily (one of the best red bean and rice chefs in New Orleans). These two have grown their restaurant offerings to Vegas and Denver where they opened Safta in 2018. I love this place so much, and I know you will too.

📍Kyoto: Hikiniku To Come (reviewed by David Nathanson, Jamie’s List OG Crew)
Cuisine: Hamburger Steak
Crew: Eli Meyer
Good For: Date Night, Dinner With Friends, Big Group, Casual, No Reservations, Solo Dining
Pro Tip: Register ahead online to avoid long (up to two hour) waits. Eat in order: plain first; then with condiments; then with egg.
What to Order: ‘Hikiniku To Come’ Set Meal (it’s the only thing on the menu)
Notes: Kyoto is not short on temples of restraint, but none charmed me more in 2025 than Hikiniku To Come, a restaurant so monastic in focus it serves exactly one meal: three wagyu hamburger steaks, a bowl of rice, miso soup, a raw egg and a small arsenal of house made condiments. That’s it. Just beef, rice, and an invitation to discover variety within repetition. The patties arrive one at a time, grilled over charcoal until the edges crackle with caramelization while maintaining a juicy center. The first should be eaten plain—a statement of intent, with the beef speaking for itself. The second, dressed with grated daikon and ponzu, turns suddenly airy, the circus and radish slicing through the smoke. By the third, the indulgence becomes ritualistic. Crack the raw egg, whisk it with soy, and dip—or you could flood your rice in the golden richness. The secret is patience: arrive early to secure your slot, pace yourself so each steak is savored hot, and save the egg for the finale. In a year of meals, none felt more complete.

Politicians…they’re just like us. In my conversation with Rep. Sarah McBride, the freshman Congresswoman from Delaware, I started off by getting to know her on a personal level. 

On top of these things, Sarah and I also discussed the current political climate. 

She explained the importance of open dialogue with imperfect allies, arguing that the Democratic Party isolating swing voters can cause them to retreat into the right-wing community. Her explanation was really well-said and worth a listen.

Sarah also opened up to us about her experience being a caregiver to her late husband Andy during his battle with terminal cancer. Before his diagnosis, he worked as an attorney, working to implement the Affordable Care Act. After his passing, Sarah realized how lucky Andy was to have insurance and be able to receive care—but not every American has that luxury. So she decided to run to change that.

When asked what it means to be a Democrat today, she reminded us that they’re the party working to make life better, easier, and more affordable for every American. They’re the ones fighting for healthcare (and being met with resistance by the GOP). Democrats need to widen their tent, she says, and get back to basics. 

Sarah is pragmatic, personable, and passionate—all things that come through during this conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.

Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga