When we think about the things in life that make us happy, many of us imagine eating a really good meal.
There’s something about great food that feeds our souls as well as our bellies. And it’s for this reason that so many of us are willing to shell out a small fortune to dine at restaurants.
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It’s hardly a secret that cooking at home is a far more economical option than dining out. Restaurants have to charge decent markups on the products they serve to cover their overhead costs.
At a time when many people are being forced to spend their money more carefully to cope with higher living costs, it’s not always easy to justify the added expense of a restaurant meal.
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But for many of us, it’s worth stretching our budgets from time to time for a fine dining experience — the kind you keep talking about weeks or even months after you’ve finished your last bite.
A world-famous restaurant is opening a new U.S. location.
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Restaurant closures have been rampant
The past couple of years have been tough ones for food lovers, due largely to the fact that a good number of popular restaurants have closed their doors for good.
Those closures have run the gamut from national chains in bankruptcy, like TGI Fridays, to local favorites across a range of big cities.
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Restaurants were operating with very tight margins before inflation started driving prices up a few years ago. Those that have managed to not only survive, but thrive over the past few years clearly have a special formula to thank.
Part of what spells the difference between a restaurant doing well versus shuttering is reputation.
Simply put, restaurants that get a lot of press and are known for a fabulous dining experience can withstand declining demand — because if customers are going to pay up for a nice meal, it’s going to be at an acclaimed establishment.
Noma to open Los Angeles location
On a global level, there’s perhaps no more famous a restaurant than Noma.
Founded in Copenhagen, Noma has been the recipient of too many awards and accolades to count. It has the proud distinction of earning three Michelin stars and has made it to the “World’s 50 Best” list on more than one occasion.
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Known for its eclectic tasting menu, Noma is a foodie’s dream. And now, that dream is coming to Los Angeles. The restaurant has announced that it will offer its unique Nordic tasting menu to Los Angeles diners starting in 2026.
“We’ve been working on L.A. for a while,” famed Chef Rene Redzepi told the Los Angeles Times. “In fact, we’ve been working on America for a while, never really finding that perfect location.”
Redzepi opened Noma in 2003 and later moved it to a different Copenhagen location in 2018. It’s known as one of the most difficult restaurants to get a reservation at, and for good reason.
In 2023, Redzepi said he was toying with the idea of closing the restaurant but ultimately never made that move. His foray into the LA dining scene is appropriate, given that the city is home to many fine dining establishments and consumers with larger wallets.
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Speaking of which, the Noma experience is not cheap. Diners can expect to pay upward of $400 to indulge in its world-famous menu.
Details of the LA location are still emerging. But it’s fair to assume that despite the very high price tag, diners will be clamoring to get a table once reservations open.