Kismet

The story

Kismet Los Angeles – Vegetable-Focused Middle Eastern Dining, Bib Gourmand

Chefs and Founders

Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson opened Kismet in 2017 on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Their cooking draws from California’s abundant produce and a deep respect for tradition. The result is a cuisine that feels bright, nuanced, and unmistakably of this place.

The Philosophy

A quote on the restaurant’s own website describes it best: “At Kismet, chefs Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer… have a modern, global perspective that allows them to encounter Middle Eastern ideas and ingredients with fresh eyes and combine them in a thoughtful way that feels exciting, progressive, deeply Californian and, of course, wildly delicious.” That comes from Food and Wine. The late Jonathan Gold added that their cooking “could be that of chefs whose vocabulary comes straight from the cookbooks of Alice Waters and Claudia Roden.”

The Recognition

This vegetable-loving restaurant earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award that recognizes good quality cooking at a good value. The honor fits Kismet’s approach: thoughtful dishes that let produce shine, served in a setting meant for friends, wine, and shared meals.

Dining at Kismet

Open for dinner every day from 5 to 10 pm, the restaurant offers a menu that evolves with the seasons. Expect bold flavors, bright vegetables, and the kind of Middle Eastern–inflected cooking that feels both grounded and fresh. Takeout is also available.