2026-01-12 23:08:00
Little Fish, the seafood-focused restaurant from talented duo Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle, has opened in Melrose Hill, bringing a seasonal menu, accessible pricing, and a neighborhood-centered approach.
The restaurant’s roots date back to 2020, when Sonenshein and Vahle were laid off from their jobs at Son of a Gun, the seafood-centric sister restaurant to Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s restaurant Animal, which closed in 2024. (Animal closed in June 2023.)
Testing out recipes and cooking for friends at their Echo Park home soon evolved into regular pop-ups around LA. Popping up at Smorgasbord, at Wine +Eggs in Atwater Village, Checker Hall in Highland Park, McCall’s Meat & Fish Co. in Los Feliz, helped them develop a loyal following and ultimately led to their first location, a drive-up window with a patio adjacent to DADA Market in Echo Park, and now to Little Fish’s first restaurant location in Melrose Hill.
“We’re so stoked to have such good neighbors; it feels like everybody’s friends,” Vahle said of the Melrose Hill location. Little Fish Shop can be found on Sundays at LA Grocery and Cafe across the street.
“We love the area, this has been almost four years in the making” Anna Sonenshein tells the Buzz, “we first walked through the doors in 2022” sharing with the Buzz how duo secured the space the support of landlord Zach Lasry who has been working with independent businesses over corporate chains to preserve the character of the neighborhood. In the past few years, several eateries have opened on Melrose Hill, including Etra, Le Coupe, Bar 109, and several others. We’ve written about some of the restaurants in previous editions of the Buzz, like Le Coupé, Kuya Lord, Bar Etoile, GGIATA, more recently, Chainsaw.
Little Fish first gained attention for its elevated fried fish sandwich, which remains a menu standout. The restaurant recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its combination of quality cooking and approachable price points.
“While we’re known as a fish restaurant, we’ve put a lot of effort into perfecting this chicken dish, and it’s something we’re particularly proud of,” Vahle said, referencing the half-deboned chicken with pork-and-ham jus now featured alongside other seasonal dishes such as stuffed cabbage with abalone rice and sausage with lentils.
Seasonality is central to the kitchen’s philosophy.
“We work closely with local fishermen to source fresh seafood,” Vahle explained. “As the seasons change, both our vegetable and seafood offerings evolve, which keeps the menu exciting.” Recent specials have included grilled local spiny lobster.
By day, Little Fish serves breakfast and lunch, including fish congee, shrimp sausage breakfast sandwiches, and the signature fried fish sandwich. In the late afternoon, the restaurant transitions into apéro hour before dinner service begins.
“We’re really excited to introduce more composed dishes to the menu,” Vahle said of the evening offerings.
Beyond daily service, the restaurant is designed to function as a community hub. Sonenshein and Vahle plan to host small events and collaborations, as well as a Sunday retail pop-up with LA Grocery & Café offering fresh, locally sourced fish rarely found in traditional markets.
Little Fish at Melrose Hill is open Wednesday through Sunday. Lunch is served from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., apéro from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wine curated by Kae Whalen is available throughout the day. More information is available on the restaurant’s website or by calling (323) 664-1474
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