The restaurant business in Monterey County is constantly in flux, with new restaurants opening at a steady pace all around the county. Here are 24 restaurants that have opened--or which have gained new owners--in the last year, or so:

Billy B''s

580 Broadway Ave., Seaside, 392-0852. Chef Billy B. offers personal service as he serves "American family cuisine," as well as specialties like Citrus Chicken, Jamaican Rum Bread Pudding, and steak specials.

Billy Quon''s

1 Harris Court, Monterey, 647-0390. Up at the top of sunny Ryan Ranch, Billy Quon''s offers a tasty blend of California and Asian cuisines, including rotisserie chicken and noodle bowls.

Bread Soup Cafe & Bakery

731 Munras Ave., Monterey, 658-0191. Serves soups, sandwiches and home-made bread in a bakery ambiance.

Crown and Anchor

150 W. Franklin St., Monterey, 649-6496. American and British foods (from fish and chips to sandwiches) served in an intimate pub.

Curly''s Oak BBQ

1107 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, 394-7274. You''ll find oak-grilled ribs and chicken, sandwiches and all the fixin''s you''d expect for a barbecue: cole slaw, beans, potato salad, French fries.

Cypress Grove

663 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 375-1743. By day, you can get a casual lunch at Cypress Grove, but at night it''s all fine dining, with French/California cuisine. (Don''t forget brunches on Saturday and Sunday.)

DuVal''s

At Los Laureles Inn, Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley, 659-3426. Barbecue, barbecue, barbecue is the main attraction at this restaurant opened by former sheriff Pat DuVal. Lighter fare includes pizza, pasta and salad.

Grasing''s

6th Avenue and Mission Street, Carmel, 624-6562. Friendly fine dining, and casual, innovative cuisine--like the polenta tower with all-fresh grilled veggies and the herb-crusted sea bass over lentils.

Hula''s

622 Lighthouse Ave., New Monterey, 655-HULA. The Island Cafe has been revamped and remodeled into a surfer-goes-to-Roy''s-of-Pebble-Beach. The bar is made like an old wooden surfboard, with beautifully laminated wood, and many clear coats of finish. Very tropical.

Jos‚''s Mexican Food

1612 Del Monte Blvd., Seaside, 899-0345. After being closed after a fire more than a year ago, Jos‚''s reopened on Mother''s Day, offering the same fine selection of traditional Mexican fare.

La Gondola Ristorante

3690 The Barnyard, Carmel, 626-0430. Italian cuisine with a California flair dominates the menu, with offerings like "Risotto di Sant Erasmo" (rice, artichoke bottoms, rock shrimp and parsley) and the "Petti Di Pollo al Limone" (chicken marinated in lemon, grilled, and served over Salinas Valley spinach).

LALLApalooza

474 Alvarado St., Monterey, 645-9036. A downtown scene for people who want to be seen. Airy restaurant and martini bar has become a favorite watering hole and hangout for local businesspeople and others.

Mi Casita Taqueria

638 Wave St., Monterey, 655-44419. Wide range of traditional Mexican foods served in a family-friendly setting. Good cheap eats.

Monterey Joe''s

2149 N. Fremont St., Monterey, 655-3355. Casual dining atmosphere with a menu that includes seafood, pasta, steaks, prime rib, deep-fried calamari and brick-oven pizza.

Nico

San Carlos Street and Ocean Avenue, Carmel, 624-6545. California and Mediterranean cuisine with lots of interesting fresh pasta and seafood dishes. But it isn''t pretentious: You can get a burger there, too.

Nipa Hut

Fremont Boulevard and Harcourt Ave., Seaside, 583-0722. Philippine cuisine includes chicken and pork adobo, served cafeteria style. Lunch specials offered during the week. And if you feel like warbling, they have karaoke in the evening.

Santa Lucia Market

484 Washington St., Monterey, 333-1111. This part-deli, part-cafe offers everything from wood-fired pizza to fresh-rolled sushi, ready-to-go entr‚es, gourmet wine and food.

Stillwater Bar & Grill

The Lodge at Pebble Beach, 17 Mile Drive, 625-8524. An eclectic blend of cuisines from California and Asia, specializes in innovative fish dishes (including house-made sushi, herb-crusted ahi, applewood-smoked sea bass and more).

Salinas Valley Fish House

172 Main St., Salinas, 755-0175. Following the success of the Monterey Fish House, the Salinas Valley location was opened, serving many of the same dishes: barbecued oysters, squid, pasta, salmon, a full oyster bar and so much more.

Summerhouse

6 Pilot Rd., Carmel Valley, 659-4560. Carmel Valley=Sun. Summerhouse=outdoor dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner (with selections like ravioli stuffed with crab, rack of lamb, daily risotto specials).

Turtle Bay Taqueria

1301 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, 899-1010. Tacos, wraps (burritos) and bowls of fish, beef and pork dishes served in a tropical, Yucatan style. Inexpensive, exotic and very tasty.

Lighthouse Bistro

401 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey, 649-0320. Stop by for lunch and you''ll find deli salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches. At night it becomes a full scale dinner house. (One of the signature dishes? Rotisserie Duck.)

Ye Admiral Benbow

444 Alvarado St., Monterey, 656-9543. It looks like a British-style pub and it serves beer like a British-style pub, but it offers dinner (swordfish, salmon, halibut, lamb chops, steak) like a fine dining restaurant.

Zig Zag

Mission Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel, 622-9949. This intimate restaurant serves an eclectic menu of California and Asian dishes from sesame ahi to quail with cherry vinaigrette, plus daily specials.