147 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

This stunning expansive restaurant was originally built for Charlie Chaplin back in the 1920s. Now there is a line of fans waiting to enter and smell the enticing scent of handmade croissants by award-winning pastry chef and owner Margarita Manzke. In 2023, Chef Margarita won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker for her work at République. Her French delicacies and baguettes are better than most in the city. Her husband and co-owner Walter is known for his Dover Sole A La Meunière, beef short ribs, and roasted Liberty duck. A full bar keeps things buzzing throughout the evening.

Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant is a modern L.A. classic. Spago centers on a buzzing redbrick outdoor courtyard (with retractable roof) shaded by 100-year-old olive trees, and a daily-changing menu that offers dishes like smoked salmon pizza or off-menu schnitzel. Dessert is magical, with everything from an ethereal mango soufflé to artisanal cheeses. Opt for the tasting menu as it comes with a personal tour of the kitchen, and if you’re lucky, a meet and greet with Puck himself.

The successful Sugarfish concept is to simplify one's dining experience by focusing on fresh, high-quality fish with warm and tender rice to allow the natural flavors to shine. Order off the "Trust Me" menu, where the chef curates a selection of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls based on what’s freshest that day. This approach takes the decision-making out of the dining experience and ensures customers get the best possible sushi without having to navigate a menu.

This local secret is as close to the beach—Zuma Beach, in this case—as you can get for a meal without getting sand in your drink. Stop in at this friendly spot for a cocktail, selections from the raw bar, a meal from the extensive menu, or one of the unique salads. From here you'll get a view of the water, dolphins, surfers, and celebrity locals taking a break on the wind-protected patio. The extensive happy hour on Monday through Thursday offers good deals on appetizers, beers, and cocktails.

The fresh pasta inside this small counter restaurant is flown in weekly from Bologna, then cooked and sauced right in front of your eyes. Order one of the tastings menus to try their various pastas. When you order the Cheese & Truffle menu you will receive a yellowtail crudo for a starter, then Tagliatelle in a truffle sauce, Pomodoro sauce pasta, creamy cacio e pepe, and finish with tiramisu al cucchiaio. After your first visit, you'll become an instant fan. It's close to museum row, for a steaming bowl of bucatini before or afterwards.

Yardbird is a colloquialism for a domestic chicken, and as the name suggests, fried chicken is one of the main attractions here. Crispy white and dark meat chicken is made in a 27-hour process of coating, brining, and dredging in Grandma Lewellyn’s secret herbs and spices before going in the fryer.

A favorite since 1947, this unassuming joint with a horseshoe-shaped counter—no tables here—turns out one heck of a good burger. Try the cheeseburger with Tillamook cheddar, or the hickory burger with barbecue sauce. You can also find great fries and, of course, an apple pie indulgent enough to christen the restaurant (although many regulars argue that the banana cream deserves the honor). Be prepared to wait, though the veteran countermen move at a quick pace. In the meantime, grab a cup of Sanka and enjoy a taste of vintage Los Angeles.

As its name suggests, this sky-high dining den sits on the 71st floor, 950 feet above ground level. With that elevation comes the most stunning views of any restaurant in L.A., and the food is close to matching it. This fine-dining experience has a quarterly rotating menu, but you'll typically find fresh seafood, innovative veggies, delicious scallops, and more. A dress code is loosely enforced, but you can't come in wearing shorts, hats, flip-flops, or any athletic gear. Keep it classy here, bring a date, and get sucked into the twinkling lights of the city as the sun sets over the ocean.

Remote workers, local celebrities, and unpretentious Angelenos all converge at All Time, a neighborhood café and breakfast spot known for its egg sandwiches and breakfast burritos. It’s a cozy option for some quick coffee and hot breakfast items before heading out to see the more touristy attractions that Los Feliz has to offer.

Azizam is introducing Silver Lake to a casual way to enjoy comforting stews, punchy yogurt dips, and many other seasonal dishes that are often found in the comfort of an Iranian home. The all-day café is ideal for a quiet, leisurely lunch with a book or a friend. Standout items include Maman’s fried potatoes and the savory-and-sweet kofteh tabrizi, a beef and rice dish that socks up the savory tomato broth that collects at the bottom of the plate.

This gem of a restaurant, tucked into an unassuming strip mall, has taken Hermosa Beach and L.A. at large by storm; even the focaccia bread has a cult following. Diners love the revolving seasonal menu, with its eclectic mix of European, Mexican, and Asian influences reminiscent of the city's own diverse makeup. While many dishes come and go, the most-beloved classics stay. The decor—with its rustic-yet-industrial touches and black Chesterfield-inspired banquettes—is effortlessly hip. The menu can range from gnocchi nero with king crab to banh mi toast with steak tartare, and the owners have hosted guest chefs for short residencies. Some items like pasta, sausage, and breads are made fully in-house by executive chef Tyler Gugliotta's team, while many ingredients come from his own family farm. More than 40 craft beers are available, along with a good wine list. On weekends, Baran's offers killer "secret" breakfast burritos to take to the beach.

Just because Bea Bea’s is a no-nonsense kind of place, it doesn’t mean the food (of which they have a lot, like 23 different takes on pancakes a lot) isn’t special. This diner serves breakfast food that is about as close to extraordinary as the most important meal of the day can be. Plates are piled high but chances are you'll have worked up an appetite during perpetually long waits.

If sandwich-making was an art form, Bodega Park is a culinary gallery. The Korean-owned café has made a buzz in Silver Lake for its ingenious offerings such as their Peruvian chicken breakfast burritos and juicy pork bulgogi rolls. Bodega Park knows how to keep it light as well: the minimalist environment also makes for a great space to meet a friend over a cup of hot nurunji latte.

Put on your bib and prepare to get messy, because this crab shack is not for stodgy eaters. Choices of blue, Dungeness, snow, and king are brought out in plastic bags where you can rip, tear, twist, and yank the meaty goodness out of their shells. At the end of your meal, your table will look like a murder scene---but that's just a sign that you've done things correctly. Wet naps abound.

With its extensive and eclectic breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, coupled with the fantastic cocktail menu and charming little marketplace, you can easily spend all day eating at Bon Vivant. Patrons at this Atwater Village staple tend to adopt a slow pace, staggering orders of coffee, luscious crepes, small plates, and delicious entrées, all while embracing the laissez-faire attitude that is encouraged here. It’s a good thing they’ve got plenty of seating. There's live music on Sunday afternoon.

Borekas, barely more than a walk-up takeout window and some patio furniture run by a husband-and-wife team, proves less is often more by doing five or six variations on one dish extremely well—the namesake Sephardic Jewish pastry. Choose from savory or sweet versions of this Israeli staple, which are all vegetarian, flaky, and filling, and pair well with coffee, herby iced tea, or a sweet-and-salty limonana slushy. The latter is a special—if they have it when you go, do not skip it. Savory options, whether they are stuffed with cheese and za'atar or mushrooms, onions, and truffle, comes with pickle chunks, a soft-boiled egg, tomato pulp, and schug.

This whimsical egg-and-chicken-theme breakfast and lunch diner is a family favorite. On weekends you may have to wait for favorites such as cinnamon roll pancakes, a variety of eggs Benedict, and shrimp and grits. They also serve Breakfast Republic Prosecco wine in-house, fresh-squeezed orange juice for mimosas, plus bottomless coffee, iced tea, four different types of Bloody Marys, and local So Cal craft beer to complement many of the creative unique dishes they serve. 

Opened by local Christie Lujan in 2009, CaCao Mexicatessen was one of the first places in town to showcase the creative potential of the street-style taco, offering options such as sea urchin and pork crackling as fillings. With handmade tortillas and a serious commitment to the flavors of Mexico, CaCao has embedded itself as one of the go-to places for Mexican food in Northeast L.A.

A humble taco shack on the side of the road, Cactus offers up $4 tacos with all types of meat you could imagine, even beef tongue. They also have carne asada and chicken for the less adventurous. This spot dishes out other Mexican favorites, but plowing through cheap tacos is the main reason to come here.

Of L.A.’s long list of vegan restaurants, this is among the best, with luscious dishes that are also social media worthy. But it’s more than just gourmet, plant-based dining—Café Gratitude is also about leading a sustainable lifestyle full of positivity and (obviously) gratitude. This philosophy is encapsulated in its bright Larchmont location (just south of Hollywood), its spiritually named dishes (Humble, Gracious, Precious and Awesome are but a few), and the requisite dose of daily positivity that comes in the form of a chalkboard question that you’re encouraged to answer before you leave. Cynics, be warned.

One of L.A.'s finest fast casual restaurants offers rotisserie chicken, flavorful salads, and fulfilling wraps. You can order on their app and drive by to pick it up on the sidewalk. They sell whole rotisserie chicken and cuts of dark and white meat. Choose from a handful of salads, wraps, and cold or hot side dishes. They also have beverages and cookies available to complete your meal.

This family-owned iconic L.A. delicatessen opened in 1931, and is a local and celebrity favorite. The chefs continue to make their own corned beef and pastrami, plus bakery items and delectable desserts. Besides a variety of classic sandwiches, locals love the omelets and flavorful hot soups. The dining space is huge, so wait times are short.

Brewing caffeinated concoctions using Sightglass Coffee and Art of Tea products since 2018, this woman-owned café and breakfast/pastry pit stop is at its best when adding Latin flair to classics to create drinks like dulce canela chai, tamarind cold brew, or horchata (oatchata for the dairy intolerant) lattes. The vibe is a little mid-century mod, a little boho between the orb light fixture, angular couch, and displays selling crystals, handmade soap, and fresh flowers. Enjoy breakfast burritos and café de lola's alongside your pooch on the sunny patio or frijoles on toast with a flat white at the communal table up front.

In 1956, Ray Vega, who grew up in his parents' lauded Olvera Street café, headed to the Valley to make a name for himself by serving Cal-Mex hits—burritos, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and tamales. Regulars appreciate the cuisine consistency, the big portions, plethora of apps, killer mole, and the staff that treats you like family whether you come in every Sunday, you're visiting from Wisconsin, or you are Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio shooting scenes in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino has a drink named after him). Apparently, the folks behind the James Beard Awards concur as they designated Casa Vega, now run by Vega's daughter who has smartly modernized it only subtly, as an American classic.

Mediterranean-inspired Casaléna, a bi-level maze of large luxe dining rooms, pretty patios and rooftop spaces decked out with dramatic chandeliers, modern art, potted trees, and fireplaces, is another example of the second generation successfully breathing new life into the family business. Befitting the space, the menu is also big, plucking ideas from Italy, Spain, and Greece and putting them through a California filter which results in mostly pasta, pizza, seafood, share-sized salads, and pricey cuts of beef. With a strong bar program, weekend brunch, and special occasion pricing, it's quite popular for date nights and big-group celebrations and, given the scope of the restaurant, it can get pretty busy and then noisy. Never enough however to keep you from the beet salad, the whole branzino in chimichurri, or fried squash blossoms.

Since 1948, Cassell’s has been grilling up some of the city's best burgers and remains on just about every top burger list in town. In-the-know burger lovers come here for the reliability of a perfectly cooked patty, a toasted bun, and fries with the right amount of crunch. The simple diner features barstools, a dozen or so tables, and large windows looking out onto the street. Nothing fancy, Cassell’s just gets burgers right in a city that’s known for them.

Inspired by the original Mayfair location in London, this modern classic Italian restaurant offers a menu filled with small Italian appetizers called ciccetti, ethereal handmade pastas with delicious sauces, and wood-fired pizzas and proteins.

In a city full of restaurants touting all things trendy and gimmicky, Centanni and its chef Marin Santos (who came up at posh pasta powerhouse Valentino) focus on executing traditional, comforting fare to perfection. From start (juicy meatballs) to sweet finish (cannoli), this dinner spot delivers la dolce vita on a plate.

Hearty home cooking may not be a big part of L.A.'s dining scene, but that doesn't mean you can't have it when you're visiting the city. Tucked in the heart of Burbank, this diner-style spot serves chili everything, from traditional chili bowls to open-faced chili burgers. Of course, this being Los Angeles, ingredients are locally sourced from organic and sustainable farms.