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Los Angeles may be known for its beach living and celebrity-infused backdrop, but it was once a farm town. The hillsides were covered in citrus orchards and dairy farms, and agriculture was a major industry. Today, even as L.A. is urbanized, the city's culinary landscape has re-embraced a local, sustainable, and seasonal philosophy at many levels—from fine dining to street snacks.
With a growing interest in farm-to-fork, the city's farmers' market scene has exploded, becoming popular at big-name restaurants and small eateries alike. In Hollywood and Santa Monica you can often find high-profile chefs scouring farm stands for fresh produce.
Yet the status of the celebrity chef continues to carry weight around this town. People follow the culinary zeitgeist with the same fervor as celebrity gossip. You can queue up with the hungry hordes at Mozza or try and snag a reservation to the ever-popular Trois Mec that’s much like getting a golden ticket these days. Elsewhere, the seasonally driven bakery and insanely popular Huckleberry in Santa Monica has been given a Brentwood counterpart with the rustically sweet Milo & Olive created by the same owners. In Culver City, a run-down International House of Pancakes has been turned into the ski chalet–inspired A-Frame Tavern. The Ace Hotel opened an L.A. chapter Downtown, creating a hip haven when you can enjoy cocktails and locally sourced menu items poolside or in the restaurant.
Ethnic eats continue to be a backbone to the L.A. dining scene. People head to the San Gabriel Valley for dim sum, ramen, and unassuming taco lounges; Koreatown for epic Korean cooking and late-night coffeehouses; and West L.A. and "the Valley" for phenomenal sushi. Latin food is well represented in the city, making it tough to choose between Guatemalan eateries, Peruvian restaurants, nouveau Mexican bistros, and Tijuana-style taco trucks. With so many dining options, sometimes the best strategy is simply to drive and explore.
Part restaurant, part bakery, and part learning annex, Lodge Bread Company beckons customers with freshly baked sourdough—the aroma of which wafts over the entire neighborhood. Inside, guests can enjoy fermented pizzas, savory sandwiches, and crisp morning toasts. For budding bread makers, the shop offers classes on baking sourdough, where you can learn how to make a starter from scratch and how to best stretch and score dough.
Florentine focaccia sandwiches take center stage at this quick and easy sandwich shop in Beverly Hills. Specialties include the Capriccio with stracciatella and pesto or pastas like the penne with meatballs and pecorino.
If you’re in the mood for good old-fashioned fun coupled with hearty Mexican fare and delicious drinks, consider Los Amigos, whose legendary fruity margaritas—in nine flavors!—alone are worth the drive. Pair those with chili verde, taquitos, or a molcajete for two on karaoke night (four nights a week!), and you’re guaranteed a good time well into the night.
Tucked away from the frenzy of Hollywood, this Los Angeles outpost of the famous Naples-based pizza spot (featured in Eat Pray Love) attracts patrons of all varieties, from industry folks looking for hearty Italian classics to tourists needing respite from the touristing. L'antica serves comforting yet elevated Neapolitan pie and pasta dishes in an expansive and relaxed classic Italian-meets-modern-Californian indoor-outdoor space accented with lush greenery. You're here for the century-old authentic-Italian pizzas cooked in the signature stone oven, but you should try the pastas, the slow-cooked short rib, and the Italian-style spritz menu. You might care that this is also one of the very few places in L.A. to enjoy zucchini flowers. Weekday afternoon happy hour is a wonderful respite.
Boasting one of the most stunning rooftops in L.A., Margot is a fresh face and hopping hot spot for the Culver City dining and drinking scene. The expansive space gives off a Moroccan casbah vibe, with just as many hints of Southern California for good measure. Open for weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant's menu consists of fresh seafood, a variety of shared plates, and large servings of succulent meats and sizzling pastas. The view is the star, though, so make it a point of coming for sunset and soaking in the rays on the massive outdoor deck.
Family-run Marouch is somewhat of a rarity in Hollywood in that it deviates from all the usual fanfare and instead delivers a more casual and authentic home-cooking approach with a you're-part-of-our-family attitude. So, while it doesn't constantly reinvent itself a la buzzy Hollywood spots to get you to come back, you will return for the quality and flavor of the traditional Lebanese and Armenian meze plates that have been passed down in the family for generations. Saturday evenings are its busiest, but the owners encourage you to partake in the chaos, as that's when it feels the most like home.
While Masa of Echo Park does excellent “bistro pizzas,” as the restaurant calls them, it's mostly known for the delectable deep-dish pies that may just be the best you’ll find this side of Chicago. Be prepared, though—it can take a while to get seated and up to 45 minutes to get that deep dish you ordered, so it might be best to call ahead.
For an authentic Ethiopian experience, you will enjoy dining at the family-owned Merkato. Classics like spongy injera bread, spicy beef, and grilled fish are meant to be enjoyed with your hands. The market has Ethiopian ingredients to purchase to make at home.
The perfect pairing of simplicity and complexity, Momed serves Mediterranean fare that feels comforting yet upscale. The welcoming atmosphere is just as perfect for a romantic date night as it is for a more convivial brunch with friends.
A 100% plant-based establishment in Koreatown shouldn't be a thing that works, but Monty's Good Burger has the neighborhood fooled, as its Impossible Burger makes believers out of the most devout carnivores. Perfectly pressed plant-based patties come with oozing vegan cheese and fries or tots that melt in your mouth. The small counter spot usually has lines out the door (especially late night) of Angelenos who are now hooked on healthy burgers, epic shakes, and perfectly fried food.
A friendly neighborhood Scottish pub, the Morrison comes with a bit of an upmarket flair, a kids' menu, and even dishes for your canine friends. And of course it serves a hearty, boozy brunch. Come here for a laid-back-pub vibe with slightly elevated dining.
A longtime refuge from California's lean cuisine, Nate 'n' Al's serves up steaming pastrami, matzo ball soup, and potato latkes. Big-time media and entertainment insiders are often seen kibbitzing at this old-time East Coast–style establishment. There can be a bit of a wait, so plan accordingly.
Opened in 1924 by Dewey Logan, this classic diner's former claim to fame is that it never closed in the entirety of its run. Currently owned by former L.A. mayor Richard Riordan, the diner has more limited hours and serves American food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is known for cakes, pies, steaks, and chops. The establishment is also a Los Angeles historic cultural monument.
The typical family backyard barbecues scattered throughout Echo Park—which has traditionally overlapped with L.A.’s historic Filipinotown—are transformed into fantastic dining at The Park's Finest. Slow-cooked meats and vinegar-based sauces are topped with longganisa sausage, ube, soy sauce, and banana leaves. The name doesn't lie—this truly is some of Echo Park's finest grub.
As the rooftop dinosaur and Lady Liberty statues suggest, this leprechaun-green roadhouse, tucked into the hillside of Pacific Palisades, is a maximalist ode to the past crammed with memorabilia ranging from British railway signs to cheeky bronze statuettes. An Old World portrait of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in epaulets lords over the proceedings, along with Arnold's throne, which you can request to be seated in. Solid breakfast options include the chilaquiles with a generous topping of sliced avocado or the beyond-immense breakfast burrito. For lunch or dinner, come for the just-right fish and chips or the Pot of Gold burger, and try to resist adding the house-made potato chips and banana cream pie. Waitstaff are brisk and friendly and big band and Great American Songbook tunes keep the atmosphere lively.
With a modest, you’ll-hardly-notice-it’s-there exterior, counter seating, a very European-styled dining room, and classic French dishes, a meal at Petit Trois recalls a trip to Paris. The steak tartare or lighter-than-air omelet will make you forgive the restaurant's strip mall location off busy Highland Avenue.
Since 1963, this small and charming diner has done two things really well—pies and burgers. Most seats are counter-style, with a griddle searing up patties. Along with limited outdoor seating, there's also a smattering of tables for larger groups, where you can spy on the oversize cake and pie slices in the back. Burgers are on the simple side, but the pies range from banana and lemon meringue to apple and blackberry. It's the perfect way to end your day after a long trudge in the Huntington Gardens.
This is not your typical Taiwanese restaurant; it's a fast-casual, often locally sourced restaurant housed in a modern setting and dedicated to best of Asian cuisine. The menu changes based on season, and the beverages menu features a carefully curated tea section. Expect longer waits during lunch and dinner rushes.
Essentially a sleek shack with a roofed outdoor dining space populated by picnic tables, the no-frills Playita Mariscos is a beloved local joint lauded for its Baja-style tacos. You'll also find beer-battered fish and shrimp tacos that evoke feelings of the sun-dappled Baja Mexico coast. Be sure to add the aguachile and ceviche to your order.
Polka Restaurant went through a makeover in 2020 and now boasts a more modern interior and an airy patio that offers outdoor seating. Interior facelift aside, the food here---traditional Polish fare like pierogi, schnitzel, and stuffed cabbage rolls---is just as delicious and comforting as ever. Note that it does tend to be on the heavier side, especially since most entrées come with a soup, salad, and hot vegetables. Come with a hungry group, and some stretchy pants, to allow for some paczki to top your meal off.
Nothing says Beverly Hills quite like the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. This classic, monied spot is home to Hollywood royalty and entertainment luminaries noshing on lobster Nicoise or the famed Wagyu burger during power lunches. A beautiful flower-lined courtyard provides a modicum of privacy for celebrity A-, B-, and C-listers, while inside features live piano music every night of the week. Afternoon tea is a favorite for locals and the Sunday jazz brunch is the perfect way to end your weekend. Note that there's a loose dress code here, which means no baseball hats, ripped jeans, men's tank tops, or the like.
As the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the whole country, chef Tara Punzone makes you believe her Caprese has real mozzarella, her meatballs come from cows, and her cacio e pepe is filled with dairy. The food is exceptional, the atmosphere screams New York, and the best part is that no animals were harmed for any of it.
The coolest kid on the Pasadena block, the Raymond 1886 is carved out of an old Craftsman cottage and has an expansive patio with long wooden tables and hanging lights. Chefs dish out everything from mushroom bucatini with shaved black truffles to Chilean sea bass with lemongrass coconut curry sauce and "forbidden" rice. Inside can be a little more claustrophobic, but makes for a perfect spot for intimate daters to get a little closer. Keep an eye out for live jazz nights. Be sure to explore the daring seasonal and evergreen cocktail menus, with intriguing historical references like the Red Line paired with zany offerings like the Alien Pool Party. Don't miss the truly killer chilaquiles on the brunch menu.
Roscoe's is the place for down-home Southern cooking in Southern California. Just ask the patrons who drive from all over L.A. for reasonably priced fried chicken and waffles. The name of this casual eatery honors a late-night combo popularized in Harlem jazz clubs. Friday and Saturday nights, Roscoe's Hollywood location stays open until 4 am.
When The Valley contingent of the largest Iranian population outside of Iran wants a taste of home, they look no further than Sadaf, a pretty palace of modern Persian cuisine with white tablecloth levels of service. Combo platters heaped high with lean cuts of filet, chicken, lamb, or fish broiled over an open fire and fluffy basmati rice are the recommended play here if you eat meat. If you don't, you needn't stay away as there are lots of dishes with built around yogurt, fresh produce, beans, or rice. Opened in 2011, there is a sister restaurant in Thousand Oaks and one coming soon in Beverly Hills.
With pierced, steel-paneled walls covered with fanciful designs, this tucked-away, twin-concept Thai palace has an extensive menu that varies a bit between the two neighboring locations; compare the menus before settling on a location. Next door to the indoor Saladang proper, Saladang Garden offers an outdoor dining space that's also used for special events. You'll find all the SE Asian favorites, including satays, curries, and pad Thai. But also consider the restaurants' other specialties, like Saladang Garden's Thai omelet with ground chicken or the fried taro rolls served with a cucumber salad. Be sure to save room for the mango with sweet sticky rice for dessert.
Featuring all locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce and a popular patio, this brunch and lunch spot proves that despite appearances, Californians love traditional meat-based staples and cocktails just as much as they love their kale salads and smoothies. If you're in doubt, just take a good look at this joint's hearty sandwiches.
A Southern California favorite that seems like a tourist trap at first blush but decidedly isn't, this Italian seafood haven has been serving up fresh fish since 1939. This freshness comes from its pedigree as the largest seafood distributor in the Southwest. Come for lunch or dinner, but make sure to take time to stroll around the market, read up on the history, and enjoy free tastings of the specials. The simple menu lets the freshness speak for itself, with options including pan-roasted branzino with butternut squash curry, as well as sandwiches (try the gorgeous Maine lobster roll on butter-toasted brioche), soups, plates for kids, and an oyster bar.
Just a skip away from the Silver Lake Reservoir, the Silver Lake House is a perfect stop for a hearty Thai lunch before embarking on a hike, walk, or a run with the dogs. Their lunch specials boast some of the best deals around, arriving with a veggie spring roll and your choice of soup or salad.
Sip & Sonder is a trendy, Black women–owned coffee shop and community space in downtown Inglewood. Founded by two local entrepreneurs, it's more than just a café—it's a cultural hub. The shop serves high-quality coffee and teas, alongside a selection of pastries and light bites like bagels and a turkey and brie sandwich. With its sleek, modern interior, incredible music, and welcoming atmosphere, it attracts remote workers and creatives alike. The space often hosts events, workshops, and exhibitions, emphasizing its commitment to fostering community and celebrating Black culture. As Inglewood's first true specialty coffee house, Sip & Sonder exemplifies the neighborhood's swiftly rising star while staying true to its roots.
