147 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

Some of the spiciest and most succulent tacos in L.A. are made at Sky’s. This quaint taco joint offers up beef, chicken, turkey, seafood, and vegan options that will leave your mouth on fire and your belly full. Chef-owner Barbara “Sky” Burrell also dishes out steaming breakfast tacos and has an enormous vegan and vegetarian menu.

Paying homage to the Mexican border town where owner Teo Diaz-Rodriguez Jr. grew up, Sonoratown is a Downtown L.A. joint that serves some of the best tacos in the entire city. Handmade tortillas, mesquite wood-fired carne asada, and supercheap prices have made this spot a neighborhood favorite and a must-have on any trip Downtown.

It’s no surprise that Spoon and Pork has found its rightful place in the neighborhood with its comforting Filipino cuisine. With a name that cleverly plays on the traditional Filipino way of eating (using both spoon and fork), this modern spot is the perfect introduction to the cuisine's beloved dishes such as lechon and adobo pork belly.

Bread is in this restaurant's name and should be front and center on your dining plan here as it's freshly baked and delicious, served with sides like fresh cheese and smoked trout. The light, bright, and open space and umbrella- and tree-filled patio is popular for coffee and baked bread and pastries early in the day; grain bowls, salads, and avocado toast for lunch and brunch (on weekends); and the oyster bar, sandwiches, pastas, and creative cocktails as lunch rolls in to dinner. Menus change with the season and cocktails are made with locally sourced spirits.

Consistently rated one of the top sushi spots in L.A., Sushi Gen continues to dole out the freshest and tastiest fish in town. Sit at the elongated bar and get to know the sushi masters while they prepare your lunch. Sometimes the simplest sushi is the best, so forgo any fancy rolls and ask the chef what’s fresh and let them do the rest.

A calming effect comes over you as you enter this simple sushi bar on one of L.A.'s most fashionable streets. Chef Yoshimoto actually sharpened his skills inside Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market where he learned what the best quality fish really means, resulting in sushi that transports you to Japan.

L.A. may not be known for barbecue but this no-frills saloon-inspired joint delivers juicy carnivore cuts like brisket, ribs, and sausage, plus southern sides (corn muffins, potato salad, and mac and cheese!) for when you feel like eating until the meat sweats kick in. The giant double-barreled smoker greets guests before they're even through the door. Try the wide variety of hot and barbecue sauces and finish with fried Oreos or Twinkies. You might just think you've died and gone to Texas though tri tip's roots are firmly planted on the Central California coast.

This handroll bar is brought to you by the same team behind Sushi Note, known for its high-quality sashimi. Sōgo Roll Bar welcomes guests into a cute and cozy atmosphere, ready to serve hand rolls á la carte or in sets of three to six. There are also a handful of donburi and sashimi options, all of which pair well with the bar’s list of sake and wines. It's perfect for a solo meal or a quick date night.

You likely won't notice this cramped little spot on Glendale Boulevard unless there's a line or you're a fan of the late, great Anthony Bourdain (he was a big fan). But trust that line to mean that Tacos Villa Corona serves some of the best no-fuss tacos, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos in the neighborhood, especially on weekend mornings when the locals come to nurse their hangovers. 

It’s a bit of a specific recognition, but Tam O’Shanter is the oldest restaurant run by the same family in the same location in Los Angeles, operating for more than 90 years in its Tudor-style spot. Their delicious food, ranging from thinly cut prime rib to belly-warming shepherd's pie, makes it one of the most festive places in town during the holidays. Fun fact: it was Walt Disney’s favorite restaurant.

Taverna Tony, nestled in the heart of Malibu's Country Mart, is a beloved Greek restaurant that has been serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine to generations of residents and visitors for more than three decades. The restaurant's rustic decor, complete with white-washed walls and blue accents, transports guests to a traditional Greek taverna. The menu features a wide array of classic Greek dishes, from fresh seafood and grilled meats to traditional appetizers like dolmades and saganaki. Try the combination platter to get a morsel of everything, or one of the happy hour bargains. Their signature dish, a whole grilled branzino fish, is as fresh as the crisp decor. Bread is made onsite daily and served with Tony's famous dip. On weekends, the restaurant comes alive with live Greek music, belly dancing, and occasional plate-breaking, adding to the festive atmosphere. Opa!

Muggles can feast on British pub fare and toast with butterbeer just like the boy who lived and generations of Hogwarts students at Three Broomsticks and Hog's Head, a snow-capped rustic tavern and bar found within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of Universal Studios. Wash down across-the-pond favorites—including shepherd's pie (there's also a vegan version), fish-and-chips, chocolate trifle, and bangers and mash—with four types of butterbeer (hot, cold, nondairy, and frozen). It's a great choice for diners with allergies as they have menus that cater to those who can't eat the top nine culinary allergens (milk, sesame, soy, tree nuts, etc.).

This is just the kind of over-the-top theme dining situation you'd expect from its prime location on Universal CityWalk and its mouthful of a name. The extensive menu caters to everyone with comfort foods including nachos made with Tater Tots instead of chips, and the steampunk decor includes a domed ceiling with a dirigible mural, industrial cogs, and smokestacks. There's a bar, multilevel dining rooms, and a retail shop to purchase house-made chocolates. Big groups with aching feet slide into comfy booths for fanciful cocktails (one is topped with a cotton candy cloud), over-the-top milkshakes and desserts and a robust selection of soups, salads, burgers, pastas, and larger entrées like vegetarian stir-fry or meat loaf. Gimmicky but unique are the options that use chocolate in savory applications. For example, onion rings come with chocolate aioli, sliders have chocolate covered bacon and wings are flash-fried in hot chocolate sauce.

This rustic trattoria along San Vicente has been a favorite celebrity haunt for decades. Expect elevated sensory offerings, from its cozy atmosphere to its mouthwatering Tuscan and Italian fare (including carpaccio and gnocchi scampi) and excellent wine list.

Despite being set in the middle of Hollywood’s mad dash, the surprisingly serene oasis that is the Tropicana Bar is where California fare meets refreshing tropical cocktails in a vintage Hollywood setting. While the poolside loungers are technically restricted to hotel guests, visitors are welcome (at the hotel's discretion) to take advantage of the bar and kitchen service in view of that glorious heated pool with its David Hockney mural. Summer events include movie nights and daytime DJs, so plan accordingly if visiting during the warmer months. On the menu are crowd favorites like fish tacos, sliders, and the ever-present avocado toast, here on house-made sourdough and topped with pickled onions.

The ultratrendy Urth Caffé is full of beautiful people refueling on organic coffee and tea with a range of health-conscious sandwiches, salads, and juices. The outdoor patio is a great place to take in the scene or spot celebrities.

Coffee and light foods are the main event at Valerie Echo Park. Different varieties of tea take over half the menu and many of the morsels advertised only serve to complement the hot beverages; the desserts, though, are the unique kind that only a celebrated chocolatier like co-owner Valerie Gordon could produce. Even those who don't enjoy tea may find themselves perfectly delighted.

This beachfront bar tucked alongside the pier has been the local watering hole for musicians like the Beatles, the Doors, and the Beach Boys since 1944. It boasts an amazing view and serves tasty California pub food like fish tacos, Prince Edward Island mussels and fries, and avocado toast with a basic selection of beers. The Whaler smash burger (with whaler sauce, naturally) is an institution in itself. Be prepared for rowdy crowds of sports fans and beachgoers at happy hour and on weekends. A rotating menu of special events keeps both regulars and visitors entertained. They also serve a great brunch.

While Wax Paper has a few outdoor tables set up for dining, this tiny sandwich place in Frogtown is tailor-made for to-go orders. The modest selection of brilliantly prepared sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients and named after NPR hosts; they're best enjoyed along the river or at a nearby park. They come in hearty helpings, so bring your appetite.

Yume, which means dream in Japanese, could not be more appropriately named. With its intentionally sourced melts-in-your-mouth fish, precision knife work, eye-catching plating, vegetables that are far from an afterthought (green beans sautéed in sweet garlic sauce will live in your mind rent-free), liberal use of truffle products, and dimly lit sleekly designed space in Old Town Calabasas, you'll fantasize about returning to this second outpost of a stalwart Studio City sushiya nightly. Besides sushi, sashimi, and specialty rolls like cilantro yellowtail roll or albacore with kogashi butter soy (yum!), there are so many other things to eat including salads, oysters with uni and caviar, veggie-forward small plates, skewers, and hot entrées such as escabeche and miso black cod. Open late, a rarity in this sleepy little village, with a bar stocked with rare sakes and lots of Japanese whiskey, it can become quite the "wealthy parents' night out" scene so reservations are encouraged.

With antique wood hutches, copper moldings, and a fireplace, this establishment draws a diverse clientele in search of grilled octopus drizzled with a spicy limoncello vinaigrette, soulful spaghetti carbonara, pumpkin-filled mezzelune (half moon–shaped ravioli), and classic osso buco. The wine list is moderately priced and, weather permitting, you can sit on the walled patio that, despite its proximity to L.A. traffic, feels wonderfully escapist.

In fast-paced Century City, this quaint restaurant pays homage to comfort food classics. Look for chicken potpie, macaroni and cheese, roast beef sandwiches, and a slew of hearty salads. A great breakfast or lunch detour as you make your way to the beaches, Clementine has a bakery case that's filled to the brim with slices of banana bread with cream-cheese frosting, oatmeal raisin cookies, and freshly made cinnamon rolls (Saturday only).

Accommodating Century City's growing legions of agents and lawyers, Craft, around since 2007, is a major film industry hangout. At the helm is Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio, who whips up shared plates like roasted octopus and foie gras with apple butter. Boutique produce goes into the plethora of side dishes, and desserts may include triple chocolate sunflower cookies or house-made ice creams and sorbets. In its open, airy dining room, deals are brokered over lunches made with seasonal ingredients.

Highly regarded sushi chef Katsuya Uechi turns out spicy tuna atop crispy rice, whimsical wonton cones filled with scoops of silky crab and tuna tartare, and larger plates like miso-marinated black cod. Don't neglect the plates from the robata bar, where skewers of meats are grilled over hot coals. Trend-conscious patrons sit in a seductive space designed by Philippe Starck. Glossy lips kiss the room's clientele from one wall, while kohl-rimmed eyes peer out from behind the sushi bar.

This family-owned restaurant specializes in the subtle cooking of one of Mexico's most respected culinary regions: Oaxaca. The flavors here are intense without being fiery, as families dine under Mexican-themed murals and antique masks. Try this version of chiles rellenos: bright green chili peppers stuffed with chicken, raisins, and nuts. Don't miss any of the complex moles ladled over chicken, pork, salmon, or extra-tender stewed goat. For dessert, there's fried sweet plantains topped with crème fraîche.

Locals line up outside the door for Versailles's respectable, bargain-priced Cuban food. Diners go crazy over the citrusy mojo-marinated chicken seasoned with loads of garlic; others prefer flank steak, paella, or ropa vieja (shredded beef).