9 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California
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.
Formosa Cafe
The walls of this iconic Chinese restaurant tell a story with rows of black and white headshots of the Hollywood actors, and photos of directors and celebrities who have dined here since 1939. When the 1933 Group took over the building a few years ago, they refreshed the Chinese-inspired design with red lanterns, intricate woodwork, and Asian motifs. The scenic bar is popular during Golden Hour into the evening. What makes this restaurant extra special besides the delicious Chinese food and craft cocktails is the allure of dining inside a historic street car. Menu favorites include orange chicken, veggie bao dumplings, fried tofu and Chinese chicken salad. They offer a weekend brunch menu with avocado toast, steak and eggs, mimosas, and a classic Bloody Mary.
Katana
Katana is a unique high-end Japanese robatayaki-style restaurant with a terrace above Sunset Boulevard. Diners enjoy robata skewers grilled over bincho charcoals, infusing meats, seafood, and vegetables with rich smokiness. Sit on the outdoor patio with sake and colorful cocktails, while popping array of signature rolls, sashimi and nigiri into your palate. During the week, Happy Hour in the bar is from 5:30 to 7 pm. There is a sexy vibe, a live DJ, and dramatic candlelight.
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Uovo
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
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.
Breakfast Republic West Hollywood
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.
HiHo Cheeseburger
Locals enjoy the fast-casual HiHo Cheeseburger, where the humble burger is elevated with high-quality ingredients: premium 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef with freshly baked buns and topped with locally sourced produce. The menu includes a variety of gourmet burgers with a selection of sauces and toppings. Sides, such as fries and milkshakes, complete the meal. They also offer alternatives like a veggie burger for those with dietary preferences for a more elevated fast-food experience.
Little Fish
Not even a year after it officially opened in Echo Park, Little Fish was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand, and rightfully so. As the name suggests, this casual restaurant that shares its space with a market serves seafood-forward dishes, like fish tartines and fish and mushroom congee. Their most beloved item, the signature fried fish sandwich, is only available during lunch and comes with kewpie mayo and dill pickles on a potato bun. Little Fish also has steak and vegetarian offerings that are just as delicious, making it a worthwhile add to your list of must-eats.
Rustic Canyon
A Santa Monica mainstay, the seasonally changing menu at this farm-to-table wine bar and seasonal kitchen consistently upends norms and has even earned a Michelin nod. The homey, minimalist space offers sweeping views of Wilshire Boulevard. On any given night, the menu of California cuisine may include bay scallops with Weiser Farms sunchokes or a heritage bone-in pork chop with apple butter. Everything is made in-house, down to the sea salt. Ask the knowledgeable staff for suggested pairings from the never-ending wine list.
