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$$ | Santa Monica |
Pasta is served here dalla forma, meaning it's cooked, then dipped into a cheese wheel and stirred up until it's coated with melted cheese before serving. Catering to a higher-end crowd, Forma specializes in cheeses, pastas, and pizzas. It also serves small plates like fresh mozzarella knots, arancini balls, and crispy artichokes prepared Roman style. A generous happy hour from 3 to 6 lets you discover many of the specialties without breaking the bank.
1610 Montana Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90403, USA
Known For
- Amazing pasta stirred in a cheese wheel
- Fresh mozzarella knots
- Roman-style crispy artichokes
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$$ | |
If your vacation dreams run more British hunting lodge than SoCal beach scene, Fox and Farrow might be your place. Run by longtime South Bay chef Darren Weiss, this gastropub features classic fare like hunter's pie with wild boar alongside more creative concepts inspired by the Pacific Rim, all in a clubby ambience: think British-racing-green velvet Chesterfields and paneled wood walls. Order from an inspired list of craft cocktails to add to your experience. Then finish your night at the adjacent Underground pub, which also benefits from Weiss' influence.
1332 Hermosa Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90254, USA
Known For
- Speakeasy-meets-hunt-club vibes
- Savory duck pasta
- Craft cocktail menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | | Asian
It's no secret that the San Gabriel Valley where Pasadena is located has some of the best Chinese food outside of China. Green Zone is at the top of its class, serving out organic Chinese cuisine. Their claim to fame is their buttery Hainan chicken, paired with a bowl of aromatic rice and spiked with ginger and scallion sauce.
34 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, California, 91105, USA
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: greenzonerestaurant.com
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$$ | Koreatown |
A classic L.A. Mexican eatery, Guelaguetza serves the complex but not overpoweringly spicy cooking of Oaxaca, one of Mexico's most renowned culinary capitals. Inside, you'll find a largely Spanish-speaking clientele bobbing their heads to nightly jazz, marimba, and rock while wolfing down the restaurant's specialty: the moles. The intense flavors come from intricate combinations of nuts, seeds, spices, chilis, and bitter chocolate. Be sure to check out the pizza-like tlayudas topped with white cheese and tasajo (dried beef) or cecina (chili-marinated pork) and chorizo.
3014 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90006, USA
Known For
- Mole
- Chili-marinated pork
- Family-owned restaurant
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Hollywood |
Los Angeles is known for wonderful hole-in-the-wall eateries tucked inside tiny strip malls, and family-owned Jitlada is Exhibit A, churning out delicious, spicy, southern Thai dishes since 2006. If the colorful yet low-key dining area doesn’t astound you, then the menu with more than 300 options just might. Consider this experience a dive deep into Thai cuisine and chef Tui Sungkamee’s creative mind.
5233½ W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
Known For
- Coco mango salad
- Crying tiger beef
- Huge menu of over 300 options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | |
You may feel like you’re about to walk into a sauna rather than a restaurant because of its minimalist light-color wood on white-paint interior, but you'll find nothing but colorful, gorgeous, Middle Eastern dishes here at Kismet. This James Beard nominee perfectly blends comforting Middle Eastern and Israeli cuisine with California flavors and plant-based flair, all served in a modern space.
4648 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
Known For
- Persian crispy rice
- Tasty lamb meatballs
- Middle Eastern classics with a Cali twist
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$$ | |
Just look for the swaying Italian flag at a strip mall on Hillhurst and Melbourne, and you’ll stumble into La Pergoletta, a cozy little space. Though the decor is decidedly frenzied, it still maintains a chic yet rustic quality that looks like it was cobbled together by an Italian nonna. More important, the food tastes like it was made by her, too.
1802 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
Known For
- Fresh pasta you can customize
- Panna & Funghi
- Food just like Nonna used to make
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$$ | |
With a vintage bar and dapper barkeep who mixes up seasonally inspired retro cocktails, an attached Italian deli where you can pick up a pizza kit to take back to your Airbnb or kitchenette, and a $25 Monday-night supper, it's not surprising that Little Dom's is a neighborhood gem. Cozy and inviting, with big leather booths you can sink into for the night, the restaurant puts a modern spin on classic Italian dishes such as rice balls, fish piccata, and spaghetti and meatballs.
2128 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
Known For
- Ricotta cheese and fresh blueberry pancakes
- Excellent pizza margherita
- Fun weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Hollywood |
Tucked away from the frenzy of Hollywood, this Los Angeles outpost of the famous Naples-based pizza spot (featured in Eat Pray Love) attracts patrons of all L.A. varieties, from industry folks looking for hearty Italian classics to tourists needing respite from the touristing. L'antica serves comforting yet elevated Neapolitan pie and pasta dishes in an expansive and relaxed classic Italian-meets-modern-Californian indoor-outdoor space accented with lush greenery. You're here for the century-old authentic-Italian pizzas cooked in the signature stone oven, but you should try the pastas, the slow-cooked short rib, and the Italian-style spritz menu. You might care that this is also one of the very few places in L.A. to enjoy zucchini flowers.
1534 N. McCadden Pl., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA
Known For
- Century-old pizza recipe
- Delicious pastas
- Indoor-outdoor dining
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$$ | Hollywood |
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.
4905 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90029, USA
Known For
- Iconic Lebanese-Armenian restaurant
- Combination platters
- Walnut baclava
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$$ | |
While Masa of Echo Park does do excellent “bistro pizzas,” as the restaurant calls them, it's mostly known for the delectable deep-dish pies that may just be the best you’ll find this side of Chicago. Be prepared, though—it can take a while to get seated and up to 45 minutes to get that deep dish you ordered, so it might be best to call ahead.
1800 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
Known For
- Vegan menu options
- Family-style dining
- Deep-dish pizza
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$ | Studio City |
If the charming, Italian square--inspired interior doesn’t turn you into a sappy mush, then Miceli’s musical servers serenading you with Italian opera will. Studio City might not be the most romantic place in L.A., but one dinner at this restaurant might make you feel like you're in a Hollywood version of Rome.
3655 Cahuenga Blvd. W, Los Angeles, California, 90068, USA
Known For
- Specialty pastas
- Singing servers
- Touristy crowd
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$$ | |
The perfect pairing of simplicity and complexity, Momed serves Mediterranean fare that is comforting yet upscale. The welcoming atmosphere is just as perfect for a romantic date night as it is for a more boisterous brunch with friends.
3245 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90039, USA
Known For
- Excellent Atlantic salmon
- Short rib tagine
- Fun weekend brunch
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$$ | |
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.
913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, California, 91106, USA
Known For
- Simple burgers
- Enormous pie slices
- Retro-style decor
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$$ | Hollywood | Italian
Chef Nancy Silverton, of Osteria Mozza, owns this upscale pizza and antipasto eatery. The pies—thin-crusted delights with golden, blistered edges—are more Campania than California and are served piping hot daily. Like the dishes, the wines on the Italian-only list are both interesting and affordable. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar.
641 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90036, USA
Known For
- Affordable Italian-only wines
- Walk-ins welcome at bar
- Late-night eats
- Goat cheese, leek, scallion, garlic, and bacon pizza
- Family friendliness
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$$ | West Hollywood |
At 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. Her sister pizzeria is also right next door.
8247 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90046, USA
Known For
- All-vegan cuisine
- Incredible pastas
- Stellar wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | Miracle Mile |
Whether you want to fill up before perusing L.A.’s best art galleries or simply grab a drink to soak in the priceless sculptures at the LACMA, Ray’s and Stark Bar is the perfect complement to any museumgoer's experience. Situated just outside the main entrance of the museum, the restaurant/bar offers a variety of Americana cuisine like pizza, burgers, and pastas. Come on the weekend if you’ve got your four-legged friends with you, as the restaurant hosts a “Barky Brunch” with special treats for your pups.
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90036, USA
Known For
- Good happy hour
- Fun (dog-friendly) brunch
- Excellent signature cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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$$ | Venice |
This indoor--outdoor restaurant has served Venice for more than four decades but constantly reinvents itself, serving mouthwatering California cuisines and offering multiple patios, a full bar, and a bakery. Creative types sip espressos and tap on keyboards under the macramé chandeliers, while young families gather out back to snack on smoked radiatore carbonara and crispy brussels sprouts. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Rose is a sophisticated yet unpretentious wonderland in the heart of Venice.
220 Rose Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90291, USA
Known For
- Sophisticated but unpretentious vibe
- Location in the heart of Venice
- Lively patio seating
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$$ | |
Vegan food can be satisfying, filling, and incredibly delicious; and Sage Vegan Bistro, situated in an industrial-modern space on busy Sunset Boulevard, is proof, with its vegan beer and anything made with jackfruit. And like any quality vegan place in L.A., the food is made from locally sourced and organic produce.
1700 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
Known For
- Vegan ice cream
- Cauliflower wings
- Vegan beer
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$$ | Hollywood |
Featuring all locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce, an all-day lunch menu, and a popular patio, this former West Hollywood 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.
1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90038, USA
Known For
- Oatmeal griddle cakes
- Hearty sandwiches
- All California-grown ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
