38 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

Walk through the rustic wooden door and into a softly lit dining room with long communal tables and a lively crowd; come later in the night and the place heats up with an enthusiastic post-pub crowd lured by the seasonal menu and outstanding small plates, charcuterie, pastas, and pizza. Begin with a pizza made with house-made chorizo, grilled pear with burrata and prosciutto, or Snow Island oysters. For the main course, options include saffron spaghetti and pork belly with Oaxacan grits. Typically boisterous, the patio is a great hang-out spot and a gem for a Sunday brunch. 

In continuous operation since 1917, Grand Central Market has always been a hub for ethnic eats from Jewish delis and Asian fishmongers to Italian butchers and Latino farmers. While the vendors have changed over time, the market continues to feature an ever-evolving array of all-day dining choices, like Wexler’s Deli for the best lox in L.A., or Madcapra for inventive falafel. For those willing to wait in a Disney-esque line, Eggslut is your breakfast go-to. And for lunch on a chilly day, don’t pass up the slurp-worthy vegan hot spot Ramen Hood by Top Chef winner Ilan Hall.

Family-owned Guisados has achieved cult status in L.A. with locations throughout the city (DTLA, Boyle Heights, WeHo) to accommodate its popularity. This Echo Park spot is worshipped and well supported locally for Nana’s slow-cooked stew recipes, cooked to perfection for five to six hours and slapped on house-grilled tortillas. Since this is L.A., there are vegan and vegetarian options as well, but the bestsellers include the steak picado, chicken tinga, and chorizo quesadilla. All tacos are delicious, so you may want to get a sampler to try a variety. Chase your picks with made-daily agua frescas like the summer-perfect Armando Palmero. 

Part restaurant, part bakery, part market, Joan’s on Third has a little bit of everything. This roadside French-style café caters to families, the occasional local celebrity, and lovers of all things wholesome. Inside, clean white walls give way to a daily fresh deli/salad counter, imported cheeses, crispy baguettes, and fresh pastries. People-watch on the outdoor patio while eating egg-white omelets and tuna melts. It's crowded on weekends; the key is to arrive around 9 am to secure your spot outside.

This James Beard Award winner not only has the look and feel of a no-frills Jewish deli from New York, it also has the food to match. The draw here is the hand-cut pastrami: lean, peppery, robust—and with a reputation for being the best in town. Other classics include the #19 (pastrami with Swiss and coleslaw piled high on twice-baked rye), but purists prefer it straight up with Russian dressing. The neighborhood is a little rough around the edges, but if you're in search of a classic deli, it would be wise not to worry and dive in for blintzes, matzo ball soup, and a take-home order of rugelach.

First opened in 1908, Philippe's is one of L.A.'s oldest restaurants and claims to be the originator of the French dip sandwich. While the debate continues around the city, one thing is certain: the dips made with beef, pork, ham, lamb, or turkey on a freshly baked roll stand the test of time. Join locals as they chow down at communal tables while debating Dodgers games and politics. Orders are taken at the counter where some of the motherly servers have managed their long lines for decades, doling out huge breakfasts, chili, pickled eggs, and a generous pie selection. The best bargain: a cup of java for 50¢.

This stunning expansive space, originally built for Charlie Chaplin back in the 1920s, serves French delicacies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week. The scent of homemade croissants wafts through the building in the morning; steak frites can be enjoyed at night. A full bar keeps things buzzing throughout the evening.

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 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. The plates are massive, but you're bound to finish your meal.

With the extensive and eclectic breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus here, coupled with the fantastic cocktail menu and charming little marketplace, breakfast can easily turn into lunch and then late lunch. Patrons tend to adopt a slow pace, staggering orders of coffee, luscious crepes, small plates, and delicious entrées, all while adopting 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 afternoons.

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.

This granddaddy of L.A. delicatessens (it opened in 1931) cures its own corned beef and pastrami and features delectable desserts from the in-house bakery. It's not the best (or friendliest) deli in town, but it's a classic. The space is huge, so wait times are short. Open round the clock, you can expect some post-bar rowdiness after 2 am. Next door is the Kibitz Room, where you can hear live music or comedy every night of the week.

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.

The husband-and-wife team that took over Cindy’s never set out to create a trendy space for hipsters looking for their next artisanal fix; they just wanted to make great, accessible food. That’s exactly what they've done, and by doing so they've established a neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices and back-to-basics food that just so happens to look retro cool. Another reason to love Cindy's: they make almost everything in-house, including the smoked and cured meats.

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).

Escape busy Santa Monica State Beach to dine at this casual café and bar within the unfussy oceanfront hotel Shutters on the Beach. Head here at sunset for sophisticated, fruity cocktails and fresh seafood, like oysters, Dungeness crab, or a lobster roll, just one block from Santa Monica Pier.

While you definitely should try the flat shoe-shaped dish El Huarache Azteca is named after—think somewhere between a flatbread and a tostada—you cannot go wrong with any of the other options at this family restaurant that’s been a fixture in the area for the last couple of decades. Just be aware there’s often a wait for the food to come out.

Its walls may be heavy with framed photographs of film and TV stars, and folks from the biz might regularly grace its tables, but this Studio City diner is every bit as down-to-earth as your next-door neighbor, even after 40-some years. It gets pretty busy, but a plateful of that home cooking is worth the wait; or if you’re in a mad dash, grab a caffeine or fruit smoothie fix from the Neighbarista.

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.

Founded by Santa Monica natives, Huckleberry brings together the best ingredients from local farmers and growers to craft diner-style comfort food with a chic twist. Nearly everything is made on-site, even the hot sauce and almond milk. The light, bright space is perfect for a quick brunch. Choose from savories like toad-in-the-hole with housemade chimichurri or a chicken shawarma wrap with beet and carrot slaw and Castelvetrano olives. Breakfast is served all day. Baked goods rotate frequently according to the seasonal whims of the pastry chef; favorites include the Meyer lemon hazelnut scones. Bonito Coffee Roasters coffee tempts from the extensive drink menu.

Assemble a beach picnic like a Malibu local at this humble, health-conscious spot where sandwiches include the Surfer Princess (turkey and avocado) and the salads include the Quinoa Queen. You can also choose from smoothies and juices, salads, açaí bowls, snacks, drinks, and more. John's has served locals for more than four decades; you'll find yourself mingling with them in the sunny outdoor dining area.

Born out of the owner’s need for more kitchen space for her growing production catering business, Kitchen Mouse has blossomed into a wildly popular neighborhood restaurant with a cozy rustic-meets-modern look and an inspired, mostly organic vegan--vegetarian menu. The food is bright with vibrant flavors.

Walking into woman-owned Lady Byrd Cafe is like walking through a portal to a fairy-tale land filled with whimsical decor, inventive greenhouse-sheltered tables, and grandma tableware, which explains its Insta-famous status. But, it’s much more than just a pretty place to eat; dishes are pretty delectable. Think: lemon poppy seed pancakes and salmon, pork, or classic eggs Benedicts for breakfast, and spicy pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and pastas for lunch and dinner, all with house-made sauces and embellishments. To encourage an unhurried vibe, foliage is everywhere as are pillows and warm blankets. There are outlets if you want to work in an enchanted setting. 

The purveyor of the finest Belgian chocolate in all of Los Angeles, Lady Chocolatt is the perfect answer to the age-old question of what to gift on any special occasion. The ornate display case is filled with dark chocolate truffles, hazelnut pralines, Grand Marnier ganaches, and so much more, all handcrafted by a Master Chocolatier in Belgium. Post up for a late-afternoon espresso or heaven-sent hot chocolate, and let your chocolate dreams wander. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Waiting in line at Porto's is as much a part of the experience as is indulging in one of its roasted pork sandwiches or chocolate-dipped croissants. This Cuban bakery and café has been an L.A. staple for more than 50 years, often drawing crowds during lunch. Counter service is quick and efficient, though, so go for one of the tasty sandwiches like the pan con lechon (roasted pork), or try the potato balls (heaven). Just don’t skip dessert.