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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 philoso
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 landscap
Los Angeles may be known for its beach living and celebrity-infused backdrop, but it was once a farm town. The hillsides
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.
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.
353 N. Pass Ave., Los Angeles, California, 91505, USA
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.
3600 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, California, 90020, USA
Hearty home cooking may not be a big part of L.A.'s dining scene, but that doesn't mean you can't have it when you're visiting the city. Tucked in the heart of Burbank, this diner-style spot serves chili everything, from traditional chili bowls to open-faced chili burgers. Of course, this being Los Angeles, ingredients are locally sourced from organic and sustainable farms.
2018 W. Burbank Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 91506, USA
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.
1500 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90041, USA
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.
3701 Cahuenga Blvd. W, Los Angeles, California, 91604, USA
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.
5902 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90042, USA
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
For years, the diner at the Beverly Garland Hotel was sadly overlooked. No longer. Led by Executive Chef Warren Schwartz, the menu at Warren's Blackboard is simple, seasonal and approachable. A comfortable dining area that's great for families is on one side of the room, and a bar area with television screens playing classic movies can be found on the other. Start with a buratta and pear salad and a spectacularly savory mushroom and bacon popover. Dinner entrées include grilled salmon with yams, treviso, and tangerines, or seared scallops with carrot risotto, grapefruit, and tarragon.
Beverly Garland Hotel, 4222 Vineland Ave., Los Angeles, California, 91602, USA
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