217 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

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.

Open since 1969, House of Pies is quintessential SoCal comfort food. With a slight retro diner vibe, the restaurant famously offers over 20 flavors of pie for sale, ranging from coconut cream and banana cream to lemon meringue and Dutch apple. A menu hangs on the wall above the register, so take your time at your booth to brainstorm how you will tackle all of its flavors with your party. Depending on what time of day you go in to satiate your cravings, House of Pies also has classic diner options that never fail, such as creamy eggs Benedict, chicken quesadilla, and a hearty cup of clam chowder. 

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 huevos rancheros with black bean puree or a Niman Ranch ham and Gruyère sandwich. Breakfast is served all day. Baked goods rotate frequently according to the seasonal whims of the pastry chef; the kouign amann is always a standout. Bonito Coffee Roasters coffee tempts from the extensive drink menu.

Drop in any day from 7 am to 5 pm to use the free Wi-Fi and score a quick cold brew or strong pour-over made from freshly roasted beans at this corner location. There’s indoor and outdoor seating where you’ll find a respite from Hollywood Boulevard. The small bites menu includes locally made pastries, oatmeal, and quiche.

Los Angeles is known for wonderful hole-in-the-wall eateries tucked inside tiny strip malls, and family-owned Jitlada is Exhibit A, specializing in delicious, spicy, southern Thai dishes. Consider this experience a dive deep into Thai cuisine made with the freshest ingredients. If the colorful yet low-key dining area doesn’t astound you, then the menu with more than 300 options just might.

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, acai bowls, snacks, drinks, and more.

Bringing Taiwanese food made with California ingredients to a Central American--dominated neighborhood may sound ambitious, but Joy has long made it work by keeping close ties with the community, preserving its building's history, and serving comforting, affordable classic Taiwanese dishes. Pine & Crane's sister restaurant uses spices and flavors that are more accessible to less adventurous food lovers, but the unfussy dishes on its small menu are still comforting, wholesome, and familiar to those who grew up eating some versions of them. Prepare to share small bites and mains with a small group; Joy's dan dan Noodles and pork belly rice are must-have items. Expect modest lines during the weekends, but the food rolls out quickly. 

It gives off the look of a sauna 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 cuisine with California flavors and plant-based flair, all served in a modern space.

Born out of owner Erica Daking’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, ranging from snickerdoodle pancakes to chilaquiles that are irresistible and accessible to people of all diets. It’s no coincidence that pop superstar Billie Eilish is known to frequent Kitchen Mouse!

This new vibrant seafood restaurant is known for dishes like Maryland-style crab dip, tuna tostada, crispy crab cake with house tartar sauce, dry-aged cheeseburger, fresh grilled fish, and brown butter cake with Chantilly cream and salted caramel sauce. Pair your meal with a nice selection of white, red, rosé, and bubbly wines by the glass and bottle.

Koi first opened its doors in 2002 and immediately became one of the buzziest restaurants in Los Angeles, attracting a who's who clientele salivating over their unique Asian-fusion cuisine. Today, it continues to deliver on every level: fun atmosphere, incredible food, and solid celebrity sightings. Favorites here are the Koi Crispy Rice and Miso Bronzed Cod, but the menu is littered with raw and cooked fish that dazzles. Though you can find Koi sisters in New York and Las Vegas, the original matters, as does the super professional waitstaff who have been here from the beginning.

La Dolce Vita, the iconic Beverly Hills Italian spot, is back, bringing old-school charm with a fresh twist. Originally opened in 1966, it was a Rat Pack favorite, and its dimly lit, red-leather-booth vibes remain. Expect classic Italian dishes, stiff martinis, and a taste of Hollywood history—revived for a new era.

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.

Situated inside the Hotel Normandie in a minuscule space, Le Comptoir is a 10-seat French restaurant helmed by chef Gary Menes that features veggie-forward food in an unstuffy setting. The counter spot earned a Michelin star for its organic kitchen and intimate atmosphere that gives guests one-on-one attention from the chef who is making and plating your food right in front of you.

It may feel like your typical sports bar, but a couple of things elevate the Link N Hops experience, such as the excellent hot dog sandwiches and 24 craft beers on tap. And about those signature links: there are around 20, some of which are made with less commonly seen ingredients like rattlesnake, duck, and bacon. Link N Hops is an ideal place for a quick bite on the cheap. 

It's not surprising that Little Dom's is a neighborhood gem. The restaurant features a vintage bar and besuited barkeep who mixes up seasonally inspired retro cocktails, an attached Italian deli where you can pick up a make-at-home pizza kit, and a $25 Monday-night supper. 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.

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.

Part restaurant, part bakery, and part learning annex, Lodge Bread Company beckons customers with freshly baked sourdough—the aroma of which wafts over the entire neighborhood. Inside, guests can enjoy fermented pizzas, savory sandwiches, and crisp morning toasts. For budding bread makers, the shop offers classes on baking sourdough, where you can learn how to make a starter from scratch and how to best stretch and score dough.

Lodge Bread in Beverly Hills brings serious sourdough game with thick-cut toasts, hearty sandwiches, and killer pastries. The vibe is casual, the coffee’s strong, and everything’s made with top-notch ingredients.

Florentine focaccia sandwiches take center stage at this quick and easy sandwich shop in Beverly Hills. Specialties include the Capriccio with stracciatella and pesto or pastas like the penne with meatballs and pecorino.

If you’re in the mood for good old-fashioned fun coupled with hearty Mexican fare and delicious drinks, consider Los Amigos, whose legendary fruity margaritas—in nine flavors!—alone are worth the drive. Pair those with chili verde, taquitos, or a molcajete for two on karaoke night (four nights a week!), and you’re guaranteed a good time well into the night.

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 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. Weekday afternoon happy hour is a wonderful respite.

Boasting one of the most stunning rooftops in L.A., Margot is a fresh face and hopping hot spot for the Culver City dining and drinking scene. The expansive space gives off a Moroccan casbah vibe, with just as many hints of Southern California for good measure. Open for weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant's menu consists of fresh seafood, a variety of shared plates, and large servings of succulent meats and sizzling pastas. The view is the star, though, so make it a point of coming for sunset and soaking in the rays on the massive outdoor deck.

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.

While Masa of Echo Park does 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.

This steak house doesn't just feature the best views of the beach; it's also a great place to scope out A-listers. You may be paying for the ambience, but mouthwatering Wagyu steaks, Dungeness crab, and lobster mashed potatoes just seem to taste better when the ocean is nipping at your feet. Live jazz can be heard every night of the week, and a lively brunch on the weekends is always a scene as well. To score a reservation, try booking at least three weeks in advance.

Matū is a steak restaurant that features 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef from New Zealand. Diners are treated to a cavalcade of meaty options, but you should opt for the (surprisingly) affordable Matū dinner that comes with five courses and includes everything from steak tartare to eight-hour braised beef cheek. If you come for lunch, you can partake in the best Philly cheesesteak in the city made with the same exceptional beef.

For an authentic Ethiopian experience, you will enjoy dining at the family-owned Merkato. Classics like spongy injera bread, spicy beef, and grilled fish are meant to be enjoyed with your hands. The market has Ethiopian ingredients to purchase to make at home.

Michael’s, a Santa Monica institution, was one of the first to introduce "California cuisine" to a then-skeptical public more than four decades ago. Its rotating menu runs the gamut from 30-day dry-aged Wagyu Bolognese with pappardelle to charred octopus with ibérico chorizo. The expansive space features a stunning plant-lined patio with a retractable roof, which attracts a well-heeled crowd without being stuffy. The happy hour menu is a steal.

A longtime darling for Angelenos, Milk Bar is a sweets shop that will cure any sugary cravings. The Milk Bar pie and cereal-milk soft serve are favorites, but you can also take classes with owner Christina Tosi to become your own baking master.