217 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles, California

Nothing says Beverly Hills quite like the Polo Lounge inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. This classic, monied spot is home to Hollywood royalty and entertainment luminaries noshing on lobster Nicoise or the famed Wagyu burger during power lunches. A beautiful flower-lined courtyard provides a modicum of privacy for celebrity A-, B-, and C-listers, while inside features live piano music every night of the week. Afternoon tea is a favorite for locals and the Sunday jazz brunch is the perfect way to end your weekend. Note that there's a loose dress code here, which means no baseball hats, ripped jeans, men's tank tops, or the like.

This enchanting French brasserie offers a charming library, a bar with a fireplace lounge, a private dining room, a beautiful covered outdoor dining patio, and a large interior dining room. The talented chefs prepare traditional French fare that includes the best French onion soup, sliced baguette with Normandy butter, garlicky escargot, steaks, duck, fish, and pasta. Select from an appealing range of California and French wines to pair with your meal. Save room for the vanilla crème brûlée and chocolate mousse cake with pistachio ice cream. Sip mimosas during the elegant Sunday brunch.

For an extravagant dining adventure, step into Barton G and start with a tantalizing nitro-cocktail with a flaky lobster pop tart baking inside a bright yellow retro toaster. Drinks and dishes here are to be admired and appreciated in this fun and glamorous setting. A large carnival-style popcorn machine is delivered to various tables with Old Bay spiced popcorn and crispy shrimp with a sriracha aioli dipping sauce. Save room for a smoking treasure box with Valrhona 66% double chocolate bittersweet brownies and house-made Tahitian vanilla bean nitro ice cream, and a wig of pink cotton candy piled on a Marie Antoinette silver head.

A celebrity favorite for vegan and vegetarian diners, Crossroads's level of plant-based inventiveness knows no bounds. The dining room is dimly lit with red-leather booths and a full bar. Diners enjoy the artichoke oysters, eggplant short rib, pizzas, and house made pastas. They serve coffee and pastries on the weekends on the outdoor patio starting at 10 in the morning.

Gracis Madre is known for its creative plant-based Mexican cuisine made from scratch. Everything is organic, non-GMO, and vegan, sourced from local and regenerative farmers. The large patio is popular on warm days and evenings. 

Along Fairfax Avenue in the Little Ethiopia neighborhood locals and visitors can enjoy Ethiopian signatures like tofu tibs; spicy chicken dorowat; and potato, green bean, onion, and carrot atkilt. Chef-owner Genet Agonafer transports diners to Addis Ababa.

Sunday brunch at James Beard Award Finalist Wes Avila's MXO has churro French toast, yellow corn pancakes, and Puerto Nuevo lobster on the menu. Located in the heart of vibrant West Hollywood, the menu is a tribute to Chef Avila's Mexican roots and Los Angeles upbringing; the MXO stands for "Mexican Origins." The wood-fired preparations are at the heart of traditional Mexican cuisine infused with seasonal California ingredients. Try the sweet potato taquitos, grilled cabbage Caesar salad, and pork al pastor.

Not far from the hubbub of Highland Park lies Eastside’s Bub & Grandma’s, an early-morning American diner complete with cushy booths and a wrap-around bar. It’s a perfect spot to start the day after a walk through Glassell Park; order the egg cheese sandwich with a cup of coffee and a doughnut for the road. For lunch, Bub & Grandma’s switches its menu to a variety of heavenly sandwiches and deli sides. Arrive early to beat the rush and be sure to try their classic sesame loaf bread to see why it is the bread of choice for many other restaurants throughout the city.

The Butcher's Daughter now has multiple locations due to its popular vibrant setting and plant-forward menu, café, and juice bar. Start your day with a Superfood smoothie or honey lavender latte; later enjoy mushroom "calamari," a quinoa bowl, or stone oven pizza. They also have a kid's menu. On Friday there is live music in the evening, and a live DJ set on Saturday starting at noon. 

Uchi, which means "house" in Japanese, is the brainchild of James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole, one of the few American sushi masters. Locals and visitors appreciate the nontraditional Japanese cuisine with signature tastings, sushi, and a seasonal ten-tasting omakase experience. The food is a work of art including tins of caviar with scallion pancakes and house cultured butter. The extensive menu includes hot and cold tastings; blue fin, nigiri, and sashimi; daily specials; and fascinating desserts.

James Beard Award winner Suzanne Goin prepares innovative Mediterranean-inspired starters, shared plates, and entrées that pair nicely with her partner (and fellow James Beard Award winner) Caroline Styne's perfectly curated wine pairings. Try the Spanish fried chicken; wood-oven brioche with prosciutto, Gruyère cheese, and an egg; or arroz negro (black rice) with squid.

In L.A.'s very crowded field of acclaimed Thai restaurants, Anajak has gotten a lion's share of the attention since former Disney art director Justin Pichetrungsi took over his family's decades-old establishment. The now James Beard Award winner kept the funky interior and menu signatures like fried chicken, various curries, and his mom's mango coconut rice dessert while also increasing ingredient quality, pushing the boundaries of Southeast Asian flavors, and improving the wine list with natural wines. His pandemic fix for closed dining rooms, cooking and plating gourmet fusion tacos in the alley, was such a hit that Thai Taco Tuesdays has stuck around years later and still has a line down the block.

As one of L.A.'s most celebrated Italian restaurants, chef-owner Gino Angelini's consistently prepares impressive classic dishes, like whole branzino, tagliolini al limone, veal chop alla Milanese, as well as lasagna oozing with besciamella (Italian béchamel sauce). Be sure to select one of the Italian wines to complement your meal.

Though it’s a relative newcomer to the dining scene, Bacetti instantly established itself as one of L.A.’s best Italian restaurants, serving Roman-inspired dishes with a California twist in a stylish, sprawling, wood-framed dining room and patio. This farm-driven, Roman trattoria--inspired spot, tucked in Echo Park’s intimate commercial strip in the midst of a quiet residential neighborhood, is worth a trip, if only for the Focaccia Ebraica, which has gained a little cult following. Salads here are a revelation, as are the antipasti, pastas, and desserts. 

The chicest and buzziest nighttime spot in the neighborhood, Baltaire attracts both well-heeled Brentwood denizens on dressed-up dates and single sippers looking for late-night rendezvous. The meat-heavy menu features giant slabs of porterhouse steaks as well as special A5 Wagyu straight from Japan. Rounding out the treats is a full raw bar, caviar selection, and a one-of-a-kind cocktail program. There's lunch on weekdays only, and live music on Thursday and Friday.

Fans of Bestia have been lining up for stellar Mediterranean cuisine at this Arts District hot spot, which is owned by the same restaurateurs. Rose-gold stools give way to marble tabletops as the open kitchen bangs out hummus and baba ghanoush spreads, along with flatbreads and lamb-neck shawarma. The vibe is lively, the staff is chill, the patio is a scene, and the food is out of this world. Reserve early, as this place gets filled fast.

Part deli, part market, Bay Cities has been home to incredible Italian subs since 1925. This renowned counter-service spot is always crowded (best to order ahead), but monster subs run the gamut from the mighty meatball to the signature Godmother, made with prosciutto, ham, capicola, mortadella, Genoa salami, and provolone. At the market you can buy rare imported pastas, cheeses, wine, and sliced meats for a sunset beach picnic.

The ultimate for steak and seafood, this scenic spot on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills is an indoor/outdoor gem. Be sure to order the table-side Caesar salad, before perfectly prepared cuts of prime rib, signature 40-day aged steaks, or a grilled fish entrée. For starters, order the freshly baked Parker House rolls with two butters, and the signature goat cheese baklava topped with pistachios and honey. Elevated side dishes include a decadent truffle or lobster enhanced mac and cheese, and perfectly cooked grilled asparagus. The cheesecake is light and served with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream. A crowd favorite is the handmade giant cookies with vanilla ice cream.

There’s a fight in Los Angeles over who created the French dip sandwich. The first contender is Cole’s, whose sign on the door says it's the originator of the salty, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meats. The restaurant opened in 1908 and today is still going strong with dark lighting, delicious sandwiches, and a secret speakeasy called the Varnish hidden in the back.

The men’s room nods to the famous clientele of the past with plaques over the urinals notifying bathroom goers that Charles Bukowski and Mickey Cohen both "pissed here.”

This music-influenced doughnut shop has been credited for enlivening York Boulevard with fun vegan inventions. Donut Friend has evolved into a destination in its own right, touting both a signature and limited menu of purely vegan doughnuts inspired by the pop punk and emo music scene.

Open since 1931, this iconic spot is perfect for those craving a Mexican meal with a strong margarita. The colorful decor with string lights throughout add to a fiesta vibe. Servers wear traditional Mexican dresses and are friendly. The vibe is why locals return often. If it’s on the menu, make sure you get the ostrich tacos---they’re one of a kind.

Located in the lobby of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, this café is perfect for a quick coffee, snack, or lunch while visiting Museum Row. Or, splurge and sit down at Fanny's Restaurant for elevated contemporary cuisine in a sophisticated atmosphere. Its name is an homage to Fanny Brice—the legendary movie, vaudeville, theater, and radio star portrayed by Barbra Streisand in her 1968 Oscar-winning role in Funny Girl.

Are you even in L.A. if you haven't had a smashburger yet? Usurping all other burgers and burger joints, For the Win has become a power player on the burger scene, growing from this unassuming location in a strip mall in Hollywood to a collection of storefronts throughout the region. Seasoned beef patties are topped with onions and cheese, thrown on the hot plate then served on a perfect potato bun, customized with bacon, stacked to be a double or a triple (and why not), and then drizzled in homemade special sauce. Simple recipe for success here: no-fuss focus on quality ingredients, flavor, and delivery. Both the sweet potato and regular fries are crisp and tasty. There's a grilled cheese sandwich for those who want to skip the beef. 

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.

This spot comes alive the moment you walk through the rustic wooden door and into a softly lit dining room with long communal tables. Come later and the place heats up with an enthusiastic post-pub crowd lured by the seasonal menu and outstanding small plates, charcuterie, pastas, and pizza. Your endless starter options include pizza with house-made chorizo. For the main course, options include saffron butternut squash curry or braised pork belly with Oaxacan grits. Typically boisterous, the patio is a great hang-out spot and a gem for a Sunday brunch.

Legendary Italian chef Massimo Bottura opened this spot, his first L.A. eatery, to loads of fanfare and celebrity sightings. The restaurant mirrors the Florence, Italy, location of the same name with a menu filled with favorites like a mouthwatering tortellini with Parmigiano Reggiano crema. The locale sits atop the roof of the Gucci retail outlet on Rodeo Drive with prime positioning for watching the high-end shoppers and glitzy denizens of the neighborhood.

Family-owned Guisados has achieved cult status in L.A. with locations throughout the city (Downtown, Boyle Heights, West Hollywood) 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. 

Heaven for carnivores, this upscale European-style butcher shop and fine-dining restaurant serves wood-fire-cooked meats in a copper-and-marble art deco setting. From Australian celeb-chef Curtis Stone and his brother, Luke, and named for their grandmother, Gwen's butcher shop serves up quality cuts of humanely raised meats to locals during the day, while the elegant dining space within view of the glass-enclosed dry-age rooms, charcuterie curing, and roaring firepit elevates the smoking, searing, and roasting of those quality meats to an art form by night. The focus is obviously meat here but the seasonal sides, cocktails, desserts, and Australian coffees are superior, too. Daytime there's coffee and pastries available; sit at the outside patio for a refined coffee break.

It's said that the drive-in burger joint was invented in L.A., probably to meet the demands of an ever-mobile car culture. Burger aficionados line up at all hours outside In-N-Out Burger, still a family-owned operation whose terrific made-to-order burgers are revered by Angelenos. Visitors may recognize the chain as the infamous spot where Paris Hilton got nabbed for drunk driving, but locals are more concerned with getting their burger fix off the "secret" menu, with variations like "Animal Style" (mustard-grilled patty with grilled onions and extra spread), a "4 x 4" (four burger patties and four cheese slices, for big eaters), or the bun-less "Protein Style" that comes wrapped in a bib of lettuce. Go online for a list of every "secret" menu item. The Hollywood location is where Academy Award winners have been known to drop in post ceremony with their Oscars.

This French-style café, bakery, and market has a little bit of everything for those who dine-in or takeaway for picnics and meals at home. Inside there is a daily fresh deli and salad counter filled with imported cheeses, crispy baguettes, and appealing fresh pastries. People-watch on the outdoor patio while eating omelets and tuna melts. It's crowded on weekends; the key is to arrive early to secure your spot outside.