1438 Best Restaurants in California, USA

A longtime town favorite, Pianeta serves high-style Italian cuisine in a warmly lit, bilevel, redbrick space on Truckee's historic main drag. Start with a beef carpaccio antipasto plate or perhaps house-made spicy-fennel and mild sausages, following up with a pasta course of ravioli Bolognese (both pasta and sauce made in-house), an entrée of ragout with spicy sausage and Mexican prawns—or both.

Blocks from the beach in La Jolla Shores, this comfortably modern dining room and shaded patio hits all the right notes—affordable, polished, and family-friendly. From lunch to closing, it bustles with regulars from the neighborhood and visitors from around the world who are guided through the extensive Italian menu by the professional staff, some of whom have worked here for over three decades. Warm bread with spicy dipping sauce is hard to resist, but save room for favorites like grilled romaine hearts wrapped in crisp prosciutto, saffron shrimp pappardelle, and veal scaloppine with mushroom risotto cakes. Kids love their special menu, while parents relish the value-packed wine list with excellent selections by the glass.

Busy D'Angelo's is known for its standout house-made pastas; there are even gluten-free options. Another draw is the scene, especially in the side bar area, which hosts a lively cocktail hour in the contemporary trattoria space. The restaurant encompasses a bright, main room with hardwood floors and white tablecloths and an inviting heated garden patio in the back.

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.

Cold beer, Fernet on tap, semi-frequent live music and a prime waterfront setting keep this venerable Embarcadero standby humming on weekdays and weekends. Although you'd expect to sit elbow to elbow with fishermen, you're more likely to share the space with tourists and nearby office workers drawn by the no-frills cocktails, shrimp melts and cheeseburgers from the kitchen (skip the fried food here), and of course the prime vantage point for gazing across the bay.

Lodi's go-to spot for Italian American classics wins fans for its quality ingredients, Tuscan-courtyard ambience, and plant-filled outdoor patio (reservations essential on weekends). Expect straightforward, well-executed renditions of chicken piccata and pork Milanese, filling lasagna and seasonal risotto, pizzas, and the like, all delivered with informal good cheer by the cadre of servers.

Pijja Palace took Silver Lake by storm when it opened in 2022 and immediately started defying all conventions of a sports bar. Dodgers insignia and large flat screen televisions hang on every wall, but the restaurant excels at truly original Indian bar dishes. Start with a plate of onion rings coated in dosa batter before diving into their main acts: the creamy rigatoni (tossed in tomato masala) and the green chutney pizza. Leave room for dessert: soft serve available in cookies and cardamom or mango lassi creamsicle flavors. Long waits are likely, especially on Dodgers game days, but the anticipation will all be worth it.

This is not your typical Taiwanese restaurant; it's a fast-casual, often locally sourced restaurant housed in a modern setting and dedicated to best of Asian cuisine. The menu changes based on season, and the beverages menu features a carefully curated tea section. Expect longer waits during lunch and dinner rushes. 

This tiny, beautifully designed coffee shop might be the most adorable in this city full of cute cafés. Families, longtime Bernal Heights residents, and coffee lovers from around the city gather here every morning for perfect cappuccinos and teas from various local purveyors. The colorful decor and an elaborate mural that whimsically shows the Bernal Heights hill are a favorite of the social media crowd.

The pink-and-green palette, botanical wallpaper, oversize globe pendants, gold trim, tile floor, and velvety banquettes draw the pretty people and those who follow them on social media to this Martyn Lawrence Bullard–designed gem at the Sands Hotel. But it's the Mediterranean-Moroccan cuisine—think lamb tagine or harissa chicken—and punchy drinks that keep them happy and snapping.

Rows of picnic tables, surfboard decor, and beer-brewing on-site have made this funky, friendly brewpub a block from the beach a locals’ favorite. The nearly 40 brews on tap include a namesake pour and other craft beers that have made San Diego a beer-drinkers destination. Between sips, nosh on munchies like garlic beer buddies, seasoned bits of pizza crust. Surfers, families, and others with big appetites order one of 16 signature pizzas slathered with toppings, available whole or by the slice until 3 pm and after 9 pm. Got a sweet tooth? Try a stout or porter float.

Local families flock here for great pizza and handcrafted brews, which started in 1987 when siblings, Gina and Vince Marsaglia, bought a struggling pizza place in Solana Beach. Following the success of this original location, they've opened branches in Carlsbad, San Clemente, Ocean Beach, Bressi Ranch, and Imperial Beach. Pick a spot at one of the long picnic tables, choose traditional, gluten-free, or whole-grain beer crust for your pie and any original topping—such as the Monterey, with pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, and artichoke hearts—and tip back a brew from one of the longest boutique lists in San Diego. 

This shoebox-size spot puts together thin-crust pies topped with the kinds of ingredients that are worth the constant wait. Almost half the menu changes on a biweekly basis, while dependable favorites include the tomato, basil, and mozzarella pizza; the Sardinian cheese, pine nut, and rosemary pie; and the San Marzano tomato sauce, wild arugula, and mascarpone pizza.

The chef-owner of this restaurant also known as The "Little Italian Place" describes the menu's influences as his East Coast grandmother's multicourse Sunday family suppers, his later culinary explorations, and his zeal to create "fresh and original" Italian cuisine. The country-road setting accentuates the just-like-home feeling, as do the calzones, pizzas, pasta dishes, and truffle risotto.

Modern Mexican farm-to-table creations and inspired cocktails are the focus of this festive indoor-outdoor space that's popular for its firepit, made-to-order masa station, and happy hour. An open kitchen serves up locally sourced, organic, and sustainable dishes like ceviche, grilled fresh fish tacos, enchiladas with mole sauce, and braised pork quesadillas. 

Essentially a sleek shack with a roofed outdoor dining space populated by picnic tables, the no-frills Playita Mariscos is a beloved local joint lauded for its Baja-style tacos. You'll also find beer-battered fish and shrimp tacos that evoke feelings of the sun-dappled Baja Mexico coast. Be sure to add the aguachile and ceviche to your order.

Zero waste with root-to-stem consumption has this plant-based restaurant turning beets into catchup, cashews into cheese, and carrot tops into pesto. Sustainability rules the menu created with fresh produce from local farms and the regenerative gardens out back. Tastebuds are in for a pleasant surprise with the Kombu cauliflower, the Cubano (mojo marinated shredded jackfruit), and the kimchi bowl with red-lentil "spam." Weekend brunch rolls out “chicken” and oat-milk waffles along with other classics with a healthy spin like “sausage” and biscuits. If you can’t finish your meal, never fear. Leftovers are composted and nothing goes to waste, including veggie stock that makes its way into risotto and banana peels turned into tacos.

Weekend or weekday, the brunch lines are as constant as the excellent scrambles, biscuits, and fluffy lemon-ricotta pancakes. The atmosphere is also winning—bright and pastoral, with rustic wood floors and huge windows—and the Little Plowers menu dishes out smaller-portioned pancakes, French toast, and grilled cheese for younger brunch-loving guests.

Plumed Horse is a venerable institution for outstanding luxury mixed with the brightness and freshness of local ingredients. The posh, shimmering space is highlighted by a giant glass wine storage area. Chef-owner Peter Armellino offers an elaborate tasting menu or full à la carte menu for guests. As formal as the restaurant can seem, it’s also a place where locals come to celebrate and have fun.

The menu at this white-tablecloth restaurant, whose wide windows reveal Palisades Tahoe in all its glory, changes seasonally, but look for rib-eye or New York steak, cioppino or pan-seared fish, or a filling vegetarian dish. The Wagyu Angus burger is a favorite with regulars.

An offshoot of the restaurant Poesia next door, the name means "poetry" in Italian, and the pastries, desserts, and savory sandwiches at this café live up to the name. You can't go wrong with anything on the house-made cornetti or focaccia, or for that matter any of the wide variety of Italian pastries. The artful interior makes good use of tile and color, and the service is warm and personal.

When fishing boats unload their catch on-site, a seafood restaurant and market earns the right to boast that they offer “the freshest thing in town.” In the late 1950s, mostly sportfishermen came here, but word got out about the just-caught fried fish on San Francisco–style sourdough bread, and now locals and visitors come to enjoy bay views, sunshine, and a greatly expanded menu of seafood dishes. An efficient crew takes orders for food and drinks at the counter, keeping the wait down even on the busiest days. In addition to sandwiches, favorites include fish tacos, seafood cocktails, sushi, salads, and fried platters of fish, shrimp, and scallops. This is San Diego's top seafood market for those who like to grab live crustaceans to prepare at home.

Polka Restaurant went through a makeover in 2020 and now boasts a more modern interior and an airy patio that offers outdoor seating. Interior facelift aside, the food here---traditional Polish fare like pierogi, schnitzel, and stuffed cabbage rolls---is just as delicious and comforting as ever. Note that it does tend to be on the heavier side, especially since most entrées come with a soup, salad, and hot vegetables. Come with a hungry group, and some stretchy pants, to allow for some paczki to top your meal off.

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.

Many restaurants have direct relationships between nearby farms and the kitchen, but very few are truly co-owned. Here, this Oakland restaurant's owner, Aomboon Deasy, is also part of the family that owns the renowned K&J Orchards, a supplier of top-tier produce to some of the Bay Area's greatest restaurants. This is literally farm directly to table when the winter puntarelle salad features that orchard's Satsuma oranges at their seasonal peak. And many other farms, orchards and ranches are given headliner status on the menu, which features a strong ensemble of contemporary Californian starters, medium-sized plates, and main courses.

Pork chops, deviled eggs, tuna casserole, alphabet soup—1960s comfort food has taken a turn for the better, thanks to Ponyboy at The Pearl Hotel. It’s the ideal spot for happy hour or small bites, starting with the grilled oysters à la Rockefeller, graduating to beef stroganoff, and concluding with pineapple upside-down cake for that final craving. Despite the familiar classic menu, everything is elevated and made from scratch. Come early to grab a poolside table and sip and soak in the cult classics during Wednesday’s movie nights where your favorite flicks are projected onto the big screen.

Originally a terrific pop-up during the COVID-19 pandemic, chef-owner Anthony Salguero's Salvadoran-Californian restaurant quickly became a Bay Area-wide hit at its permanent Old Oakland home. Lighter-style, minimal-intervention wines pair wonderfully with the squid ceviche or the unique chicken wings with homemade hot sauce. Green walls and expansive windows add a cheerful vibe to the already energetic crowd enjoying the signature creative pupusas and excellent cocktails like a Martini Colada that is exactly as it sounds (a coconut and pineapple-flavored martini), except somehow is meticulously pulled off.