1438 Best Restaurants in California, USA

Gourmet wood-fired pizzas, many with ingredients grown a mile away at Campovida winery, are the main attraction at this country-casual restaurant and bar. Menu staples include burgers; grilled vegetables; pasta dishes; and seasonal soups, stews, and salads.

This 50,000-square-foot monument to beer and good food is a crowd-pleaser, especially for fans of San Diego’s nationally known craft beer scene. The global menu features dishes like the Bavarian pretzel and Brewmaster's Beef Dip that pair perfectly with on-tap and bottled beers from around the world and Stone’s famous IPAs. Dine indoors in high-ceiling rooms guarded by etched-metal gargoyles and lit by beer-bottle chandeliers. Or, relax outdoors where parents often unwind as their kids enjoy the patio. Before leaving, browse the company store for hip logo wear like hats and hoodies.

Stop by Sugar 'N Spice for a Balboa Bar that is a slab of vanilla ice cream dipped first in chocolate and then topped with your choice of other sweet treats. It's also home of "The Original Frozen Banana" created back in 1945. They also have a frozen cheesecake an frozen tiramisu on a stick, plus ice cream cookie sandwiches.

If the chef at this La Jolla bakery looks familiar, it's because she won Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship in 2015. Since that win, chef Maeve Rochford has made a name for herself as a celebrity chef and owner of Sugar and Scribe, offering baked goods like delicious scones as well as sit-down options (final seating 2 pm) like lobster Benedict, Irish sausage rolls, and irresistible blueberry pancakes with fresh-plucked berries, edible flowers, and vanilla whipped cream. For a La Jolla summer cool down, try the horchata latte.

It’s almost a rite of passage for Stanford students and visiting families to visit this steak-house stalwart. Since 1974, it's been the place to go for shrimp cocktail followed by juicy prime rib. The clubby, wood-heavy decor definitely is on point for a classic steak house, but the vibe is a little more relaxed and energetic than at many of its peers. While the menu has all the traditional items of the genre, several dishes include elements from different cuisines of Asia, like filet mignon spring rolls.

Whimsical art and brightly painted walls set a jolly tone at this casual eatery whose assets include the verdant rear patio. Waffles, eggs Benedict and ham on a Model Bakery English muffin, and the soft-scramble buttermilk biscuit sandwich are among the breakfast hits, with grilled cheese sandwiches done four ways (traditional, chicken avocado, smoked ham, and Waygu steak) and a kale and chicken Caesar salad steady crowd-pleasers at lunch.

Bread is in this restaurant's name and should be front and center on your dining plan here as it's freshly baked and delicious, served with sides like fresh cheese and smoked trout. The light, bright, and open space and umbrella- and tree-filled patio is popular for coffee and baked bread and pastries early in the day; grain bowls, salads, and avocado toast for lunch and brunch (on weekends); and the oyster bar, sandwiches, pastas, and creative cocktails as lunch rolls in to dinner. Menus change with the season and cocktails are made with locally sourced spirits.

Nobody goes hungry—and no beer drinker goes thirsty—at this lively, hip outpost of simple German cooking. The hearty food—bratwurst and sauerkraut, potato pancakes with house-made applesauce, meat loaf, braised beef, pork loin, schnitzel, spaetzle—is tasty and kind to your wallet, and the imported brews are first-rate. When the room gets crowded, which it regularly does, strangers sit together at unfinished pine tables. Servers are quick and efficient and keep the pace moving along.  The same management runs Biergarten (424 Octavia Street), a charming outdoor spot just a block away that serves bratwurst, pretzels, and German beers.

Set in the heart of West Hollywood, fans who watch the Vanderpump Rules reality show on Bravo will instantly recognize SUR as the backdrop for the series's endless drama, broken relationships, one-night stands, and countless drinks. The actual restaurant serves a mélange of new American items that range from fried goat cheese balls and hazelnut pancakes to hibiscus flower rubbed seared salmon, plus boozy cocktails and toothsome desserts. Nearby Tom Tom with its plush seats and elegant lighting is a festive bar shaking cocktails and serving sliders, pasta, flatbreads, and a few entrées in a unique old-world setting. Happy Hour serves Vanderpump wines and seasonal shareables.

Consistently rated one of the top sushi spots in L.A., Sushi Gen continues to dole out the freshest and tastiest fish in town. Sit at the elongated bar and get to know the sushi masters while they prepare your lunch. Sometimes the simplest sushi is the best, so forgo any fancy rolls and ask the chef what’s fresh and let them do the rest.

The owner-chef at this industrial-looking high-ceilinged spot pushes the envelope with crowd-pleasers like the 15-spice spare ribs with hoisin barbecue sauce and salmon tartare tacos with crispy wonton shells. He and his team also present sushi classics with style, the intricacy enticing as much as the freshness of the primarily local ingredients.

A calming effect comes over you as you enter this simple sushi bar on one of L.A.'s most fashionable streets. Chef Yoshimoto actually sharpened his skills inside Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market where he learned what the best quality fish really means, resulting in sushi that transports you to Japan.

Sweet Rose Creamery is the next-best thing you'll find to homemade ice cream—only with a much posher atmosphere in the Brentwood Country Mart. From-scratch offerings feature local farmers' fare and are all-natural. Come for the salted caramel and stay for seasonal specialties like the Santa Teresa lemon buttermilk sherbet. There are even heavenly options for the lactose-intolerant.

The scent of waffle cones baking draws patrons into this family-run parlor serving artisanal ice cream made fresh daily. Peach melba, Oreos and cream, and salted caramel are among the alternating flavors that include sorbets and sometimes sherbets, and always vegan options.

Willy Wonka would be impressed with this authentic candy shop with barrels and bins piled high with gummies, drops, jellybeans, sour candies, and other nostalgic treats. There’s even ice cream to cool you down on a hot summer day.

A circa-1865 Victorian that was expanded willy-nilly over the years houses this downtown spot known for made-from-scratch fare. Scrambles, four-egg omelets, pancakes, waffles, and French toast get things going for breakfast (served until 1 pm), with salads and well-built sandwiches the main items for lunch.

The original Swensen's has been a neighborhood favorite since 1948.

L.A. may not be known for barbecue but this no-frills saloon-inspired joint delivers juicy carnivore cuts like brisket, ribs, and sausage, plus southern sides (corn muffins, potato salad, and mac and cheese!) for when you feel like eating until the meat sweats kick in. The giant double-barreled smoker greets guests before they're even through the door. Try the wide variety of hot and barbecue sauces and finish with fried Oreos or Twinkies. You might just think you've died and gone to Texas though tri tip's roots are firmly planted on the Central California coast.

This handroll bar is brought to you by the same team behind Sushi Note, known for its high-quality sashimi. Sōgo Roll Bar welcomes guests into a cute and cozy atmosphere, ready to serve hand rolls á la carte or in sets of three to six. There are also a handful of donburi and sashimi options, all of which pair well with the bar’s list of sake and wines. It's perfect for a solo meal or a quick date night.

Tacos and lobster rolls aren't a standard duo, but they're the staples of the menu at this fast-casual favorite a block downhill from Union Street. The connection is Nantucket (ACK is Nantucket's airport code), as the owner grew up in New England and honors the Massachusetts summer destination in this eatery with an East Coast yacht club vibe.

This family-run diner serves some of the freshest food around. The seafood-heavy menu includes salmon burritos, Alaskan cod tostadas, superb fish tacos with mango salsa, and other dishes hailing from somewhere between California and Mexico.

Tacos and tequila draw a young and energetic crowd to this perennial hot spot. Tables with big groups or couples out on casual date nights are topped with chips and guacamole and laden with platters of tortillas bursting with carnitas (shredded pork) or spicy shrimp. If you don't want to speak in a raised voice, this is not the restaurant for you, unless you land one of the few outside tables.

You likely won't notice this cramped little spot on Glendale Boulevard unless there's a line or you're a fan of the late, great Anthony Bourdain (he was a big fan). But trust that line to mean that Tacos Villa Corona serves some of the best no-fuss tacos, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos in the neighborhood, especially on weekend mornings when the locals come to nurse their hangovers. 

Locations and owners have changed more than once since this old-timer started as a coffee stand in 1849, but the crowds keep coming. Snag one of the private booths or sit at the timeless bar and sample seafood—always the name of the game here—such as Dungeness crab Louie or local sand dabs (a type of flounder).

Located next to Campo Santo Cemetery, Tahona—in its architecture and design—might suggest the illusion of a snapshot of historical San Diego, but culinarily it's anything but. Offering a dining experience that centers on mezcal, Oaxacan cuisine, and locally sourced produce and ingredients, Tahona puts a new spin on Southern California Mexican cuisine. Its menu features plenty of familiar staples like tacos, guacamole, and tostadas, mixed in with innovative items like carnitas bao buns and short rib birria ramen.

Make reservations online for its adjoining spooky speakeasy, Oculto 477, which brings an elevated sensory experience to its mezcal offerings.

With seven total locations in the city, Tajima has become a favorite source for ramen-hungry San Diegans. Climb into a cozy booth and order a Japanese craft beer or sake before diving into one of the five types of ramen—all of which come in hefty portions with affordable price tags—including an excellent vegan version with spinach noodles. Add-ins include accoutrements like kimchi, fried garlic, black garlic oil, and corn. Non-ramen options span sushi hand rolls, rice bowls, and Karaage, a Japanese-style fried chicken served with mayo.

Pristine fish imported directly from Japan and presented creatively attracts crowds nightly to this intimate Gaslamp restaurant. Table service is available inside and outside where an omakase (tasting menu) or eight-piece rolls can be shared and savored; take a seat at the bar to watch one of the sushi chefs preparing appetizers. The restaurant is a favorite with Japanese visitors and conventioneers.

It’s a bit of a specific recognition, but Tam O’Shanter is the oldest restaurant run by the same family in the same location in Los Angeles, operating for more than 90 years in its Tudor-style spot. Their delicious food, ranging from thinly cut prime rib to belly-warming shepherd's pie, makes it one of the most festive places in town during the holidays. Fun fact: it was Walt Disney’s favorite restaurant.

Craving a modern fusion of Californian and Asian cuisines? Tantalizing Tantalum has been one of Long Beach's favorite bayside gathering places for a generation, including a legendary weekend brunch. Appropriately named for a type of metal that is resistant to corrosion, this restaurant is set on the water in the Marina Pacifica, where the views are exceptional. The verdant interiors evoke Bali with their warm woods and commanding views, or you can sit outside when the weather is fine (and it nearly always is). Enjoy a cocktail at the endless bar or explore the large menu, including local favorites like the yakiniku calamari. Live music is on offer nearly every night, along with daily happy hour specials. If you're feeling nautically inclined, you can even dock your boat rental in front of the restaurant.

Feast on Pan-Asian fare and dark and atmospheric faux-Asian decor in this dramatic 300-seat two-level restaurant and lounge next to the Dream Hotel. It's all about vibes here, and it definitely attracts celebratory groups for the sharing plates, DJ, moody candle- and red-lamp light Asian-themed decor (including a giant Quan Yin statue looking out over the ornate main dining room), and the lively patio, lounge, and bar. The menu focuses on Japanese, Thai, and Chinese ingredients. Lobster wontons, Peking duck for two, and fresh sushi are popular offerings.