Skip to main content
Los Angeles
Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

Restaurants

Best Restaurants in Los Angeles

The best restaurants in Los Angeles, from n/naka and Michelin tables to taco icons, rooftop views, romantic date spots, and buzzy new openings by neighborhood.

Finding the best restaurants in Los Angeles means embracing a city that treats dining as both high art and everyday street ritual.

In a single day you can eat a perfect al pastor taco from a sidewalk stand for lunch, chase it with a Michelin-starred kaiseki tasting menu at night, and end at a Koreatown table sizzling with grilled short rib.

LA's food identity is built on immigrant neighborhoods, Mexican and Pan-Asian roots, farmers-market produce, and a fiercely competitive scene that has produced some of America's most influential chefs.

At a glance

The top pick in each category, at a glance.

CategoryOur pick
Best overalln/nakaReserve
By CuisineGuelaguetzaReserve
Fine Dining & Michelin-Starred RestaurantsProvidenceReserve
Most Romantic RestaurantsProvidenceReserve
Rooftop & View RestaurantsPerchReserve
Vegetarian & Vegan RestaurantsCrossroads KitchenReserve
Tacos & Iconic Los Angeles EatsGuisadosReserve
New & Trendy Restaurant OpeningsCamphorReserve

Top Picks

🍽️GetYourGuide food & wine tours, taste the best of Los Angeles on a food tour. Affiliate slot (stub).

📍 Palms

n/naka

Kaiseki$$$$· Special occasion

Niki Nakayama's intimate modern kaiseki restaurant is one of Los Angeles's most coveted reservations and a two-Michelin-star landmark. The multi-course menu follows the Japanese tradition of seasonality, moving gracefully from a sashimi course to a signature abalone pasta that bridges her Japanese and California sensibilities. Service is precise and personal, the room quiet and calm. For anyone who wants to understand the artistry at the peak of L.A. dining, this is the essential pilgrimage. Book well in advance.

What to order: Seasonal kaiseki tasting

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Hollywood

Providence

Seafood$$$$· Refined tasting menu

Michael Cimarusti's two-Michelin-star temple to sustainable seafood is the benchmark for fine dining in Los Angeles. The tasting menu celebrates pristine fish and shellfish with restraint and precision, from delicate crudo to luxurious caviar service, all delivered with warm, polished hospitality. The elegant room feels timeless rather than trendy. It is a splurge for milestone occasions, and a reminder that L.A. can compete with any coastal dining city in the world. Reserve far ahead.

What to order: Seasonal seafood tasting

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Arts District

Bestia

Italian$$$· Casual & lively

Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis's boisterous Arts District landmark helped define modern L.A. dining. The house-made charcuterie, wood-fired pizzas, and pastas like the cavatelli alla Norcina anchor a rustic Italian menu delivered with bold flavors and zero pretension. The energy is loud and joyful, the industrial room buzzing every night. Reservations are famously tough but worth the effort. Save room for the chocolate budino tart, one of the city's great desserts.

What to order: Cavatelli alla Norcina

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Mid-City

Republique

French$$$· Bakery by day

Set inside a 1920s Charlie Chaplin building on La Brea, Republique is a bakery and cafe by day and a refined French restaurant by night. Walter and Margarita Manzke turn out flaky kouign-amann and croissants in the morning, then elegant bistro cooking after dark. The soaring, light-filled room is one of the most beautiful spaces in the city. It is a dependable all-day destination that captures L.A.'s knack for pairing serious cooking with easygoing style.

What to order: Kouign-amann

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Koreatown

Guelaguetza

Oaxacan$$· Family-friendly

A family institution and James Beard America's Classics winner, Guelaguetza is the heart of Oaxacan cooking in Los Angeles. The rich, complex moles, especially the deep and smoky mole negro, define the menu, alongside tlayudas, memelas, and house mezcal. Colorful, festive, and often filled with live music on weekends, it is generous, affordable, and deeply tied to the city's Mexican culinary identity. Order a mole sampler and share to explore the full range.

What to order: Mole negro

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Westlake

Langer's Delicatessen

Deli$$· Classic counter

For many, Langer's is home to the best pastrami sandwich in America. The #19, stacked with hand-cut pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss, and Russian dressing on double-baked rye, is a rite of passage. A family-run counter near MacArthur Park since 1947, it is unfussy, generous, and beloved by locals and critics alike. Come at lunch, order at the counter or grab a booth, and taste why this humble deli is woven into the city's identity.

What to order: The #19 pastrami

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Boyle Heights

Guisados

Tacos$· Casual counter

Guisados turns homestyle Mexican braises into some of the best tacos in Los Angeles. The handmade corn tortillas cradle slow-cooked stews like cochinita pibil, chicken tinga, and the fiery chiles toreados, all bright and deeply seasoned. The sampler plate lets you graze across the menu in a few bites. Casual, affordable, and endlessly satisfying, it is the easiest way to understand why L.A. is one of the great taco cities in the world.

What to order: Taco sampler

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Chinatown

Howlin' Ray's

Fried chicken$$· Cult counter

Howlin' Ray's brought Nashville hot chicken to Los Angeles and drew lines that became legend. The crackling, cayenne-lacquered fried chicken comes in heat levels from country to the notorious howlin' inferno, best tamed with a fluffy potato roll and pickles. The tiny Chinatown counter buzzes with energy and hip-hop. Come off-peak or steel yourself for the wait; the sandwich, juicy under its fiery crust, rewards the patience of everyone who lines up.

What to order: Hot chicken sandwich

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Boyle Heights

Mariscos Jalisco

Seafood$· Food truck icon

Raul Ortega's beloved food truck serves what many call the single best taco in Los Angeles: the taco dorado de camaron, a crispy shrimp taco topped with avocado and bright tomato salsa. A James Beard honoree parked on Olympic Boulevard, it proves that greatness in L.A. often comes on paper plates from a truck window. Add the aguachile and a cold agua fresca. It is an essential, affordable stop on any serious food tour.

What to order: Taco dorado de camaron

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Venice

Gjelina

Californian$$$· Rustic & stylish

A cornerstone of Abbot Kinney, Gjelina helped popularize L.A.'s produce-forward, wood-fired cooking. The market-driven menu roams from blistered vegetable dishes to charcuterie and some of the city's best thin-crust pizzas, served in a rustic-chic room and leafy back patio. It is effortlessly stylish yet genuinely delicious, the kind of place that captures Venice's sun-drenched energy. Reservations help, but the communal tables and long menu reward drop-in grazing over a lazy afternoon.

What to order: Wood-fired vegetables

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Venice

Felix Trattoria

Italian$$$· Lively & handmade

Evan Funke's temple to handmade pasta is one of the most acclaimed Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Behind a glass-walled pasta lab, dough is shaped by hand into regional shapes like tortellini in brodo and a silky tagliatelle al ragu. The buzzy Abbot Kinney room and thoughtful Italian wine list make it a special-occasion favorite. Reservations are tough, so plan ahead. For anyone who loves fresh pasta done at the highest level, Felix is essential.

What to order: Tagliatelle al ragu

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Chinatown

Majordomo

New American$$$· Communal & bold

David Chang's first Los Angeles restaurant is a sprawling, share-friendly celebration of bold, boundary-crossing flavors. The bing bread with whipped fat, spicy pork ssam, and inventive noodles roam freely across influences with confidence and swagger. Tucked at the end of an industrial road near Chinatown, the airy room draws a lively crowd. It is a reliable pick for groups who want serious, playful cooking without tasting-menu formality. Come hungry and order across the menu to share.

What to order: Bing bread

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Virgil Village

Sqirl

Breakfast$$· Neighborhood cafe

Jessica Koslow's tiny cafe reshaped how Los Angeles eats breakfast. The famous ricotta toast on thick house-baked brioche and the sorrel pesto rice bowl draw devoted lines for their bright, jam-forward California cooking. Cheerful and modest, with counter service and a handful of seats, it is more neighborhood ritual than destination restaurant. Grab a jar of the seasonal preserves on the way out. It remains a defining taste of the city's independent food culture.

What to order: Ricotta toast

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Koreatown

Park's BBQ

Korean BBQ$$$· Lively & communal

Widely regarded as the finest Korean barbecue in Los Angeles, Park's BBQ grills premium, beautifully marbled beef tableside over live coals. The galbi and marinated kalbi, along with an abundant spread of banchan, make it a benchmark for the K-town scene. Attentive staff handle the grilling, so you can focus on the feast. Lively and often busy, it is the ideal introduction to one of the city's great culinary traditions. Come with a group and order the galbi.

What to order: Galbi

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Santa Monica

Cassia

Southeast Asian$$$· Celebratory brasserie

Bryant Ng's Southeast Asian brasserie is one of the Westside's defining tables, blending French technique with Vietnamese, Singaporean, and Chinese flavors. The clay-pot dishes and the show-stopping 'Sunbathing Prawns' anchor a menu built for sharing, served in a handsome, high-ceilinged room. Warm and celebratory without being stuffy, it is a strong pick for groups and special occasions in Santa Monica. The kaya toast and rich curries reflect a personal, deeply rooted point of view.

What to order: Sunbathing prawns

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Chinatown

Philippe the Original

Sandwiches$· Historic counter

Open since 1908 and claiming to have invented the French dip, Philippe's is a gloriously preserved slice of old Los Angeles. The double-dipped roast beef or pork sandwich, slathered with fiery house mustard and served amid sawdust floors and communal tables, is pure history. Cheap, hearty, and unpretentious, it is more experience than mere meal. Order at the long carving counter, grab a booth, and taste a sandwich that has fed the city for over a century.

What to order: The French dip

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Culver City

Vespertine

Avant-garde$$$$· Conceptual & immersive

Jordan Kahn's avant-garde tasting-menu destination is the most conceptual dining experience in Los Angeles. Set inside a striking metallic tower in Culver City, the meal unfolds across floors as a choreographed sensory journey of ethereal, otherworldly plates, ambient sound, and design. It is theatrical, polarizing, and unlike anything else in the city. For adventurous diners who treat dinner as art, it is a singular splurge. Reserve well ahead and arrive ready to surrender to the concept.

What to order: Ever-changing tasting menu

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Los Feliz

Kismet

Mediterranean$$· Bright & casual

Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson's bright Los Feliz restaurant reinvents Eastern Mediterranean cooking with a California sensibility. The jeweled crispy rice, freekeh fritters, and creative vegetable dishes are as vibrant as the sunlit, minimalist room. Casual yet thoughtful, it works equally for a relaxed brunch or a lively dinner with friends. It captures the fresh, produce-driven spirit that makes L.A. dining distinctive. Order across the menu and lean into the vegetables, which shine as much as the mains.

What to order: Jeweled crispy rice

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

Best Restaurants in Los Angeles by Cuisine

Los Angeles's deep immigrant history makes it one of America's great cuisine cities, where a short drive can carry you from Oaxacan moles in Koreatown to Sichuan mala in the San Gabriel Valley and southern Thai curries in Thai Town.

The best restaurants in Los Angeles by cuisine reward exploration beyond the tourist core: neighborhood specialists often outshine flashier destinations.

Whether you crave soup dumplings, shrimp tacos, kaiseki sushi, or a towering pastrami sandwich, the city delivers depth and authenticity across price points.

This roundup highlights standout picks spanning the culinary map, from long-running institutions to modern reinventions, so you can build a week of eating that circles the globe without leaving the city limits.

  • Guelaguetza

    Oaxacan Mexican $$

    This Koreatown landmark is the standard-bearer for Oaxacan cooking in Los Angeles, honored with a James Beard America's Classics award. The kitchen turns out seven distinct moles, tlayudas, and clayudas alongside house-made mezcal cocktails. Family-run for decades, it taught the city to take regional Mexican cuisine seriously.

    What to order: Mole negro; tlayudas; mezcal

    Reserve

  • Sonoratown

    Sonoran Mexican $

    A downtown favorite specializing in Sonoran-style tacos on thin, mesquite-kissed flour tortillas made fresh each day. The chivichanga and carne asada are simple, smoky, and deeply satisfying. It is unfussy, beloved, and essential for understanding the northern Mexican traditions that shape LA's taco culture.

    What to order: Carne asada tacos; chivichanga

    Reserve

  • Pho 79

    Vietnamese $

    A reliable, no-frills stop in Alhambra for steaming bowls of pho and Vietnamese classics. The broth is fragrant and the portions generous, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley strips offer banh mi, bubble tea, and grocery exploration. It anchors one of the region's best areas for Southeast Asian eating.

    What to order: Pho tai; broken rice plates

    Reserve

  • Jitlada

    Southern Thai $$

    This Thai Town institution is famous for fiery Southern Thai cooking rarely found elsewhere in the city. The crispy morning glory salad and jungle curries showcase the region's bold, funky heat. Personal and family-run, it draws pilgrims chasing the most authentic Southern Thai flavors Los Angeles has to offer.

    What to order: Crispy morning glory salad; Southern curries

    Reserve

  • Park's BBQ

    Korean $$$

    A Koreatown benchmark for premium Korean barbecue, known for high-grade marbled beef grilled tableside and an array of banchan. Polished yet lively, it balances quality ingredients with the theater of the grill. It is a strong pick for groups and a celebration-worthy anchor of the city's Korean dining scene.

    What to order: Galbi; marbled beef; banchan

    Reserve

  • Din Tai Fung

    Taiwanese $$

    The Arcadia outpost of this global Taiwanese chain is a soup dumpling temple, with delicate xiao long bao pleated by hand behind glass. Precise, consistent, and endlessly popular, it draws long waits for good reason. It is a reliable introduction to the San Gabriel Valley's world-class Chinese food landscape.

    What to order: Xiao long bao; pork buns

    Reserve

  • Langer's Delicatessen

    Jewish deli $

    A Westlake institution near MacArthur Park serving what many call the best pastrami sandwich in America. The #19, layered with hand-cut pastrami, Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on double-baked rye, is the signature. Old-school and beloved, it is a living piece of LA's Jewish deli history.

    What to order: #19 pastrami sandwich on rye

    Reserve

  • Sichuan Impression

    Sichuan $$

    This Alhambra standout brings tongue-numbing mala heat and lesser-seen Sichuan dishes to eager crowds. Toothpick lamb, boiling fish, and cold noodles balance chile oil, peppercorn, and depth. It reflects the San Gabriel Valley's talent for regional Chinese cooking rooted in genuine tradition and fearless spice.

    What to order: Toothpick lamb; boiling fish

    Reserve

  • Sushi Gen

    Japanese $$$

    A Little Tokyo mainstay revered for pristine sashimi and one of the city's great value lunch specials. The fish is impeccably sourced and cleanly presented, drawing daily lines of devotees. It is a benchmark for traditional Japanese dining that rewards both first-timers and seasoned sushi lovers.

    What to order: Sashimi lunch special; nigiri

    Reserve

  • Mariscos Jalisco

    Mexican seafood $

    A legendary Boyle Heights food truck famous for tacos de camarón, crispy shrimp tacos crowned with avocado and salsa. Focused and unforgettable, it has become a symbol of LA's Mexican seafood tradition. This is destination eating for anyone chasing the city's best beachside-style mariscos on the East Side.

    What to order: Tacos de camarón; aguachile

    Reserve

  • Chichen Itza

    Yucatecan Mexican $

    Inside Mercado La Paloma near USC, this restaurant serves the Yucatán's citrus-and-achiote cuisine with soul. The cochinita pibil, panuchos, and sopa de lima showcase flavors distinct from central Mexican fare. Warm and unpretentious, it broadens the picture of just how varied LA's Mexican dining truly is.

    What to order: Cochinita pibil; panuchos

    Reserve

Best Fine Dining & Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has quietly become one of America's most exciting fine-dining cities, anchored by a cluster of two-Michelin-star tables and a deep bench of one-star rooms spread from Santa Monica to the Arts District.

The best fine dining restaurants in Los Angeles range from avant-garde tasting-menu spectacle to meticulous Japanese kaiseki and produce-driven California cooking, reflecting the region's extraordinary ingredients and cultural range.

Expect prepaid reservations, seasonal menus, and thoughtful wine, sake, and non-alcoholic pairings. These are the rooms for milestone celebrations and once-in-a-trip splurges.

Book weeks or months ahead, arrive curious, and let the kitchen lead; LA's top tables reward diners who surrender to the experience.

  • Providence

    Seafood $$$$

    The city's two-Michelin-star seafood temple and a defining LA fine-dining destination. Michael Cimarusti's Melrose Avenue tasting menus showcase pristine, sustainably sourced fish with quiet French precision. Polished service and a serene room make it the ultimate splurge for seafood lovers.

    What to order: Seafood tasting menu; caviar

    Reserve

  • n/naka

    Modern kaiseki $$$$

    A two-Michelin-star modern kaiseki destination in Palms, where Niki Nakayama builds seasonal, deeply personal menus around Japanese tradition and California produce. Precise, elegant, and famously hard to book, it is one of the most sought-after tables in Los Angeles.

    What to order: Seasonal kaiseki tasting; abalone

    Reserve

  • Mélisse

    California-French $$$$

    Josiah Citrin's two-star Santa Monica flagship pairs luxurious ingredients with refined California-French technique in an intimate, jewel-box room. Impeccable service and thoughtful pairings make it a top choice for anniversaries and milestone celebrations.

    What to order: Ingredient-luxe tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Hayato

    Kaiseki $$$$

    A two-Michelin-star Kyoto-style kaiseki jewel tucked inside Row DTLA in the Arts District. Chef Brandon Go serves a single nightly seating of quietly brilliant, deeply seasonal courses. It is an intimate, reverent experience for serious diners.

    What to order: Kyoto-style kaiseki tasting

    Reserve

  • Somni

    Avant-garde $$$$

    Aitor Zabala's reborn two-star counter is LA's answer to avant-garde tasting-menu theater, with dozens of intricate, playful courses served to a handful of guests. Inventive and immersive, it is a bucket-list experience for adventurous food lovers.

    What to order: Avant-garde tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Vespertine

    Avant-garde $$$$

    Jordan Kahn's two-star Culver City experience unfolds inside a striking sculptural building, blurring the line between dining and art. Otherworldly plating, sound, and design make for a divisive but unforgettable tasting menu unlike anything else in the city.

    What to order: Conceptual tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Osteria Mozza

    Italian $$$

    Nancy Silverton's Michelin-starred Hollywood institution delivers polished Italian cooking anchored by a legendary mozzarella bar and handmade pasta. Refined yet convivial, it is ideal for celebrations without a full tasting-menu commitment.

    What to order: Burrata; handmade pasta

    Reserve

  • Camphor

    Modern French $$$

    A Michelin-starred Arts District bistro serving modern French cooking with warmth and precision in a buzzy, welcoming room. Elegant plates and a lively bar make it a refined but approachable choice for special dinners downtown.

    What to order: Seasonal French tasting; foie gras

    Reserve

  • Orsa & Winston

    Japanese-Italian $$$$

    Josef Centeno's Michelin-starred downtown room blends Japanese and Italian sensibilities into an intimate multi-course tasting menu. Thoughtful, restrained, and beautifully composed, it is a quiet counterpoint to the city's louder tables.

    What to order: Japanese-Italian tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Sushi Kaneyoshi

    Sushi $$$$

    A Michelin-starred edomae sushi counter hidden in a downtown office-building basement, seating only a lucky few each night. Traditional, exacting, and deeply focused on aged fish and warm rice, it is a purist's pilgrimage.

    What to order: Edomae omakase

    Reserve

  • Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura

    Italian $$$$

    A Michelin-starred Beverly Hills collaboration overlooking Rodeo Drive, where Massimo Bottura's kitchen serves playful, refined Italian cooking with global touches. Glamorous and precise, it is a stylish setting for a memorable celebration.

    What to order: Emilia tortellini; seasonal tasting

    Reserve

Most Romantic Restaurants in Los Angeles

For date nights, anniversaries, and proposals, the most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles pair intimate lighting and gracious service with food worth lingering over.

The city offers everything from candlelit French bistros and clubby steakhouses to garden patios, rooftop terraces, and oceanfront rooms.

Romance here is less about stiff formality and more about atmosphere: a moody bar, a shared bottle of wine, and a room that makes time slow down. Whether you want skyline glamour above Downtown or a tucked-away table under string lights in Silver Lake, these picks set the mood.

Reserve ahead, request a quiet corner if you can, and plan a leisurely, unhurried evening.

  • Providence

    Seafood $$$$

    This Michelin-starred seafood destination on Melrose is a special-occasion classic, all hushed elegance and impeccable service. Multi-course tasting menus, pristine fish, and a deep wine list make it one of the city's most refined romantic dinners.

    What to order: Seafood tasting menu; caviar

    Reserve

  • Perch

    French $$$

    A French-inspired rooftop bistro above Downtown, Perch offers skyline views, fireplaces, and low lighting across two open-air levels. Share small plates and cocktails as the city glitters below for a glamorous, atmospheric date night.

    What to order: French small plates; skyline views

    Reserve

  • Bestia

    Italian $$$$

    A warm, brick-walled Italian room in the Arts District with a buzzy-but-intimate energy. House-made pastas, wood-fired plates, and an ambitious wine list make it a memorable, lingering dinner for couples who love bold food.

    What to order: House-made pasta; wood-fired dishes

    Reserve

  • Cliff's Edge

    Californian $$$

    Tucked into Silver Lake, this candlelit spot centers on a lush garden patio strung with lights beneath a towering ficus tree. Seasonal California-Italian plates and a relaxed-romantic mood make it a favorite for unhurried outdoor evenings.

    What to order: Seasonal plates; garden patio

    Reserve

  • Yamashiro Hollywood

    Asian $$$

    Perched in the Hollywood Hills, this historic hilltop pagoda offers sweeping city views, koi ponds, and a lantern-lit garden. The setting is pure romance, ideal for a sunset cocktail and a leisurely dinner high above the boulevard.

    What to order: Sushi and Asian plates; hilltop views

    Reserve

  • Damian

    Fine Mexican $$$

    Chef Enrique Olvera's Arts District room delivers refined modern Mexican in a plant-filled, softly lit space. Exquisite masa, mole, and mezcal cocktails make it a sophisticated, flavor-rich destination for a memorable date.

    What to order: Modern mole; handmade tortillas

    Reserve

  • Dan Tana's

    Italian-American $$$

    A clubby West Hollywood institution with red-checkered tablecloths, dim lighting, and old-school charm. Generous Italian-American classics and a lively, timeless vibe suit couples who want a celebratory, nostalgic night out.

    What to order: Chicken parm; New York steak

    Reserve

  • Little Dom's

    Italian $$

    A cozy, vintage-tinged Italian spot in Los Feliz with leather booths and a warm neighborhood feel. Comforting pastas and a relaxed atmosphere make it a comfortable, affordable date-night pick on the East Side.

    What to order: Rustic Italian pasta; meatballs

    Reserve

  • Mastro's Steakhouse

    Steakhouse $$$$

    A glamorous Beverly Hills steakhouse with live piano, plush seating, and its signature towering seafood displays. Big cuts, strong martinis, and a see-and-be-seen buzz suit couples craving a lavish, celebratory steak dinner.

    What to order: Bone-in ribeye; butter cake

    Reserve

  • République

    French $$$

    Set in a striking historic building on La Brea, this French brasserie pairs soaring arches and warm lighting with beautiful pastries and refined plates. Handsome and central, it works for a stylish evening or a special-occasion dinner.

    What to order: French brasserie plates; pastries

    Reserve

Best Rooftop & View Restaurants in Los Angeles

Few cities reward dining with a view like Los Angeles, where the downtown skyline, the Hollywood Hills, and endless sunsets create dramatic backdrops nearly year-round.

The best rooftop and view restaurants in Los Angeles range from sky-high cocktail lounges atop downtown towers to poolside Hollywood terraces and hotel decks perfect for golden hour.

The mild climate keeps rooftops busy through most seasons, though warm evenings still fill quickly, so reservations or early arrivals become essential. Many focus as much on the setting and drinks as the food, so calibrate expectations accordingly.

Whether you want a signature cocktail 70 floors up or a laid-back patio facing the hills, these spots deliver LA's most photogenic dining.

  • Perch

    French $$$

    Perched atop a historic building overlooking Pershing Square, this French-inspired rooftop offers sweeping views of the downtown skyline across two levels. The candlelit terrace is a prime golden-hour spot for cocktails and shareable plates in the heart of DTLA.

    What to order: Cocktails; small plates; skyline views

    Reserve

  • Spire 73

    American $$$

    High atop the InterContinental at the Wilshire Grand, Spire 73 sits on the 73rd floor as one of the tallest open-air bars in the hemisphere. Come for the view and a drink; the vantage point over the entire basin and mountains is unforgettable.

    What to order: Cocktails with panoramic views

    Reserve

  • Cara Cara

    Mediterranean $$$

    A breezy rooftop atop the Hollywood Proper hotel serving Mediterranean small plates, dips, and wood-fired dishes. The stylish poolside terrace and strong food set it apart from view-only rooftops, making it a top all-around pick.

    What to order: Hummus; wood-fired plates

    Reserve

  • The Highlight Room

    American $$

    A lively rooftop atop the Dream Hollywood with a pool, DJ-driven scene, and views toward the Hollywood Hills. Popular for nightlife and cocktails, it delivers energetic vibes and photogenic vantage points over Hollywood.

    What to order: Cocktails; DJ scene; hills views

    Reserve

  • Mama Shelter Rooftop

    American $$

    A relaxed, colorful rooftop in the heart of Hollywood serving cocktails and casual bites with a clear line to the Hollywood Sign. Its comfortable vibe makes it a solid choice for after-work drinks or a laid-back rooftop evening.

    What to order: Cocktails; bar bites; Hollywood Sign views

    Reserve

  • Catch LA

    Seafood $$$

    A chic, energetic West Hollywood rooftop under a canopy of greenery, known for seafood-forward plates and skyline views. It is a popular warm-weather destination for drinks, sushi, and people-watching above Melrose.

    What to order: Sushi; seafood; skyline views

    Reserve

  • E.P. & L.P.

    Asian $$$

    A multi-level rooftop bar above the E.P. restaurant in West Hollywood with sweeping views toward the hills and the skyline. It is one of the area's most iconic spots for cocktails, especially at sunset over the Sunset Strip.

    What to order: Cocktails; Asian small plates

    Reserve

  • Terra at Eataly

    Italian $$$

    A stylish rooftop atop Eataly in Century City serving wood-grilled Italian dishes, pizza, and pasta. The open-air terrace and hearty menu make it a scenic all-around pick for a warm-weather dinner on the Westside.

    What to order: Wood-grilled meats; pizza; pasta

    Reserve

  • Broken Shaker

    American $$

    A bohemian, plant-filled rooftop atop the Freehand hotel in downtown serving inventive cocktails and light bites by the pool. The laid-back design and skyline views make it one of the more atmospheric spots for evening drinks.

    What to order: Craft cocktails; poolside bites

    Reserve

  • Cabra

    Peruvian $$$

    A vibrant rooftop atop the Hoxton hotel in downtown serving Peruvian-inspired plates, ceviche, and cocktails beside the pool. The lush setting and skyline views make it one of the more festive warm-weather rooftop dining spots.

    What to order: Ceviche; skewers; poolside rooftop

    Reserve

Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has long been a national leader in plant-based dining, with dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants alongside omnivore kitchens that treat vegetables as headliners.

The best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Los Angeles span casual comfort-food counters, refined seasonal tasting menus, and globally inspired spots serving everything from vegan Mexican to plant-based Japanese and Vietnamese.

Many of the city's produce-driven chefs source from local farmers markets, so vegetable dishes here are anything but an afterthought.

Whether you are fully vegan, vegetarian, or simply eating lighter, these picks prove that meat-free dining in Los Angeles can be creative, satisfying, and celebratory rather than restrictive.

  • Crossroads Kitchen

    Vegetable-forward $$$

    Chef Tal Ronnen's stylish, plant-forward restaurant offers an elevated vegetable-centric menu in a chic Melrose setting. It demonstrates how far LA's meat-free dining has come, with refined plates and a sophisticated bar program that appeal to vegans and omnivores alike.

    What to order: Artichoke oysters; elevated vegetable plates

    Reserve

  • Sage Plant Based Bistro

    Vegan Bistro $$

    A vegan bistro and brewery serving plant-based comfort food, hearty bowls, and baked goods. Casual and welcoming, it is a reliable neighborhood stop for satisfying vegan versions of familiar favorites in Echo Park.

    What to order: Plant-based comfort food; sundaes

    Reserve

  • Shojin

    Vegan Japanese $$

    A refined vegan Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo serving macrobiotic, organic dishes, sushi, and small plates. Its dedicated, health-focused approach and serene atmosphere have earned a loyal following over many years.

    What to order: Vegan sushi rolls; small plates

    Reserve

  • Real Food Daily

    Vegan $$

    A pioneering meat-free restaurant famous for its organic vegan comfort classics like the Real Reuben and tempeh dishes. A West Hollywood institution since the plant-based scene's early days, it remains a beloved go-to for wholesome vegan dining.

    What to order: Real Reuben; tempeh burger

    Reserve

  • Gracias Madre

    Vegan Mexican $$

    A vegan Mexican spot serving creative plant-based takes on tacos, enchiladas, and mezcal cocktails. Inventive dishes and a lush West Hollywood patio make it a strong choice for those seeking hearty, flavorful meat-free meals.

    What to order: Butternut squash quesadilla; mushroom tacos

    Reserve

  • Vinh Loi Tofu

    Vegan Vietnamese $

    A humble Reseda restaurant with an excellent range of vegan Vietnamese dishes made from house-made tofu. The pho, banh mi, and noodle bowls make it a naturally plant-friendly, deeply satisfying dining experience.

    What to order: Vegan pho; house-made tofu banh mi

    Reserve

  • Sun Cafe

    Vegan $$

    A Studio City vegan and largely raw restaurant with a creative, seasonal menu and plenty of cooked options too. Casual, friendly, and health-minded, it offers globally inspired meat-free comfort food and fresh juices.

    What to order: Raw lasagna; jackfruit tacos

    Reserve

  • Ramen Hood

    Vegan Ramen $

    A vegan ramen counter inside Grand Central Market serving rich, umami-packed broths and craft bowls. Its downtown charm and inventive menu make it a comfortable, reliable meat-free destination.

    What to order: Vegan ramen with sunflower-seed egg

    Reserve

  • Cafe Gratitude

    Vegan $$

    A plant-based institution serving hearty organic bowls, toasts, and comfort classics with a wellness bent. Its long presence in LA and satisfying, flavorful cooking make it a meaningful stop for vegan dining across several neighborhoods.

    What to order: Bowls and toasts; plant-based classics

    Reserve

  • Plant Food + Wine

    Vegetable-forward $$$

    Chef Matthew Kenney's Venice restaurant offers standout vegetable-forward and raw dishes worth seeking out. Its creative produce cookery and Abbot Kinney patio make it a great option for those dining in style on plant-based fare.

    What to order: Raw lasagna; seasonal vegetable plates

    Reserve

Best Tacos & Iconic Los Angeles Eats

You cannot claim to know the best restaurants in Los Angeles without diving into the city's iconic hometown foods: the taco in all its forms, the French dip sandwich reportedly invented here, sizzling Korean barbecue, and chicken and waffles.

The taco is the headline act, from spit-roasted al pastor to slow-braised guisados, a dish Angelenos debate as passionately as anyone debates pizza elsewhere.

Beyond tacos, the drippy French dip, the In-N-Out Double-Double, and Roy Choi's Korean-Mexican fusion are essential rites of passage. These dishes are affordable, unpretentious, and deeply tied to LA's immigrant roots.

Come hungry, embrace the mess, and taste the foods that define the city's culinary identity worldwide.

  • Guisados

    Tacos $

    A Boyle Heights favorite serving soft, handmade corn tortillas topped with slow-braised guisados: chicharrón, cochinita pibil, and tinga. The sampler board lets you taste the range, and it captures the everyday soul of LA's taco culture.

    What to order: Braised guisados tacos; sampler board

    Reserve

  • Leo's Tacos Truck

    Tacos $

    Beloved by locals for its al pastor carved off a spinning trompo and crowned with a slice of grilled pineapple. The late-night lines at its gas-station stands make it a proper LA street-taco institution.

    What to order: Al pastor tacos with pineapple

    Reserve

  • Philippe the Original

    French Dip $

    The historic home of the French dip, where the sandwich was reportedly born in 1908. A sawdust-floored institution near Chinatown, it serves the classic dip in the very rooms where the tradition began.

    What to order: Original French dip sandwich

    Reserve

  • Cole's

    French Dip $$

    A downtown landmark that also claims to have invented the French dip in 1908. This atmospheric old saloon serves double-dipped beef and hides a speakeasy in back, offering the most old-world take on the sandwich.

    What to order: Double-dipped French dip

    Reserve

  • In-N-Out Burger

    Burgers $

    The essential California burger stop, founded nearby in Baldwin Park. The Double-Double ordered Animal Style, with fresh-cut fries and a shake, is an affordable rite of passage in a cheerful retro setting.

    What to order: Double-Double Animal Style

    Reserve

  • Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles

    Soul Food $$

    An LA soul-food institution famous for pairing crispy fried chicken with fluffy waffles. Open late and always buzzing, it is a beloved, only-in-LA comfort-food experience worth the wait.

    What to order: Fried chicken and waffles

    Reserve

  • Kogi BBQ

    Korean-Mexican $

    Roy Choi's pioneering food truck that fused Korean barbecue with the Mexican taco and launched LA's gourmet truck movement. The short-rib taco with kimchi salsa is a genuinely original, city-defining bite.

    What to order: Short-rib taco; kimchi quesadilla

    Reserve

  • Park's BBQ

    Korean BBQ $$$

    A Koreatown standard-bearer for premium Korean barbecue, grilling marbled galbi and bulgogi at your table alongside a generous spread of banchan. Polished yet lively, it showcases the neighborhood's essential cuisine.

    What to order: Galbi; marinated bulgogi

    Reserve

  • Langer's Delicatessen

    Deli $$

    A MacArthur Park institution serving what many call the country's best pastrami, hand-cut and piled on double-baked rye. The #19 with coleslaw and Russian dressing is a classic, unpretentious LA meal.

    What to order: #19 pastrami sandwich

    Reserve

  • Grand Central Market

    Food Hall $

    A century-old downtown food hall where dozens of vendors serve tacos, egg sandwiches, and more under one roof. Grazing from stall to stall represents LA's diverse, everyday eating tradition beyond any single dish.

    What to order: Vendor-hopping; egg sandwiches

    Reserve

Best Restaurants in Los Angeles by Neighborhood

Los Angeles is a sprawling patchwork of distinct neighborhoods, and the best restaurants in LA are spread across the map rather than clustered in one dining district.

The Arts District and Downtown form a buzzy, industrial-chic hub, while Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Highland Park reward those who explore the creative, independent east side.

Koreatown and Boyle Heights offer some of the country's most vibrant Korean and Mexican eating, and Venice and Santa Monica anchor the Westside beach scene.

Using neighborhoods to plan your meals lets you pair dining with sightseeing, walkable strolls, and a genuine sense of local life. This roundup spotlights a signature restaurant in several key areas to help you eat your way across the city.

  • Arts District, Bestia

    Italian $$$

    The industrial-chic landmark that helped define modern Downtown dining, with Ori Menashe's rustic Italian cooking, house-cured salumi, and blistered pizzas. The Arts District is the city's most transformed neighborhood, and this is its beating heart. Reservations are tough but worth it.

    What to order: Handmade pasta; wood-fired pizza

    Reserve

  • Silver Lake, Pine & Crane

    Taiwanese $$

    A bright, order-at-the-counter Taiwanese spot anchoring one of the city's most creative neighborhoods. Fresh dumplings, dan dan noodles, and quality teas make it the ideal introduction to Silver Lake's independent food culture.

    What to order: Dan dan noodles; dumplings

    Reserve

  • Koreatown, Park's BBQ

    Korean BBQ $$$

    The gold standard for Korean barbecue in a neighborhood packed with late-night grills and banchan. Premium marbled beef cooked tableside captures Koreatown's status as one of the country's great immigrant dining destinations.

    What to order: Galbi; marinated short rib; kimchi stew

    Reserve

  • Boyle Heights, Guisados

    Mexican $

    Slow-simmered stews spooned onto handmade tortillas in the heart of LA's Mexican Eastside. Pair a visit with the neighborhood's murals and mariachi at Mariachi Plaza for a full cultural and culinary afternoon.

    What to order: Braised guisado tacos; sampler plate

    Reserve

  • Sawtelle Japantown, Tsujita

    Japanese $$

    A destination ramen shop devoted to rich, long-simmered tonkotsu and thick dipping noodles that draws lines down Sawtelle Boulevard. Communal and casual, it captures the West LA corridor's dense cluster of Japanese restaurants and shops.

    What to order: Tsukemen; tonkotsu ramen

    Reserve

  • Thai Town, Jitlada

    Thai $$

    A fiery, family-run temple to southern Thai cooking that put this East Hollywood stretch on the culinary map. Inventive, intense, and beloved, it is the essential reason to explore Thai Town along Hollywood Boulevard.

    What to order: Southern Thai curries; crispy morning glory salad

    Reserve

  • Venice, Gjelina

    Californian $$$

    A dark, buzzy Abbot Kinney landmark known for wood-fired vegetables, blistered pizzas, and market-driven plates. Venice offers everything from beach boardwalk strolls to design shops, and Gjelina is a standout Westside anchor.

    What to order: Wood-fired vegetables; pizza

    Reserve

  • Hollywood, Providence

    Seafood $$$$

    Michael Cimarusti's elegant, two-Michelin-starred seafood tasting menu that captures the refined side of the city's dining. It is a compelling reason to plan a special evening around Hollywood and Melrose.

    What to order: Tasting menu; caviar; day-boat fish

    Reserve

  • Chinatown, Pearl River Deli

    Cantonese $$

    A tiny, chef-driven Cantonese counter serving meticulous Hainan chicken and char siu near the neighborhood's plazas. A stroll through Chinatown's lantern-lined streets pairs perfectly with an affordable, memorable meal.

    What to order: Hainan chicken; char siu

    Reserve

  • Highland Park, Otoño

    Spanish $$$

    A warm, walkable Spanish restaurant serving paella and tapas along the buzzing York Boulevard strip. Creative cooking and cozy independent spots make Highland Park a rewarding, low-key dining destination on the Eastside.

    What to order: Paella; tapas; jamón

    Reserve

Best New & Trendy Restaurant Openings in Los Angeles

Los Angeles's dining scene never stands still, and the best new and trendy restaurant openings in Los Angeles keep the city on the national radar year after year.

Recent momentum has centered on the Arts District's continued expansion, ambitious neighborhood debuts across Hollywood and Los Feliz, and chefs branching out from acclaimed flagships to launch second and third concepts.

New openings tend to book up fast on buzz alone, so flexibility with dates and early or late seatings helps. Because the freshest spots evolve quickly, it is always worth checking current local coverage before you go.

These picks highlight recently opened and buzzy restaurants that capture where Los Angeles dining is heading right now.

  • Camphor

    French $$$

    A Michelin-starred French bistro in the Arts District from chefs who trained at London's Michelin kitchens. Its refined yet unfussy cooking and buzzy bar have made it one of the neighborhood's most talked-about arrivals.

    What to order: Seasonal French bistro plates; seafood

    Reserve

  • Mírate

    Mexican $$$

    A stylish Los Feliz Mexican restaurant with a lively rooftop and a mezcal-forward bar program. Its inventive regional cooking and see-and-be-seen energy have kept it firmly in the conversation as a modern favorite.

    What to order: Regional Mexican plates; mezcal

    Reserve

  • Yess

    Japanese $$$$

    A hard-to-book Arts District restaurant from chef Junya Yamasaki blending Japanese technique with California produce and open-fire cooking. Its cult following and precise point of view make it emblematic of L.A.'s adventurous new wave.

    What to order: Kappo tasting; fire-cooked plates

    Reserve

  • Kato

    Taiwanese-American $$$$

    Chef Jon Yao's Michelin-starred restaurant relocated to Row DTLA, pairing Taiwanese and Chinese flavors with a modern tasting-menu format. Its intersection of memory and technique makes it one of the city's most distinctive newer arrivals.

    What to order: Taiwanese-inflected tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Damian

    Mexican $$$

    Enrique Olvera's Arts District Mexican restaurant brings contemporary technique and heirloom corn to a striking industrial room. Its polished cooking and buzzy room made it an instant see-and-be-seen destination.

    What to order: Modern Mexican; house tortillas

    Reserve

  • Horses

    European-American $$$

    A stylish Hollywood restaurant reviving the spirit of a classic neighborhood bistro with European-American cooking. Warm, rustic, and dependable, it reflects a move toward comforting fare with a glamorous crowd.

    What to order: Bistro plates; wood-fired dishes

    Reserve

  • Manzke

    French $$$$

    A two-Michelin-starred Mid-City restaurant from chefs Margarita and Walter Manzke, blending French fine dining with global influences. Its ambitious tasting menu and polished service keep it among the city's most acclaimed openings.

    What to order: French-driven tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Quarter Sheets

    Pizza $$

    An Echo Park spot that grew from a pandemic pizza pop-up into a beloved brick-and-mortar known for its Detroit-style pies and layer cakes. Its casual charm exemplifies the neighborhood-debut trend outside downtown.

    What to order: Detroit-style pan pizza; cake

    Reserve

  • Kuya Lord / Filipino newcomers

    Filipino $$

    A wave of Filipino restaurants led by chef Lord Maynard Llera's Michelin-recognized Melrose Hill spot has energized the scene, from casual eateries to ambitious concepts. They reflect one of L.A.'s most exciting current culinary movements.

    What to order: Casual to ambitious Filipino plates

    Reserve

  • Citizen Public Market / food halls

    Food Hall $$

    Curated food halls in Culver City and beyond gather standout local vendors under one roof, offering an easy way to sample multiple buzzy chefs and cuisines in a single, casual visit.

    What to order: Multiple local vendors under one roof

    Reserve

Frequently Asked Questions

What food is Los Angeles most famous for?

Los Angeles is most famous for tacos, from al pastor to birria. Locals also love Korean BBQ in Koreatown, the French dip (claimed by both Philippe's and Cole's), In-N-Out burgers, and fine dining like Michelin-starred n/naka.

Where can I get the best tacos in Los Angeles?

Top taco spots include Guisados for braised fillings, Sonoratown for flour-tortilla carne asada, Leo's Tacos Truck for al pastor off the trompo, and Mariscos Jalisco for the shrimp taco dorado. Try more than one.

Do I need reservations for top Los Angeles restaurants?

Yes. Tables like n/naka, Providence, Bestia, and Bavel need reservations released weeks ahead. Some spots such as Grand Central Market stalls are walk-in only. Book early or sit at the bar.

Which Los Angeles neighborhoods are best for dining?

The Arts District and Downtown are the buzziest hub. Koreatown is packed with BBQ and late-night spots, Silver Lake and Echo Park have chef-driven kitchens, Thai Town and Boyle Heights offer affordable authentic cuisine, and Beverly Hills has steakhouses.

How expensive is fine dining in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles's top tasting menus are a splurge, typically $$$$ per person before pairings. Taquerias, food halls, and spots like Howlin' Ray's offer great value. Check current menus.

Are there good vegetarian and vegan options in Los Angeles?

Yes. Vegan and vegetarian spots include Crossroads Kitchen, Gracias Madre, and Sage Plant Based Bistro. Many fine-dining kitchens accommodate vegan menus with notice, and Ethiopian spots along Fairfax offer plant-based platters.