The Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles (Updated 8/1/22)
haArgentine - Mercado Buenos Aires for steak and eggs (Van Nuys, Granada Hills), Carlitos Gardel (an Argentine told me that this was the best Argentine restaurant in LA), Rincon Argentino (empanadas -- owner of Tortoni Caffe told me these are the best you can get in LA)
Australian - EP & LP (Asian Fusion via Melbourne)
Bagels - Yeastie Boys, Belle's Bagels
Bakery - Proof Bakery, Long Beach Beer Lab, Tartine, Chaumont, Clark Street Bread, Renaud's
Barbecue - Moo's Craft Barbecue, Maple Block Meat Co., Boneyard Bistro
Beer - Boneyard Bistro, The Dough Room, Surly Goat family of bars, Brewster's, Southland Beer, Library Alehouse, Beachwood Barbecue, Highland Park Brewery, Monkish Brewing Co., The Hermosillo, Little Bear, Barbara's at the Brewery, Harajuku Taproom, Tony Dart's Away, Handy Market (hard to find bottles)
Breakfast - Hungry Fox (best chicken and waffles), More Than Waffles, Blu Jam Cafe (French toast), Du-Par's or Norm's (pancakes with blueberry compote), and The Kettle (honey bran muffins), Robek's (best smoothies)
Breakfast Burrito - Cofax, Athenian Grill, Provisions Deli (in Orange County)
Burrito - Taqueria Mi Ranchito truck (California burrito), Burritos La Palma (La Puente, Smorgasburg every Sunday, Boyle Heights, Santa Ana), Poquito Mas (shrimp San Felipe burrito), Al & Bea's (bean and cheese burrito), La Azteca Tortilleria
(Mexican) Breakfast - Carrillo's Tortilleria (get the mole tamale! get a table full of breakfast foods to share!), the "cheffy" chilaquiles (Anepalco in OC) and chilaquiles cooked with love at Los Pinos Cafe in El Sereno (order his housemade tepache as well).
Charcuterie - Bestia (This is the only item I would eat there)
Cookies - Proof Bakery, Cookie Good
Cannoli - Eagle Rock Italian Deli, Factory Kitchen
Chinese - San Gabriel Valley (Just go and take your pick. Look for the most crowded places!) Bistro Na's, Chong Qing Special Noodles, Lunasia Dimsum House, Kang Kang Food Court (sheng jian bao), King Hua, Elite Chinese Restaurant (dim sum), Newport Seafood, Mama Lu's, 101 Noodle Express... I know I am missing others. So much good food.
Clam Chowder - Horseless Carriage
Cocktail Bars - Tiki Ti, Tonga Hut, The Varnish, Thunderbolt (one of the best cocktail bars in the world)
Coffee - G&B Coffee, gget, Cognoscenti Coffee, Coffee Commissary, The Boy & the Bear (Colombian coffees)
Columbian - Sazon Colombia
Croissant - Chaumont, Renaud's, Tartine, Proof Bakery (just like in Europe!)
Best. Donuts. Ever. - Sidecar Donuts
Dim sum - Lunasia Chinese Cuisine (my favorite), Elite Restaurant (more exotic items), King Hua (luxury)
Diner - The Horseless Carriage (lobster omelet, anyone?, get prime rib dinner and try the pie), Mary's Market (follow them on Instagram and see what I mean), the Hungry Fox, Norm's, Du-Par's
Empanadas - Johnny Pacific (nothing like this empanada... get the spinach and cheese), Rincon Argentino
Ethiopian - Messob Ethiopian Restaurant (my Ethiopian clients said that this is best in LA -- it was packed with Ethiopians when I visited)
Filipino - LA Rose Cafe (tocino), Max's of Manila (this is where Filipinos eat and celebrate with traditional Filipino fare from this chain in the Philippines), House of Grill (turo-turo joint), Lillian's Breads and Sweets (turo-turo joint with regional dishes), Dollar Hits (an experience!), Oi Asian Fusion, Hopia Like It (cebuchon with garlic rice and hopia), D'New Aristocrat (turon), Tony's Barbecue and Bibingkinitan (Filipino barbecue and the best bibingka in LA, Razon-style halo-halo), Fiesta Barbecue and Bibingka (bought business from Tony's Barbecue along with recipes for barbecue and bibingka, Jollibee (bigger than McDonald's in the Philipppines -- try the fried chicken with white rice and gravy), Bamboo Bistro (kamayan or proper term "boodle fight"),
GOTO@SILOG (porridge specialist), Red Ribbon Bakeshop (chicken empanada, ube cake, fresh lumpia, pan de sal, ensaymada), Kusina Filipina (laing)
Fine Dining - Providence
Fish Tacos -Ricky's Fish Tacos, Best Fish Taco in Ensenada, Cheko El Rey del Sarandeado, California Fish Grill
French - Cafe Beaujolais, Petit Trois
Fried Chicken - bb.q Chicken, Mom's Touch, Wendill's Chicken House, Crawford's, Hotville Chicken & Chops (the one that started it all -- the originator of hot chicken in Nashville), Pann's, Howlin' Rays, Son of a Gun, Hungry Fox
Greek - Firehouse Restaurant (chicken gyro sandwich will change your life), The Great Greek, Gyromania
Guatamalan - La Cevicheria
Hamburger - HiHo (best hamburger in LA), Bill's Hamburger, Pie 'n Burger, The Back Abbey, Shake Shack, The Habit, Connie 'N Teds
Hidden Gem - Mary's Market
Ice Cream and Gelato - Bacio di Latte, McConnell's, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, Jeni's Ice Cream, Salt & Straw
Indian - India's Sweets & Spices (Canoga Park), Badmaash, Ashoka the Great (wow!) in Artesia
Indonesian - +62 Street Food inside 168 Market in Rowland Heights
Israeli - Tel Aviv Grill
Italian - Angelini Osteria (insider's pick as the best Italian in the city -- chef Ori Menashe (someone told me he stole their recipes) and created Bestia, Angelini ALIMENTARI (life changing porchetta sandwich), Pasta Sisters, Factory Kitchen (handkerchief pasta)
Italian Deli - Cavaretta's, Domingo's, Cricca's
Japanese - Otafuku Noodle House, Torihei, Sushi Spot (my cheap thrills regular sushi with excellent service -- better than Michelin Morihiro), Morihiro (all in the details, table service needs work), Mori Sushi (my favorite lunch chirashi experience), Tokyo Central Market (my regular cheap thrills prepared foods Japanese Market), Venice Ramen, Tsujita LA
Jamaican - Simply Wholesome (get the Jamaican patties and their vegan burrito recommendation)
Jewish Deli - Nate 'n Al Delicatessen, Langer's Deli, Daughter's Deli
Korean - Park's BBQ, Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong, Ham Ji Park (pork ribs), Oo Kook (for AYCE)
Modern Mediterranean - Mizlala
Modern Mexican Restaurant - Anepalco French-Mexican dinner menu, also sister restaurant Maestro (Pasadena)
Mexican Hidden Gem - Carrillos Tortilleria in San Fernando (go for breakfast!)
Mexican Food Truck - Taqueria Mi Ranchito in Sylmar (my regular spot worth driving far for), Tacos Tamix, Mariscos Jalisco, El Tijuanense (my favorite birria tacos)
Mexican Fast Casual - Sonoratown (chorizo and asada on a flour tortilla), Loqui (chicken taco), Mi Ranchito (Veracruzan specialties)
Mexican Barbacoa - Aqui es Texcoco, La Barbacha
Mexican Carnitas - Carnitas el Rey (Oxnard), Adobo Taco Grill, Carnitas Loya
Mexican Ice Cream and Paletas - La Michoacana (San Fernando)
Panaderia - Tlaxcala Bakery, Panaderia San Fernando
Patty Melt - Cassell's Hamburgers
Persian - Nersses Vanak (Armenian/Persian - taftoon bread and kabobs), Sadaf (ground chicken kabob), Taste of Tehran, Raffi's Place (Armenian/Persian - great people watching)
Peruvian - Chio's, Kotosh, Pollo a la Brasa, Listo el Pollo
Pie - The Pie Hole, Cassell's Hamburger (banana dulce de leche), Horseless Carriage, Vintage Grocer's in Malibu
Pizza - L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Pizza Wagon of Brooklyn, DeSano's, Pizzana, Super Fine Pizza
Poke - Jus' Poke
Portuguese - Nata's Pastries, Portugal Imports
Ramen - Venice Ramen, Men-Oh Tokushima Ramen, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Tentenyu Ramen, Ramen Tatsunoya
Rotisserie Chicken - Pollo a la Brasa (Gardena), Listo el Pollo
Steak - I recommend doing your red meat eating at Korean Barbecue restaurants. All top chefs frequent Park's BBQ, but I prefer Chosun Galbi as the best in LA. In the Valley, Shik Do Rak in Northridge has comparable galbi, Arroyo Chop House, Ruth's Chris (not a fan of the steak at Fleming's, Morton's or Mastro's). Real talk: I prefer Korean BBQ for beef!
Sandwich - Proof Bakery (most authentic French-style sandwiches), Domingo's, Cavaretta's, Cricca's, The Heights Deli, Waxpaper
Seafood - The Jolly Oyster, Connie & Ted's, Water Grill, HC Seafood, Redondo Beach Pier restaurants such as Quality Seafood and other Korean seafood/live crab restaurants, The Drunken Crab, Channel Islands Sportsfishing (stock up and catch your wild local seafood!)
Spanish - La Española Meats (paella, sandwiches, groceries), Gasolina Cafe, Taylor's Cafe (Basque)
Sushi - Sushi Spot (my cheap thrill), Mori Sushi (favorite lunch chirashi), Sushi Iki (luxurious sushi), Go's Mart (exotic sushi), Morihiro (chef's chef and probably best in Los Angeles)
Tacos - Taqueria Mi Ranchito (best carne asada and cabeza tacos and California burritos in LA), Holbox (octopus tacos), Chori-Man (chorizo tacos), Tacos Tamix (best al pastor in Los Angeles), Mariscos Jaliscos (shrimp hard shell tacos), Ricky's Fish Tacos (Ensenada-style fish tacos), Loqui (chicken tacos), Guisados (taco sampler or quesadilla taco-owner's daughter's pick), Cheko El Rey Del Sarandeado (marlin tacos), Tacos Quetzalcoatl (vegetarian), Carnitas Loya (carnitas), Adobo Taco Grill (vampiro de carnitas), Arturo's Puffy Tacos (best Texas-style puffy tacos), Aqui es Texcoco (barbacoa), Petty Cash Taqueria (chef Oso's octopus taco from Tijuana), Los Cinco Puntos (carnitas), Chichen Itza (cochinita pibil) or Holbox (mariscos - octopus taco)
Taquitos - Cielito Lindo (a plate of taquitos with green sauce)
Tasting Menu - Providence, Le Comptoir
Tea - Funnel Mill, Conservatory For Coffee
Tempura - Hannosuke, Tempura Endo
Thai - Chai Tung, Sri Siam (get the crispy rice salad! get the pork ribs! shrimp paste fried rice!), Rad Na Silom (Thai people me that this is the best rad na outside Thailand), Sapp Coffee Shop (boat noodles, jade noodles), Wat Thai Temple (street food festival every weekend), Lacha Somtum (papaya salad), Yai Restaurant (crispy pork and Chinese brocolli), Jitlada (a food critic/media favorite--I have been twice, but thought it was all too spicy and couldn't taste any other flavors for me), Luv2Eat Thai Bistro (the owners recommended their fried chicken when I ate there), Bua Siam (fried shredded catfish and papaya salad, dynamite wings, weekend only housemade Thai sausage), Bhan Kanom Thai (Thai desserts), Ruen Pair (a food critic and chef favorite, but I don't like their consistently rude service)
Vegan - Vinh Loi Tofu, VeStation, Araya's Place
Vietnamese - Pho Hoan My, Golden Deli, Pho 45 (OC), Pho Akaushi (OC)
Wine by bottle - K&L Wine Merchants (order online and pickup - join the club for deals on craft beer and wine)
Australian - EP & LP (Asian Fusion via Melbourne)
Bagels - Yeastie Boys, Belle's Bagels
Bakery - Proof Bakery, Long Beach Beer Lab, Tartine, Chaumont, Clark Street Bread, Renaud's
Barbecue - Moo's Craft Barbecue, Maple Block Meat Co., Boneyard Bistro
Beer - Boneyard Bistro, The Dough Room, Surly Goat family of bars, Brewster's, Southland Beer, Library Alehouse, Beachwood Barbecue, Highland Park Brewery, Monkish Brewing Co., The Hermosillo, Little Bear, Barbara's at the Brewery, Harajuku Taproom, Tony Dart's Away, Handy Market (hard to find bottles)
Breakfast - Hungry Fox (best chicken and waffles), More Than Waffles, Blu Jam Cafe (French toast), Du-Par's or Norm's (pancakes with blueberry compote), and The Kettle (honey bran muffins), Robek's (best smoothies)
Breakfast Burrito - Cofax, Athenian Grill, Provisions Deli (in Orange County)
Burrito - Taqueria Mi Ranchito truck (California burrito), Burritos La Palma (La Puente, Smorgasburg every Sunday, Boyle Heights, Santa Ana), Poquito Mas (shrimp San Felipe burrito), Al & Bea's (bean and cheese burrito), La Azteca Tortilleria
(Mexican) Breakfast - Carrillo's Tortilleria (get the mole tamale! get a table full of breakfast foods to share!), the "cheffy" chilaquiles (Anepalco in OC) and chilaquiles cooked with love at Los Pinos Cafe in El Sereno (order his housemade tepache as well).
Charcuterie - Bestia (This is the only item I would eat there)
Cookies - Proof Bakery, Cookie Good
Cannoli - Eagle Rock Italian Deli, Factory Kitchen
Chinese - San Gabriel Valley (Just go and take your pick. Look for the most crowded places!) Bistro Na's, Chong Qing Special Noodles, Lunasia Dimsum House, Kang Kang Food Court (sheng jian bao), King Hua, Elite Chinese Restaurant (dim sum), Newport Seafood, Mama Lu's, 101 Noodle Express... I know I am missing others. So much good food.
Clam Chowder - Horseless Carriage
Cocktail Bars - Tiki Ti, Tonga Hut, The Varnish, Thunderbolt (one of the best cocktail bars in the world)
Coffee - G&B Coffee, gget, Cognoscenti Coffee, Coffee Commissary, The Boy & the Bear (Colombian coffees)
Columbian - Sazon Colombia
Croissant - Chaumont, Renaud's, Tartine, Proof Bakery (just like in Europe!)
Best. Donuts. Ever. - Sidecar Donuts
Dim sum - Lunasia Chinese Cuisine (my favorite), Elite Restaurant (more exotic items), King Hua (luxury)
Diner - The Horseless Carriage (lobster omelet, anyone?, get prime rib dinner and try the pie), Mary's Market (follow them on Instagram and see what I mean), the Hungry Fox, Norm's, Du-Par's
Empanadas - Johnny Pacific (nothing like this empanada... get the spinach and cheese), Rincon Argentino
Ethiopian - Messob Ethiopian Restaurant (my Ethiopian clients said that this is best in LA -- it was packed with Ethiopians when I visited)
Filipino - LA Rose Cafe (tocino), Max's of Manila (this is where Filipinos eat and celebrate with traditional Filipino fare from this chain in the Philippines), House of Grill (turo-turo joint), Lillian's Breads and Sweets (turo-turo joint with regional dishes), Dollar Hits (an experience!), Oi Asian Fusion, Hopia Like It (cebuchon with garlic rice and hopia), D'New Aristocrat (turon), Tony's Barbecue and Bibingkinitan (Filipino barbecue and the best bibingka in LA, Razon-style halo-halo), Fiesta Barbecue and Bibingka (bought business from Tony's Barbecue along with recipes for barbecue and bibingka, Jollibee (bigger than McDonald's in the Philipppines -- try the fried chicken with white rice and gravy), Bamboo Bistro (kamayan or proper term "boodle fight"),
GOTO@SILOG (porridge specialist), Red Ribbon Bakeshop (chicken empanada, ube cake, fresh lumpia, pan de sal, ensaymada), Kusina Filipina (laing)
Fine Dining - Providence
Fish Tacos -Ricky's Fish Tacos, Best Fish Taco in Ensenada, Cheko El Rey del Sarandeado, California Fish Grill
French - Cafe Beaujolais, Petit Trois
Fried Chicken - bb.q Chicken, Mom's Touch, Wendill's Chicken House, Crawford's, Hotville Chicken & Chops (the one that started it all -- the originator of hot chicken in Nashville), Pann's, Howlin' Rays, Son of a Gun, Hungry Fox
Greek - Firehouse Restaurant (chicken gyro sandwich will change your life), The Great Greek, Gyromania
Guatamalan - La Cevicheria
Hamburger - HiHo (best hamburger in LA), Bill's Hamburger, Pie 'n Burger, The Back Abbey, Shake Shack, The Habit, Connie 'N Teds
Hidden Gem - Mary's Market
Ice Cream and Gelato - Bacio di Latte, McConnell's, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, Jeni's Ice Cream, Salt & Straw
Indian - India's Sweets & Spices (Canoga Park), Badmaash, Ashoka the Great (wow!) in Artesia
Indonesian - +62 Street Food inside 168 Market in Rowland Heights
Israeli - Tel Aviv Grill
Italian - Angelini Osteria (insider's pick as the best Italian in the city -- chef Ori Menashe (someone told me he stole their recipes) and created Bestia, Angelini ALIMENTARI (life changing porchetta sandwich), Pasta Sisters, Factory Kitchen (handkerchief pasta)
Italian Deli - Cavaretta's, Domingo's, Cricca's
Japanese - Otafuku Noodle House, Torihei, Sushi Spot (my cheap thrills regular sushi with excellent service -- better than Michelin Morihiro), Morihiro (all in the details, table service needs work), Mori Sushi (my favorite lunch chirashi experience), Tokyo Central Market (my regular cheap thrills prepared foods Japanese Market), Venice Ramen, Tsujita LA
Jamaican - Simply Wholesome (get the Jamaican patties and their vegan burrito recommendation)
Jewish Deli - Nate 'n Al Delicatessen, Langer's Deli, Daughter's Deli
Korean - Park's BBQ, Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong, Ham Ji Park (pork ribs), Oo Kook (for AYCE)
Modern Mediterranean - Mizlala
Modern Mexican Restaurant - Anepalco French-Mexican dinner menu, also sister restaurant Maestro (Pasadena)
Mexican Hidden Gem - Carrillos Tortilleria in San Fernando (go for breakfast!)
Mexican Food Truck - Taqueria Mi Ranchito in Sylmar (my regular spot worth driving far for), Tacos Tamix, Mariscos Jalisco, El Tijuanense (my favorite birria tacos)
Mexican Fast Casual - Sonoratown (chorizo and asada on a flour tortilla), Loqui (chicken taco), Mi Ranchito (Veracruzan specialties)
Mexican Barbacoa - Aqui es Texcoco, La Barbacha
Mexican Carnitas - Carnitas el Rey (Oxnard), Adobo Taco Grill, Carnitas Loya
Mexican Ice Cream and Paletas - La Michoacana (San Fernando)
Panaderia - Tlaxcala Bakery, Panaderia San Fernando
Patty Melt - Cassell's Hamburgers
Persian - Nersses Vanak (Armenian/Persian - taftoon bread and kabobs), Sadaf (ground chicken kabob), Taste of Tehran, Raffi's Place (Armenian/Persian - great people watching)
Peruvian - Chio's, Kotosh, Pollo a la Brasa, Listo el Pollo
Pie - The Pie Hole, Cassell's Hamburger (banana dulce de leche), Horseless Carriage, Vintage Grocer's in Malibu
Pizza - L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Pizza Wagon of Brooklyn, DeSano's, Pizzana, Super Fine Pizza
Poke - Jus' Poke
Portuguese - Nata's Pastries, Portugal Imports
Ramen - Venice Ramen, Men-Oh Tokushima Ramen, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Tentenyu Ramen, Ramen Tatsunoya
Rotisserie Chicken - Pollo a la Brasa (Gardena), Listo el Pollo
Steak - I recommend doing your red meat eating at Korean Barbecue restaurants. All top chefs frequent Park's BBQ, but I prefer Chosun Galbi as the best in LA. In the Valley, Shik Do Rak in Northridge has comparable galbi, Arroyo Chop House, Ruth's Chris (not a fan of the steak at Fleming's, Morton's or Mastro's). Real talk: I prefer Korean BBQ for beef!
Sandwich - Proof Bakery (most authentic French-style sandwiches), Domingo's, Cavaretta's, Cricca's, The Heights Deli, Waxpaper
Seafood - The Jolly Oyster, Connie & Ted's, Water Grill, HC Seafood, Redondo Beach Pier restaurants such as Quality Seafood and other Korean seafood/live crab restaurants, The Drunken Crab, Channel Islands Sportsfishing (stock up and catch your wild local seafood!)
Spanish - La Española Meats (paella, sandwiches, groceries), Gasolina Cafe, Taylor's Cafe (Basque)
Sushi - Sushi Spot (my cheap thrill), Mori Sushi (favorite lunch chirashi), Sushi Iki (luxurious sushi), Go's Mart (exotic sushi), Morihiro (chef's chef and probably best in Los Angeles)
Tacos - Taqueria Mi Ranchito (best carne asada and cabeza tacos and California burritos in LA), Holbox (octopus tacos), Chori-Man (chorizo tacos), Tacos Tamix (best al pastor in Los Angeles), Mariscos Jaliscos (shrimp hard shell tacos), Ricky's Fish Tacos (Ensenada-style fish tacos), Loqui (chicken tacos), Guisados (taco sampler or quesadilla taco-owner's daughter's pick), Cheko El Rey Del Sarandeado (marlin tacos), Tacos Quetzalcoatl (vegetarian), Carnitas Loya (carnitas), Adobo Taco Grill (vampiro de carnitas), Arturo's Puffy Tacos (best Texas-style puffy tacos), Aqui es Texcoco (barbacoa), Petty Cash Taqueria (chef Oso's octopus taco from Tijuana), Los Cinco Puntos (carnitas), Chichen Itza (cochinita pibil) or Holbox (mariscos - octopus taco)
Taquitos - Cielito Lindo (a plate of taquitos with green sauce)
Tasting Menu - Providence, Le Comptoir
Tea - Funnel Mill, Conservatory For Coffee
Tempura - Hannosuke, Tempura Endo
Thai - Chai Tung, Sri Siam (get the crispy rice salad! get the pork ribs! shrimp paste fried rice!), Rad Na Silom (Thai people me that this is the best rad na outside Thailand), Sapp Coffee Shop (boat noodles, jade noodles), Wat Thai Temple (street food festival every weekend), Lacha Somtum (papaya salad), Yai Restaurant (crispy pork and Chinese brocolli), Jitlada (a food critic/media favorite--I have been twice, but thought it was all too spicy and couldn't taste any other flavors for me), Luv2Eat Thai Bistro (the owners recommended their fried chicken when I ate there), Bua Siam (fried shredded catfish and papaya salad, dynamite wings, weekend only housemade Thai sausage), Bhan Kanom Thai (Thai desserts), Ruen Pair (a food critic and chef favorite, but I don't like their consistently rude service)
Vegan - Vinh Loi Tofu, VeStation, Araya's Place
Vietnamese - Pho Hoan My, Golden Deli, Pho 45 (OC), Pho Akaushi (OC)
Wine by bottle - K&L Wine Merchants (order online and pickup - join the club for deals on craft beer and wine)
