The 20 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles

An 1908 sawdust-floor institution that claims to have invented the French dip — order the sandwich, choose your dip level, grab a long communal table. A friend sends you for cheap, delicious history near Union Station. Caveat: it's busy and cash-preferred, and it's a nostalgia trip more than fine dining.

Home of the #19 — hot pastrami, Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on double-baked rye — and, per many, the best pastrami sandwich in America. A friend sends you here over any other LA deli, full stop. Caveats: it's open 8am-4pm, closed Sundays, and the MacArthur Park area asks for street smarts.

A buzzy Italian-leaning restaurant from Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis that helped put the Arts District on the culinary map. The house-made charcuterie, pastas like the rigatoni with lamb sausage, and wood-fired dishes are exceptional. Reservations are notoriously hard to snag — book weeks out or try the bar walk-in.

A legendary Hollywood fine-dining institution that's been serving classic American cuisine for decades, known for perfectly cooked steaks, fresh seafood, and impeccable service from long-tenured staff. The old-world interior and timeless atmosphere make it feel like stepping into old Hollywood glamour. Note that quality and service can be inconsistent—some diners report excellent experiences while others have had disappointing visits, so managing expectations is wise.

Placita Olvera (Olvera Street) is a historic Mexican-American marketplace and cultural hub in downtown LA, part of the birthplace of the city. Wander the colorful shops for souvenirs, catch live music and dancers, and eat at hole-in-the-wall restaurants with excellent food. Parking is available but costs money; street parking may be an option, or take the train to avoid driving.

Stephanie Izard's acclaimed restaurant in downtown LA serving inventive, flavor-layered dishes in a stylish, energetic space. The confit goat belly and potato crepe are standouts that justify the hype and reservation requirement. Fair warning: the downtown location can be a hassle to reach, and portions are intentionally small.

Holbox is a seafood-focused restaurant in Mercado La Paloma serving fresh ceviches, grilled fish, and octopus tacos with bright, citrus-forward flavors. Standout dishes include the octopus tacos, branzino, scallop ceviche, and their various hot sauces—though note that the hot sauces are in a separate area and staff may not mention them, so ask. Expect a line, but reviewers say it moves quickly and the food justifies the wait.

A bakery-deli-cafe hybrid from the Gjelina group that produces some of the finest bread, pastries, smoked fish, and grain bowls in the city. The smoked salmon on house-baked bread with all the fixings is a quintessential LA morning. Weekend waits can be brutal and parking in Venice is a nightmare — go on a weekday if possible.

Redbird is an upscale restaurant housed in a stunning former cathedral in Downtown LA, known for impeccably prepared seafood like black cod and New Caledonian prawns, along with standout dishes like pork chop and lamb shank. The space feels elevated yet warm, with excellent service and cocktails, making it ideal for celebrations or special occasions—though at this price point and popularity, it's best to plan ahead.

The James Beard-honored Oaxacan restaurant in Koreatown that taught LA to love mole — bright orange building, live music nightly, deep and complex sauces. A friend sends you here without hesitation. It's a destination, so know that weekend nights get packed and loud.

A family-run Boyle Heights institution serving deeply rich, slow-cooked Jalisco-style birria on weekends only. The consommé is extraordinary and the quesabirria tacos are among the best in a city obsessed with them. Cash only, weekend hours, and lines form early — this is the real deal.

A Filipino-American restaurant from brothers Chad and Chase Valencia that brings serious culinary ambition to Chinatown. The kamayan-style tasting menus and dishes like the kare-kare and lechon are deeply flavored and thoughtfully composed. It's a small space with limited seatings — reservations are strongly recommended.

A small taqueria specializing in the flour-tortilla traditions of Sonora, Mexico, making some of the best tacos de guisado and burritos in the city. The tortillas are made fresh to order on a comal and the carne asada is exceptional. Hours are limited and it closes when the tortillas run out — go early.

The Chinatown counter that ignited LA's Nashville hot chicken craze — juicy, crackly, dialed-in from mild to punishing 'howlin' hot.' A friend sends you if you love hot chicken and don't mind a line. Caveat: it's closed Mon-Tue, and the wait, while shorter than its infamous peak, still bites.

The Boyle Heights truck that made tacos dorados de camaron famous — crispy fried shrimp tacos with avocado and bright salsa roja, the ones Jonathan Gold called a national treasure. A friend absolutely sends you. Caveats: it's cash-first, largely lunchtime, and you'll eat standing on an industrial stretch of Olympic.

Bottega Louie is an upscale Italian-American restaurant in a grand Downtown LA space with soaring ceilings, white marble, and an impressive pastry case. Go for brunch or dinner and order the Margherita Pizza, Classic Cheeseburger, or Chicken Parmesan—the pastries and macarons are also excellent. Parking is limited with no dedicated lot, though paid parking is available nearby.

A no-frills Little Tokyo sushi bar that has been serving impeccably fresh, traditionally prepared sushi since 1980. The sashimi lunch special is one of the best deals in the city — thick-cut fish at honest prices. Expect a line out the door at lunch; dinner is easier but still busy.

A highly-regarded Italian pasta restaurant in Downtown LA that excels at fresh, well-made pasta dishes and seafood—try the calamari, risotto, or spinach-ricotta filled pasta. The front-of-house staff is genuinely hospitable even for solo diners. Note that there's only one restroom, so plan accordingly during busy times.

Borit Gogae serves traditional Korean home cooking with generous set meals featuring abundant banchan, seasonal vegetables, and rich stews—think rural South Korean comfort food rather than typical KBBQ. Must-try dishes include the perilla seed soup, pork Bossam, and mung bean pancake, though portions are enormous (one set per person recommended). Fair warning: the food leans toward unfamiliar, veggie-forward flavors that may taste bland if you're not familiar with rural Korean cuisine.

The sibling restaurant to Bestia, Bavel explores Middle Eastern cuisine through the same lens of house-made everything and wood-fire cooking. The hummus with lamb neck, the whole roasted cauliflower, and the lamb kebabs are standouts. Like Bestia, reservations require advance planning and the noise level is high.