Raffi's Place
Massive Armenian-Persian restaurant with huge platters and patio.
Tacos Sinaloa
East LA taco institution with multiple meats and salsas.
Gjelina
Venice hotspot for vegetable plates, pizza, and shareable small plates.
Park's BBQ
Benchmark Koreatown KBBQ with prime meats and polished service.
Saffy's
Middle Eastern feast energy: share plates, skewers, and cocktails.
The Win~Dow
Beach-adjacent burger and breakfast stand with walk-up window.
Sonoratown
Northern Mexican flour tortillas, grilled meats, and perfect tacos.
Bob's Big Boy
Classic 50s diner where the Beatles ate; go Friday nights for the classic car show.
Dunsmoor
Hearth-driven American cooking with one of LA’s best dining rooms.
Sapp Coffee Shop
Classic Thai diner famous for jade noodles and boat noodles.
Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine
Indonesian Borneo dishes in a low-key Alhambra strip mall.
Dear John's
Dark, throwback Culver steakhouse revived by modern chefs.
Tsubaki
Stylish izakaya with charcoal-grilled plates and strong sake list.
Kato
Taiwanese-influenced tasting menu in a sleek downtown space.
Found Oyster
Tiny East Hollywood raw bar and seafood wine bar.
Dayglow
Specialty coffee bar with bright aesthetic and dialed-in drinks.
Petitgrain Boulangerie
French-leaning bakery turning out excellent breads and pastries.
endorffeine
Tiny Chinatown coffee bar with precise pour-overs and espressos.
Komquat Coffee
Tiny Eastside coffee bar with creative drinks and strong aesthetic.
Bhan Kanom Thai
Thai dessert and snack shop packed with sweets and treats.
Kumquat Coffee DTLA
DTLA specialty coffee stop for expertly pulled espresso and beautifully built seasonal drinks.
Mariscos Jalisco
Iconic shrimp tacos dorados from a beloved LA food truck.
Villa's Tacos Los Angeles
Vibrant, over-the-top tacos piled with smoky meats and toppings.
Guisados
Stewed-taco specialists with handmade tortillas and many fillings.
Leo's Tacos Truck
Spinning al pastor trompo and LA-famous late-night tacos.
Barbacoa Estilo Toluca.
Weekend-only barbacoa with rich consomé and handmade tortillas.
Mariscos 4 Vientos
Longstanding East LA mariscos spot for tostadas and cocktails.
Dollar Hits
Filipino street skewers and snacks grilled over charcoal at night.
Attari Sandwich Shop
Persian sandwich and soup stand with a leafy courtyard.
Howlin' Ray's Hot Chicken
Nashville-style hot chicken with legendary lines and spice levels.
Daybird
Sichuan hot chicken sandos from the team behind Hayato.
For the Win
Compact burger stand serving top-tier smashburgers.
Sushi Gen
Classic Little Tokyo sushi institution with loyal regulars.
Jitlada Restaurant
Legendary Southern Thai heat bomb and LA institution.
Anajak Thai
Family-run Thai spot turned natural wine and taco night hotspot.
Amphai Northern Thai Food Club
Northern Thai specialist serving deeply flavored regional dishes.
Luv2Eat Thai Bistro
Phuket-influenced Thai with serious spice and strong following.
Soban
Homey Korean restaurant specializing in banchan and braises.
Soowon Galbi
Beloved KBBQ spot with charcoal grills and great marinades.
Ham Ji Park
Pork-neck and gamjatang specialist with big flavors.
Kang Kang Food Court
SGV Chinese food court with huge menu and cafeteria vibes.
Sichuan Impression
Fiery Sichuan restaurant with numbing spice and bold flavors.
Woon
Cozy Chinese noodle shop serving family recipes in Historic Filipinotown.
Pine and Crane
Modern Taiwanese cafe with noodles, greens, and tea in Silver Lake.
India Sweets & Spices
Indian vegetarian steam-table cafeteria plus grocery store.
Philippe The Original
French dip pioneer with sawdust floors and cafeteria lines.
Johnny's Pastrami
Retro pastrami and burger joint with strong Westside vibes.
Horses
Euro-leaning Hollywood bistro with strong cocktails and scene-y energy.
Felix Trattoria
Handmade pasta temple in Venice with open pasta lab.
Jon & Vinny's
All-day Italian-leaning spot for pizza, pasta, and breakfast.
Sqirl
Daytime cafe with creative toasts, grains, and jams in Virgil Village.
Quarter Sheets
Detroit-style pan pizza and cakes in a low-key strip mall.
Dudley Market
Venice beachfront bistro with seafood, natural wine, and relaxed vibe.
Hayato
Intimate kaiseki counter at ROW DTLA with meticulous seasonal menus.
Somni
Avant-garde Spanish tasting menu and three-star Michelin experience.
Pasjoli
Refined French bistro from chef Dave Beran in Santa Monica.
Gwen
Butcher shop and steak-centered tasting menu from Curtis Stone.
Ondo Coffee
Korean-influenced specialty cafe with thoughtful drinks and bakes.
IKI RAMEN
Neighborhood ramen shop with rich broths and casual vibe.
Tacos La Güera
Late-night taco stand slinging al pastor and asada.
Mini Kabob
Tiny Armenian kebab shop with huge flavor and cult following.
Holbox
Yucatán-inspired seafood stand with serious cheffy mariscos.
Guelaguetza Restaurant
Oaxacan institution with moles, tlayudas, and live music.
Lunasia Dim Sum House
SGV dim sum hall with huge carts and big family tables.
Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant
Iconic Jewish deli famous for pastrami on double-baked rye.
Musso & Frank Grill
Hollywood’s oldest restaurant with martinis and steakhouse classics.
The Apple Pan
Counter-only West LA burger and pie institution since 1947.
Dolan’s Uyghur Cuisine
Big flavors: hand-pulled noodles, kebabs, and big plate chicken.
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
The Godmother: LA’s iconic Italian deli sandwich experience.
Providence
LA’s temple of sustainable seafood with three Michelin stars.
Endorffeine
Start in Chinatown at a minimalist coffee bar where one guy brews with surgical precision. No sugar, no syrups, just perfect caffeine.
Sonoratown
5 mins to DTLA to get the Chivichanga (braised beef or chicken in a flour tortilla) and a Chimichanga. The flour tortillas are the best in the city.
The Bradbury Building
Option A (Classic): Walk to this architectural gem (featured in Blade Runner). The light-filled atrium and ironwork stairs are stunning and historic.
Hauser & Wirth
Option B (Modern): Drive to the Arts District. Explore this massive open-air gallery housed in a former flour mill. World-class art and a chicken coop in the back.
Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant
Drive just west to Westlake (closes at 4pm). The #19 Pastrami Sandwich is non-negotiable. It is the best sandwich in America.
Mariscos Jalisco
Drive over the bridge to Boyle Heights. Order two "Tacos de Camarón" (fried shrimp tacos). Sit on the ledge. It’s the bite of LA.
Holbox
Head south to Mercado La Paloma. It’s a food court, but the seafood is Michelin-quality. Get the scallop taco or whatever ceviche looks good.
Kumquat Coffee DTLA
Drive north toward Highland Park. This serious coffee bar stays open until 6 PM. Perfect pre-dinner recharge.
Dunsmoor
Option A (Modern): Reservation Required. Heritage American cooking in Glassell Park. Open hearth fire, legendary cornbread, and a vibe that feels like the "New LA."
Park's BBQ
Option B (Korean): Drive to Koreatown. The gold standard for K-BBQ. Charcoal grills, high energy, and the highest quality beef in a bustling hall.
Tacos Sinaloa
Option A (Food): If you still have room, hit this truck in East LA for classic carne asada tacos to end the night.
Kato
Option B (Drink): Insider Tip. Walk into the bar at Kato (Arts District). You don't need a tasting menu reservation to enjoy the best cocktails in the city.
Sqirl
Start in Silver Lake. Yes, it’s trendy, but the Sorrel Pesto Rice and Ricotta Toast defined a decade of LA eating.
Silver Lake Reservoir
Walk off breakfast on the reservoir path. It’s a quintessential Eastside local scene—joggers, dogs, and views of the hills.
Sunset Blvd
Browse the boutiques along Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake (Mohawk General Store, etc.) for curated fashion and design.
Sapp Coffee Shop
Head to Thai Town. Order the "Jade Noodles" (green noodles with BBQ pork/crab) and a boat noodle soup. It’s casual, cheap, and legendary.
Amphai Northern Thai Food Club
Must Have. Walk nearby. It’s a narrow hallway serving Chiang Mai specialties. Get the Sai Oua (sausage) and Khao Soi.
Griffith Observatory
Drive up the hill for the most iconic view in Los Angeles. See the Hollywood Sign, the basin, and the Art Deco architecture.
Bhan Kanom Thai
Must Have. The dessert king of Thai Town. Grab "Pang Chi" (taro pancakes) and coconut cups to go. Unique items you won't see elsewhere.
Bob's Big Boy
(If Friday): Drive 10 mins to Burbank. The massive parking lot transforms into the best Classic Car Show in California. Grab a shake, walk the rows, and soak up the Americana.
Musso & Frank Grill
Drive over the hill to Hollywood. Sit at the counter or in a red leather booth. Order a Martini (it comes with a sidecar) and a steak. This is the history of LA dining.
The Troubadour
Catch a show at this legendary West Hollywood venue. Everyone from Elton John to Guns N' Roses played here. Intimate, sweaty, and historic.
Petitgrain Boulangerie
Start in Santa Monica. World-class pastries. Get there early before the good stuff sells out.
Palisades Park
Walk along the bluffs of Palisades Park for sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier from above.
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
Santa Monica icon. Grab a ticket, wait for your "Godmother with the works" (spicy peppers are key). Eat it on the hood of your car or take it to the beach.
Abbot Kinney Blvd
Drive down to Venice. Stroll "The Coolest Block in America" for high-end boutiques, fragrance shops, and people watching.
The Win~Dow
Grab a smashburger at this walk-up window in Venice. Eat it standing up. Cheap, fast, perfect.
Eames Foundation
Reservations Required. A luxury, nerdy architecture pilgrimage in Pacific Palisades. Tour the iconic Case Study House No. 8. (Book weeks in advance).
Point Dume
Nature Option. Drive up PCH to Point Dume. Hike the bluff for incredible views and watch the sunset over the Pacific. Essential California vibes.
Felix Trattoria
Reservation Required. The temple of pasta on Abbot Kinney. Watch Chef Funke making dough in the glass "laboratory" in the center of the room.
Dear John's
End in Culver City at this Sinatra-era steakhouse vibe. Dark room, stiff drinks, table-side Caesar if you're somehow still hungry.
