Los Angeles is world-famous for its excellent cuisine and vibrant dining scene. With so many amazing restaurants in LA, it can be challenging to decide where to dine. This guide will introduce you to some of the top places in LA to enjoy a meal and help you discover why LA is considered a global culinary destination.
Food Trucks – A Unique LA Dining Experience
If you want an authentic taste of LA’s diverse and cutting-edge food culture, look no further than the city’s renowned food trucks. Cruising the streets of Los Angeles, these mobile kitchens offer innovative twists on global flavors. Some top food trucks to try include: Dine La
- Kogi BBQ – Trailblazers of the food truck revolution, serving succulent Korean-style short rib tacos.
- Gjusta – Artisanal baked goods and rustic sandwiches from a catering truck in Venice.
- HomeState – Southern comfort food like fried chicken and hushpuppies with unique regional flavors.
- Pizza Rev – Build your pizza cooked in 180 seconds in their unique oven setup.
For the best food truck gatherings, check sites like Roaming Hunger to find out where the trucks will be on any night. SAMPLING gourmet cuisine from a truck is a quintessential LA dining adventure.
Celebrity Chef Restaurants
LA is home to some of the most famous names in cooking and their acclaimed restaurants. Celebrity chef eateries are excellent places to enjoy top-notch cuisine in stylish settings. Consider reservations at:
- Wolfgangs Steakhouse (Wolfgang Puck) – King of California-French cuisine in swanky Beverly Hills.
- The Bazaar (Jose Andres) – Innovative small plates from the global street food master.
- Angelini Osteria (Curtis Stone) – Upscale Italian dishes with Aussie flair in Downtown LA.
- Baco Mercat (Buddy Valastro) – Indulgent Carbone-style pasta and bread from TV’s Cake Boss.
Dining at a celebrity restaurant allows you to sample dishes from masters of the culinary craft while immersing in LA Hollywood glamor.
Stellar Sushi – The Raw Bar Experience
LA food guide only mentions the city’s acclaimed sushi scene. Sushi is elevated to an art form with fresh seafood from nearby Santa Barbara and San Pedro. Consider dining at:
- Sushi Gen is regarded as one of America’s best sushi restaurants. Traditional Edomae-style eats.
- Sugarfish – Incredibly fresh and excellently prepared rolls and nigiri at blistering speed.
- Hamasaku – Intimate omakase-only counter with an emphasis on seasonal catch.
- Sasabune – Over-the-top indulge with luxurious netas like toro belly and o-toro.
Experiencing sushi prepared with the utmost focus on quality and precision is a highlight of dining in LA. Book early for legendary omakase menus at top spots.
Ethnic Neighborhood Eats
For authentic cuisine beyond what top chefs are doing, explore LA’s ethnic neighborhoods where immigrant communities have stamped their flavors. Worth your time are:
- Koreatown – Try tolsot budae jjigae stew or bi bim bap rice bowls on Western Ave.
- San Gabriel Valley – Chinese banquet menus and dim sum are available in Alhambra, Monterey Park.
- West Adams – Soul food destinations such as Memphis Minnie’s and In-N-Out Burger in historic Leimert Park.
- Little Tokyo – Classic izakayas, ramen shops, and teppanyaki grills near the Japanese American National Museum.
Getting deep into LA’s diverse global neighborhoods allows you to interact with immigrant cultures through their food like nowhere else in the city.
Iconic LA Diners
Los Angeles has nurtured some institutions that are known nationwide. Classics you must experience include:
- The Apple Pan – Hunker down for terrific old-fashioned steak and bluegrass since 1947 in West LA.
- Canter’s Deli – Open 24/7 since 1931 with bagels, blintzes, and a celeb-filled scene in Fairfax District.
- Philippe The Original – Famous French dip sandwiches served in a 1908-built space in Chinatown since the days of Charlie Chaplin.
- The Griddle Café – Wavertree-style breakfasts an English tradition since 1939 in Sycamore Square Historic District.
Eating at one of LA’s iconic diners transports you back to old Hollywood glamour while you enjoy down-home classics. It’s an essential LA dining experience.
Rooftop Bars With Stellar Views
What’s a trip to LA without soaking up the sun and panoramic perspectives from a scenic rooftop? Whether you dine or imbibe, consider:
- Perch—Arthouse Cinema’s rooftop is sleek and contemporary, offering views of the ocean, twinkling city, and hill vistas.
- Clifton’s Brookdale – Step into an otherworldly redwood forest at this 1930s cafeteria before hitting the rooftop lounge.
- The Highlight Room – Vertigo-inducing views of DTLA from atop the historic Beaux Arts building in the arts district.
- Cabana Bungalow Club – Casual eats in a tropical backdrop highlighted by views of the Hollywood Hills.
Top off an LA excursion with a nightcap while marveling at the sweeping city and coastline panoramas from a high place of refuge.
Rustic Coastal Getaways
Escape the concrete for seaside charm on LA’s shorelines like:
- Neptunia Restaurant – Splashy Mediterranean seafood with ocean breezes in glamorous Malibu.
- Navy Beach House – Relaxed surf lifestyle vibes merge with craft beers and wood-fired eats in Hermosa Beach.
- Roy’s Restaurant – Contemporary Hawaii Regional cuisine paired with Santa Monica beach views.
Pacific shores define LA, and rustic beach eateries capture the relaxed coastal scene—Decompress with stylish fare in destinations just outside LA proper.
Los Angeles offers endless dining possibilities, whether you seek celebrity spots, immigrant neighborhoods, landmarks, or seafood. Use this guide as inspiration to plan memorable meals throughout your stay and discover why LA remains at the forefront of the global culinary landscape. Bon appétit!
