San Fernando Valley
Locals obsess over Porto's. There always seems to be a queue somewhere in this sprawling bakery-cafe, where different stations dispense hearty sandwiches,…
Must-see restaurants in California
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
It's hard to overstate the phenomenon that is Howlin' Ray's. Customers gladly queue for two hours or more – check Twitter for current wait times – at this…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
This is not your nonni's Italian, and actually she might take issue with whether it's Italian at all. Many of the ingredients more commonly appear on…
Butcher, the Baker, the Cappuccino Maker
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Literally and spiritually at the heart of the Sunset Strip, bright, airy indoor-outdoor BBCM does Instagram-ready comfort food: eggs Benedict, bananas…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
Gary Danko wins James Beard Awards for his impeccable Californian haute cuisine. Smoked-glass windows prevent passersby from tripping over their tongues…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Do not attempt to order pad thai at this fashionable younger sibling of nearby Lers Ros, where the 120-dish menu is inspired by the cuisine of the lesser…
Healdsburg
Right on the town plaza, you'll no doubt catch a glimpse of this restaurant's elegant dining room with its beautiful people, floor-to-ceiling windows and…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
One bite explains why SF is obsessed with pizza lately: Delfina's thin crust heroically supports the weight of fennel sausage and fresh mozzarella without…
Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey
Set in a hipster-chic brick-house loft, but sealed off from the on-rushing madness of Lincoln Blvd, this German sausage and beer haus specializes in three…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
As old-school delis go, Canter's is hard to beat. A fixture in the traditionally Jewish Fairfax district since 1931, seen-it-all waitresses serve up the…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
The sister bistro of State Bird Provisions seems laid-back – the wabi-sabi wooden decor resembles a weatherbeaten boat and Stuart Brioza and Nicole…
San Fernando Valley
This sophisticated spot with brick and black-mottled walls has been in business since 1964 thanks to dishes such as chicken penne, branzino filet, plenty…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Indie-rock organic ice cream that may permanently spoil you for Top 40 flavors. Once 'Elvis: The Fat Years' (banana and peanut butter) and 'Hibiscus Beet…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Never mind the name: once you've sampled the carnitas (slow-roasted pork) tacos and passion-fruit-habañero margaritas, you'll be in no position to debate…
San Francisco
Romans and San Franciscans converge around the table at this tiny Russian Hill storefront trattoria, where market-fresh ingredients find peak expression…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Ancient Greek philosophers didn't think too hard about lunch, and neither should you at Souvla. Get in line and make no-fail choices: pita or salad, wine…
Napa Valley
Chef Michael Chiarello opened this Italian market, cafe and mozzeria in Yountville's V Marketplace across from his popular farm-to-table establishment…
Santa Monica
Some call this minimalist spot from the team behind Sugarfish 'fast-food pasta', but if only other pasta places were this good. Noodles shipped directly…
Santa Monica
Set poolside at the Fairmont, and conceived with a coastal organic ethos, Fig sources many ingredients from the twice-weekly farmers market down the…
Malibu & Pacific Palisades
The restaurant at the top-notch Malibu Beach Inn could get by on its ocean-view deck, but fortunately it doesn't. Chefs bypass the farmers markets and go…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
If all vegan meatballs, faux crispy chicken sandwiches and imitation salami subs tasted this good, every cow, chicken and pig could run free. Okay maybe…
Healdsburg
If you're looking to impress somebody, Healdsburg residents suggest Valette. The sleek American restaurant is regularly packed with suits and fancy ladies…
San Francisco
Bond over mezze inspired by chef-owner Samir Mogannam's mom, plus stints at the Bay's top Mediterranean restaurants. Hummus tahina traditionalists and…
Sonoma Valley
Helmed by chef Ari Weiswasser, who once worked at Thomas Keller's French Laundry, this petite Glen Ellen bistro shines a light on the best of Sonoma farms…
Coastal Highway 1
This fancy spot offers a choice of dining experiences. The Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen offers breakfast and dinner, the latter concentrating on such…
Disneyland Resort
Nothing at Disneyland is exactly a secret, but this clubby, grown-up hideaway comes pretty darn close. Dry-rubbed, bone-in rib eye, Australian lobster…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
SF's unfair culinary advantages – organic local ingredients, Pacific Rim roots and street-skater, try-anything attitude – are showcased in Namu's Korean…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Carnivorous foodies pray at the altar of Animal, the restaurant that put food bros Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo on the map. Begin with chicken-liver toast…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
Progressive, well-executed Italo-Asian fusion rules the roost here. Grain bowls feature on the simpler lunch menu – choose your base (quinoa, barley,…
Santa Ynez Valley
God Morgen! Start the day Danish-style with a warm welcome and a hearty breakfast in which, clue in the name, pancakes feature heavily – over 30 years…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Gimmickry is for amateurs – Zuni has been turning basic menu staples into gourmet go-tos since 1979. Reservations and fat wallets are key for oyster-and…
Yosemite National Park
The formal ambience (mind your manners!) may not be for everybody, but few would not be awed by the sumptuous decor, soaring beamed ceiling and palatial…
Newport Beach
Hidden a block behind W Coast Hwy, Eat Chow's crowd is equal parts tatted hipsters and ladies who lunch, which makes it very Newport indeed. They all…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Trust chef Mitsunori Kusakabe's omakase (tasting menu). Sit at the counter while the chef adds a herbal hint to fatty tuna with the inside of a shiso leaf…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The space is cramped, dingy and covered in street art, including several graffiti chickens. But the Korean 'tapas' are sublime, and Aria is famous for its…
San Francisco
All the laid-back charm and sun-drenched flavors you'd expect from California, at totally chill prices. The Castro farmer's market is right across the…
Coastal Highway 1
Enjoy a stunning view of the bay and an upscale atmosphere. Seafood is the emphasis here, but pasta and meat dishes are also available. The black-and…
Napa Valley
A winning formula by Thomas Keller, Yountville’s culinary patriarch, Ad Hoc serves the master’s favorite American home cooking in four family-style…
Yosemite National Park
The biggest and best grocery store in the park is located smack in the center of Yosemite Village. Whether you’re after last-minute items or full-fledged…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
This unpretentious yet gourmet taco stand in the Original Farmers Market is often credited with starting LA's boom in authentic, regional Mexican cooking…
