Marin County
This scruffy joint hiding under Hwy 101 is where local Latinos go for cheap, authentic Mexican fare. The tacos are tasty, burritos huge and the stews –…
Must-see restaurants in California
Los Angeles
It's just not a hipster hood without a decent ramen joint, and this skinny, black-walled bolthole is it for Highland Park. The hero dish is the tonkotsu,…
South Bay Beaches
Aficionados of old-school fish houses will enjoy this divey joint near Manhattan Beach's north end, decked out with rattan furnishings, aquariums and flat…
Mammoth Lakes
Lit by fairy lights, this sleek white and wood dressed tent-shaped restaurant serves big hot bowls of flavorsome noodle soup. Choose from shoyu ramen …
Central Coast
Global flavors from Asia and India feature on the wide-ranging menu at Robin's. Relax under the shaded arbor canopy in the rustic courtyard and graze on…
Orange County
Chef Joseph Mahon has parlayed his work at a Michelin-starred restaurant into gourmet burgers that have been named the OC's best. The cheerily…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
Chef Micah Wexler's original back-to-basics deli doles out old-school Jewish classics such as house-smoked fish, pastrami, corned beef and turkey on an…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
In a handsomely renovated brick building near South Pasadena station (hence the name), there's an open kitchen downstairs and a cozy bar upstairs – a…
Ruby’s Crystal Cove Shake Shack
Newport Beach
Although this been-here-forever wooden snack stand is now owned by the Ruby’s Diner chain, the shakes – and the ocean views – are as good as ever. Don’t…
San Jose
Located in San Jose's tiny Japantown, this fun Hawaii-themed bar serves filling island-style plate meals (sesame chicken is da best) and pupus (snacks or…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
Still a neighborhood darling, with hip locals and the odd celeb claiming tables in the intimate dining room and heated porch to feast on raw and grilled…
Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
Sacramento & the Central Valley
The suds on tap are the main draw at the on-site restaurant of the Sierra Nevada Brewery Company. This genuine Chico destination is great for downing…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Simply put, this is some of the best Japanese food available in Los Angeles, served izakaya style with fusion sushi. Order any of its small plates, but…
Coastal Highway 1
A real-deal Italian restaurant with no-fail traditional dishes, plus a few with a Californian tweak, such as butternut-squash lasagne and artichoke…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
A fantastic, fresh, all-natural counter-service joint with affordable grilled-veggie salads, pastas, semi-authentic tacos, pizzas (the grilled chicken is…
San Jose
A bustling Mexican place specializing in parrilladas (grilled meat, seafood and vegetables served on a cast iron dish and meant to be eaten family style),…
Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café
Santa Ynez Valley
This wine-country landmark (seen in the film Sideways) swirls up a casual-chic SoCal ambience with its wisteria-covered trellis entrance. The food is bold…
San Diego
Your kids will be your BFFs for bringing them to this over-the-top '50s-themed diner in Liberty Station. DJs spin rock-and-roll classics, waitresses wear…
Santa Cruz
Another opening in the up-and-coming dining scene in Santa Cruz's West End, Bantam's versatile space is often packed with SC locals enjoying wood-fired…
Sacramento & the Central Valley
The most popular pizza joint in town serves slices at lunch and gets boisterous at happy hour. Besides the usual combos, it has a fun selection of gourmet…
Los Angeles
Less beastly than adorable, this friendly restaurant offers a string of snug nooks inside an old Craftsman cottage, as well as a larger, less atmospheric…
San Jose
Jamaican jerk chicken, pork, salmon and tofu are the house specialties of this beloved Caribbean-barbecue kitchen, which also fries catfish, snapper and…
Mono Lake Region
Choose your meat (turkey, ham, roast beef or pastrami), then your cheese (swiss, cheddar, pepper jack, or provolone) then your bread (French roll, rye,…
Lone Pine
Just off the main streets, at everyone’s favorite breakfast joint, the portions are big, the bread is freshly baked and the soups hearty. Sandwiches and…
The Galley Seafood Grill & Bar
Central Coast
Our pick of Morro Bay's Embarcadero restaurants, The Galley combines an absolute waterfront location and expert renditions of classic American dishes with…
Coastal Orange County
Raise your breakfast game at this gourmet caterer’s bistro tucked in the corner of a cookie-cutter strip mall. With its exposed brick walls and sleek…
Along Highway 101
Look beyond the surroundings (this place is attached to a gas station) and instead concentrate on the quality of burgers, with some 17 varieties,…
Sacramento
In a new space as of 2018, this beloved French cafe continues to serve divine soup and sandwiches, assembled with such care that the line of downtowners…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
A classic breakfast counter has been brought back to life by local foodie punks who, among other things, stuff house-made turkey sausage, eggs and mustard…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Lets be clear: the quality of the food isn't really the point here. The point is that you're eating something in San Francisco, the place has existed in…
Sonoma
The swank plazaside choice for contemporary California-Mediterranean cooking, El Dorado showcases seasonal-regional ingredients in dishes such as seafood…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
This hectic stall peddles flawless falafel sandwiches. The flatbread is rolled and grilled fresh, then filled with pillowy falafel with just the right…
The Deserts
Built in 1954 as a simple, nine-stool, three-booth diner, Peggy Sue's has since grown into a miniempire with ice-cream shop, pizza parlor, a park out back…
Marin County
Book a romantic table at sunset for riveting views of Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Caprice mostly features mediocre surf ‘n’…
Hollywood
Cool, casual Stout flips gourmet burgers and pours great craft brews. The beef is ground in-house, the chicken is organic and the veggie patties are made…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
For a business lunch in an elegant space defined by a sky-high ceiling and classy in-laid brick, Salt House offers delectable meals of pork ramen with…
Laguna Beach
This sleek, contemporary, art-filled bistro in the heart of downtown’s village is always bustling for its martini bar and fresh seafood like candied…
Newport Beach
This nifty, Baja-inspired cantina makes salsas, aguas frescas and tortillas in house and serves them with tacos of grilled meats (al pastor), pork…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
The Silver Lake edition of the Downtown favorite, Blossom serves fragrant pho as well as a handful of curries and stir-fry vermicelli noodles. Seafood…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Mom and the cooks shout at each other in Thai, hardly anyone speaks English and the room is grungy, but the tangy-hot home-style cooking hits the spot on…
