San Diego
The Gaslamp's favorite brunch spot for fruity pancakes, stuffed French toast with agave cream cheese, and farm-fresh egg omelets, choose from coriander…
Must-see restaurants in California
North Coast Ocean Sports & Grill
North Coast & Redwoods
A young, informal vibe, a no-frills sound menu of seafood, burgers and salads and exceptional ice cream mean this place is always packed out, especially…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
Dapper seniors, chatty girlfriends, busy execs and even Larry King have kept this New York–style nosh spot busy since 1945. The huge menu brims with…
North Coast & Redwoods
Across from the Chevron, this fun little arty joint makes good food fast, using mostly organic ingredients – try the creative soups, fish and chips with…
Sacramento & the Central Valley
Pastries and expert coffee drinks in the morning, crispy panini on just-baked bread for lunch and dinner. Everything is very fresh, colorful and made-to…
Along Highway 101
A friendly, old-style diner with plenty of character, starting with the checkered ketchup-and-mustard linoleum floors. The chalkboard menu lists great…
South Bay Beaches
Gourmet, house-made ice creams come served in cones or pressed between two cookies for a Cream'wich – we're combustible for the strawberry shortcake…
Marin County
Casual snack bar near the ferry dock at Ayala Cove sells 'notorious' nachos, salads, sandwiches and ice cream. From June to October, there's live music…
Central Coast
In Pismo's neighboring Arroyo Grande, Doc’s scoops up fantastical flavors like Merlot raspberry truffle and the ‘Elvis Special’ (peanut butter with banana…
Amangela's Sandwich & Bagel House
The Deserts
Mash up Angela and Amanda and you get Amangela, a sister-owned cafe with humble looks but stellar freshly made sandwiches – turkey pesto to French dip –…
The Deserts
Sharing space with the Borrego Art Institute in a restored mid-century modern building by William Kesling, this hip outpost has upped the culinary ante in…
Santa Barbara
This eco-minded little shop serves up real-fruit smoothies and heaping acai bowls with all kinds of health-conscious add-ons such as fresh berries,…
Central Coast
The most stylish of the restaurants along Capitola's oceanfront, Sotola's menu is filled with local produce and cosmopolitan culinary influences. Look…
Big Sur
This modern roadhouse glows with color-splashed artwork and an outdoor fire pit. At riverside tables, fork into upscale California-inspired pub grub like…
San Francisco
Surfers and start-uppers cross town and climb hills for Za – because dude, you don't get gourmet, cornmeal-dusted, thin-crust slices like this every day…
The Peninsula
A downtown institution, this sparkling chrome-and-red-boothed beauty from 1923 is famous for its frothy milkshakes, hefty hamburgers and pies made from…
Russian River Area
A superior Santa Rosa bakery, with delicious vegan banana-walnut cookies, three-cheese knishes and supernutritious lunches such as the 'warrior bowl,'…
Death Valley National Park
This family-friendly stop serves giant omelets, eggs Benedict and pancakes for breakfast, plus fish and chips, sandwiches and burgers for lunch and dinner…
The Deserts
Part of Lake Henshaw Resort, this rustic lair serves up sophisticated slow food made with quality ingredients for breakfast and lunch. Sink your teeth…
Napa Valley
Yes, it’s part of a chain (Houston’s), but its bar at lunchtime provides a chance to rub shoulders with winemakers. The food is consistent – ribs,…
Oakland
Every city deserves an old-school Italian deli and grocery store, and Oakland's contribution to this genre is Ratto's, a vintage spot that might as well…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
Burgers, sandwiches, salads – the menu reads like any typical diner, with one notable difference: no animal products will ever find their way into this…
The Peninsula
Not just another shopping-mall eatery, this healthy chain is a refreshing antidote to fast food. Quinoa and grass-fed beef burgers, ancient-grains bowls,…
Mt Shasta Region
This family-run, big-portion-slinging all-American cafe really comes into its own on Saturdays at noon when the once-weekly animal auction happens…
Coastal Orange County
Paradis makes about 200 (whoa!) flavors of ice cream, of which you'll find about 16 on any given day, so there's always a reason to come back. They also…
Oakland
Old Oakland's 100-year-old marketplace has been turned into a gourmet food court, where the wooden tables are always full, day and night. Fare ranges from…
Gold Country
This casually elegant cafe does everything competently – expert breakfast foods, a roster of light lunch mains and weekend dinners of steak and fresh fish…
Excelsior
Solid Mexican fare is served in a dining room that goes all in for the adobe chic look. The food is very good and packs customers and their families in –…
Mrs Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant
Orange County
The restaurant that launched a theme park. Classic, button-busting fried chicken and mashed potato dinners are served in this restaurant from 1934, newly…
Along Highway 101
People tend to get a bit flushed when talking about the sandwiches at the Loose Caboose, which gets jammed at lunch. The Reuben and Sante Fe chicken…
Los Angeles
A quality, Japanese-inspired burger-and-sandwich joint. If you're undecided, order the Battle Royale, jammed with applewood bacon, garlic jam, caramelized…
Lake Tahoe
This beatnik, bare-bones industrial coffee shop serves Italian gelato, delectable pastries and home-brewed kombucha. Go for tantalizing breakfast crepes…
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
For something completely different, steal away to this little casino kitchen with a big, bold menu of spicy south-of-the-border flavors: Argentinean…
San Diego
Tiny, family-run Ortega’s is so popular that people often queue for a spot at the counter (there are indoor and sidewalk tables, too). Seafood, moles,…
Sonoma Valley
The Fig’s earthy California-Provençal comfort food includes flash-fried calamari with spicy lemon aioli, fig and arugula salad and steak frites. Good wine…
Coastal Highway 1
The deli at this fully stocked organic co-op makes excellent to-go veg and gluten-free options, including sandwiches, with ingredients generally sourced…
Los Angeles
With an unbeatable location right over the water, Bluewater Grill is the most popular restaurant on the island thanks to dishes such as miso-glazed cod,…
Mt Shasta Region
Set inside a vintage railroad car with views of Castle Crags, this popular restaurant-bar offers trainloads of dining-car ambience and Californian cuisine…
Santa Barbara
Enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail before tucking into some tasty pasta, flat breads or meat and seafood dishes at one of Santa Barbara's most popular…
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
Cheerful chatter greets you at this energetic, mostly organic cafe that gets extra kudos for its juices and smoothies. A healthy menu will have you…
