go to content go to search box go to global site navigation

California

Restaurants in California

  1. A

    Daikokuya

    Little Tokyo - Downtown LA; Essential dish: steaming bowl of ramen at Daikokuya.

    reviewed

  2. C'est Cheese

    To fill picnic baskets for the beach, stop at C'est Cheese and Our Daily Bread.

    reviewed

  3. B

    Slanted Door

    San Francisco's most effortlessly elegant restaurant harmonizes California ingredients, continental influences and Vietnamese flair. Owner-chef Charles Phan enhances top-notch ingredients with bright flavors, heaping local Dungeness crab atop cellophane noodles and garlicky Meyer Ranch 'shaking beef' on watercress. The wildly successful venture is still a family establishment, with Phan family members serving multistar meals for here and to go at Out the Door. Book two weeks ahead for lunch, one month for dinner – or call at 5:30pm for last-minute cancelations.

    reviewed

  4. Las Camelias

    Las Camelias is a favorite for homemade Mexican meals that go beyond tacos and enchiladas. Good margaritas, too.

    reviewed

  5. C

    Cafe La Haye

    This tiny bistro, with open kitchen, creates earthy New American dishes from ingredients sourced within 60 miles. Reservations essential.

    reviewed

  6. Ruddell's Smokehouse

    Ruddell's Smokehouse, serves smoked-fish tacos by the oceanfront pier in small-town Cayucos.

    reviewed

  7. D

    Red Grape

    Thin-crust pizza with local cheeses, plus small-production Sonoma wines.

    reviewed

  8. Gelato D'Oro Cafe

    This place serves crepes, sandwiches and creamy Italian ice cream. The hearty Sunday brunches are popular.

    reviewed

  9. E

    Beach Hut No 2

    Start the day with pancakes, waffles or omelettes from Beach Hut No 2 on Hermosa Beach.

    reviewed

  10. Flying Fish Grill

    This tiny fish shack makes delicious, inexpensive fish tacos and other seafood plates to eat in or to go.

    reviewed

  11. Advertisement

  12. F

    Juice Bar Collective

    A tiny storefront cafe, Juice Bar makes tasty polenta pizzas, quiches, sandwiches and dee-lish smoothies.

    reviewed

  13. Old Post Office

    For scrumptious breakfasts the place to beat is the Old Post Office, nearby Gar Woods Grille & Pier.

    reviewed

  14. G

    Wildberries Marketplace

    Wildberries Marketplace is Arcata's best grocery, with natural foods, a good deli, bakery and juice bar.

    reviewed

  15. H

    Muzio's Grocery

    A classic old Italian deli that serves up tasty sandwiches you can enjoy in the shade of Mission Plaza.

    reviewed

  16. Vons

    Self-caterers can stock up at Vons and Stater Bros, across from each other near the lake's eastern end.

    reviewed

  17. Stater Bros

    Self-caterers can stock up at Vons and Stater Bros, across from each other near the lake's eastern end.

    reviewed

  18. Java Jungle

    Main Street has a couple of good coffeehouses, one being Java Jungle, where they roast their own beans.

    reviewed

  19. I

    Upper Crust

    For coffee and excellent baked goods check out this place, which also serves lunch Monday to Saturday.

    reviewed

  20. Toll Road Restaurant & Bad Water Saloon

    Above-par cowboy cooking inside a ranch house. The next-door saloon has a jukebox and pool tables.

    reviewed

  21. Splash Cafe

    Splash Cafe, which is known for its clam chowder served in sourdough-bread bowls.

    reviewed

  22. Advertisement

  23. Priscilla’s Pizza

    Good pizza (some soy); other dishes are so-so. In the morning there’s coffee and pastries.

    reviewed

  24. 24th Street Cafe

    Trout and eggs is a local favorite at this popular café, though expect to wait for a table.

    reviewed

  25. J

    Hog Island Oyster Company

    Slurp the bounty of the North Bay, with a view of the East Bay, at this Ferry Building favorite for sustainably farmed oysters. Take yours au naturel, with caper beurre blanc, spiked with bacon and paprika or perhaps classic-style, with lemon and shallots. Mondays and Thursdays between 5pm and 7pm are happy hours indeed for shellfish fans, with half-price oysters and $4 pints.

    reviewed

  26. K

    Typhoon

    The bustling Typhoon is where the pan-Asian specialties menu includes crickets.

    reviewed

  27. Taco Temple

    North along Hwy 1, surfers love the Cal-Mexican Taco Temple, a cash-only joint.

    reviewed