Restaurants in Los Angeles
-
A
Chaya Brasserie
Wood beams and soaring bamboo complement a spacious Asian-style atrium where Chef Shigefumi Tachibe whips up savory French dishes with Japanese flair. Savvy shoppers flock here from Robertson Blvd for great happy-hour deals on sushi and martinis. For the same great deals and taste at the beach, try sister restaurant Chaya Venice (A2; 110 Navy St) on the border of Santa Monica and Venice.
reviewed
-
B
Tender Greens
At Culver City’s latest hotspot, lines regularly spill out the door. Exclusive nightclub? Nope, it’s Tender Greens, home of the freshest salads in the city. Order at the bright counter – try ahi tuna niçoise or grilled flatiron steak – and they’ll toss it up as you move down the line. There’s a whiff of salad Nazi in the prep – ‘We don’t recommend substitutions’ – but trust them, they’re that good.
reviewed
-
C
Rock’N Fish
Sometimes it’s about the blackened halibut, sometimes it’s about the smokin’ waitstaff, but it’s always, always about the sour-apple martini at sexy Rock’N Fish, just steps from the Manhattan Beach Pier. Part seafood restaurant, part upscale bar, this appropriately named hangout is an always-popular fallback. Great for group dinners or an early date, it’s boisterous once the martini crowd flows in.
reviewed
-
D
Little Dom’s
New on the scene but already a neighborhood fave, Little Dom’s lures rumpled hipsters, laid-back solos and tot-carrying alternadads with easygoing charm and satisfying Italian meals. Penny-pinchers love the $15 Monday-night suppers (add $10 for a bottle of wine) but we like it best for breakfast. Mmm, ricotta blueberry pancakes. In WeHo? Try the brother restaurant Dominick’s (8715 Beverly Blvd).
reviewed
-
E
Mako
Champion chef Makoto Tanaka trained with Wolfgang Puck and now supplies the faithful at his own minimalist-chic restaurant. The small-plate menu is ideal for sampling flavors and textures, from snow-crab tempura to wok-sautéed baby halibut or the excellent yuzu meringue tart. At lunch most people order the 'Bento Box' filled with whatever treats inspire Makoto that day.
reviewed
-
F
M Café de Chaya
Place your order at the counter then grab a spot at one of the tightly packed two tops at this bright but narrow eatery where the people-watching can be intense. The menu is macrobiotic – natural whole foods eaten in season – and primarily vegetarian except for tuna and shrimp. The grilled tuna burger and organic fries are especially keen. Celeb-spotting potential is off the charts.
reviewed
-
G
Pete’s Café & Bar
Sparkling lights, glittering mirrors and towering mahogany walls project Victorian airs, but Norm-and-Cliff friendliness makes this upbeat watering hole a mecca for chatty locals, postwork tipplers and those wanting a preshow bite. The menu spotlights salads, pastas and American standards. And check yourself out, girlfriend – the downstairs bathrooms have way-flattering mirrors.
reviewed
-
H
Xiomara
The restrained decor is the perfect foil for the flavor explosions arriving on your plate at this humming Nuevo Latino bistro. It's easy to dream of faraway places while nursing a signature mojito (here called a Mambo), but the food – spiced with attitude – will quickly give you a reality check. The poblano (mild chili pepper) risotto is a great meat-free choice.
reviewed
-
I
Koi
Some come for celeb-spotting, some come for superior service, but all come for the spicy tuna on crispy rice at this bamboo-fortified sanctum in the heart of the TMZ. Nobodies nibble Japanese specialties in the warm, Asian-accented central dining room while patio-dwellers – Owen Wilson, David Spade, Nicolette Sheridan and Avril Lavigne – float past. Reservations recommended.
reviewed
-
J
Pink’s
The Black Dahlia, David Hasselhoff, and the line at Pink’s – these are LA’s enduring mysteries. Lunch, dinner, late night, there’s always a line at this family-owned, wood-and-concrete hot-dog stand that’s been around since 1939. Half the fun may be the anticipation – biting a chili-and-cheese-slathered dog for the signature ‘snap’ is definitely worth, uh, an hour-long wait?
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Beacon
When Kazuto Matsusaka opened Beacon in 2004, it became the guiding light in Culver City's culinary renaissance. Fusion is what he does best, turning carefully edited ingredients into adventurous small and big plates that can easily hold their own against the new competition. Try the miso-braised short ribs or crispy ahi-tuna pizza and leave room for the green-tea cheesecake.
reviewed
-
L
Bazaar
In the SLS Hotel, the Bazaar dazzles with over-the-top design by Philippe Starck and 'molecular gastronomic' tapas by José Andrés. Caprese salad pairs cherry tomatoes with mozzarella balls that explode in your mouth, or try cotton-candy foie gras or a Philly cheesesteak on 'air bread.' A word of caution: those small plates add up.
reviewed
-
M
Literati II
Chris Kidder, formerly of Campanile, is a stickler for fresh, organic, sustainable provisions and has built relationships with local farmers to ensure that only the best and freshest ingredients land on your plate. And trust us, you'll taste it: dishes are as sophisticated as a Joyce novel, as sensuous as a sonnet, as exciting as a spy thriller and as playful as a limerick.
reviewed
-
N
Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Nothin’ could be finer than a pancake in a diner known far and wide as Uncle Bill’s. Grab a stool, grab a booth, or best yet grab a table on the sun-drenched patio. In season, the pumpkin-spice pancakes are can’t-miss. Omelets are darn good too. Tousled hipsters, tottering toddlers, gabbing girlfriends – everybody’s here or on the way. Put your name on the clipboard, quick.
reviewed
-
O
Café Metropol
This exposed-brick, high-ceilinged, art-studded bistro embodies the ways in which the Arts District is transforming Downtown. Metropol's a bit tricky to find, but the gourmet sandwiches and panini, organic salads and pizzas – all made with choice ingredients imported from Europe – make it worthwhile. There's live music on some nights (cover charge).
reviewed
-
P
Smoke House
Surrender helplessly to your inner carnivore at this Industry hangout of the old-school variety. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were early fans, and today George Clooney, Kevin Costner and other big wigs continue to enjoy potent Bloody Marys and yummy cuts of aged steaks and prime rib. Whatever you order, don't miss out on the legendary garlic bread. Famous Sunday brunch, too.
reviewed
-
Q
Tamales Liliana's
Across from El Mercado and a tortilla factory, Liliana's makes tamales the way they ought to be: light, yet tight and generously stuffed with spicy pork, chicken or beef. We also like the Zacateca-style huaraches – oval flatbreads topped with tasty meats, fresh salad and drizzled with crema (sour cream). Try them with the fire-roasted salsa.
reviewed
-
R
Beechwood
With its woodsy details, cubic furniture and toasty fire-pit patio, this place is a luscious port of call for Modern American bistro fare. Singles and small groups gravitate to the lively bar to graze on richly flavored pork ribs or sweet-potato fries, while couples retreat to the dimly lit dining room for grilled barramundi, roast quail or other seasonal delights.
reviewed
-
S
Joe’s
With its superb Cal-French cuisine, thoughtfully prepared prix fixe menus, top-notch service and a warm ambience, dining at Joe’s is like receiving a gift prepared especially for you. The seafood – try the grilled shrimp on saffron risotto – is especially exquisite. Upscale but not pretentious, Joe’s is a perfect lunch stop after a morning of Abbot Kinney shopping.
reviewed
-
T
Papa Cristo's
You'll kick up your heels like Zorba himself after filling your tummy with Greek soul food at this frenzied bistro in the shadow of St Sophia Cathedral. The gyros are the real deal and the rack of lamb is a steal at around $10. Gather your posse and come for the Big Fat Greek Thursday Night Dinner at 18:30, when tables bend with nibbles and belly dancers perform.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
O-Bar
The seductive stylings of owner-designers Thomas Schoos and Michael Berman – stone fireplaces, rippling fountains, flickering votives, elegant cabanas – entice passersby, but it’s the exquisitely prepared dishes – Ironman steak salad, mahi mahi picatta – that close the deal for O-Bar. Pastry chef Meadow Lyn Ramsey’s decadent desserts will ensure a second date.
reviewed
-
V
Nobu Malibu
Tucked in the Malibu Country Mart shopping center, Nobu coasts on its fame and famous clientele. Everyone else will still enjoy the creative Japanese fare but perhaps not the smallish portions, high prices, and the indifferent service we found here. Still, the stargazing, especially on the dimly lit patio, can't be beat. Don't dress up or you won't blend in.
reviewed
-
W
Canter's Deli
Canter's isn't really about the food, though it covers the Jewish deli basics decently, gets high marks for its waffles and even serves full Thanksgiving dinners nightly. It ain't about the service either, which is indifferent on a good day. And it's not about sophistication - they serve Coor's on tap. But it's an LA institution and it's open All. The. Time.
reviewed
-
X
Ca’ Del Sole
Sitting beside the fireplace within the Mediterranean walls of Ca’ Del Sole, it’s easy to feel like one of the Hollywood powerbrokers who frequent the place. Efficient, low-key service at this industry haven, bordering NBC/Universal’s busy Gate 3, keeps dealmakers happy while talking numbers over fresh insalata di mare and pumpkin-stuffed mezzelune.
reviewed
-
Y
L'Opera
Even simple dishes like bruschetta and pesto gnocchi become feistily flavored culinary works of art at this elegant dining shrine. The waiters are old-school and the sommelier capable of dissecting each wine down to the molecular level. We were blown away by the ravioli ai tartufo (truffle ravioli) and the buttery filet mignon with wild mushrooms.
reviewed