Los Angeles Restaurants

  1. Abbot's Pizza

    Surfers have savored Abbot Pizza's gourmet slices for years but word of their crispy-crusted specialties - tequila-lime chicken, wild mushroom - has spread far beyond the flip-flop crowd that consistently fills the handful of tables at this elevator-sized hotspot. Mid-afternoon, ask for a fresh-from-the-oven slice - heat lamps spoil the fun.

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  2. All India Café

    To escape the Old Town hustle-and-bustle, look no further than this inviting café. While lazy ceiling fans, exposed brick walls and embroidered tapestries create the illusion of faraway travels, it's chef Santokh Singh's tenderly flavored regional specialties - chicken tikka masala, shrimp curry vindaloo, garlic nan - that make the journey complete.

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  3. AOC

    Stylish AOC glows like the cozy wine cellar of a very good, very rich friend. With over 50 wines by the glass, a three-page list of savory tapas and a welcoming but discreet vibe, AOC easily remains a consistent favorite of couples, friends and groups alike, not to mention the typically fickle Hollywood hoi polloi. Reservations recommended.

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  4. Bar Celona

    Fine diners savor seafood paellas and wine-braised steaks in Bar Celona's candlelit dining room while sangria-sipping hipsters linger in the late-night lounge. Between the two scenes, chefs impress with exotic small-plate specials at the happenin' tapas bar.

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  5. Blair's

    Chef Marshall Blair, formerly of downtown's Water Grill, delivers upscale comfort food to an appreciative local crowd. Despite haphazard service and a too-dark interior, Blair's divine seafood and beef dishes have vaulted this low-key corner restaurant to the top of many locals fave list. Crab cakes and short ribs - yummo! Reservations recommended.

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  6. Bluewater Grill

    Step up to the oyster bar, order a dozen on the half shell then sit back and watch the sun call it a day. For dinner, pick your fresh fish from the list then let the pros cook it any way you like. Garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach(!) are can't-miss. The houseboat crowd slips in from the adjacent marina by for super-cheap happy-hour prices.

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  7. Bob's Big Boy

    The red-checkered, pompadoured kid still woos hamburger-craving hordes at America's oldest remaining Big Boy's - his fiberglass form a refreshing reminder that some people in LA still eat. Inside, grab a burnt-orange booth for a double-decker combo, or, on weekend nights, enjoy carhop service in back.

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  8. Boule

    A colorful platoon of macaroons first catches the eye at this impossibly precious patisserie. Wood-accented azure walls - lined neatly with specialty oils, teapots and accessories - tower over a dazzling array of torts, chocolates and sorbets. Simultaneously sleek, homey and over-the-top, Boule is best described as Willy Wonka meets Bree Van de Camp.

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  9. Buddha's Belly

    This bright, bamboo-accented corner eatery serves accessible Asian to an upscale but unpretentious crowd. With an enticing array of noodles, curries and broths, it can be tough to make up your mind. Come early or make reservations, as this busy Buddha fills up quick.

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  10. 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 .

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  11. Café At The End Of The Universe

    Wolfgang Puck's latest satellite venture - a cafeteria-style café - orbits just past the observatory's Cosmic Connection hallway. Designed with retro space-age flair, the café offers tasty gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads. Grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich then hit the patio for inspiring views of the Hollywood sign .

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  12. Café Montana

    Café Montana is an oh-so-LA café - where the chic elite nibble fresh pastries and Chinese chicken salad in a sparkling glass box. Don't be surprised to see Steven Spielberg, Tim Robbins or Susan Sarandon showing up for a lunchtime nosh.

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  13. Campanile

    Occupying a spot in the city's culinary pantheon for over 15 years, chef owner Mark Peel knows how to turn market-fresh ingredients into beautiful dishes. For more casual dining, stop by for Thursday's popular Grilled Cheese Night and sample one of 12 traditional and not-so-traditional sandwiches created with LA flair and Campanile care. Reservations recommended.

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  14. 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 (110 Navy St) on the border of Santa Monica and Venice.

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  15. Cheebo

    The exterior is reminiscent of an electric cheese doodle, but the heaping salads, organic pizzas, Cuban-style sandwiches and upbeat, if quirky, waitstaff are easier on the remaining senses. The heaping Cheebo chop salad is a favorite.

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  16. Ciudad

    With Pan-Latin panache, the Two Hot Tamales of cable TV - Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger - brighten the downtown corridor with empanadas, carnitas and other spicy specialties sprung from Spain and South America. Tuesday is 'Paella on the Patio' with the Spanish rice dish whipped up tableside on the ever-so-cute front patio. Mojitos are a must.

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  17. Crustacean

    Push through the posh French Colonial doors and follow the glass-covered koi pond to the elegant but accessible main dining room. Favorites on the seafood-centric menu include drunken crab, royal tiger prawns, and garlic noodles or garlic mashed potatoes. Reservations recommended.

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  18. Dan Tana's

    Tightly packed booths, red-jacketed staff, smooth-as-silk cocktails and no-frills pasta - old Hollywood still lingers at Dan Tana's, open since 1964. Some say the pasta dishes are overpriced, but Jessica Alba, George Clooney and the rest of the new Hollywood crowd don't seem to mind. The caesar salad is especially good, and perfect for splitting.

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  19. Doughboys

    If Oprah formed a Cupcake Club, her Doughboy's favorite - the Red Velvet - would surely be asked to join. This cream-cheese-frosted diet-buster joins similar naughty items served up quick at this boho-artist redoubt. The concrete floor and wooden-tables decor doesn't detract from the creatively prepared soups and sandwiches. Portions are huge.

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  20. El Cholo

    Happy hipsters, hungry families and rowdy birthday parties compete for tables at this festive two-story adobe landmark. A handful grumble that the food is so-so, but the Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas, potent margaritas and a buzzing lounge keep most everyone coming back for more.

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  21. El Conquistador

    In a garden setting straight out of a Mexican fishing village, this bustling respite serves traditional regional dishes including Sonorese chicken and mole. Unrestrained pastels and Easter-bunny decor complement the strong margaritas. Or vice versa.

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  22. Europane

    With its concrete floors, small wooden tables and jumbled baskets of unmarked pastries, Europane doesn't exactly ooze warmth. But buttery bearclaws, fluffy croissants and smooth cups of coffee make up for any lack of coffeehouse coziness. Arrive early for croissants; they sell out.

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  23. Farmers Market

    With 70 shops and stalls offering an international array of foods, the Farmers Market is a vibrant crossroads of cultures and cuisines. Established in 1934, the market was immediately popular with the community and has remained so ever since. The mouthwatering tacos at Loteria Grill (323-930-2211) and the spicy gumbo yaya at the Gumbo Pot (323-933-0358) are worth a bite.

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  24. Gingergrass

    Lemongrass chicken, noodle bowls and vegetarian pho - fresh, light, and prepared with gently flavored care at this always-bustling local's haven. Best of all? It's an easy drive down Riverside from Griffith Park.

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  25. Grand Central Market

    You may have to muscle your way to the counter for a taco at Ana Maria's Mexican Food eatery, but that's just part of the fun. Dating from 1917, when Bunker Hill elite would descend from their manors via the Angel's Flight Railway (set to reopen in 2007), the 38-stall market maintains its street cred with an eye-popping array of fresh-food options. From apples to chili peppers to kabobs, you want, it they got. Somewhere.

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