The best places to eat in Los Angeles right now

In Los Angeles, every meal is an opportunity to explore this vast, diverse and wonderful city. It's not just lunch; it's an opportunity to live like a local and grab some In-N-Out or a Bay Cities sandwich on your way to the beach. And that breakfast or dinner is your chance to learn more about the many communities in LA – whether you go to the drag queen brunch in West Hollywood, the country's largest Koreatown or the newest and coolest fusion restaurant in Inglewood.

Come hungry for delicious dishes and stay hungry to learn more about all that the city has to offer. In this guide, we'll show you the restaurants that push you to try something innovative, check out a new part of town or go somewhere iconic. These are the best places to eat in LA.

Breakfast

I could go on and on about brunch in Los Angeles (and I have!), but it truly is the best way to start your day in the city and experience different slices of local culture. 

Provecho Calimex , Mar Vista: A family-owned spot that blends traditional Oaxacan recipes with a California twist. Get the breakfast burrito! 

Roscoe’s , multiple locations: Perhaps at one point in time the idea of a chicken and waffle combination seemed odd, but for my entire life growing up in Los Angeles, it has always been simply synonymous with Roscoe’s.

Élephante , Santa Monica: Inspired by travels to southern Italy, Élephante is a beautifully designed restaurant with seasonal menus and ocean views. Bring sunglasses. 

Beverly Hills Hotel , Beverly Hills: This has long been the favorite of Hollywood stars and deal-makers, and if those perfectly pink walls could talk they would share stories about Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and other legends. 

Hamburger Mary’s , West Hollywood: In the heart of West Hollywood (or WeHo to locals), the weekend Drag Brunch shows are full of joy, music and laughter. 

Coffee 

Whether you prefer to start your day with coffee, matcha or a smoothie, we’ve got you covered.  

Village Well , Culver City: Come for a coffee but stay to peruse the bookshelves. It’s the type of bookstore where you can really talk to staff about book recommendations. Don’t skip the big Lonely Planet section. 

Canyon Coffee , Echo Park: At Canyon Coffee, they roast the coffees by hand and pay special attention to every detail. You’re gonna want to buy some beans when you visit. 

Intelligentsia , Venice Beach: Intelligentsia is focused on securing the highest-quality, sustainably sourced beans, and you can taste the difference. 

Maruwu Seicha , Culver City: Truly incredible matcha in the middle of downtown Culver City.  

Highly Likely , Highland Park: This neighborhood spot stays open all day and night, but come in the morning to enjoy your coffee in the plant-filled patio. 

The Hive , multiple locations:  At this superfood cafe, you can grab a smoothie for a morning walk on the beach. Try the blue crush, which has blueberries, almond butter and a coconut whipped cream swirl.

Lunch

Some of the best lunches in LA are taken to the beach to-go. 

In-N-Out , multiple locations: In-N-Out is iconic for good reason. Don’t skip the animal fries and always get extra sauce. 

Tsujita Artisan Noodle , Sawtelle: Tsujita is known for their dipping-style noodles, which are called Tsukemen in Japan. The broth is rich and fishy and absolutely delicious. 

Honey Kettle , Culver City: Lovely and casual Southern comfort food place. I always get the fried chicken. 

Bay Cities , Santa Monica: A casual Italian deli in Santa Monica. Sandwiches are premade, so it’s the perfect place to run in and grab something before a beach day or hike. 

Little Fish , Melrose: This is an affordable sitdown spot where you can mix and match fish-focused dishes. Make a reservation. 

The Win-Dow , Venice: At night, this space becomes a steakhouse that feels more like a beach bonfire, but during the day you can stop by the casual Win-Dow for some burgers and fries. 

Happy hour 

Los Angeles is kind of obsessed with happy hour. My personal theory is that it’s because happy hour is the most fun way to wait out the rush hour (which is also roughly from 5-7pm). 

Dante , Beverly Hills: From 3-5pm, Dante offers “Martini Hour” on the roof of the Maybourne. There’s something so glamorous about sitting poolside with a martini in your hand. 

Waterfront , Venice Beach: This spot gets super busy on summer weekends, but it’s much more chill during a weekday happy hour. Grab a drink and then pop to the sand for the sunset.  

Red Lion Tavern , Silver Lake: This biergarten is a lovely spot to spend the evening whether you are trying to watch the Dodgers or sip beers on the roof. 

Blind Barber , Culver City: This is a longtime favorite of mine! It’s a true speakeasy where you go through an actual barbershop into the backroom. The moscow mules and grilled cheese sandwiches are so nostalgic to me. 

Calabra , Santa Monica: A luxurious rooftop with sweeping ocean views and tasty bites. What more could you want? 

Dinner 

Make your reservations in advance for these buzzy LA spots. 

Gjelina , Venice Beach: The fresh California ingredients truly shine at this trendy spot on Abbot Kinney. You could stuff yourself on smoky vegetables or split some pastas and pizzas.  

Pigya , Koreatown: You have to have Korean barbecue when you’re in Los Angeles, and this is my favorite spot. Split the tasting menu with some friends. 

Two Hommés , Inglewood: An interesting fusion restaurant that blends traditional West African flavors with fresh California ingredients. 

Noma Sushi , Brentwood: At this sushi spot, try the signature rolls that don’t feature rice. It really lets the fresh seafood shine.  

Henrietta , Echo Park: A sweet Italian spot that serves sandwiches during the day before transforming into an intimate neighborhood bistro at night. 

RVR , Venice Beach: While an izakaya may seem simple in concept, this is one of the most sought-after reservations in LA right now. 

Only the Wild Ones , Venice: Inspired by listening bars in Tokyo, Only the Wild Ones has designed an intentional space where you can slow down and focus. 

Sweet treats 

Indulge in pastries, ice creams and other sweet treats.

Porto’s , Burbank: This is an iconic, family-owned Cuban bakery. You have to get the guava and cheese strudel. 

Salt & Straw , multiple locations: In classic LA fashion, this ice cream spot is full of nontraditional fusion flavors like pear and blue cheese, strawberry and balsamic, and olive oil. Try something weird – you’re on vacation! 

Diddy Riese , Brentwood: The classic spot for an ice cream cookie sandwich. Go later in the day for deals on cookies.  

Randy’s Donuts , Inglewood: Like many LA institutions, you might recognize this one from the movies. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark lounges inside the giant doughnut outside the shop, but you can also enjoy some on your next trip to LA! 

Drinks 

The perfect spots for your night out in LA, whether you’re trying to listen to live music, sip on natural wines or dance the night away. 

Andy’s , West Hollywood: Opened by Anderson .Paak, Andy’s is covered in glamorous merch and full of nods to its owner. They have fantastic live music and surprisingly good food. Later in the night, they switch to DJs. 

El Cid , Silver Lake: El Cid has a ton of events like Futch, a monthly party for the sapphic community. On a normal weekend, you can expect a lot of dancing under the disco balls or lounging in the fabulous backyard.

Homage Brewing , Downtown: While breweries might make you think of local beers and men with mustaches, this one is all about dancing. They have a ton of live DJs so wear comfy shoes. 

Bar Seco , Silver Lake: An intimate wine bar to see and be seen. 

Not No Bar , Santa Monica: Not No Bar isn’t trying to do anything crazy or new; they’re just serving yummy cocktails and good vibes. If it ain’t broke…  

Bar Flores , Echo Park: This started as a speakeasy, but they found a permanent spot where you can listen to live music and experiment with vibrant cocktails.