Laguna Beach
Local farmers and merchants sell their wares each Saturday, an ever-changing seasonal selection of both produce and prepared foods.
Must-see restaurants in Southern California
New Frontiers Natural Marketplace
Santa Ynez Valley
To keep things healthy, organic and local, pick up a tasty variety of deli sandwiches, salads and takeout dishes for picnicking.
San Diego
Kitsch local burger joint covered in license plates and surf memorabilia, serving hearty patties and ridiculously creamy shakes.
Westlake & Koreatown
A humble little noodle spot known for its house-made, knife-cut noodles and wonderful house-made chili sauce. Portions are huge.
Disneyland Resort
This Southern-flavored restaurant is famous for its three-cheese Monte Cristo sandwiches at lunch. Breakfast served seasonally.
San Diego
New American cuisine melds with farm-fresh flavors at this busy winery bistro, a favorite for weekend brunch on the airy patio.
The Deserts
This well-stocked supermarket in the heart of Borrego Springs also sells ice cubes and firewood.
Orange County
Knott's bakery is famous for its pies, especially boysenberry.
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
'Badmaash' roughly translates to 'notorious' in Hindi, and this popular, two-level spot feels like the bad boy of Indian food, with unconventional dishes…
La Jolla
Yet another only-in-La Jolla experience. When money is no object and you want high-drama cooking and views, book a sunset table at this clubby dining room…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
For fuss-free good ol' American comfort food with a side of history. This landmark eatery opened in 1924 and has barely changed since, unassumingly…
Santa Monica
This beloved counter-service hole-in-the-wall is dingy, hot and often crowded, with concrete floors, food served on paper plates and a menu so vast that…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
A kooky mishmash of mismatching furniture, retro objects and hipster staff, Masa sets a nostalgic, neighborly scene for Chicago deep-dish pizza. Locally…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
Preppy, but not stuffy, this polished, split-level restaurant showcases West Coast produce in dishes such as organic black quinoa with toasted almonds,…
Santa Monica
The West Coast outpost of this shop featured on the TLC Network's Cake Boss show may be in sunny SaMo, but it stays true to its century-plus-old Italian…
Santa Monica
A Bollywood and Indian hip-hop playlist animates this corner shop, with cheap, generous combo plates of South Indian vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The…
La Jolla
The lower-floor restaurant at George’s at the Cove is the place to come to splash out on a tasting menu (from $75 per person, extra for wine pairing)…
San Diego
There’s white-tablecloth service and a lovely sidewalk terrace at this State St institution. For lunch, try pastas or panini (the one with parma ham and…
San Diego
A stylish pit stop between museums, Prado serves Cal-eclectic cooking in a gorgeous dining room, a bustling lounge and a tiled courtyard with a fountain…
Laguna Beach
Throw back Coronas with the surfers while watching the passersby at this been-there-forever Mexican sidewalk dive. Taco, quesadilla and nacho options seem…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
Dim sum classics here are served off a menu instead of carts, not that it matters much. When we see pork shu mai dumplings, golden-fried sesame balls,…
San Diego
Gay-owned and straight-friendly, this restaurant-bar is always a party with a just-back-from-Margaritaville vibe, plus dozens of tequilas, alongside…
Hollywood
This seafood-loving kitty hides out across Sunset Blvd from the ArcLight Cinemas. It makes smashing lobster rolls, though not all the fish on the menu is…
San Diego
The look is art-deco ocean liner, and the service is just as elegant, with an oyster bar and creations like chicken-fried lobster with truffled honey, and…
San Diego
Try San Diego–style surf 'n' turf at this posh seafood joint. Menu items include wok-charred ahi, classic filet mignon, Parmesan-crusted sautéed sand dabs…
Death Valley National Park
The main restaurant at the Ranch at Furnace Creek serves pretty standard all-you-can-eat buffets at breakfast and lunch (may be closed on slow days)…
West Hollywood & Mid-City
Once you get over the heavenly scent of freshly baked cookies (it takes a moment), you can get down to choosing cookies from a changing assortment …
San Diego
This quietly chichi and much-loved local landmark serves a diverse lineup of regional American cuisine: cheese grits to chicken Reubens, sesame salmon on…
San Diego
On the site of Del Mar’s first restaurant, this airy, multilevel Nuevo Mexicano spot is both restaurant and bar. Specialties on the forward-thinking menu…
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
Basic, compact, tile-floored Gigo's could really use a lick of paint. But you're here for the steamy, fragrant pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), sought after…
Malibu & Pacific Palisades
This new burger joint stacks them double, and the burgers top out at $10 – a nice surprise for Malibu. The CEO burger blends Wagyu and brisket burgers…
Malibu & Pacific Palisades
This fantastic little concrete-floor pub has a stainless-steel bar and patio seating. It pours craftsman draft brews, hand cuts and sizzles its fries in…
Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey
A Playa del Rey classic, with a knotted-wood bar, TVs strobing sports, and porthole windows inside, as well as a sunshine patio out back. But the crowds…
Disneyland Resort
This counter-service chain near the Disneyland Hotel serves grilled sandwiches that are both kid- and adult-friendly. The 'original 1762' is roast beef,…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
The South Pas branch of this homey Mexican bakery serves classic south-of-the border rolls, breads and not-too-sweet sweets, plus cakes such as dulce de…
Los Feliz & Griffith Park
Channeling an American Gothic vibe, this brooding, pocket-sized pizza joint remains a hit with locals hankering for pie. Personally, we think there are…
San Diego
Zel was a longstanding local merchant, and his grandson continues the family tradition of welcoming locals and visitors, over excellent flatbread pizzas …
Disneyland Resort
Near the Disneyland entrance, this old-timey, wood-built spot serves baked potato soup, sourdough bacon cheese melt, meatloaf and gravy, fried chicken and…
San Diego
Head to this beachside classic for ocean views. The atmosphere is chic and the food imaginative, like stone fruit–burrata salad with arugula, whipped…
San Diego
The bay views are stunning from this airy, elegant eatery on Harbor Island, west of downtown; well-prepared seafood dishes include the popular seared…
