Gastronomy in Los Angeles
Los Angeles' food scene is some of the best in the country. The city's restaurants provide an endless variety of dishes, from local to cross-continental and everything in between. It's no wonder the city is famous for its world-class, award-winning chefs and restaurants. Read on to find out the best options you have for eating well at any time and in any part of the city.
Types of restaurants in Los Angeles
A remarkable range of culinary experiences in Los Angeles is offered, from mouth-watering street food to Michelin-starred fine dining. Whether you're craving affordable and delicious tacos from a food truck or indulging in a luxurious tasting menu at a world-class restaurant, you will be covered in this city.
Famous LA cheap eats
Street Tacos: Los Angeles is renowned for its mouthwatering street tacos, often served from food trucks or small stands. These tacos are not only affordable but also bursting with flavour. Try the iconic "al pastor" tacos, featuring marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit and served with onions, cilantro, and salsa. Head to spots like Tacos El Gordo in Koreatown or Leo's Taco Truck for an authentic taco experience that won't break the bank.
In-N-Out Burger: While not exclusive to LA, In-N-Out Burger is a beloved regional chain known for its delicious and affordable burgers. The menu is simple, with options like the classic Double-Double and Animal-Style fries. In-N-Out has a cult following, and the freshly made burgers are a must-try for anyone visiting LA. Budget-friendly prices make it a go-to spot for a quick and satisfying meal.
Street food vendors: These dining spots, which you will most likely find a stone's throw away from any location, serve up cheap, spicy, tasty dishes that can compete favourably with food from high-end restaurants. They are more popular in neighbourhoods such as Koreatown, Thai Town, and others with a dominant ethnic minority.
High-end dining
The most notable fine dining spots in Los Angeles charge anywhere from a hundred dollars and above for a meal. In Vespertine and Dialogue, the minimum price of any meal is $200 per person, and it includes wine and service charges. Other eyebrow-raising high-end spots include n/naka, Hayato, Damian, Somni, and Maude. There is a constantly evolving list of trendy new hot spots and sought-after restaurants to get a table at. Check out LA food guides like Time Out or Eater LA.
Health and wellness
Los Angeles is a haven for health and wellness food enthusiasts, offering many nutritious and delicious options. From farm-to-table dining at places like Sqirl to upscale vegan experiences at Crossroads Kitchen, the plant-based cuisine in LA is welcome. Juice bars like Moon Juice and allergen-friendly cafes like The Butcher's Daughter cater to dietary restrictions, while acai bowls with superfood toppings are popular at spots like Backyard Bowls. Raw food restaurants in Los Angeles like Rawvolution, presenting kombucha bars like Kombucha Dog, and options for specialized diets, such as keto and paleo at places like Erewhon Market, are embraced. If you're a health nut, experimenting with a new diet, or just wanting to try something new, LA's health food scene has got you covered.
Notable restaurants in various LA neighbourhoods
Santa Monica: Don't miss out on the Bay Cities' famous Godmother sandwich. It'll also be deliciously worth stopping at Rustic Canyon and Cassia. For low-end dining, your best options are HiHo Cheeseburger and Uovo.
Venice: The Tasting Kitchen, The Rose, Scopa Italian Roots, and Felix are best for Italian cuisine, and Gjusta for pastries.
Culver City: The best low-end spots here are Cognoscenti Coffee and Kogi Taqueria. Other notable spots are Bacoshop, Sweetgreen, Blue Bottle, Father's Office, and a local branch of Brooklyn pizza and pasta heavyweight Roberta's.
Beverly Hills: Some of the most captivating spots include Maude, Spago, CUT, Nate N' Al Delicatessen, and Avra.
West/East Hollywood: You can get some of the best culinary treats for an average Joe in these regions at Boystown, Norah, Musso & Frank, Gwen on Sunset, APL, and Connie & Ted's for unforgettable seafood. For a chance to cross paths with celebrities, try out the up-scale tables at Craig's, Catch, or The Nice Guy.
Silver Lake/Echo Park/Los Feliz: Alimento offers excellent Italian dishes, Night Market serves top-draw Thai dining, Pine & Crane is renowned for Chinese-Taiwanese flavours, and Konbi is an Instagram favourite for Japanese-style sandwiches.
Downtown/Chinatown: Check out hot spots like Sonoratown, Howlin' Ray's, Orsa & Winston, Bavel, Grand Central Market, and Majordomo.
Northeast LA: Check out Hippo, Triple Beam Pizza, The Heights Eagle Rock, and Casa Bianca.
San Fernando Valley: Ventura Boulevard is home to some of the finest spots in the region, including Petit Trois. Other notable places include FurnSaj Bakery, Brent's, Bill's Burgers, Van Nuys, Wat Thai Temple, and El Venado.
South LA: Hawkins House of Burgers is an iconic spot. Phillip's gives you a classic barbecue experience. Other places to try include Orleans & YorkTire Shop Taqueria, Tamales Elena, and Ackee Bamboo.
Delicacies to try in Los Angeles
Besides staples like steak, tacos, pizza, doughnuts, burgers, etc., you can try out continental dishes like sushi, Korean cuisine, Chinese and Taiwanese dishes like savoury shrimp wontons, dan dan noodles, sautéed greens, and toothpick lamb. You can also treat yourself to Japanese delicacies in LA, like Hakata-style bowls, Jiro-style garlic-bomb ramen bowls, and tantanmen.
