As soon as we booked our tickets for a recent trip to Los Angeles, we reached out to three of our most trusted local food gurus for their restaurant recommendations. Below are their current favorites with their words in italics plus additional Daytripper notes in blue. (Of the places we were lucky enough to try.) In addition, are a few spots we discovered on our own plus a few old-time favorites. LA is one of the best food cities, and while this list covers a lot of ground, it is just a small sample of all the amazing eats in the City of Angels.
Let’s start in Los Feliz as we checked into the boutique Hotel Covell to use as our East Side base for a few days…
- All Time – I go for the veggies / pastas / good wine, also it’s very good for brunch with one of the best breakfast sandwiches in LA. (Our group of four all LOVED our meal, the focaccia with burrata and cherry tomatoes is worth the drive alone, and you NEED an order of the warm chocolate chip cookies with milk for dessert.)
- Homestate - Breakfast tacos in Los Feliz, also migas and queso—always a line, but it moves fast (Great tex-mex tacos right next door to Hotel Covell, convenient morning pit stop especially if you’re staying there!)
- Atrium – A indoor-outdoor spot with a mix of different cuisines, I don’t even know how to define this restaurant but it’s very good!
- Kismet- Middle Eastern meets California cuisine. While we didn’t have time to eat at the small, much-praised restaurant (we hear breakfast is fab), we did try their new casual, to go spot down the street- Kismet Rotisserie. If we lived here, this would be on our dinner table once a week--the most delicious, juiciest chicken platter served with the perfect combo of hummus, house-made pita, salad, pickles plus garlic and hot chili sauce on the side. So good.
Nearby in Silverlake…
- Botanica – Very, very Californian restaurant with fresh veggies / meats + very good juice cocktails / natty wine. I like their brunch better than dinner. (Great space and vibes, solid, healthy breakfast but prefer the food at Squirl)
- Alimento - Fun, creative Italian in Silver Lake , must, must, must go!!! (Best meal of the trip—everything truly delicious but tortellini in brodo, whole fish, and chopped salad outstanding and memorable. Make it a night and enjoy excellent cocktails or wine first across the street on the upper floor of cozy L & E Oyster Bar.)
- Pine and Crane –Fast casual Chinese-Taiwanese, dumplings, noodles (open 12-10 closed Tuesdays) New sibling Joy on York in Highland Park, also great.
- Speranza - Very cute, affordable Italian.
- Sqirl- If you haven’t seen tons of pictures of this uber trendy spot then where have you been? Must orders include the crispy rice salad, pesto sorrel bowl, and brioche toast with jam. Note: opens at 6:30. Full Food menu starts at 8:30.
- Mh Zh - Israeli restaurant--no alcohol, but the meat / veggies / hummus are INSANE. (Outdoor seating only.)
And in Echo Park:
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Honey Hi – Healthy bowls and sandwiches / gluten free, open 9-4 so good for late breakfast or lunch. My go to spot.
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Konbi- A daytime Japanese spot, tiny counter restaurant that has katsu sandwiches / and the best croissant I’ve ever had.
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Triple Beam Pizza - Nancy Silverton's walk-in pizza shop in Echo Park / Highland Park. My fave pizza in LA!
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Tsubaki - Japanese small plates and a good sake bar too!
Chinatown:
- Majordomo - David Chang’s restaurant in Chinatown is the bomb!
Heading Downtown…
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Bestia
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Rossoblu
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Grand Central Market
And then we went on a Downtown Taco crawl…
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Guisados—amazing tacos, there are several around the city, order the sampler!
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Sonoratown-Northern Mexican style tacos—In LA’s downtown fashion district—the house-made flour tortillas are their specialty; we had the steak taco and chicken chivichanga.
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Mariscos Jalisco—At this no-frills food truck you must order the taco de camaron, a deep-fried shrimp taco topped with house-made red salsa and avocado. We both agreed this might be the best taco we ever ate. (We went to the downtown location, but the original site is in Boyle Heights at 3040 East Olympic Blvd)
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We couldn’t eat anymore but if your still hungry try the scallop taco at Holbox in the Mercado la Paloma (not far from downtown, right near USC) or the beef birria at Teddys Red Tacos. (Approximately 15 minutes from downtown.)
And in nearby hip Arts District…
- Bavel - Beautiful Middle Eastern restaurant, from Bestia’s chefs—fun to share small plates and dips—great service and presentation.
After a few days we moved to Santa Monica and checked into The Santa Monica Proper…
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Birdie G’s – Dare I say the matzo ball soup is as good as my grandma’s, and so is the noodle kugel at this Jewish-American new hot spot. Other favs include the chicken scaloppine and steak frites –book in advance, as resys are hard to come by.
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Onda—The Proper’s restaurant from Squirl chef Jessica Koslow and Gabriela Cámara of Mexico City’s Contramar –the inside out turkey quesadilla will change your life!
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Cassia- Upscale Southeast Asian, great for a group as it fun to share—really delicious food! The only caveat is we didn’t love the space, and it’s loud. (We’d sit on the patio next time) Order the mushroom salad, spicy wontons, sunbathing prawns, whole seabass, beef rending, and cold sesame noodles. (Early? Have a drink at Esters, a wine bar next door.)
Venice:
- Gjusta – An all day spot from the Gjelina crew, extensive menu of sandwiches, salads, bowls, smoked fish plus delicious baked goods and pizzas—in other words, anything you’d want to eat. (Great space, lovely outdoor patio—if only they would open in NYC! A mandatory stop when we’re in LA.)
- Great White— This Australian café is newer to the Venice scene, not far from the beach. (right near the Venice sign). It has excellent coffee, bowls, and toasts plus a delicious breakfast burrito.
- Felix - Italian in Venice, I haven’t been but ppl LOVE! (Good luck getting a reservation—we had no luck, but our friend who lives there said you could go in at 5:30 and get a seat at the communal table)
Old Loves…
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Republique--A great way to start the day is with breakfast at --not sure what’s better the striking interior or the food—just a winning combination!
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Night + Market - There are 3 locations around LA (In Silver Lake, West Hollywood, and the newest in Venice) Go for amazing, spicy Thai food.
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Jon & Vinnys --Always a good idea if you’re in LA, in addition to the gem salad, order the spicy fusilli, meatballs, and whichever pizza strikes your fancy. Make a reservation, still packed after all these years.
Natural wine bars serving food…
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Lolo Wine Bar
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Tabula Rasa
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Everson Royce
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Bar Bandini
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Bar Covell
Plus even more insider recs from locals we trust …
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Ma’am Sir—Philippine fare
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Park Sushi (some of the best sushi in town located in a strip mall)
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Sushi Gen –In Little Tokyo (best if seated at the bar)
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Tacos Maria in the OC, yes the OC
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Din Tai Fung in Westfield Cente
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Here’s Looking at You - A gem in Koreatown
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Jeong Yuk Jeom Korean BBQ
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Alta--Southern comfort food in West Adams
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n/naka - Culver City (make a reservation way in advance)