LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2026

Lielle is a dinner-first Los Angeles pick for diners who want a chef-led Westside meal with national attention behind it. Book it for a composed evening or small occasion; choose a more casual LA option if the plan needs lunch, counter dining, or maximum flexibility.

Kato is a restaurant in Los Angeles' Arts District.

Holbox is a casual Mexican seafood counter inside Mercado La Paloma in Los Angeles.

Dunsmoor brings Southern-inflected, hearth-driven American cooking to Glassell Park at the $$$ tier, earning a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025. The open-hearth room, seasonal heirloom menu, and warm service make it a strong choice for date nights or low-key occasions. Book one to two weeks ahead for weekdays; weekend tables move faster.

Baroo is the LA Times 2024 Restaurant of the Year and the most original Korean Contemporary tasting menu in Los Angeles. At $115 per person, Kwang Uh's fermentation-driven cooking covers territory no other LA restaurant does. Book at least 3 to 4 weeks out: seats move fast and the vegetarian menu requires 24 hours' advance notice.

n/naka is a restaurant on Overland Avenue in Los Angeles.

Hayato is a restaurant at Row DTLA in Los Angeles.

Providence is a seafood-focused restaurant in Los Angeles.

Chef Morihiro Onodera's Japanese restaurant at its current Sunset Boulevard address in Echo Park.

Alta Adams is a Michelin Plate-recognized Southern kitchen in West Adams that consistently punches above its $$ price tier. The oxtail, fried chicken, and cornmeal pancakes are the dishes that earned its LA Times top-50 ranking. Booking is easy, value is high, and brunch is the recommended entry point for first-time visitors.

Restaurant Ki earns its 2025 Michelin star through a ten-seat chef's counter tasting menu that puts seasonally sourced seafood at the centre of contemporary Korean cooking. Chef Ki Kim's Atomix and Jungsik background is evident in the precision. With only ten seats and growing demand, reservations are hard to secure: book as far out as possible for any special occasion.

James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Pichetrungsi transformed a 44-year-old Sherman Oaks neighborhood staple into one of LA's hardest reservations and most nationally decorated Thai kitchens. Michelin Plate, OAD Top 50, and LA Times Restaurant of the Year 2022: at $$$, it delivers omakase-level technique at a price point well below the city's fine-dining tier. Book 2–3 weeks out minimum.

Chef Dave Beran's Santa Monica tasting menu earns its $$$$ price through genuine creative ambition: surrealist technique meets Californian seasonality in a format that rewards repeat visits. Michelin Plate recognition in 2025 confirm consistent execution. Book 3–4 weeks out minimum; this is a hard reservation to secure.

Evan Funke's Beverly Hills pasta showcase holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and ranked #25 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024. Dinner-only, $$$$ pricing, and notoriously hard to book: reserve three to four weeks out. Stronger than Bestia for pasta craft and room theater, though Osteria Mozza offers more flexibility at a lower price point.

Henrietta works for an easy Los Angeles lunch, date, or casual celebration when flexibility matters more than a trophy-dinner brief. Go in without assuming a specific cuisine, chef-driven format, or award-backed experience; the appeal is a lower-friction meal that fits several days of the week.

Chad Colby's Antico Nuovo is one of the harder tables to get on East Larchmont Village, and one of the better-value serious Italian dinners in the city. The pasta and crudo are the kitchen's strengths, the wine list earned Star Wine List #1 for 2026, and Michelin has awarded a Plate two years running. Book three to four weeks ahead: this room stays full.

Ranked #19 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024, Perilla L.A. is Chinatown's banchan shop worth building a lunch habit around. Chef Jihee Kim's daily rotation of fermented and fresh Korean side dishes, served as a dosirak tray or sold by the container, is easy to book and delivers more flavour per dollar than almost anything else in Los Angeles at this price point.

Quarter Sheets holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmands (2024, 2025) and ranked #13 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024, all at $$ pricing. Aaron Lindell’s Detroit-style pizzas and Hannah Ziskin’s pastry program make this Echo Park restaurant one of the strongest value cases in Los Angeles. Book the moment reservations open or arrive early for a walk-in.

Komal is a restaurant at Mercado La Paloma in Los Angeles.

A 10-seat Edomae omakase counter in the basement of a Little Tokyo office building, Sushi Kaneyoshi holds a Michelin star and ranks #78 on OAD's North America list (2025). Chef Yoshiyuki Inoue's focus on Hikarimono and classical technique places it among LA's most serious sushi destinations. Hard to book, fixed format, $$$$: right for committed omakase diners, not a casual introduction to the category.

Mélisse is Josiah Citrin's restaurant in Santa Monica, California.

Azizam is the strongest case for Persian home-cooking in Los Angeles right now, backed by an LA Times 101 Best ranking (#21) and Esquire's #2 Best New Restaurant of 2024. Walk-in only, Silver Lake cafe format, with a tight menu built around dishes most Persian restaurants don't attempt. Worth the effort for anyone serious about the cuisine.

Orsa & Winston is worth targeting for a serious downtown Los Angeles tasting-menu dinner, especially if Japanese-Italian crossover and chef-led pacing sound like the point rather than a limitation. The $$$$ price tier makes sense for a special occasion, backed by Michelin and Opinionated About Dining recognition, but it is a weaker fit for diners who want à la carte flexibility or a louder group night.

Vespertine is a tasting-menu restaurant on Hayden Avenue in Culver City, California.

Book Darling by Sean Brock for a West Hollywood special-occasion dinner where the chef name and evening setting matter more than advance menu certainty. It is a better fit for couples and small celebrations than for budget-sensitive groups or diners who need a clearly published cuisine lane before committing.

A 16-seat Downtown LA restaurant where chef Okay Inak cooks regional Turkish dishes almost entirely solo: fermented-cabbage soup, hand-formed dumplings, and spiced-meat preparations rooted in centuries of tradition. The format is intimate, counter-style, and entirely a dine-in experience. Book for solo meals or couples; not suited to groups or off-premise dining.

An Alpine Street bistro in Building B, reached through the courtyard entrance on Centennial Street.

Little Fish's Melrose Avenue restaurant, distinct from the brand's Echo Park location.

Electric Bleu is a practical Westside Los Angeles pick when convenience matters more than a defined cuisine, chef, or award trail. Book it for an easy neighborhood dinner, especially midweek or early Sunday, but cross-shop Little Fatty or Hokkaido Ramen Santouka if the night needs a clearer food format.

A French-inspired bakery, cafe and restaurant sharing one address on South La Brea Avenue.

Saffy's is the strongest argument for Middle Eastern cooking at the $$$ tier in Los Angeles: Michelin-plated, ranked #22 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list, and built on sourcing decisions (Ibérico pork kebabs, labneh-marinated lamb) that justify the spend. From the team behind Bestia and Bavel, it handles both a serious dinner and a casual lunch with equal conviction.

Ranked #24 on Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in North America (2025), Sonoratown is the strongest case for Sonoran-style tacos in Los Angeles. The handmade flour tortillas, Sonoran wheat, pork lard, set the standard, and the Mid-City bar pours micheladas and Modelo on tap. Walk-ins only, no booking required.

Bavel is one of Los Angeles' hardest weekend reservations and one of its most justified. Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis run a Levant-spanning menu from a family roots playbook, Israel, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, that rewards large groups and repeat visits. Ranked #34 in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2025. Book three to four weeks out minimum.

Pasjoli is Dave Beran's Santa Monica French bistro and one of LA's most consistently ranked restaurants, placing #18 on the LA Times 101 Best and #70 on OAD North America 2025. The pressed duck with tableside service is the main event; book three to four weeks out for weekend seatings. A $65 early-bird format makes it accessible without sacrificing the kitchen's ambition.

Ranked #46 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 and #4 on Esquire's Best New Restaurants list, Camélia brings a coherent French-Japanese bistro to Downtown LA's Arts District: with one of the city's more thoughtful wine and sake programs. From the team behind Tsubaki and Ototo, it's an easy booking relative to its peer set and a strong return visit for anyone already familiar with the group's work.

A Michelin Bib Gourmand and James Beard-nominated kitchen on Hollywood Boulevard, Kismet delivers modern Middle Eastern cooking with a Californian vegetable focus at a $$ price point that's hard to match in Los Angeles. Booking is competitive: plan two to three weeks out for weekend dinners. One of the city's better value calls for a special occasion or a serious dinner without tasting-menu prices.

Chi Spacca is the meat-forward Italian on Melrose that earns its $$$$ price point: OAD top-15 in North America two years running, Michelin Plate, and a butchery-driven kitchen with few direct rivals in LA. Book three to four weeks out minimum, request the counter, and go in expecting fire, cured meat, and large-format cuts rather than a pasta-led dinner.

Chef Yasuhiro Hirano's Torrance sushi counter, with an omakase approach that includes aged fish and nigiri.

Damian is the clearest argument in Los Angeles for what a $$$ dinner ticket can deliver. Chef Chuy Cervantes runs a Michelin Plate, OAD Top 400 kitchen inside a converted Arts District warehouse, turning out contemporary Mexican cooking rooted in Pacific coast tradition and California produce. Book 2–3 weeks ahead for weekends; Thursday and Sunday are more accessible.

Darkroom is a dinner-only Santa Ana choice with a stronger reason to book than a standard neighborhood fallback: LA Times 101 Best Restaurants recognition in 2025. Go when a focused Tuesday-to-Saturday dinner fits the plan; skip it for lunch, Sunday, or a loose late-night crawl.

Destroyer is Culver City's strongest daytime progressive dining option, earning back-to-back Michelin Plates and OAD Cheap Eats recognition at $$ pricing. Chef Jordan Khan's Scandinavian-influenced breakfast and lunch plates deliver technique well above the price bracket: but the 8 am to 3 pm hours are fixed. Plan your day accordingly and book the morning slot.

Book Le Dräq if you want a flexible Downtown Los Angeles dinner and do not need a tasting-menu format, or award-backed reason to go. It is a better fit for curious, low-planning diners than for guests seeking a clearly defined cuisine or special-occasion splurge.

Knife Pleat is the strongest case for fine dining in Costa Mesa: a Michelin-recommended contemporary French restaurant from chef Tony Esnault, ranked #20 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024. Seasonal four- and six-course dinners in a quietly elegant room at South Coast Plaza. Book three to four weeks out minimum; this is a hard reservation.

Nicole Rucker's Culver City bakery ranked #40 on the LA Times 2024 101 Best Restaurants list: the reviewer's top personal recommendation in the entire city. The seasonal pies are the main draw, with takeout-friendly packaging and accessible pricing backed by an Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats 2025 nod. Go early; the best items sell through.

Holy Basil Santa Monica is a practical Thai pick for an easy Westside dinner, especially when the plan needs to stay simple. It is better for casual repeat meals than milestone occasions; cross-shop Anajak Thai Cuisine for a higher-spend destination night or Ayara Thai Cuisine when value is the main filter.

Ranked #36 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 list, Ammatolí is the clearest recommendation for Levantine cooking in Southern California. Chef Dima Habibeh's family-run Long Beach corner restaurant delivers an honest mezze-forward spread in a calm, gracious setting. Booking is straightforward, the price point is accessible, and groups who commit to the full spread get the best of it.

Evil Cooks in El Sereno runs one of Los Angeles's most committed creative taco formats, with back-to-back James Beard nominations backing up the hype. The black pastor and octopus al pastor Poseidon are the orders to anchor a first visit around. Booking ahead is non-negotiable: this is a hard-to-get, small-capacity venue where walk-ins are rarely a realistic plan.

A French bistro-inspired wine bar in Melrose Hill with Michelin Plate recognition (2025). Bar Etoile delivers product-driven, seasonal Californian cooking alongside an expansive French-focused wine list at the $$$ price point. Book for a late dinner rather than a quick stop: the room rewards committing to the full experience.

Yerord Mas Bakery and Deli in Glendale, with a dine-in menu of mezze, kebabs and lamb dishes.

Moo's Craft Barbecue in Lincoln Heights holds back-to-back Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition (2024 and 2025) and an LA Times #14 ranking: at $$ pricing. The brisket is aggressively peppered and deeply smoked; the sausage links bring queso Oaxaca and roasted poblanos into the mix. Arrive early in service for the full spread. Booking is easy and the format works for any group size.

Pizzeria Sei is a restaurant on West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Andrew Ponce's modern Mexican restaurant in Echo Park, at Sunset Boulevard's Suite 2.

Bistro Na's in Temple City holds Michelin Guide recognition and back-to-back top-ten OAD Casual North America rankings at a $$ price point: making it one of the most credentialed-per-dollar Chinese dining experiences in the Los Angeles area. The kitchen specializes in royal Manchu cuisine, with Peking duck as the anchor. Reservations are accessible, and groups of four or more get the most out of the menu's range.

Lucia landed on Resy's Best of the Hit List and took Esquire's Best Martinis in America, both in 2025: strong dual recognition for a North Fairfax venue that's easier to book than those credentials suggest. The martini program is the confirmed anchor. Come prepared for a full-service spend, but don't overthink the reservation.

majordōmo is David Chang's most accomplished restaurant and one of Los Angeles' most consistent dinner destinations: a Michelin Plate, OAD-ranked room where Korean-inflected large-format cooking meets a genuinely strong wine program. At $$$, it sits below the city's tasting menu tier but delivers comparable creative ambition. Book two to three weeks ahead for the best selection of tables.

A Mexico City-inspired taqueria and breakfast destination on Rosemead Boulevard in Pico Rivera.

Tsubaki is a 32-seat Echo Park izakaya with a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024 and 2025) and an LA Times top-20 ranking, priced at $$ with easy booking. The sake program, selected by co-owner Courtney Kaplan, is the strongest reason to return. For Japanese dining at this price in Los Angeles, it is the clearest value call in the city.

Mini Kabob is a family-run Armenian takeout counter in Glendale that ranked #42 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 and #90 on OAD Cheap Eats North America. The lule kebabs, lamb chops, and hand-formed beef cutlets are the reason to go. Walk-in only, no reservations needed, and consistently worth the queue.

Wilde's is a practical Los Feliz pick when the priority is an easy dinner rather than a trophy reservation. With no clear public price tier, cuisine label, chef credit, or awards signal, it is safer for casual dates and small celebrations than for a high-stakes special occasion.

Rashida Holmes's Caribbean American restaurant on North Vermont Avenue in East Hollywood.

Tacos Los Cholos in Huntington Park is a multi-award-winning taco spot built around mesquite-grilled premium cuts including arrachera, wagyu, and USDA Prime ribeye. Walk-ins are welcome, the format is casual, and the panela taco is worth ordering on a return visit. If mesquite-grilled meat at a fair price point matters to you, it earns the drive south from central LA.

Ranked #55 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024, Yang's Kitchen in Alhambra bridges farm-to-table sourcing and Chinese-Taiwanese cooking in a format that works from weekday lunch to Sunday wine night. Booking is easy, the menu ranges from mochi pancakes to 20-ounce rib-eye, and the natural wine program is one of the better reasons to make the drive from central LA.

Ranked #47 on the LA Times 2024 list of 101 Best Restaurants, Two Hommés in Inglewood is one of the city's most credible value plays: an Afro-centric menu that routes West African, Senegalese, and Ethiopian flavours through California technique. Easy to book, neighbourhood-priced, and genuinely original without requiring a $$$$ commitment.

Budonoki is a modern izakaya in Virgil Village that earned the number three spot on Esquire's 2024 Best New Restaurants list. Book it for a date or small group when you want Japanese drinking snacks, sake, and creative cocktails in a lively neighbourhood setting without the formality or spend of a tasting-menu room. Booking is easy, which makes it one of the more accessible quality Japanese options in east LA right now.

Ethiopian cooking on Colorado Boulevard, with injera, vegetable combinations, tibs and wat on the merchant menu.

Rustic Canyon is Santa Monica's most consistent argument for California seasonal cooking: Michelin Plate recognized, Opinionated About Dining top-ranked, and priced at $$$ with a 300-bottle wine list that does not gouge. Book for a special occasion or a serious date; reserve at least two weeks out for weekends. The farmers' market-driven menu changes with the season, making return visits genuinely worthwhile.

Olive & Rose is useful as an easy Long Beach dinner option, especially when flexibility matters more than chasing a known chef, award, or wine program. For special occasions, compare it with 555 East; for a drinks-led night, Broken Spirits Distillery or Navy Proof Food & Spirits may give the evening a clearer shape.

RVR is Travis Lett's Japanese-California izakaya on Abbot Kinney, named Esquire's Restaurant of the Year for 2025. The small-plates format, ramen, yakitori, and a notably deep vegetable menu, makes it the most compelling new opening in Venice, CA. Booking is easier than the award profile suggests; mid-week tables are readily available.

Petit Trois is Ludo Lefebvre's Hollywood counter bistro: Michelin-plated, LA Times top-50 ranked, and priced at $$$ in a city full of $$$$ tasting menus. The French classics (escargot, steak frites, the Big Mec burger) are executed with real technical depth. For value-conscious French dining in Los Angeles, it is one of the stronger cases you can make.

A Zapotec live-fire cooking vendor inside Maydan Market in West Adams, distinct from the market's full-service Maydan restaurant.

Osteria Mozza is a restaurant on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

Kuya Lord is the James Beard Award-winning Filipino counter on Melrose that makes the strongest case for regional Quezon Province cooking in Los Angeles. At 28 seats, it is one of the harder reservations in the city right now. Book 3-4 weeks ahead, order the Kuya Tray as your anchor, and add the laing if you want to see what the kitchen can really do.

Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024 and 2025) and an Esquire top-five best new restaurant ranking: all for boat noodles priced under $10 a bowl. The broth is rich, layered, and better than anything else in Thai Town at this price. Go for the boat noodles, order multiple bowls, and work through the short menu from there.

Sqirl is a Silver Lake counter-service café that earns two consecutive Opinionated About Dining Cheap Eats for North America nods. It is a walk-in-only operation open daily 8 am to 4 pm, so arrive early to avoid a wait. For first-timers wanting well-executed daytime food at accessible prices, it is a reliable stop.

The Long Beach Tacos La Carreta food truck, with tacos, chorreadas and papa loca listed on its business website.

A 500-square-foot Euro-Californian room on Melrose Ave with an impressive wine list and a tight, rotating menu: ranked #86 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants list for 2024. Stir Crazy is the right call for wine-focused diners who want quality without formality. Easy to book, counter seating available, and well-suited to solo diners and pairs.

Book Lorenzo California if you want a critic-recognized Beverly Hills stop and are comfortable confirming the details before you go. Its LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #65 placement gives it credibility, but the lack of public price, cuisine, and format details makes it better for curious diners than high-stakes planners.

BADMAASH Venice is worth booking for a lively Abbot Kinney dinner built around modern Indian comfort food, cocktails, natural wine, and a design-forward room. It suits date nights, celebrations, and mixed-diet groups better than quiet business meals. Expect an upscale-casual mood and a flexible à la carte format at about $65 per person.

Barra Santos holds back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 and 2025: at $$ prices, that combination is hard to argue. It fills a genuine gap in the LA dining scene as one of the few serious Portuguese kitchens in the city, with backing up the inspector endorsement. Book a counter seat if you can; it is the best seat in the house.

Ranked #8 on the LA Times 2024 101 Best Restaurants list, Barbacoa Ramirez is a weekend-only curbside stand in Arleta serving Hidalgo-style lamb barbacoa cooked in a pit for 24 hours, on housemade made-to-order tortillas. No reservations, no seating, no weekday service. Arrive by 8am Saturday or Sunday or risk selling out before you reach the front.

A pupusa vendor at the Sunday Atwater Village Farmers' Market, not a daily restaurant at the Larga Avenue address.

Cantonese and Taishanese cooking in South El Monte, with steamed rice dishes, chicken preparations and soups on its ordering menu.

Found Oyster is the strongest value case in LA seafood at its price tier: a Michelin Plate, a top-100 OAD Casual North America ranking, and a raw bar sourced partly from the GM's family farm, all in a 30-odd-seat East Hollywood room. Book it for couples or small groups who want serious food without a formal occasion. Go early, order the platter, and read the specials board.

Cosetta is a practical Santa Monica pick when timing matters: lunch, early dinner, and later evening plans all work better here than at many more rigid Los Angeles restaurants. Its LA Times 101 recognition gives it credibility, but the main reason to book is flexibility rather than ceremony.

Puerto Rican cooking in Woodland Hills, with a current contact address of 22757 Ventura Boulevard.

Perse Restaurant is a practical Brentwood pick when schedule and location matter more than a destination-dining hook. Book it for flexible Westside plans; choose Pizzana Brentwood for pizza, Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers for burgers, or Baltaire when the meal needs a more polished steakhouse feel.

Georgian cheese breads, khinkali dumplings and walnut-based vegetable dishes at Saqartvelo's Van Nuys location.

Should you book Biriyani Kabob House? Yes for a casual, food-first meal in Los Angeles, especially if ease matters more than ceremony. Its LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #70 recognition in 2025 gives it credibility, but the fit is informal rather than private-dining polished.

Jacaranda is a 2026 Hancock Park tasting-menu restaurant for diners who want a polished special-occasion meal without a rigid fine-dining mood. The 10-course Modern California format, wine-forward beverage program, smart-casual dress code, valet parking, and $295 per person price make it a deliberate dinner choice rather than a casual drop-in.

Phởholic's Westminster flagship holds back-to-back Michelin Plate recognition (2024 and 2025): making it the most credentialed pho in Little Saigon at a $ price point. Go for the beef pho, plan multiple visits to work through the menu, and walk in without a reservation.

Macheen is a Boyle Heights daytime counter by siblings Ana and Jonathan Perez, ranked #73 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 list. The pork belly breakfast burrito, soft-scrambled eggs, Swiss cheese, chile-dusted tater tots, griddled flour tortilla, is the signature order. Walk-in friendly, affordable, and worth the cross-city drive for any serious LA eating itinerary.

Gangwon-style Korean dining in Koreatown, centered on barley rice, assorted banchan, pumpkin porridge and perilla seed soup.

Book Lum Ka Naad Thai when Thai food in Northridge is the point and ease matters more than occasion polish. Its LA Times 101 Best Restaurants #84 ranking in 2025 gives it a credible reason to choose it over nearby casual stops, especially for a shared meal with two to four people.

Ranked #27 on the LA Times 2024 Best Restaurants list, Al Baraka has been serving Palestinian home cooking in Anaheim's Little Arabia since 2003. The daily specials, particularly Saturday mshakhan and kufta with tahini, are the reason critics and regulars keep returning. Easy to book, halal, and meaningfully less expensive than most venues with comparable critical recognition in LA.

The Harbor branch of Colossus in San Pedro, separate from its Alma Street and Long Beach locations.

Barsha is a family-run Tunisian-influenced restaurant in Hermosa Beach that earned a spot on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 list (#66) without the booking difficulty that usually comes with that recognition. Order the brik and the lamb meatballs with Tunisian couscous. Easy to get into, genuinely worth the drive from anywhere in LA.

Ranked #99 on the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants 2024 list, Mario's Butcher Shop in Newport Beach earns its reputation through house-smoked pastrami, wood-grilled steak sandwiches, and a refrigerator case stocked with Wagyu Bolognese and fresh pasta. Walk-in only, lunch-focused, and worth the drive from Los Angeles proper.

Loli Farms is a low-friction Pasadena option when booking ease matters more than a fully defined dining format. Use it for a flexible date, casual celebration, or simple local dinner; choose a more documented restaurant if pricing, cuisine, dietary handling, or counter seating is central to the decision.

Jade Rabbit is worth using for a quick Santa Monica lunch, casual dinner, or takeout order when Chinese-American comfort food is the brief. At about $18 per person, it is better for everyday value than special-occasion dining, with counter service, outdoor seating, vegan options, and a zero-proof beverage focus.