Essential LA Restaurants
Alma is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

1. Alma

952 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · Fashion District · 31 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Ari Taymor's first venture is dedicated to impeccably sourced hyper-local ingredients presented in a rather unique and innovative manner. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

2. Animal

435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · Mid-City West · 233 tips and reviews

EaterEater: A newbie by comparison to some Eater 38 members, Jon and Vinny's small and loud porkapalooza delight remains all the rage with the food set. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

3. Bestia

9.3
2121 E 7th Pl (at Santa Fe Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Italian Restaurant · Downtown Los Angeles · 248 tips and reviews

EaterEater: There's heavy emphasis on house-cured meats, pizzas, and pastas, with unexpected and inspired flavors. The beverage program here, from cocktails to wine, is a hit, too. [Eater 38 Member]

4. Bucato

3280 Helms Ave (at Washington Blvd), Culver City, CA
Italian Restaurant · McManus · 39 tips and reviews

EaterEater: A wood-burning oven churns out small meat and veggie-centered plates, but don't try and snag a photo. The use of cell phones inside the restaurant is "politely discouraged." [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

Canele Restaurant is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

5. Canele Restaurant

3219 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
French Restaurant · Central Atwater · 42 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Canele is one of the few neighborhood spots in LA. Brunch is no slouch. Make sure to come early to beat the crowd. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

Chi Spacca is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

6. Chi Spacca

8.8
6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Italian Restaurant · 33 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Eater National 38 member: The costata alla Fiorentina is a 42-ounce T-bone centerpiece. It delivers every expression of charred, marbled beef one hopes for, and is only one of Chi Spacca’s pleasures. Read more.

Father's Office is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

7. Father's Office

8.3
3229 Helms Ave (at Venice Blvd), Los Angeles, CA
Gastropub · South Robertson · 361 tips and reviews

8. Gjelina

9.1
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd (at Millwood Ave), Venice, CA
New American Restaurant · 620 tips and reviews

EaterEater: A neighborhoody spot that's filled with regulars, pick from seasonalsmall plate offerings and some skinny-crusted brick oven pizzas. The roasted vegetables are also a must-try. Read more.

ink. is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

9. ink.

8360 Melrose Ave (at Kings Rd), Los Angeles, CA
American Restaurant · Mid-City West · 186 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Chef Michael Voltaggio tries to stretch the boundaries at his Melrose restaurant, and this octopus dish made with ink shells, young fennel and pimenton is a standout dish. Read more.

La Casita Mexicana is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

10. La Casita Mexicana

8.6
4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA
Mexican Restaurant · 47 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Eater National 38 member: Traffic to Bell can be brutal from L.A. at night; consider a mole-fueled lunch or even a memorable breakfast of chilaquiles with chipotle. Read more.

11. Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant

9.0
704 S Alvarado St (at 7th St), Los Angeles, CA
Deli · Westlake South · 176 tips and reviews

EaterEater: LA's most famous old school deli, do not miss the pastrami sandwich! [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

12. Mélisse

1104 Wilshire Blvd (at 11th St), Santa Monica, CA
French Restaurant · 45 tips and reviews

EaterEater: It's all about the tasting menus at Josiah Citrin's consistent high quality French eatery. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

13. Milo and Olive

8.8
2723 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Bakery · 131 tips and reviews

EaterEater: A tiny, always packed bakery and cafe from the Rustic Canyon team. Expect seasonal small plates, impeccable baked goods, and some of the best pizza pies in the city. [Eater 38 Member]

14. Orsa & Winston

8.2
122 W 4th St (btwn S Main & S Spring St), Los Angeles, CA
Italian Restaurant · Gallery Row · 17 tips and reviews
Providence is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

15. Providence

8.7
5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Central Hollywood · 94 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Michael Cimarusti's ode to seafood-centric fine dining has gotten a much needed revamp, with a nautical theme to reinforce the kind of preparations happening on the plate. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

République is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

16. République

9.3
624 S La Brea Ave (at W 6th St), Los Angeles, CA
French Restaurant · Hancock Park · 267 tips and reviews

17. Rustic Canyon

8.0
1119 Wilshire Blvd (at 11th Ct.), Santa Monica, CA
Wine Bar · Wilshire-Montana · 86 tips and reviews

EaterEater: In addition to a new full bar program, chef Jeremy Fox's lighter California-style veggie-centered dishes shine, making the staple westside date spot once again obligatory. [Eater 38 Member]

Spago Beverly Hills is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

18. Spago Beverly Hills

8.9
176 N Canon Dr (at Wilshire Blvd.), Beverly Hills, CA
New American Restaurant · 123 tips and reviews
SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

19. SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

9.1
1345 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 180 tips and reviews

20. Sqirl Kitchen

8.8
720 N Virgil Ave (at Marathon St), Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · East Hollywood · 203 tips and reviews
The Tasting Kitchen is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

21. The Tasting Kitchen

8.3
1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA
New American Restaurant · 180 tips and reviews

22. Trois Mec

716 N Highland Ave,Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA, Los Angeles, CA
American Restaurant · 44 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Meals must be purchased in advance off Trois Mec's website. Including tip but excluding alcohol, the nightly prix fixe amounts to nearly $100 a head.

Tsujita Annex is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

23. Tsujita Annex

8.3
2050 Sawtelle Blvd (at Mississippi Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Noodle Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 53 tips and reviews

24. Maude

8.7
212 S Beverly Dr (at Wilshire Blvd), Beverly Hills, CA
Restaurant · 17 tips and reviews
Sotto is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

25. Sotto

9575 W Pico Blvd (at Edris Dr), Los Angeles, CA
Italian Restaurant · South Robertson · 82 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The fileja calabresi, almost like long twisted sheets made into tubes, comes tossed in a spicy sausage ragu, mustard greens for a bitter counterpoint, and spicy calabrian chiles for that hit of heat. Read more.

Guerrilla Tacos is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

26. Guerrilla Tacos

826 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
Taco Restaurant · Arts District · 35 tips and reviews

27. The Sycamore Kitchen

9.0
143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Restaurant · Mid-City West · 112 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Waiting in line for Karen Hatfield's salted caramel sticky pecan babka is more than worth it. The tomato-onion tart, buttercup bun and rye chocolate chip cookie are all also delicious.

Bar Amá is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

28. Bar Amá

8.7
118 W 4th St (at Main St), Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Gallery Row · 109 tips and reviews
Cliff's Edge is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

29. Cliff's Edge

3626 W Sunset Blvd (at Edgecliffe Dr), Los Angeles, CA
American Restaurant · Silver Lake · 97 tips and reviews
Faith & Flower is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

30. Faith & Flower

705 W 9th St (at Flower St), Los Angeles, CA
New American Restaurant · South Park · 81 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The oxtail agnolotti at this new Downtown eatery gets a little surprise with every third bite or so: a nob of bone marrow. Don't fear though, a tangerine salsa tempers the richness a bit. Read more.

Night + Market Song is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

31. Night + Market Song

8.6
3322 W Sunset Blvd (at Micheltorena St), Los Angeles, CA
Thai Restaurant · Silver Lake · 75 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Dedicated to Northern Thai cuisine consumed in a colorful 50-seat space. The chef has earned enough of a reputation for his flavor-packed plates to attract Angelenos from across the city. Read more.

Pot at the Line Hotel is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

32. Pot at the Line Hotel

3515 Wilshire Blvd (at Normandie), Los Angeles, CA
Korean Restaurant · Wilshire Center - Koreatown · 80 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The large family-style pots are the star of the menu, but the other shareable bites like dumplings, squid, pollack roe, and fried rice are also worth trying. An unbeatable scene, too. Read more.

Petit Trois is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

33. Petit Trois

8.7
716 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA
French Restaurant · 77 tips and reviews

34. Kiriko Sushi

11301 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Sushi Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 27 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This Sawtelle nook of a sushi bar presents some innovative dishes alongside the omakase sushi, though the nigiri is excellent by any standards. The quality is consistently high.

35. Fishing with Dynamite

9.1
1148 Manhattan Ave (12th), Manhattan Beach, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Downtown Manhattan Beach · 73 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Expect a mixed batch of old and new seafood dishes, alongside a thoughtful list of intoxicants. Early standouts are the Thai Shellfish Coconut Soup, Albacore Tartare, and Loup de Mer.

Jun Won is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

36. Jun Won

3100 W 8th St #101 (S. Berendo St.), Los Angeles, CA
Korean Restaurant · Wilshire Center - Koreatown · 7 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Standout dishes include the seafood pajeon, pan-fried yellow corvina, sauteed spicy octopus, or steaming bean curd soup. Don't forget the rustic, fresh banchan that changes often. Read more.

Lukshon is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

37. Lukshon

3239 Helms Ave (btwn Venice & Washington Blvd), Culver City, CA
Asian Restaurant · 70 tips and reviews
Cadet is one of Essential LA Restaurants.

38. Cadet

2518 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
French Restaurant · 9 tips and reviews