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$$ | West Hollywood |
From its famous Impossible Burger (you can’t believe it’s not meat) to its Sicilian pepperoni pizza (again, not meat), Crossroads's level of plant-based inventiveness knows no bounds. The space itself is dimly lit, with red-leather booths and a full bar illuminating its A-list clientele.
8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90046, USA
Known For
- High-end plant-based cuisine
- Great bar menu
- Popular celebrity hangout
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$$ | Venice |
Walk through the rustic wooden door and into a softly lit dining room with long communal tables and a lively crowd; come later in the night and the place heats up with an enthusiastic post-pub crowd lured by the seasonal menu and outstanding small plates, charcuterie, pastas, and pizza. Begin with a pizza made with house-made chorizo, grilled pear with burrata and prosciutto, or Snow Island oysters. For the main course, options include saffron spaghetti and pork belly with Oaxacan grits. Typically boisterous, the patio is a great hang-out spot and a gem for a Sunday brunch.
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90291, USA
Known For
- Lively crowd on the patio
- Late-night menu
- Michelin-recommended restaurant
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Koreatown |
Hawaiian and Asian-inspired dishes can be found on this menu featuring veggie, meat, poultry, and seafood. The environment is eclectic, as is the food, with signature dishes like frogs' legs with salsa negra and blue crab tostadas with yuzu kosho. There’s also an exceptional cocktail program; if you’re lucky enough to sit at the bar, order a slice of pie.
3901 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, California, 90020, USA
Known For
- Friendly atmosphere
- Exceptional cocktails
- Inventive dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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This local secret is as close to the beach—Zuma Beach, in this case—as you can get for a meal without getting sand in your drink. Stop in at this friendly spot for a cocktail, selections from the raw bar, a meal from the extensive menu, or one of the unique salads. From here you'll get a view of the water, dolphins, surfers, and celebrity locals taking a break on the wind-protected patio. The extensive happy hour on Monday through Thursday offers good deals on appetizers, beers, and cocktails.
6800 Westward Beach Rd., Malibu, California, 90265, USA
Known For
- Close to the beach, off-the-beaten path location
- Beautiful views
- Good happy hour
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$$ | West Hollywood |
Not to be confused with the congresswoman from New York, the acronym here stands for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, the regulatory system that ensures the quality of local wines and cheeses in France. Fittingly, A.O.C. upholds this standard of excellence in its shared plates and perfect wine pairings in the stunning exposed-brick and vine-laden courtyard. Try the Spanish fried chicken; wood-oven brioche with prosciutto, Gruyère, and egg; or arroz negro (black rice) with squid.
8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, California, 90048, USA
Known For
- Amazing cocktail hour
- Quaint outdoor courtyard
- Charming indoor fireplaces
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Just because Bea Bea’s is a no-nonsense kind of place, it doesn’t mean the food isn’t special. This diner serves breakfast food that is about as close to extraordinary as the most important meal of the day can be. The plates are massive, but you're bound to finish your meal.
353 N. Pass Ave., Los Angeles, California, 91505, USA
Known For
- Pancakes and French toast
- Friendly staff
- Classic diner grub
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$$ | |
With the extensive and eclectic breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus here, coupled with the fantastic cocktail menu and charming little marketplace, breakfast can easily turn into lunch and then late lunch. Patrons tend to adopt a slow pace, staggering orders of coffee, luscious crepes, small plates, and delicious entrées, all while adopting the laissez-faire attitude that is encouraged here. It’s a good thing they’ve got plenty of seating. There's live music on Sunday afternoons.
3155 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90039, USA
Known For
- Seasonal fromage and charcuterie boards
- Classic American fare
- Partially open-air setting
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$$$$ | West Hollywood |
Boasting the best see-and-be-seen crowd in West Hollywood, this rooftop restaurant also has some of the best views. As you enter through a pergola, you'll find an extremely good-looking crowd of well-heeled diners and drinkers flirting at the large bar or getting cozy in the teal brushed-leather booths. Truffle sashimi and crab tempura are divine, and the filet is not to be missed. Try not to hurt your neck gawking at the celebs wandering in and out the door.
8715 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90069, USA
Known For
- Some of the city's best celeb sightings
- Rooftop views
- Excellent crab tempura
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No brunch weekdays
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The husband-and-wife team that took over Cindy’s never set out to create a trendy space for hipsters looking for their next artisanal fix; they just wanted to make great, accessible food. That’s exactly what they've done, and by doing so they've established a neighborhood restaurant with reasonable prices and back-to-basics food that just so happens to look retro cool. Another reason to love Cindy's: they make almost everything in-house, including the smoked and cured meats.
1500 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90041, USA
Known For
- Brisket hash
- Barbecue cheeseburger with "cowboy candy"
- Retro diner–style space
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$$ | Santa Monica |
Escape busy Santa Monica State Beach to dine at this casual café and bar within the unfussy oceanfront hotel Shutters on the Beach. Head here at sunset for sophisticated, fruity cocktails and fresh seafood, like oysters, Dungeness crab, or a lobster roll, just one block from Santa Monica Pier.
1 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA
Known For
- Great sunset drinks and dining
- Casual beachside atmosphere
- California-inspired cuisine
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$$ | West Hollywood |
Inspired by the classic clam, oyster, and fish houses of New England, this beautiful space (the roof is arched like a wave) is occupied by a dressed-up crowd dipping fried calamari or spooning up Jo’s wicked-good chowda. Lobster rolls are insanely good, and you can never go wrong with the catch of the day.
8171 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90046, USA
Known For
- Buttery lobster rolls
- Catch of the day
- Classic New England seafood spot atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed. and Thurs.
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$$$ | Downtown |
The Arts District in DTLA continues to trot out some of the most exciting restaurants in all of Los Angeles, and Damian is simply the latest and greatest example to enter the space. Across from Bestia, the Enrique Olvera--helmed joint serves contemporary Mexican fare combined with California's bounty of excellent produce. Dishes like the mole verde and fish tartare tostadas wow your taste buds as they slide from spicy to creamy and back. The cocktails shouldn't be overlooked either with mezcal-heavy options that also incorporate Italian vermouths and Japanese sake. Buzzing inside and out, this restaurant has vibes for days, food to match it, and service that's second to none. Eat here to question everything you know or want to about what Mexican cuisine can and should be.
2132 E. 7th Pl., Los Angeles, California, 90021, USA
Known For
- Modern Mexican cuisine
- Great cocktails
- Buzzy spot
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Open for brunch weekends
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$$ | Santa Monica |
Pasta is served here dalla forma, meaning it's cooked, then dipped into a cheese wheel and stirred up until it's coated with melted cheese before serving. Catering to a higher-end crowd, Forma specializes in cheeses, pastas, and pizzas. It also serves small plates like fresh mozzarella knots, arancini balls, and crispy artichokes prepared Roman style. A generous happy hour from 3 to 6 lets you discover many of the specialties without breaking the bank.
1610 Montana Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90403, USA
Known For
- Amazing pasta stirred in a cheese wheel
- Fresh mozzarella knots
- Roman-style crispy artichokes
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$ | Studio City |
Its walls may be heavy with framed photographs of film and TV stars, and folks from the biz might regularly grace its tables, but this Studio City diner is every bit as down-to-earth as your next-door neighbor, even after 40-some years. It gets pretty busy, but a plateful of that home cooking is worth the wait; or if you’re in a mad dash, grab a caffeine or fruit smoothie fix from the Neighbarista.
3701 Cahuenga Blvd. W, Los Angeles, California, 91604, USA
Known For
- Craft-your-own omelet
- Cottage fries
- Excellent breakfast food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Founded by Santa Monica natives, Huckleberry brings together the best ingredients from local farmers and growers to craft diner-style comfort food with a chic twist. Nearly everything is made on-site, even the hot sauce and almond milk. The light, bright space is perfect for a quick brunch. Choose from savories like toad-in-the-hole with housemade chimichurri or a chicken shawarma wrap with beet and carrot slaw and Castelvetrano olives. Breakfast is served all day. Baked goods rotate frequently according to the seasonal whims of the pastry chef; favorites include the Meyer lemon hazelnut scones. Bonito Coffee Roasters coffee tempts from the extensive drink menu.
1014 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California, 90401, USA
Known For
- From-scratch diner-style breakfast options
- Delectable pastries
- House-made cold brew
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Born out of the owner’s need for more kitchen space for her growing production catering business, Kitchen Mouse has blossomed into a wildly popular neighborhood restaurant with a cozy rustic-meets-modern look and an inspired, mostly organic vegan--vegetarian menu. The food is bright with vibrant flavors.
5902 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90042, USA
Known For
- Morning Glory Bowl
- Oat corn and buckwheat pancakes
- Excellent breakfast and brunch
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Walking into woman-owned Lady Byrd Cafe is like walking through a portal to a fairy-tale land filled with whimsical decor, inventive greenhouse-sheltered tables, and grandma tableware, which explains its Insta-famous status. But, it’s much more than just a pretty place to eat; dishes are pretty delectable. Think: lemon poppy seed pancakes and salmon, pork, or classic eggs Benedicts for breakfast, and spicy pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and pastas for lunch and dinner, all with house-made sauces and embellishments. To encourage an unhurried vibe, foliage is everywhere as are pillows and warm blankets. There are outlets if you want to work in an enchanted setting.
2100 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90026, USA
Known For
- Lemon poppy seed pancakes
- Variety of eggs Benedicts
- Juices and smoothies
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$$ | |
With a vintage bar and dapper barkeep who mixes up seasonally inspired retro cocktails, an attached Italian deli where you can pick up a pizza kit to take back to your Airbnb or kitchenette, and a $25 Monday-night supper, it's not surprising that Little Dom's is a neighborhood gem. Cozy and inviting, with big leather booths you can sink into for the night, the restaurant puts a modern spin on classic Italian dishes such as rice balls, fish piccata, and spaghetti and meatballs.
2128 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
Known For
- Ricotta cheese and fresh blueberry pancakes
- Excellent pizza margherita
- Fun weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Malibu |
This steak house doesn't just feature the best views of the beach; it's also a great place to scope out A-listers. You may be paying for the ambience, but mouthwatering Wagyu steaks, Dungeness crab, and lobster mashed potatoes just seem to taste better when the ocean is nipping at your feet. Live jazz can be heard every night of the week, and a lively brunch on the weekends is always a scene as well. To get a reservation, try booking at least three weeks in advance.
18412 Pacific Coast Hwy., Los Angeles, California, 90265, USA
Known For
- Lively weekend brunch
- Live jazz nightly
- Reservations needed in advance
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The perfect pairing of simplicity and complexity, Momed serves Mediterranean fare that is comforting yet upscale. The welcoming atmosphere is just as perfect for a romantic date night as it is for a more boisterous brunch with friends.
3245 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90039, USA
Known For
- Excellent Atlantic salmon
- Short rib tagine
- Fun weekend brunch
