Los Angeles, California Hotels and City Guide

Los Angeles - Restaurants

Local Cuisine & Customs in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is an epicurean treat sure to please any palette. It is no surprise that a city as diverse and varied as LA has cuisine representative of cultures throughout the world, as well as some distinctly American dishes. Just as the incredible sights and sounds of Los Angeles offer something for everyone, so does its delicious food.

The City of Angels is just as diverse when it comes to food: dine in the unmatched luxury of La Traviata, surrounded by crystal chandeliers, silk drapes, dramatic ceilings, and unbelievable dishes such as Kumquat Coco Prawns and the house smoked Duck Ravioli. Visit Restaurant Row on La Cienga Boulevard and hit the The Stinking Rose, a garlic lovers paradise. Gilroy’s Famous Garlic Ice Cream is not to be missed. Decors range from incredible opulence to carefully casual and funky, and the food is creative and inspiring. Surprisingly, the most authentic – and delicious – food comes in a plain package. Stark, glaring strip malls and taco trucks often house outstanding ethnic cuisine from LA’s immigrant communities. You’ll get unbeatable food at unbeatable prices.

LA has the reputation of being health-conscious and on the cutting edge of healthy cuisine. Here you will find organic cafes, Chinese, Ethiopian, Thai, Indian, American, and Mexican vegetarian and vegan restaurants, International Fusion, Vegan Macrobiotic, and Raw Gourmet eateries. The variety is staggering. You can find kosher Italian, Mexican, and even Islamic Chinese dishes. You could visit a different eatery each day and never have the same food twice. For those who want a taste of home, you are sure to find it here. Even if you live in the States! There is genuine diner food that will please kids and adults alike.

If there is one culinary style that most exemplifies Los Angeles, it is fusion cuisine. Fusion involves taking dishes from various regions and serving them together or in innovative combinations. For instance, an Asian fusion restaurant may serve Indian, East Asian, and South-East Asian dishes together. In other fusion restaurants, flavors from different cuisines are combined to create a new taste experience. You can enjoy taco pizza, sushi with Spanish rice and salsa, and a million different variations.

A prime example is Kogi Korean BBQ-to-Go, which is a truck offering Korean – Mexican fusion creations. Visitors can enjoy spicy Korean pork, chicken, or tofu or sesame-chili salsa roja in a soft taco shell. Kogi’s creator says that his food embodies his vision of LA in one bite. An explosion of flavor, spice, and contrast – this is LA.

And you can experience it during dineLA Restaurant Week. This is actually a two-week period during which many of LA’s best restaurants offer three-course menus at special prices.

Los Angeles Restaurants by Cuisine

- American
25 Degrees
Address: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/785-7244
Price range: $
Reservations not accepted.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

Ammo
Address: 1155 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/871-2666 | Reserve Online
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: No dinner Sun.

The Apple Pan
Address: 10801 West Pico Boulevard, West L.A., Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/475-3585
Price range: ¢
Reservations not accepted.
Credit Cards: No credit cards
Closed: Closed Mon.

Art's Delicatessen
Address: 12224 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 818/762-1221
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

The Belvedere
Address: 9882 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/788-2306
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

Craft Los Angeles
Address: 10100 Constellation Boulevard, Century City, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/279-4180
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

Derek's Bistro
Address: 181 East Glenarm Street, Pasadena, CA
Phone: 626/799-5252
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, MC, V
Closed: Closed Mon. No lunch Fri

Engine Co. No. 28
Address: 644 South Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 213/624-6996 | Reserve Online
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

JiRaffe
Address: 502 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
Phone: 310/917-6671
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch

Lucques
Address: 8474 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA
Phone: 323/655-6277
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch Sun.

Philippe the Original
Address: 1001 North Alameda Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 213/628-3781
Price range: ¢-$
Reservations not accepted.
Credit Cards: No credit cards

- Asian
Beacon
Address: 3280 Helms Avenue, adjacent to Culver City, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/838-7500
Price range: $$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: No dinner Mon. No lunch Sun.

Shiro
Address: 1505 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA, 91030
Phone: 626/799-4774
Price range: $$-$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V Closed:
Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch

Typhoon
Address: 3221 Donald Douglas Loop S, Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310/390-6565
Price range: $$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch Sat.

- Brazilian
Fogo de Chão
Address: 133 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/289-7755
Price range: $$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

- Caribbean
Cha Cha Cha
Address: 656 N. Virgil Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/664-7723
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

Versailles
Address: 10319 Venice Boulevard, West L.A., Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/558-3168
Price range: $-$$
Reservations not accepted.
Credit Cards: AE, D, MC, V

- Chinese
Lake Spring Shanghai Restaurant
Address: 219 E. Garvey Avenue, Monterey Park, CA
Phone: 626/280-3571
Price range: $-$$$
Credit Cards: MC, V

Lake Spring Shanghai Restaurant
Address: 219 E. Garvey Avenue, Monterey Park, CA
Phone: 626/280-3571
Price range: $-$$$
Credit Cards: MC, V

Yujean Kang's Gourmet Chinese Cuisine
Address: 67 N. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91103
Phone: 626/585-0855
Price range: $-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

- Greek
Sofi
Address: 80303/4 West 3rd Street, south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/651-0346
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V Closed: No lunch

- Indian
Bombay Cafe
Address: 12021 Pico Boulevard, West L.A., Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/473-3388
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

Tantra
Address: 3705 Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/663-8268
Price range: $$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: Mon. No lunch

Tanzore
Address: 50 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/652-3894
Price range: $$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

-Italian
Angelini Osteria
Address: 7313 Beverly Boulevard, Beverly-La Brea, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/297-0070
Price range: $-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: Closed Mon. No lunch weekends

Ca' Brea
Address: 346 South La Brea Avenue, Beverly-La Brea, Los Angeles, CA, 90036
Phone: 323/938-2863
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.

Da Pasquale
Address: 9749 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/859-3884
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat

Drago
Address: 2628 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310/828-1585
Price range: $$-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

Pizzeria Mozza
Address: 641 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/297-0101
Price range: $$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V

Trattoria Tre Venezie
Address: 119 West Green Street, Pasadena, CA
Phone: 626/795-4455
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Mon. No lunch Tues. or weekends

Valentino
Address: 3115 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA, 90405
Phone: 310/829-4313
Price range: $$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat. and Mon.-Thurs.

Zucca
Address: 801 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 213/614-7800
Price range: $$-$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

- Japanese
Asanebo
Address: 11941 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 818/760-3348
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Mon. No lunch weekends

Koi
Address: 730 North La Cienega Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA
Phone: 310/659-9449
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

Matsuhisa
Address: 129 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/659-9639
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

Nobu Malibu
Address: 3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CA
Phone: 310/317-9140
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch

- Mediterranean
A.O.C
Address: 8022 West 3rd Street, south of West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/653-6359
Price range: $$-$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: No lunch

Beau Rivage
Address: 26025 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
Phone: 310/456-5733
Price range: $$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Tues. No lunch weekdays.

Campanile
Address: 624 South La Brea Avenue, Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/938-1447
Price range: $$-$$$$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: No dinner Sun.

- Mexican
Border Grill
Address: 1445 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
Phone: 310/451-1655
Price range: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

El Cholo
Address: 1121 South Western Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/734-2773
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V

Yuca's Hut
Address: 2056 North Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/662-1214
Price range: ¢
Reservations not accepted.
Credit Cards: No credit cards
Closed: Closed Sun.

- Seafood
The Lobster
Address: 1602 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310/458-9294
Price range: $$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, MC, V

Ocean Avenue Seafood
Address: 1401 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310/394-5669
Price range: $$-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

Providence
Address: 5955 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/460-4170
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch Mon-Thurs and weekends

- Steak
BOA Steakhouse
Address: 101 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310/899-4466
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

CUT
Address: Regent Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 310/276-8500
Price range: $$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V
Closed: Closed Sun. No lunch

The Lodge Steakhouse
Address: 14 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA
Phone: 310/854-0024
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch

Nick & Stef's Steakhouse
Address: 330 South Hope Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 213/680-0330
Price range: $$$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

The Palm
Address: 9001 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA
Phone: 310/550-8811
Price range: $$-$$$$
Reservations essential.
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
Closed: No lunch weekends

- Thai
Chan Dara
Address: 310 N. Larchmont Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: 323/467-1052
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V

Saladang Song
Address: 383 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Phone: 626/793-5200
Price range: $-$$
Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V

Tipping at Restaurants in Los Angeles

When in Los Angeles, it is your choice to tip your servers, drivers, or hotel staff. Tips, though, are appreciated and welcome. It can be hard to know how much to tip for different services.

In general:

• Wait staff and drivers: 15 to 20 percent
• Hairdressers and stylists: 10 to 15 percent
• Bellhops and baggage handlers: $1-2 per bag
• Valets: $1-2
• Bartenders: $1 per drink
• Hotel maids: $1-3 per day (in luxury hotels, housekeeping staff receive four percent of room rate before taxes, unless hotel has a service fee)

Hotels in Los Angeles, California