Popular Restaurants in Los Angeles

10 Must-Visit Restaurants in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is renowned for its diverse and exquisite restaurants, offering cuisines from around the world. If you're planning a culinary journey to this vibrant city, American Butler is ready to provide you with recommendations for the best places for food lovers.

Traditional and European Cuisine

Wondering where to eat in Los Angeles right now? You're in the right place. The American Butler hit list is your guide to the best restaurants in the city.

Providence

This Michelin two-star restaurant offers delightful seafood dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The menu changes seasonally to reflect the best products available at the time. Chef Michael Cimarusti creates exquisite dishes that combine traditional techniques with modern innovations.

The interior of Providence blends elegance and coziness, creating the perfect atmosphere for a romantic dinner or a special celebration. Warm lighting, sophisticated furniture, and impeccable service make a visit to this restaurant unforgettable. Don't forget to try the tasting menu to fully appreciate the chef's culinary mastery.

La Morra Pizzeria

Ask six different people their thoughts on pizza in Los Angeles, and you'll get six different opinions. The city serves a wide variety of pizza, but finding one that makes everyone happy is much harder. However, La Morra Pizzeria comes very close.

La Morra Pizzeria isn't actually a restaurant — it's a portable pizza oven built on the back of a trailer that appears on Tuesdays at Hayden in Culver City and on Thursdays at Tabula Rasa in Hollywood.

The toppings are simple yet fresh and flavorful, and the crust is that perfect chewable and crunchy hybrid. The menu constantly changes, but you'll likely find a classic Margherita, a mushroom pie, or "Four Cheese," and something unusual like the truffle-laden Tartufo.

Republique

Republique is where classic French cuisine meets modern Californian influences. Located in a historic building, this restaurant offers guests a unique gastronomic experience with dishes prepared in an open kitchen.

The menu includes both traditional French dishes and modern interpretations of classic recipes. At Republique, you can enjoy a variety of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, each prepared with fresh, local products. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of wines that perfectly complement the dishes.

Bestia

For Italian cuisine lovers, Bestia is a true paradise. This downtown restaurant offers a wide range of dishes, from freshly prepared pasta to meat delicacies. Chef Ori Menashe uses traditional Italian recipes, adding modern elements to create unique flavor combinations.

The cozy atmosphere and rich wine selection make it the perfect place for a romantic dinner. Bestia's interior combines industrial style with homely comfort, creating a comfortable and relaxed setting. Be sure to try their signature wood-fired pizza and homemade desserts, which will leave you delighted.

Asian Cuisine

Nobu Malibu

If you're looking for a luxurious place with a stunning ocean view, head to Nobu Malibu. This famous Japanese restaurant offers exquisite sushi and sashimi, as well as signature dishes by chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The Nobu Malibu menu combines traditional Japanese techniques with Californian ingredients, creating unique and memorable dishes.

The beautiful sunset view and elegant interior make this restaurant unforgettable. Here, you can enjoy dinner on the open terrace, listening to the sound of the waves and admiring the breathtaking views. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of cocktails and sake that perfectly complement the menu. Nobu Malibu is the perfect place for special occasions and romantic evenings.

Sichuan Impression

If you're on the Westside, dining in the San Gabriel Valley can feel like a day trip. While day trips are fun, sometimes you just want great Chinese food without sacrificing half your Saturday.

This popular restaurant is located on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles. It's steeped in Chinese style, with bold, spicy flavors that are worth every minute of the wait. The bustling upstairs space quickly fills with colleagues, families, and students. With tables set close together, it feels like you're dining with the whole restaurant, not just your party.

Order a mix of spicy dishes (boiled fish and mapo tofu to clear your sinuses) and milder flavors (toothpick lamb and Lapsang Souchong smoked pork ribs).

Sushi Note

Sushi Note in Sherman Oaks has created its own category of entertainment. The fun here comes not only from the food but from the patrons. It's both a sushi restaurant and a wine bar where you can hang out all night. There’s a main bar where chefs work; a row of wooden tables along the wall for group dining; and a small back bar serving wine. It feels like you're spending a night in a high-end Japanese spa, and Sushi Note is the back room where the owners pour wine and serve sushi all night.

The full array is available on the menu, but if it’s your first time, opt for the omakase. For $80, you'll get ten pieces of perfectly cut sushi, from red snapper to otoro and gravlax sushi, edamame, miso soup, and rolls.

As for wine, you can order a bottle or glass of your choice, or let the sommelier guide you through a tasting. It's a common practice among serious wine restaurants, but Sushi Note does it in a way that makes the tasting personal and unpretentious. Don’t be surprised if they tell you why this Chablis pairs so well with the sea bream.

Porridge & Puffs

Porridge & Puffs in the Vietnamese quarter might look like any other spot with minimalist decor and plenty of natural light. But you won’t find eggs on toast or kale salad here — only bowls of rice porridge, chewy pastries, and a few vegetable dishes.

The porridges are fantastic, especially the one served with five-spice braised rib and another with Chinese sausage and pea miso. It's simple yet flavorful food that you'll want to return to.

Rice porridge with a few ingredients might seem simple, but every bowl here is complex — such as a hearty seasonal chestnut butter porridge with duck confit and braised winter melon. Everything you eat here is delicate, layered, and full of flavor. It's food made just for you, and you won't want to share.

This Asian spot has a charming, slightly unfinished look. Decor includes dried flowers on one wall and a bunch of Polaroid shots on another, plus audio system wires taped to the windows. The communal table is a bit wobbly, and the bench along the wall is too low for the tables, so amenities are kept to a minimum, but within the realm of comfort.

Mexican Cuisine

Guelaguetza

If you want to try authentic Mexican cuisine, head to Guelaguetza. This restaurant offers a variety of Oaxacan dishes, including the famous mole. Special attention is given to authenticity and tradition, so all dishes are prepared according to family recipes passed down through generations.

The warm atmosphere and live musical performances make it the perfect place for a family dinner or a night out with friends. The restaurant's interior is decorated with vibrant Mexican ornaments and art, creating the ambiance of a real Mexican celebration. Cooking classes are also often held here, where you can learn to prepare traditional Oaxacan dishes.

Guerrilla Tacos

Guerrilla Tacos used to be a truck where people lined up to order sweet potato tacos for $4. Many complained that the price was too high, but when they tried the tacos, they realized they stood out from hundreds of others.

The business was successful, and the founders built a restaurant — where they serve more than just tacos. Somehow, the restaurant feels just like the truck. It's a casual spot with very friendly staff and quick service, except now you sit at a table. It’s a big space with a full bar and an open kitchen.

Order sweet potato, mushroom, and fried fish tacos, as well as the raw fish tostada. None of this will disappoint you, but be sure to also try the seasonal quesadilla, which may feature lobster with a fried egg, and the fantastic vegetarian queso fundido. And if you need a reminder of simpler times, come in the morning on a weekday for a breakfast burrito served out the window.