Heading to Los Angeles and looking for the best places to eat? I’ve got you covered. From tacos to ice cream, and everything in between, here are my favourite places to eat in LA.
I love Los Angeles. Always have, always will. I first visited in 2007, and I’ve been back 6 times. I just returned home from a holiday to New York and Los Angeles and am dying to share my favourite eats with you.
There are so many amazing things to do in Los Angeles, but my favourite thing to do in this incredible city is EAT. So, in no particular order, here are the best places to eat in Los Angeles from one foodie to another.
Republique
One of our favourite finds in Los Angeles this trip was Republique. We had it on our list, and made it there on one of our last days. It’s an incredible French cafe, bakery and restaurant that is bound to impress.
From the moment we walked in, we were enamoured by the pastry display which was filled to the brim with fresh baked goods – from golden croissants to peach pie and towering cakes.
The restaurant itself is spacious and warm. Glance one way and you’ll see bakers rolling out loaves of bread, while the other side hosts a line of chefs cutting out pasta for the evening ahead. We loved it here so much that we went back a second time – and I only wished we could have gone a third.
Home State
If I could take anything home with me, it would be a chicken taco from Home State and a bucket of their cheesy queso. If you are on the hunt for deliciously good tex mex, you need to run to Home State – go, go, go.
What I loved most about this homey restaurant, is that they make their flour tortillas by hand. They are stretchy, buttery and dam delicious. We went here twice too ❤️
Jon and Vinny’s
For an Italian feast, head to Jon and Vinny’s on Fairfax Avenue. This funky-yet-casual eatery has a wide range of mouthwatering eats on their menu. Peek into their open kitchen and you’ll see pizzas and pastas being carefully made and promptly delivered to hungry diners.
Our pick? The meatballs. These huge meatballs were moist and buttery and when you add charred garlic bread, a rich tomato sauce and a helping of creamy ricotta, well, then you are in some kind of Italian/American heaven. The restaurant is small, so I recommend making a booking.
McConnell’s Ice Cream
I first tried McConnells on a road trip to Santa Barbara in 2017. I was so excited to see that this famous ice creamery has now expanded into Los Angeles. Since it was the height of summer on our last trip, I went to McConnells numerous times.
My favourite flavours? Honey and cornbread cookie, and eureka lemon and marionberries – both are AH-mazing.
The Griddle Cafe
Every time we visit LA, we make sure we have a BIG breakfast at The Griddle Cafe on Sunset Boulevard. This classic American eatery serves up big eats including pancakes that are the size of your face. After a 14 hour flight, it’s our favourite way to soak up some delicious carbs – it helps with the jet lag. You might have to wait in line to get in on the weekend, but it’s worth it.
Sidecar Doughnuts
I love donuts. And Sidecar Doughnuts in Newport Beach are some of the best I’ve had. It’s worth the road trip to try some of their handcrafted donuts that are baked fresh every day. Their yeast donuts are light, fluffy and just about melt-in-your-mouth. They rotate flavours on their seasonal menu but I recommend trying their maple bacon donut or their simple signature butter and salt donut.
Sqirl
Sqirl has made quite a name for themselves for their unique breakfasts and healthy lunch menu. One of their signature dishes is their famed ricotta toast. I tried it and loved it. They have plenty on their menu to satisfy vegetarian and vegan diets as well.
Chic-Fil-A
Chic-Fil-A needs no introduction. This famous fast food chain is well-known for their fried chicken – and for good reason. It’s amazing. If you want a cheap and cheerful lunch, it’s worth trying their legendary chicken sandwich. Mind you, KFC will never look the same.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
I think a good cupcake is hard to find, but Sprinkles dishes them out in spades. Candace Nelson, the founder of Sprinkles, sure knows her way around cake. You’ll find a whole host of flavours to choose from, but I recommend trying their classic red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting.
If you’re lucky, you might even spot one of their famous Sprinkles ATMs, where you can get cupcakes dished out to you instead of cash -> my kinda ATM.
Salt and Straw
I was so impressed with Salt and Straw. This popular ice creamery has lines streaming out the door at all hours of the day and it really is no wonder considering their impressive list of creative flavours. Their ice cream is deliciously creamy – some of the best I’ve ever had!
Huckleberry
Found in Santa Monica, Huckleberry is a popular bakery and cafe with a loyal fan base. It’s the perfect place to go for a hearty breakfast or lunch, or a sweet treat, just a short walk from the beach.
Gjusta
If you find yourself in Venice, please don’t leave without visiting Gjusta. This artisanal bakery is set in a large warehouse and offers a lovely open-air outdoor seating area. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing brunch or lunch. I recommend trying one of their hearty sandwiches on their house made bread.
Milk Bar
It is no secret that I love Milk Bar. I’m a huge Christina Tosi fan, so of course, a stop at Milk Bar is an absolute must. We went there three times on our last visit to Los Angeles and ate nearly everything on the menu.
I love their cereal milk soft serve, their cookies (the blueberries and cream is my fave) and cakes. You can even do a cooking class at their Melrose Avenue location – I did one and LOVED IT.
Hasiba
I love Israeli food and I’m lucky that Sydney has quite a good Middle Eastern food scene. Hasiba is a fairly new addition to LA but one that should be welcomed with open arms. Their hummus was to-die-for served with a warm pita and their falafel pita was equally tempting.
Hopdoddy’s
I first tried Hopdoddy’s in Austin, Texas back in 2015 and LOVED it. I was so excited to see that they moved out to Los Angeles. I’ve tried their burgers, salads and shakes and all are delicious.
Sonora Town
We waited for hours to get into Sonora Town. Situated in downtown LA, Sonora Town has recently found fame for their from scratch tacos, so the lines are long. But their tacos are homemade with heart and I’ve never had tortillas that are that buttery.
La Tropezienne
Founded in France, La Tropezienne offers the chance to enjoy classic French pastries, from crusty croissants to eclairs, quiches and tarts in the heart of Los Angeles.
Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery is one of the first places in America that introduced me to classic American baked goods like hummingbird cake and icebox pies. You can enjoy cakes and cupcakes in all kinds of flavours – but just don’t leave without a big tub of their world famous banana pudding.
In-N-Out Burger
Chances are you’ve already heard of In-N-Out Burger, but if you haven’t, put it on your list now. This Californian chain is famous for its classic American burgers, fries and shakes. What sets them apart is their dedication to freshness – nothing is frozen.
Peek into the kitchen and you’ll even see staff cutting whole potatoes into fries. My advice? Get a shake. And check out the not-so-secret-menu before you go!
Mr Holmes Bakehouse
Satisfy your sweet tooth with one (or three) of the creative pastries from Mr Holmes Bakehouse. This hipster bakery produces Instagram-worthy eats, with a unique menu of cruffins and donuts.
Bottega Louie
Bottega Louie calls itself a restaurant, gourmet patisserie and market – basically it has everything you could ever want, from pizza to pastries. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go for dinner but I did get to try some of their baked goods, including their macarons, donuts and cupcakes – all of them were divine. I’ll definitely be going back!
Bunz
I love a good American burger, and while I love In-N-Out Burger and Shake Shack, I’m always on the hunt for a GOOD, GOOD burger. Bunz in Newport Beach is being famed for their cheesy cheeseburgers. Weirdly placed next to a skatepark, Bunz is basically a kiosk serving up banging burgers and tater tots. My pick was actually their vanilla shake – it was THE BEST.
Markets in Los Angeles
Grand Central Markets
Set in downtown Los Angeles, the Grand Central Markets are a foodie haven. You’ll find numerous popular food vendors, from tacos tumbra a tomas to eggslut. My pick? Grab a bite from Kismet Falafel. Oh and there’s a McConnell’s Ice Creamery here too!
Original Farmer’s Markets
The Original Farmer’s Markets are well worth a visit. They can be found right next door to The Grove, a famous open air shopping mall. You’ll find all kinds of eats here, from tacos to bbq and pizza. Check out Bob’s Donuts while you’re there. Their original glazed donuts are insanely light and fluffy.
ON THE LIST FOR NEXT TIME
Pizzana
Il Pastaio
Slab BBQ
Kogi
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