Los Angeles

Chef Michael Cimarusti and his quadrilingual Italian compatriot, Donato Poto, set out to create the city's preeminent seafood experience. — Frommer's

Super-fancy seafood tasting menus. — Not For Tourists

Signature favorites include the Wild Striped Bass and Kanpachi Sashimi, complimented by excellent desserts and an extensive cellar. — Travel + Leisure

Near the top of the LA pricey-restaurant scale, and for good reason: the place is swarming with foodies, who come for the black sea bass, foie-gras ravioli, lump blue crab and plenty of other tremendous choices. — Rough Guide

Blinged out with two Michelin stars, this has long been one of LA’s finest restaurants. To truly sample the goods, splurge for the nine-course tasting menu. — Lonely Planet

The burrata from Basilicata with bacon, marinated escarole, and caramelized shallots and the orecchiette with sausage and Swiss chard are worth braving the perpetually busy reservation line. — Travel + Leisure

Come summer, I look forward to interleaving slices of mozzarella and basil leaves with slices of the first luscious red tomatoes to make a classic caprese. — Los Angeles Times

"Melt-in-your-mouth" pastas and a "to-die-for" mozzarella bar "speak volumes" about the "extraordinary" eating at this "high-end" Hollywood Italian. — Zagat

Nancy Silverton is the most dogged of chefs, dedicated to perfecting the most elemental of foods through sheer strength of will. — LA Weekly

LA takes certain things very seriously. Acai berries, Carmaggedon, and making sure you saw that January pool party invite on Facebook even though we know you live in Astoria. But pasta?... — The Infatuation

This always-mobbed trattoria in Downtown's Arts District offers an impressive selection of house-cured charcuterie and handmade pasta, but the noise level makes intimate conversation impossible. — Condé Nast Traveler

The most sought-after reservation in town can be found at this new and splashy Italian kitchen in the Arts District. — Lonely Planet

Don’t try to walk into Bestia without a reservation. As the most talked about (and as a result, packed) restaurant at the moment, securing a table at least a week in advance is a good idea. — Time Out

Chef Ori Menashe and his wife, pastry chef Genevieve Gergis, helped put the Arts District on the map when they opened Bestia. Here, the team cures meats for the charcuterie bar (the... — Travel + Leisure

Bestia not only changed this city’s culinary game, it might’ve changed an entire part of the city. This is not a dinner. This is an experience. — The Infatuation

The meat—smoky around the edges, Kobe-tender, and bursting with beefy juice—requires not a smidge of seasoning, though mustard comes standard. — Travel + Leisure

Great Jewish deli in MacArthur Park. Try the pastrami sandwiches. — Not For Tourists

Since 1947, generations of smoked-meat lovers have flocked to this old-school Jewish deli famous for its juicy hot pastrami sandwiches. — Lonely Planet

Offers more than twenty ways of eating what is easily LA’s best pastrami sandwich. Open daylight hours only in a dicey spot; kerbside pick-up available. — Rough Guide

Located in a Latino business district, the Jewish deli is a holdout from another era, and after over 65 years, patrons still say they serve up the "best pastrami in the world.". — Condé Nast Traveler

Flagship restaurant that begat the airport food court empire. — Not For Tourists

Executive chef Lee Hefter, a James Beard Award winner, has helped craft a daily-changing menu along with signature dishes, such as smoked salmon and caviar pizza. — Travel + Leisure

An appetizer of "BBQ" skate wing brushed with a bright, spicy sambal seems like a prelude to greatness. — Time Out

"Beautifully redone", Wolfgang Puck's Beverly Hills "classic" still attracts a "who's who" crowd thanks to its "consistently excellent", "creative" Californian cuisine. — Zagat

Spago has long been an essential California kitchen, the one that pioneered the designer pizza and made Wolfgang Puck a household name. — Lonely Planet

The top and bottom buns of an Apple Pan burger are crisped and slightly oily, crunchy at the edges, working toward a near-complete softness at the middle; the pickles are resilient dill chips. — LA Weekly

A burger-insider haunt since 1947, this unassuming joint with a horseshoe-shaped counter—no tables here—turns out one heck of a good burger. — Fodor's

The rewards are ample, including steak burgers piled high with fixings (everything you'd expect, minus the tomato—they don't like them here). — Concierge

Queue up and ring around a U-shaped counter at this West LA institution, which has escaped time. — Time Out

This legendary burger joint has been packing them in since 1947. — Gayot

Animal is dedicated to well-prepared, seasonal food, with a focus on unique meat-heavy small plates. — goop

Amazing dishes out of unheralded, and sometimes frankly gnarly, parts. — Not For Tourists

For carnivorous-minded folks, this place is Heaven, Mecca, Sizzler, and any other place you go for a truly religious experience, all wrapped into one amazing restaurant. — The Infatuation

The unexpected gem is the crudo: a recent combo of raw fluke, yuzu, serrano chile, apple, and pungent mint was no macho plate but downright girly—silky, sexy, and impeccably dressed. — Travel + Leisure

When foodies in Los Angeles need a culinary thrill, they come to this restaurant in the Fairfax District, which is light on the flash but heavy on serious food. — Fodor's

Styne curates an expanded list of organic, natural and biodynamic boutique wines from around the world. — Time Out

On these beautiful, lazy mornings of late spring, brunch beckons like the promised land. Bring a couple of good friends (or your mom), sit in the sunshine and catch up over a relaxed meal. — Los Angeles Times

Familiar dishes include the bacon-wrapped Parmesan-stuffed dates, and pork rillettes with pickled onions and cornichons. — Gayot

The room is sleek, the long bar welcoming, and the staff knowledgeable and friendly. — Concierge

"Beautiful new digs" with a "gorgeous" courtyard get the "A-OK" from "low-key power" patrons who "never get bored" with this Third Street showcase. — Zagat

Vibrant green, ultra-fresh stalks of late-spring asparagus, topped with a pert, sunny-side–up egg and surrounded by a smattering of croutons and a pool of bone-marrow gravy. — LA Weekly

On the West Side of LA, "farm-to-table restaurants" are roughly as common as malnourished women with botox. Yes, these metrics are recorded in the local Census. And recent data indicates... — The Infatuation

Hidden cave of wine. — Not For Tourists

Serving simply prepared dishes inspired by the sustainable bounty from local farmers, ranchers and fishermen, this restaurant grew out of the monthly dinners its founder once held in his home. — Frommer's

Patrons enjoy seasonal, Mediterranean-style cuisine from chef Evan Funke, who incorporates local farmers' market offerings into signature dishes like the fried cauliflower and house burger. — Travel + Leisure

To get in the right frame of mind for this modern French-Mediterranean restaurant, decide that you're willing to try absolutely anything. — Time Out

"Always a delight", Suzanne Goin's West Hollywood mainstay continues to be a "foodie haven" thanks to her "smart" market-driven Cal-Med cuisine. — Zagat

Stylish, unique and authentic, Lucques is simply one of the culinary wonders that give Los Angeles locals and visitors something to talk about. — Forbes Travel Guide

Named after a coveted variety of French olive, Lucques offers inspired rustic Mediterranean cuisine with strong California influences. — Gayot

Chez Panisse-style cooking in LA. — Not For Tourists

Expense-account dining to impress. And it's delicious. — Not For Tourists

Chef David LeFevre has taken this famous and expensive seafood restaurant in a different direction. — Time Out

Even now, with the proliferation of new seafood spots in town, Water Grill is the grande dame. — LA Weekly

Widely considered to be one of the best seafood houses in the city, Water Grill is popular with the suit-and-tie crowd at lunch, and with concertgoers en route to the Music Center at night. — Frommer's

The menu is seasonally driven; all the seafood greats are represented. — Fodor's

1908 sawdust café that serves up the eponymous sandwich with turkey, ham, lamb, pork or beef – an amazingly good and filling treat for less than $6. — Rough Guide

People have been lining up at the huge counter to order French dip sandwiches filled with beef, pork, ham, turkey or lamb for nearly a century (the sandwich wasn't "invented" until 1918). — Gayot

Billed as "the originator of the French dip", this 1908-vintage Chinatown "landmark" still turns out "must-try" sandwiches hailed as "national treasures". — Zagat

From LAPD hunks to stressed-out attorneys to smooching couples, everyone loves Philippe’s, where the French-dip sandwich was invented over a century ago. — Lonely Planet

What’s the one thing that Mt. Rushmore, Plymouth Rock, and The Alamo have in common? It’s not that they all have very important places in American History (though that is true), or that... — The Infatuation

French-Californian fusion. — Not For Tourists

The contemporary space, surrounded by a rippled "curtain" of rich walnut, is an elegant, dramatic stage for the acclaimed restaurant's contemporary French cuisine. — Fodor's

Ensconced in downtown's Walt Disney Concert Hall, chef Joachim Splichal's signature restaurant stays on key with Frank Gehry's striking structure. — Michelin Guide

When Frank Gehry's magnificent concert hall opened in October 2003, it brought a new sense of excitement to Los Angeles. — Concierge

Droves of smartly clad fans of the performing arts dine on Splichal's signature dishes of wild game and the de rigueur ahi tuna appetizer. — Frommer's

Open since 1919, the Musso & Frank Grill is Hollywood's oldest restaurant, a steak-and-cocktails joint formerly favored by Charlie Chaplin and Raymond Chandler. — Time Out

Liver and onions, lamb chops, shrimp Louie salad, dry gin martinis, gruff waiters—you'll find all of the old favorites here in Hollywood's oldest restaurant. — Fodor's

Steaks and chops dominate the menu of Hollywood’s oldest (since 1919) restaurant. It was a major hangout for celebrities such as Hemingway and other literary giants. — DK Eyewitness

Hollywood history hangs thickly in the air at the boulevard's oldest eatery. — Lonely Planet

The best... old-time steak house. Flawlessly executed classics. — Concierge

David LeFevre's fever for fresh bivalves blows coastal dining doldrums out of the water. — Time Out

The small room, which encompasses a raw bar, cocktail bar and tables, can cram in 36 diners and can get quite loud with all the hustle and bustle. — Gayot

Cozy, seasonal, eclectic seafood; raw bar and rotating menu. — Not For Tourists

Zagat reviews are compiled from individual user reviews. Zagat reviews are compiled from individual user reviews. — Zagat

Fishing With Dynamite's popularity clearly speaks to a yearning in Manhattan Beach for that seafood shack of our fantasies, casual but high-quality. — LA Weekly

You'll find a bunch of hipsters and indie rock musicians hanging out there for the cheap booze and meaty sandwiches. — Los Angeles Times

This granddaddy of L.A. delicatessens (it opened in 1928) cures its own corned beef and pastrami and has an in-house bakery. — Fodor's

This famous, large, and lively deli with classic 1950s interior is open around the clock. . — Insight Guides

Sure, you could join for the white-hair special at 5pm, but this place shines late night after some drinking in Hollywood. Grab a matzoh ball soup, or pastrami sandwich and try to spot... — On the Grid

Huge sandwiches and excellent kosher soups served by waitresses in pink uniforms and running shoes. Open 24hr. Live music nightly in Canter’s adjoining “Kibbitz Room” till 1.40am. — Rough Guide

California cuisine with a New York sensibility. — Not For Tourists

Begin with a mushroom, goat cheese, and truffle oil pizza, heirloom spinach salad, mussels with chorizo, or grilled squid with lentils and salsa verde. — Fodor's

Think chanterelles and gravy on toast or raw yellowtail spiced with chili and mint and drenched in olive oil and blood orange. — Lonely Planet

Lett’s intensely flavorful, flame-kissed plates find an ideal setting in the dark, candlelit dining room. — Travel + Leisure

Pack in with the beautiful people at this Abbot Kinney hot spot. There's always a wait—and a snooty hostess to boot—but the scene is buzzing and the food, excellent. — Time Out

This is one of the city's hippest French restaurants, found in the most unlikely of places. — Frommer's

Located in the loading dock of the Biscuit Lofts in DTLA's Arts District, Steven Arroyo's French bistro serves classic fare—steak frites, escargot, steak tartare, et al. — Time Out

Steve Arroyo's French-flavored baby was average at first, but Walter Manzke, foodie god, stepped in and elevated it beyond all reasonable expectations. — BlackBook

Americans love the idea of a second chance, of watching someone persist until they get it right. So there's something especially thrilling about the successful rebooting of Church &... — Concierge

As soon as you sit down, don’t hesitate to order the Absinthe. It’s a spectacle, if you’re ready for it: a full tap of purified water drips down to your glass, saturating the sugar cube... — On the Grid

This elegant study in blond wood and clean lines manages to nail the elusive vibe of being both accessible and select. — Gayot

Angelini Osteria may not be a serious restaurant, but sometimes you are in the mood for artistry, and sometimes you just want to have supper. — LA Weekly

Having cooked for the Pope and presidents, Chef Angelini now regales homesick Italians and foodies with his comfort food. — DK Eyewitness

Authentic home-style Italian cooking—simple, rustic, and delicious—is the focus at chef-owner Gino Angelini’s unfussy restaurant. — Travel + Leisure

You might not guess it from the modest dining room, but this is one of L.A.'s most celebrated Italian restaurants, where the key is chef-owner Gino Angelini's thoughtful use of superb ingredients. — Fodor's

With endless celebrity photos and numerous "Best of" lists on the walls, chef Jazz Singsanong’s Thai town restaurant is one of the city’s cult favorites. — Time Out

"Completely fearless in pushing the envelope in spiciness", this Southern Thai "favorite" in an East Hollywood strip mall "entertains the most adventurous foodie". — Zagat

A transporting taste of southern Thailand. Its wok-fried catfish and som tum (spicy papaya salad) are fantastic. — Lonely Planet

In a dreary mini-mall, but the spicy chicken, squid, oxtail curry, papaya salad, and fishball and other seafood curries more than make up for the setting. Affordable prices, too. — Rough Guide

Upscale eats in a downscale neighborhood, Jitlada serves the finest in southern Thai cuisine in a cozy and colorful Thai Town joint on Sunset. — Travel + Leisure