LA’s restaurant scene is filled with buzzy new kids on the block, but it’s also home to tried-and-tested neighborhood standouts that Angelenos happily return to and rely on.
A Mexican restaurant in Tujunga has attracted locals since 1977 for rotating house specials and killer tequila cocktails. A second-gen spot near LAX turns out some of the best Thai food in the city. And in Hollywood, East Larchmont Village, and Brentwood, Italian faithfuls draw diners who crave pasta dinners.
Read on for a guide to 13 Los Angeles restaurants that locals return to time and again.
Poppy + Rose (Downtown)
The bright, floral interiors—a nod to Poppy & Rose’s Flower District location—is just one reason diners keep returning to this casual cafe. Locals know that brunch is the best time to visit so they can get the buttermilk chicken and waffles or biscuits by chef Michael Reed, who owns the restaurant with his wife Kwini Reed. But drop in any day of the week for a juicy patty melt and grilled vegetable sandwich slathered with herbed yogurt spread. Pro-tip: Grab a spot on the patio for the coziest vibes.
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Carousel Restaurant (Hollywood)
The Tcholakian family debuted Carousel in 1984, and nearly four decades later, the Armenian staple is still pulling in diners for its small plates, live music, and belly-dancing performances. Share plates of kibbeh, shish barak (mini meat pies) and turnovers stuffed with white cheese. You might even find yourself dining next to one of the Kardashians one evening—Carousel is one of Kim’s go-tos.
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Joselito’s Mexican Food (Tujunga)
Tujunga favorite Joselito’s has drawn crowds for its tableside guac and killer tequila cocktails since 1977. Myrna Grijalva and Jose Grijalva Sr. ran the restaurant before passing the baton to their son Joselito and daughter Tumara in 2000. One tradition that’s remained is the “especiales de la casa” (dishes that are special to the family) that include chile Colorado, chunks of Angus beef simmered in a mild red chile sauce, perfect for sopping up with the restaurant’s housemade corn tortillas.
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Guelaguetza (Koreatown)
Locals know they’ll be serenaded by a live mariachi band when they enter Guelaguetza, a colorful, decades-old Koreatown institution. In addition to the festive tunes, the family-owned restaurant is known for its spectacular and complex moles, which you can order with grilled pork, chicken, or beef. Grab a vinyl-covered table, take in the fiery scents from the grill station, and don’t skip a mezcal margarita—there are more than 65 types of the spirit to choose from at this Oaxacan all-star.
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Sasabune (Beverly Hills)
Given its see-and-be-seen location, it’s no surprise that Sasabune is a celebrity favorite. But the real reason Beverly Hills residents return to this restaurant is the knockout chef’s choice menu. Sasabune was one of the first restaurants to do omakase in the city when it opened its West LA location in 1993, and still serves a beloved seafood selection that includes top-notch sea urchin, salmon roe, and monkfish liver, best devoured on a counter seat so you’re close to all the sushi-making action.
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Mazal (Echo Park)
This casual, family-owned Israeli restaurant is a love letter to vegetables. And even though it just opened in 2020, its produce-rich menu made it a fast favorite. Chef and owner Tal Zaiet is all about seasonal Mediterranean dishes like flatbread topped with red grapes or baked Brussels sprouts tossed in green harissa. Getting the Jerusalem bagel toast with Middle Eastern hot sauce is a must and makes a strong case for eating the breakfast favorite at dinner at this low-key Middle Eastern gem.
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Gasolina Cafe (Woodland Hills)
The seasonable Spanish food tastes extra-good on a sidewalk table at this Woodland Hills charmer (there’s also a cozy indoor dining area). Chef Sandra Cordero makes hearty caramelized onion and potato tortillas at lunch and fires up the paella pans in the evening, serving six types like seafood-stuffed mariscos and one studded with market vegetables. Add a strong Spanish and Californian wine list, and it’s no wonder Gasolina is one of the most feel-good spots in the neighborhood.
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Antico Nuovo (East Larchmont Village)
Chef Chad Colby takes rustic Italian cooking to epic heights at this East Larchmont Village jewel box, where the go-tos are pappardelle in beef and veal-tongue ragu and wood-fired chicken over focaccia. Angelenos in the know grab a seat at the marble counter for the best kitchen views, and they don’t end a meal without some of the city’s best ice cream, which comes in flavors like pistachio crunch and prickly pear.
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All Day Baby (Silver Lake)
Down-home classics get the LA sparkle at this cozy spot from Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener, which is loved for sensational breakfast sandwiches and airy hotcakes. Come nighttime, the scene becomes livelier thanks to free-wheeling cocktails—hello, boozy slushies. But no matter when you’re here, the massive windows mean you’ll people-watch to your heart’s content at this beloved retro-inspired diner.
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Osteria Mamma (Hollywood)
For more than a decade, the Cortivo family has wowed Hollywood with regional specialties from the Veneto region. Not to mention the classic white tablecloths and wine wall, which make it a perfect first, second, or third-date spot to get to know each other over squid-ink pasta with shrimp and bottarga. Keep things more casual with one of the thin-crust pizzas, topped with everything from mortadella to spicy soppressata. And, of course, don’t leave without a slab of the locally loved tiramisu.
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Home Restaurant (Los Feliz)
The lush and spacious patio at Home is an Eastside go-to for weekday breakfasts, free-wheeling weekend brunches, and homestyle dinners of short rib pot pie and baby back ribs. The full bar is a draw, too, with housemade bloody marys for day drinking, plus signature cocktails like the Hollywood Effen (vodka, fresh watermelon, fresh cucumber juice, mint, and lime), which keep the buzz going well into the evening hours at this unofficial hipster haven.
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Ayara Thai (Westchester)
Family-owned Ayara Thai has been considered one of the best Thai restaurants in Los Angeles since it opened in 2004. The kitchen is run by second-gen chef and owner Vanda Asapahu, who nails seasonal specialties like lobster pad Thai with crab meat, plus excellent versions of the usual suspects including duck larb and pad see ew (stir-fried noodles). But Ayara’s ultimate flex might be its popular community-building events, which include Thai hot-pot parties and Friendsgiving feasts.
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Rosti Tuscan Kitchen (Brentwood, Santa Monica, Calabasas)
With three locations across LA, Rosti’s is the ultimate Italian crowd-pleaser. Dishes like panino slathered in housemade pesto and linguine with blackened chicken channel the Italian countryside, but Rosti is also adored for its less traditional gluten-free lineup (prepared with separate water and sauce pans), which includes seafood risotto made with shrimp, clams, and calamari.
Book Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Brentwood
Book Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Santa Monica
Book Rosti Tuscan Kitchen Calabasas
Tried them all? Check out other options here.
Karen Palmer is a pizza- and pasta-obsessed food writer based in Los Angeles. Follow her on Instagram at @karenlpalmer.
Kristin Braswell contributed to this guide.
