Legendary Los Angeles chef Nancy Silverton knows a thing or two about bringing people comfort: Her beloved LA restaurants—Pizzeria Mozza, the MICHELIN-Starred Osteria Mozza, and Chi Spacca—are known for their exceptional takes on Italian cuisine (namely, pizza, pasta, and all things meat).
When it comes to her own definition of comfort food, though, Nancy doesn’t necessarily define it in the way a lot of people might think. “We all talk about what makes comfort food comfort food, and a lot of people’s is just not mine. I don’t eat chicken soup or mashed potatoes,” she says with a laugh.
Instead, she might head out for an omelet at a Hollywood French staple or clay pot beans at a Koreatown Italian favorite. We recently caught up with the superstar chef to chat through some of her favorites.
Read on for the restaurants Nancy Silverton loves to visit for comfort fare in LA, and book them all on OpenTable.
Omelet at Petit Trois L’Original (Hollywood)
Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s compact bistro is known for French classics like garlicky escargots, croques monsieurs, and moules marinières.
Why Nancy loves it: “The omelet is not complicated and not overly stuffed. When I think of comfort food, I think of all the food I would eat after surgery. This dish falls into that category.”
Baguette at République (Miracle Mile)
Husband-and-wife team Walter and Margarita Manzke’s stunning, award-winning restaurant is known for its modern French-California fare, as well as its extensive baking and pastry program, overseen by Margarita.
Why Nancy loves it: “Bread is really comforting, especially at a place like République. I love a great baguette with French butter.”
Pot roast at Jar (Hollywood)
For more than 20 years, chef Suzanne Tracht has been turning out modern takes on chophouse-style dishes (think: crab deviled eggs, little gem Caesars, and prime Kansas City steaks) at this Hollywood icon.
Why Nancy loves it: “My mother’s favorite thing to make when I was growing up was brisket, so it’s basically the same thing. Suzanne hasn’t really modernized it; it’s just a braise that’s very comforting to eat.”
Clay pot fagioli e pane at Antico Nuovo (Koreatown)
Housed in a nondescript strip mall, Chad Colby’s Antico Nuovo turns out some of the best handmade pastas and wood-fired meats in the city.
Why Nancy loves it: “I find beans of all sorts properly cooked to be incredibly comforting. There’s nothing more comforting than beans in a crock. Chad knows how to cook a bean. There’s a perfect ratio of bean to liquid.
Crumb doughnut at Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts (Fairfax)
This counter at the Original Farmer’s Market has been turning out all sorts of classic doughnuts since 1947.
Why Nancy loves it: “The crumb doughnut isn’t overly sweet. It reminds me of a crumb cake that I would eat if I was in New York.”
Kuku sabzi sandwich at Azizam (Silver Lake)
This casual Persian restaurant has tons of accolades, including a best new restaurant nod from Bon Appétit, since it opened its brick-and-mortar location in 2024.
Why Nancy loves it: “The kuku sandwich [an herb and leek frittata served with yogurt, tomato, and cucumber on housemade bread] is soft and all of the flavors meld together. Comfort has to be something familiar. While this isn’t necessarily a familiar sandwich to me, it speaks to accessibility and comfort because of the texture and satisfying flavors.”
Karen Palmer is a pizza- and pasta-obsessed food writer based in Los Angeles. She is the former editorial director of Tasting Table, and her work has appeared in Eater, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and many other publications. Follow her on Instagram at @karenlpalmer.
