What to Eat in Los Angeles: A Culinary Guide. If you’re wondering what to eat in Los Angeles, look no further. While the City of Angels is renowned for its fast-paced lifestyle, entertainment industry, historic landmarks, and sunny summers, it also boasts a variety of tempting dishes that you won’t want to miss. In fact, you’ll discover that Los Angeles has some of the best cuisine that will surely impress any food lover.
Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with family, Los Angeles is home to over 20,000 restaurants, cafes, and bars, offering a wide range of popular local dishes. What are the must-try foods in Los Angeles?
1. Try an Authentic French Dip Sandwich
Although it might sound European, the French dip sandwich is actually a local favorite. This dish features a slice of roast beef tucked inside crispy French bread, complemented by cheese, onions, and mustard for extra flavor.
How to Find the Best French Dip Sandwiches in Los Angeles:
Several restaurants in downtown Los Angeles claim to have invented the authentic French dip sandwich. Whichever one you choose, take some time to explore the area through a culinary, art, and culture walking tour.
2. Taste Authentic Los Angeles-Style Tacos
Los Angeles is home to some of the most authentic tacos this side of the Mexican border. Whether you prefer soft or hard shells, simple or gourmet, you can find a variety of delicious tacos any time of day or night in LA. This is a must-try food that will make you feel like a local.
Where to Find the Best Tacos in Los Angeles:
One of the best places to sample local tacos is downtown Los Angeles. You can experience this firsthand on a downtown food tour.
3. Enjoy Delicious Korean BBQ
Koreatown in Los Angeles is one of the largest Korean communities in the world, bringing with it a wealth of unique and delicious marinated and grilled meats. The neighborhood is filled with fantastic BBQ restaurants, ranging from Michelin-starred spots to casual eateries, serving up LA-style Korean dishes such as kalbi (short ribs) and bulgogi (grilled beef).
How to Get the Best Korean BBQ in Los Angeles:
Head to Koreatown for the most authentic Korean BBQ experience. Consider taking a guided mini-bus tour of Koreatown, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills.
4. Indulge in Perfect Donuts
If you’re craving rich, thick, and creamy donuts, Los Angeles has some of the best. From strawberry donuts made with real berries to artisanal handcrafted varieties, these are some of the city’s top sweet treats.
Where to Find the Best Donuts in Los Angeles:
Some renowned donut shops in Santa Monica, like Randy’s and Sidecar Doughnuts, offer a variety of delicious flavors. Take a walking tour of donut shops to sample all these wonderful options.
5. Savor Animal-Style Fries and Burgers
Los Angeles boasts a considerable number of fast-food chains. At some of these places, you can order burgers and fries prepared “animal style”—with mustard, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, and sauce. It may be messy, but it’s delicious.
Where to Find the Best Animal-Style Fries and Burgers in Los Angeles:
You can find animal-style fries and burgers throughout Los Angeles, especially if you join one of the city’s best bus tours.
6. Try Gourmet Hot Dogs
In Los Angeles, you can find a variety of delicious recipes that turn a simple hot dog into a gourmet delight. Whether you like your hot dogs with salsa or mayonnaise, sauerkraut, or jalapeños, the city offers many creative combinations.
Where to Find the Best Gourmet Hot Dogs in Los Angeles:
Many restaurants in Los Angeles have unique gourmet hot dog recipes, especially in Hollywood and downtown LA. Join a grand tour of Los Angeles to taste some of the city’s best gourmet hot dogs.
7. Discover the Best Vegan Food
Los Angeles is known for having some of the best vegan options, with plenty of plant-based restaurants to choose from. Even if you’re not a vegan, you should try some of the innovative vegan recipes here. From vegan hot dogs to plant-based “chicken” nuggets, these options represent some of the best food in Los Angeles.
Where to Find the Best Vegan Food in Los Angeles:
You can find some of the best vegan dishes near Playa del Rey, and attending an African vegan dinner can introduce you to a rich variety of new flavors.
8. Savor Traditional Wood-Fired Pizza
While there are many places to get pizza in Los Angeles, one of the best ways to enjoy it is cooked the traditional way in a brick oven. Wood-fired pizza brings out the flavors of toppings like cheese, sausage, and peppers. The crust is light, crispy, and has a smoky taste.
Where to Find the Best Wood-Fired Pizza in Los Angeles:
You can enjoy delicious wood-fired pizza at restaurants near Echo Park and the Original Farmers Market. Explore the Original Farmers Market on a tour, where you can visit LA’s first pizzeria.
9. Enjoy a Refreshing and Delicious Ice Cream Sandwich
When the weather heats up, nothing is more satisfying than cool ice cream—except perhaps a delicious ice cream sandwich. At any ice cream shop in Los Angeles, you’ll find unique flavors like lavender or saffron rose water, wrapped in crispy wafers and coated with nuts or candy.
Where to Find the Best Ice Cream Sandwich in Los Angeles:
Creamy ice cream sandwiches are a perfect treat while visiting Venice Beach and Santa Monica. You can taste some of the best on a Venice Beach food tour.
10. Smoked Salmon Pizza: An Adventurous Treat
The idea of putting smoked salmon and caviar on pizza might sound unusual, but once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s a Hollywood favorite. This dish, invented by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, includes toppings like dill, French crème fraîche, garlic oil, and red onions.
Where to Find the Best Smoked Salmon Pizza in Los Angeles:
This popular dish is a favorite among celebrities, so you can find it in various restaurants around Beverly Hills. Experience the lifestyle of the rich and famous on a Beverly Hills food, film, and fashion walking tour.
11. Savor a Steaming Bowl of Vietnamese Pho
While hot soup might seem out of place in LA’s warm weather, once you taste the local version of this Vietnamese classic, you’ll be coming back for more. You can choose from hearty or light pho, with options like beef or chicken, along with flavorings such as rice noodles and basil.
Where to Find the Best Vietnamese Pho in Los Angeles:
Head to downtown Los Angeles to taste the city’s best Vietnamese pho. On a historical highlights bike tour, you can discover the top pho spots in the area.
12. Start Your Day with an Authentic Breakfast Burrito
If you’re still wondering what to eat in Los Angeles, look no further than the breakfast burrito, one of the city’s best culinary creations. Simple breakfast burritos are made with cheese and beans, with optional additions like eggs or steak. After tasting one, you’ll agree that the best breakfast burritos are found in LA.
Where to Find the Best Breakfast Burrito in Los Angeles:
Join an East LA Latin flavors walking tour to explore the city’s best breakfast burrito dishes.
Los Angeles Dining Glossary
Angeleno: A native or long-term resident of Los Angeles.
California Roll: A popular sushi roll made with imitation crab meat, avocado, and cucumber. It’s also a term for the driving maneuver where California drivers don’t come to a complete stop at stop signs.
Carne Asada: Grilled marinated beef, traditionally cooked over charcoal, though it can also be grilled on gas or a flat-top grill. The most common style of carne asada in Los Angeles has its roots in Tijuana and Sinaloa.
Street Dog: A bacon-wrapped hot dog topped with grilled onions, bell peppers, and jalapeños, then drizzled with ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. Street dog vendors appear citywide at sunset, particularly near popular concert venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Wiltern Theatre, or Palladium.
Eastside: According to the Los Angeles Times, the official area includes East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno. It should not be confused with the “eastside” (note the lowercase “e”), which refers to all neighborhoods east of downtown.
French Dip: A sandwich of sliced meat (roast beef, pork, leg of lamb, turkey, pastrami, or ham) served on crusty bread and accompanied by au jus. It’s said to have been invented at Philippe the Original in Chinatown, though downtown’s Cole’s also claims to have created it.
Korean BBQ: Thinly sliced meats—beef, pork, chicken, and sometimes duck, seafood, or lamb—grilled at the table, accompanied by a variety of small side dishes (banchan). Koreatown offers a wide range of BBQ spots, from upscale restaurants to affordable all-you-can-eat joints.
Juice: In Los Angeles, “juice” doesn’t refer to the plastic bottles you find in grocery stores. Instead, it typically means fresh, cold-pressed juice, often a blend of fruits and vegetables, costing at least $10, and often much more.
Natural Wine: A staple in bars and shops throughout Los Angeles, natural wine refers to wine made with minimal intervention and without additives, though the exact requirements for natural wine are not officially defined.
Pupusa: A Salvadoran cornmeal flatbread stuffed with simple fillings like cheese, meat, or even loroco flowers. It’s best enjoyed with a side of spicy salsa and curtido (fermented cabbage slaw).
SGV or 626: An abbreviation for the San Gabriel Valley, a region east of downtown Los Angeles that spans nearly 300 square miles.
SoCal: Short for Southern California, referring to the greater Los Angeles area and surrounding metropolitan regions, including the Inland Empire and Orange County.
Taco Árabe/Al Pastor Taco: Taco Árabe features pork cooked on a trompo (vertical spit) and served on a flour tortilla. The dish originated from the influx of Lebanese immigrants to the region in the early 20th century and has now spread throughout the Southland. This marinated style is also known as Al Pastor, a technique popularized in Los Angeles by taco masters trained in Mexico City.
Tlayuda: A large, thin Oaxacan corn tortilla spread with asiento (unrefined pork lard), beans, cabbage, salsa, avocado, and strings of delicate cheese, grilled over charcoal or gas. Meat toppings like tasajo (dried beef), moronga (blood sausage), chorizo, or cecina (thin salted meat) can also be added.
The Valley: Short for the San Fernando Valley, a vast area north of the Los Angeles Basin, covering over 200 square miles and consisting of 34 neighborhoods.
Westside: According to the Los Angeles Times, the Westside is the officially designated area that includes 23 neighborhoods, stretching from Pacific Palisades in the west to Ladera Heights and Beverly Crest in the east. It’s often used colloquially to describe any neighborhood west of the 405 freeway.
