Landmark saloon-style restaurant known for its 100-year-old french dip sandwiches. It's still hard to say whether the food or the drink is the biggest draw. Enjoy premium spirits and drafts in the backroom speakeasy.
Thai restaurant with a focus on flavor and atmosphere. As much a place to enjoy social drinks with friends as it is to indulge in pad thai and curries. A single venue in its origin, there are now three locations on the West Coast.
Bar Amá is a restaurant and bar that specializes in Tex-Mex and tequila cocktails. Visit for a dinner of queso and enchiladas, or better yet; stop by during their Super Nacho Hour for signature cocktails and snacks.
Local institution with tons of history, Chez Jay is a go-to for burgers, steak, live music, and drinks. Located right by the beach and has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal. Eat in the restaurant and then drink in The Backyard.
Intimate Inglewood spot serving a fusion of West African, Californian, and Latin flavors. Dishes like crispy catfish over jollof rice and root beer braised short ribs pack the small, lively dining room nightly – reservations are essential.
South LA kitchen dishing up Jamaican-soul food platters from a covered outdoor patio. The menu changes daily on a whiteboard – expect generous portions of oxtail, jerk chicken, and standout mac & cheese.
Warm, elegant dining room and a large heated patio serving authentic Persian cuisine. The menu is traditional – focus on the scratch-made kebabs, especially the famously tender Juicy Chicken.
Thai Town counter focused on a single, perfected recipe for roasted duck with impossibly crispy skin. The tiny space has just a few tables – most orders are served over jade noodles and packed to go.
Family-run pizzeria serving authentic Chicago deep-dish in a cozy, bohemian dining room. The signature pizzas have a 45-minute bake time, turning dinner into a long, leisurely affair.
The greatest hits of Taiwanese cooking in a hip corner of LA's Silver Lake.
Homestyle Korean spot serving the bold, rustic stews and braised dishes of Gyeongsang province. The signature mackerel comes simmering in a battered silver bowl – a deliberate nod to the old country.
Sports bar reimagined with Indian-spiced pizzas and pastas instead of standard pub grub. The Malai Rigatoni is the signature dish – best ordered with a side of Dosa Onion Rings while the game plays on TV.
Creative Korean restaurant from Seoul serving modern soul food in the Arts District. Signature dishes reinterpret the classics – think deconstructed galbi and truffle-infused potato pancakes.
Unassuming strip mall joint serving Central Texas barbecue, with prime brisket sliced to order on parchment paper. This family-run spot uses picnic benches for seating and frequently hangs a "sold out" sign on the door before dinner.