Los Angeles is still home to one of the most innovative, exciting and most importantly, culturally diverse food scenes in the country, despite the ever-rising cost of doing business (and more recent ICE raids having devastating ripple effects on the local economy). Brick-and-mortar restaurants, Instagram pop-ups, street vendors and food trucks: No matter the form, you can find amazing food in a city whose reputation is built as much on off-the-beaten-path tacos and pop-ups as it is on fine dining-trained chefs making quick work of farmers’ market produce and mainline access to top-notch Pacific seafood.
Decades of immigration from Asia and Latin America have translated into genre-bending formats, eclectic hybrid cuisines and some of the country’s best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. At a time when L.A.’s undocumented communities are being targeted by federal agents for detention and deportation, I think it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the indispensable role immigrants play in our country’s food system, from picking crops to washing dishes, bussing tables and working the line at your favorite restaurant. And if you’ve ever dined out in Los Angeles, something on your plate or the plate itself has likely been touched by an immigrant.
Every month, I visit dozens of bustling restaurants across the city looking for amazing eats, great ambience and top-notch customer service. This summer, however, felt a little different—many established restaurants are struggling, while operators of new eateries are playing it safe with familiar menu items and more approachable price points in a bid to fill seats. As always, I’ve prioritized fun, flavor, freshness—and value at every price point. This list is updated regularly to reflect changes in menu offerings, style of service, new locations and the ever-changing pulse of the city’s food scene. If it’s on the list, I think it’s awesome and worth the hype, wait and money—and I bet you will, too.
If you love L.A.’s vibrant food scene, please go out and support your favorite restaurant, taquero or street vendor, whether they’re on this list or not. I’d like to specifically shout out the eateries on this list in the greater Downtown L.A. area (which includes Little Tokyo, Chinatown and the Arts District), which has seen several high-profile restaurant closures; those that remain are still struggling to financially recover from a slow summer in the wake of protests and the temporary curfew. Across L.A. County, restaurants are struggling from diminished tourism numbers—a downwind effect of January’s devastating wildfires—and a larger downturn in the entertainment industry. Chosing to dine out may not change the world we live in, but in these trying times for the restaurant and bar industry, even a single meal helps the L.A. food scene thrive.
September 2025: After much consideration, I’ve decided to swap out Orsa & Winston (No. 13) and add Restaurant Ki, which I recently gave an extended five-star review. I’ve also included the temporary closures for Mini Kabob (No. 32) and Funke (No. 21), which recently sustained damage from a small kitchen fire. Beyond that, I’ve updated information for Dunsmoor (No. 27), which is taking its beloved bar burger off the menu on September 15; removed mention of Birdie G (No. 22)’s short-lived brunch service, which ended on August 23; and included new fundraising information on Dulan’s on Crenshaw (No. 26), which is currently in serious financial trouble. In the next month I’ll be focusing on scouting for our end-of-year Best New Restaurants of 2025 list. Have a place you’d like to nominate? Feel free to email me. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.