The best sustainable restaurants in Los Angeles

What is it? An L.A. fine dining institution offering the freshest seafood available and all the bells and whistles of a modern white tablecloth experience. In addition to two regular Michelin stars, Providence has a Michelin Green Star, the global restaurant guide’s annual award for “sustainable gastronomy.”

Why we love it: For nearly two decades, the restaurant has won over scores of critics, Michelin inspectors and repeat visitors—and the artful eight-course dinner menu ($325) still remains impressive today. Chef Michael Cimarusti has committed to only using wild-caught sustainable fish and shellfish, from locally sourced Santa Barbara spot prawns to steelhead trout from the Quinault River in Washington. The restaurant also maintains a fruit, vegetable and herb garden on its rooftop, complete with its own beehive, which helps shorten the supply chain for many of the restaurant’s produce needs and shores up the local bee population, respectively. Each meal ends with a rotating collection of pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla’s zero-waste chocolate desserts. Throw in the recent renovation and the compelling non-alcoholic pairing and you’ll understand why Providence isn’t just a leader when it comes to sustainability—it leads in almost every category you can judge a restaurant by. 

Time Out tip: You’ll absolutely need a reservation—and plan ahead, as reservations tend to book weeks in advance.

Address: 5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Opening hours: Tue–Fri 6–9pm, Sat 5:30–9pm

What is it? Nancy Silverton’s temple to meat flame-grills tomahawk pork chops, cures fennel salami and dry-ages massive steaks so big they almost feel like they’ll rock the table when they land. It also has a Michelin Green Star.

Why we love it: For those in search of a great steakhouse, this Italian one is worth the splurge—and few restaurants can accomplish what Chi Spacca’s shoebox setting can. With one of the best charcuterie programs in the city and a stunning open kitchen, the talented team knows how to best work the cozy space for maximum meaty results. You may be spending over $200 on a steak (it’s enormous!), but don’t think about skipping the sides of roasted sustainable veggies—nor that bubbling focaccia di recco, which oozes stracchino cheese and comes with its own pizza stand. Throw in the generously portioned quartinos of wine, which easily turn into two servings, and Chi Spacca is one of the best places in town to wine and dine someone. Chef-owner Nancy Silverton told the Michelin Guide that sustainability is a top priority at Chi Spacca, from trying to source ingredients locally to reducing water and energy consumption whenever possible. 

Time Out tip: For those who truly love pork, Chi Spacca hosts the Pig’s Head Dinner: An Ode to Pork—a $125 tasting menu that’s only available Mondays through Thursdays with two days’ notice. A minimum of four guests is required—but I recommend coming with six or more, or you won’t get through every course. The star of the show is a crispy, roasted pig’s head served with seasonal vegetables, sauces and flatbread, but you’ll also receive Chi Spacca’s signature like focaccia di recco (topped here with ham) and the sumptuous pork tomahawk dusted with fennel pollen.

Address: 6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 6–9:30pm, Fri–Sun 5:30–9:30pm

What is it? Delicate housemade pastas, antipasti and a literal mozzarella bar from local celebrity chef Nancy Silverton within her three-restaurant Mozzaplex in Hancock Park. Unlike Chi Spacca, Osteria Mozza not only has a Michelin Green Star, it also has a regular Michelin star as well.

Why we love it: Though buzzy new Italian spots open all the time in Los Angeles, none manage the same level of refinement and consistency that emanates from Osteria Mozza. From Silverton’s famous ravioli oozing ricotta cheese and bright yellow egg yolk to the fresh, creamy mozzarella paired with all the manner of accoutrements, this upscale, Michelin-starred osteria still fires on all cylinders a decade and change after its initial debut. Other highlights include Nancy’s Caesar—a playful tartine riff on the classic L.A. salad—and the duck rillettes crostino. Depending on your mood, you could also head to next-door outposts Chi Spacca (for bubbling, cheese-stuffed focaccia and grilled meats) and Pizzeria Mozza (for pizza, obviously)—all three provide refined takes on a different facet of Italian cuisine, plus the freshly made seasonal flavors of the same delightful gelato that has made Silverton a mainstay in the gourmet freezer aisle. As with Chi Spacca, chef-owner Nancy Silverton told the Michelin Guide that sustainability is a top priority at Osteria Mozza, from trying to source ingredients locally to reducing water and energy consumption whenever possible. 

Time Out tip: Though it’s tempting to forgo vegetables here, order at least one antipasti next time you visit. On a menu of greatest hits, it’s the primary section that still changes with the seasons—demonstrating the kitchen’s excellence even when Silverton isn’t necessarily working the stove.

Address: 6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5:30–9pm, Fri 5:30–10pm, Sat 5–10pm, Sun 5–9pm

What is it? A new-school San Gabriel Valley dining destination serving the farm-to-table Chinese-inspired dinner of our dreams (plus an excellent brunch). 

Why we love it: Highly inventive yet tinged with nostalgia, Yang’s Kitchen is the new-school Chinese restaurant we’ve been searching high and low for. The restaurant proudly works with many local farmers, listing its various purveyors on signboards behind the counter, and reduces its carbon footprint “wherever possible.” No matter how you order, you’ll find a memorable dish, from the vegan-friendly dan dan campanelle to the ever-present Hainan fish rice, which features dry-aged barramundi atop a wonderfully silky chicken fat rice and a side of ginger-scallion sauce. The fried chicken wings, which come naked-skinned and served with a side of salt and white pepper and a lemon wedge, get at the heart of what Yang’s Kitchen does best: flawlessly executed Asian-inflected comfort dishes that are far more complex than they look. Plus, the restaurant offers an interesting, highly varied wine and sake list and a wealth of non-alcoholic beverage options. If you’re a regular, look to the monthly-ish burger nights on Mondays to see the kitchen flex its creativity.

Time Out tip: Entrée options are limited (there are usually no more than five), so be sure to ask your server for the daily specials if you’re in search of variety.

Address: 112 W Main St Alhambra, CA 91801

Opening hours: Mon 9am–2pm; Thu 9am–2pm, 5–9pm; Fri 9am–2pm, 5–10pm; Sat 9am–2:30pm, 5–10pm; Sun 9am–2:30pm, 5–9pm

What is it: A tiny, fairly scrappy seafood restaurant along Santa Monica’s Main Street that keeps sustainability and ethics in mind; in fact, it’s even been recognized by the Westside city as a Certified Green Business. 

Why we love it: Beautifully plated, locally sourced and utterly delicious seafood are on the menu every night at Crudo e Nudo. All shellfish comes from regenerative ocean farming operations. None of the seafood options fall under the red-coded “avoid” category according to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, the country’s leading source of guidance on sustainable seafood recommendations, and the restaurant also uses organic produce and herbs from local farmers’ markets. Chef Brian Bornemann—formerly of farm-to-table pioneer Michael’s Santa Monica—adds bright, modern tweaks to the typically stalwart oil-and-lemon Italian raw dish, for a casually artisan seafood meal that’ll definitely upstage your everyday sushi joint. The restaurant features a cozy, built-out parklet that serves as the bulk of its seating, where servers will dole out gorgeous small plates of seafood on compostable paper plates. Vegan dishes and natural, locally sourced wines round out Crudo e Nudo’s offerings for a laidback gourmet experience you won’t soon forget.

Time Out tip: If it’s your first time, order the Neptune’s Flight for $95, a tasting menu that features a few off-menu specials. 

Address: 2724 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Opening hours: Daily noon–9pm

What is it: A London-inspired restaurant in Westchester that’s home to the city’s most ambitious farm-to-table cuisine. Tomat maintains a nearby garden where it composts all of its food waste and sources most of the restaurant’s citrus and herbs. 

Why we love it: Run by husband-and-wife duo Harry Posner and Natalie Dial, Tomat serves some of the city’s most delicious, interesting new California cuisine. I recently featured this LAX-adjacent dining destination in an extended, in-depth review for its nearby garden—located within smelling distance of In-N-Out—and unique, albeit slightly inconsistent mix of British, Persian and Japanese culinary influences. Highlights on the ever-changing dinner menu include “barbari” bread served with tomato butter, a dry-aged duck with mole and the family-style savory pies, which are only served on the weekends. I also enjoyed the roasted vegetable “ajoblanco,” sticky toffee pudding and saffron ice cream topped with pistachio brittle. Many of the dishes here crackle with the raw, frenetic energy of culinary ambition—and I simply can’t wait to come back.

Time Out tip: If you’re keen on ordering one of the weekend-only savory pies, you can text the restaurant to reserve one—they often sell out, particularly if you arrive after 7:30pm.

Address: 6261 W 87th St, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Opening hours: Tue 8am–1pm; Wed–Sun 8am–1pm, 5–8:30pm (last seating)

What is it: The Hammer’s farm-to-table museum restaurant conceived by Alice Waters—the trailblazing chef behind Berkeley’s legendary Chez Panisse. 

Why we love it: Inside the tranquil indoor-outdoor courtyard of UCLA’s Hammer Museum, Chez Panisse alum David Tanis utilizes the same sustainable, hyperlocal approach to cooking that put Chez Panisse on the map back in the 1970s. Whether you’re opting for the lunch prix-fixe, a sandwich or the à la carte dinner offerings, the menu is largely driven by whatever Tanis finds at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. All produce is organic and procured from small farms practicing regenerative agriculture. Plus, the space itself is compelling enough to stop in for a relaxing meal on the Westside. Above you, Jorge Pardo’s striking indoor-outdoor orange lanterns (now part of the Hammer’s permanent collection) hanging in the trees and inside the semi-enclosed dining room light up after dark, which gives the entire restaurant a dreamy feel in the evenings. By day, the courtyard feels a bit more casual, but the ever-changing bill of fare makes for an excellent lunch destination for catching up with friends or family.

Time Out tip: The chocolate pavé with chantilly cream is one of the constants on Lulu’s ever-changing menu—and it’s an absolute must for chocolate lovers. 

Address: 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 11:30am–8:30pm; Sun 11:30am–6pm

What is it: A zero-waste, Michelin-starred farm-to-table tasting menu ($160) run out of a converted Craftsman home in Long Beach’s Rose Park. Heritage also has a Michelin Green Star.

Why we love it: No other restaurant in Los Angeles County can say they have their own farm (which doubles as an event space) and a zero-waste kitchen. Sibling co-owners Philip and Lauren Pretty pride themselves on sourcing locally for things they can’t grow or make themselves, including bread. Dairy, meat and seafood purveyors are carefully chosen for their sustainability practices. All trimmings and byproducts from the cooking process are either repurposed or composted, and the beer and wine offerings are all sourced in-state. High-quality seasonal ingredients, including produce sourced from Heritage’s namesake urban farm, sets the restaurant apart, as does memorable dishes like dry-aged rib chop with black garlic, hen of the woods mushroom with artichoke stew and a strawberry jam stroopwaffle.

Time Out tip: For a more casual, affordable meal courtesy of the Prettys, look to Olive & Rose, their new bistro in Downtown Long Beach.

Address: 2030 E 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–9pm