Your Ultimate Guide to Some Incredible LA Restaurants You Have to Try

Ever feel like the Los Angeles dining scene is just buzzing with incredible spots you have to try? It’s like a whole universe of flavors out there, and navigating it can be a delicious adventure in itself. We’re talking about places that redefine fine dining, hidden gems, and everything in between that makes your taste buds sing.

So, we’ve tapped into some serious restaurant wisdom to bring you a peek behind the curtain. Forget the usual takeout routine for a minute, because we’re diving into some truly special places. These aren’t just restaurants; they’re experiences, crafted with passion and serving up unforgettable moments bite by glorious bite.

Getting a table at some of these spots can feel like trying to win the lottery, but trust us, it’s absolutely, positively worth the effort. From Michelin-starred restaurants to cult favorites, get ready to feast your eyes (and maybe plan your next big night out) on some of LA’s most incredible dining destinations.

1. **n/naka**: If you’re talking about truly bucket-list dining in Los Angeles, n/naka is definitely going to come up! Tucked away in Palms, this two-Michelin-starred spot is helmed by chef-owner Niki Nakayama. You might even recognize her from the Netflix documentary Chef’s Table, where she truly shone a light on her incredible talent. It’s safe to say she’s a culinary star!

Chef Nakayama is a protégé of the legendary Morihiro Onodera, and her focus here is on kaiseki. This isn’t just dinner; it’s a classical Japanese style of cooking that follows a very specific and thoughtful progression. We’re talking textures, temperatures, tastes, and seasonal ingredients all perfectly choreographed. Seriously, à la carte is not even an option here, and when every single dish is this good, you absolutely won’t miss it. They typically offer a stunning 13-course tasting menu, with a vegetarian option available too, plus fantastic wine and sake pairings to elevate the experience even further. A recent renovation gave the dining room a sleek, modern look, and while the price has bumped up a bit, the restaurant still delivers what feels like the most delicious and wonderfully serene dining experience you can find in the city. It’s pure magic!

Now, for the real talk – getting into n/naka is legendary difficult! We’re talking years of waiting, and these are still some of the hardest reservations to land in all of Los Angeles. Your best bet is to become a super-sleuth on social media, following along on Instagram for any announcements. And be prepared to watch their Tock page like a hawk for cancellations or new openings. It requires dedication, but the payoff is immense! You can find them at 3455 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034, and they typically have seatings on Wednesdays through Saturdays around 5:45 pm and 9:15 pm. Get ready to set those alarms!

2. **Hayato**: Get ready to be completely transported! Hayato offers an exquisite, two-Michelin-star kaiseki dinner that seriously feels less like just a meal and more like a truly transformative experience. It’s tucked away in a spot that feels intimate and special from the moment you arrive.

Every detail here is carefully considered. The ceramics, for example, are handcrafted and imported straight from Japan, adding to the authentic and refined atmosphere. Service is described as respectful and incredibly diligent, making you feel perfectly cared for throughout the evening. Chef-owner Brandon Go honed his precision and technique through years of training in Japan, and it absolutely shows in every dish he creates. There’s something almost criminally understated about the place; the delicate flavors could potentially lead some Angelenos to overlook what is undeniably some of the most beautiful cooking happening anywhere in the city. You absolutely do not want to miss out on this! Highlights include the steamed abalone with an unctuous liver sauce that people rave about, a wonderful owan course featuring a delicate crab meatball soup, and the spectacular donabe finale. With the donabe, you can happily fill your bowl with freshly cooked seafood and rice over and over again – pure bliss! Chef Go has truly built something beautiful and unique with Hayato.

So, how do you get in on this incredible experience? Be prepared for a challenge! Dinner reservations are usually released right at the beginning of each month, and they tend to sell out almost immediately for the entire month ahead. This is definitely a moment to set an alarm on your phone and be ready to click fast. It requires a little planning and persistence, but securing a table here is absolutely worth every single bit of effort. You can find Hayato at 1320 E 7th St #126, Los Angeles, CA 90021, with a single seating typically held on Wednesdays through Sundays at 6:30 pm. Good luck and happy booking!

3. **Kato**: Heading over to the Arts District, Kato offers a tasting menu experience that brings a super distinctive Taiwanese edge to the world of Michelin-starred fine dining. Since relocating to ROW DTLA back in 2021, this spot has truly leveled up.

Chef Jon Yao, along with front-of-house managing partner Nikki Reginaldo, sommelier Ryan Bailey, and bar director Austin Hennelly, has together crafted what is described as a world-class dining and drinking destination. It absolutely rivals some of the more established fine dining institutions you’ll find elsewhere in LA. Chef Yao’s seasonal tasting menu is constantly evolving and has really come into its own. It beautifully reflects his heritage as a native Angeleno with Taiwanese roots and his upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley, weaving those personal touches into exquisite dishes. Oh, and you HAVE to hear about the non-alcoholic beverage pairing! Created by Austin Hennelly, it’s highlighted as among the very best of its kind in LA. These drinks incredibly capture the complex tasting notes you’d expect from spirits and wine but without any of the actual alcohol bite – seriously impressive! We even hear other booze-free pairings in town are sorely lacking compared to what Kato offers.

For those who might be a little skeptical on a first visit, or even for longtime fans looking for a slightly different experience, there’s a bar-only tasting menu option available too. This shorter menu incorporates some of Kato’s greatest hits, including what’s called the city’s best milk bread – now that’s a claim we need to investigate! The service here is high-touch, meaning they pay close attention to detail, but it never feels stuffy or overly formal, which is a great balance. And if you’re a wine lover, Ryan Bailey’s absolutely massive 70-plus page wine list is guaranteed to satisfy even the biggest wine snobs out there. As a little insider tip, unless you are absolutely obsessed with caviar and jamón ibérico, you might consider skipping the supplemental youtiao. While it is delicious, it’s apparently far from the most interesting thing you’ll find on this amazing menu. Save that stomach space for the trio of Asian desserts instead, or maybe even another one of those fantastic cocktails, alcoholic or not! Honestly, the drinks here apparently upstage some of the city’s dedicated bars. You can find Kato at 777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

4. **Bavel**: Get ready for a seriously flavorful trip through the Levant without even leaving LA! Bavel is a fantastic restaurant from Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, the dynamic duo behind the popular Italian spot Bestia. It’s a place where you can expect incredible fire-roasted meats, perfectly handmade couscous, and what might just be the best hummus in all of Los Angeles – a bold claim, right?! Like their Italian counterpart, Bestia, Bavel also serves up some truly fantastic desserts.

At a time when so many of LA’s most sought-after special-occasion meals come in the form of a tasting menu, Bavel makes a powerful case for deciding your own culinary adventure. From the very first appetizer all the way through to dessert, every single dish on their menu is absolutely packed with what’s described as a mind-blowing mix of flavors and textures. Just imagine the silky hummus topped with duck ‘nduja – yes, duck ‘nduja! Or the lamb neck shawarma that is so fall-off-the-bone tender and served with delightfully crunchy pickled veggies. While some folks might prefer the comforting, carb-heavy Italian dishes at Bestia, or maybe the younger, more scene-focused atmosphere at the couple’s newest spot, Saffy’s, the cooking at Bavel is highlighted as the most impressive of the three. Dishes like the crunchy, spicy harissa prawns, the kibbeh nayeh studded with bulgur, chilies, shallots, and mint, and the luscious oyster mushroom kebabs are now considered essential parts of the LA dining landscape. They stand right up there with classics like street tacos or a piping hot bowl of spicy Sichuan-style noodle soup.

One thing to note about Bavel is that it’s apparently better experienced if you can gather a group of four or more people. If you’re dining as a pair, you’ll generally be faced with the difficult choice between sampling the amazing spreads and small plates or committing to one of the more substantial main entrées. To avoid having to make such tough decisions and try more things, bringing friends seems key! If you’re hoping to visit during prime time, like 7 or 8 pm on a weekend evening, you’ll definitely need to book Bavel way in advance. Most Friday and Saturday slots apparently end up being for 9 pm or later. For a buzzier, slightly more casual vibe, you could also try your luck with booking a table at Saffy’s. Bavel is located at 500 Mateo St #102, Los Angeles, CA 90013, and is open daily from 5 pm to 11 pm. Get ready for a flavor explosion!

5. **Providence**: Prepare yourself for a true institution in LA fine dining! Providence is renowned for offering the absolute freshest seafood available, combined with all the luxurious bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern white tablecloth experience. For nearly two decades, this restaurant has consistently impressed a long list of critics, Michelin inspectors, and delighted repeat visitors.

The artful eight-course dinner menu, currently priced at $325, remains incredibly impressive today. This spot proudly holds two Michelin stars, a level of luxury guided by chef-owner Michael Cimarusti and co-owner Donato Poto. Donato Poto apparently ensures that all diners receive a warm welcome that thankfully doesn’t feel stuffy at all, which is always a plus in fine dining! Despite Los Angeles being right next to the vast Pacific Ocean, Providence somehow manages to continuously showcase newer and more exciting facets of seafood. Chef Michael Cimarusti’s menus focus mostly on aquatic delights and deftly showcase the bounty not just from the West Coast but from the globe as well. You might find amazing ingredients like Santa Barbara spot prawns or steelhead trout sourced from the Quinault River in Washington on the menu, depending entirely on what’s in season. His incredible knack for finding the very best product means you’ll probably just focus entirely on that perfect bite on your fork, and absolutely nothing else matters in that moment.

Providence isn’t resting on its laurels either! A recent renovation shows they’re keeping things fresh and updated. They also feature incredible, innovative touches like pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla’s zero-waste chocolate desserts. And for those looking for alternatives to wine, there’s a compelling non-alcoholic pairing available for $125. This ability to keep up with the times is highlighted as a significant distinction that other veteran fine dining spots in LA don’t necessarily possess. Planning a visit requires foresight – you will absolutely need a reservation, and you should definitely plan ahead because reservations tend to book up weeks in advance. Providence is located at 5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm, and Saturday from 5:30 pm to 9 pm. Get ready for an unforgettable seafood journey!

6. **République**: This spot is an absolute staple in the LA dining scene, described as an all-day Cali-French café, bakery, and buzzing dinnertime destination! It’s one of those rare places where it is apparently nigh on impossible to leave feeling anything less than completely satisfied. République is where old meets new in the history of LA dining, and the buzz of thrilled diners is electric from the early morning until late at night. Interestingly, the restaurant has recently been the subject of some controversy after its married owners reportedly expressed support for Elon Musk’s upcoming Tesla diner project.

But let’s talk about the deliciousness! Margarita Manzke is a James Beard Award-winning pastry chef, and the pastries she creates in the display case are seriously highlighted as some of the finest you can find anywhere in LA. Just picturing those croissants, baguettes, tarts, cakes, and cookies is enough to make your mouth water! Meanwhile, Walter Manzke delivers worldly French bistro dishes blended with Californian cuisine influences. These are the kinds of dishes that leave you wanting to savor every last drop, like the roast Liberty Farms duck, sweet corn agnolotti, or the classic Burgundy snails served in puff pastry – a beloved carryover from the couple’s now-closed Bicyclette restaurant. They also keep things exciting in the evenings with seasonal tasting menus and occasional collaboration dinners, like a cool tomato-centric one that was tried last summer with Swedish chef Marcus Jernmark. During the day, popular picks include the beef short rib kimchi fried rice and a seriously hefty Cuban sandwich.

The genuine love and care that this husband-and-wife team pours into République is described as absolutely palpable. It really fills the incredible gothic-style building with a kind of warm, bustling atmosphere that is often missing from other places in LA. The building itself is full of history, having once been home to none other than Charlie Chaplin’s office, as well as Nancy Silverton and the late Mark Peel’s groundbreaking Campanile restaurant. Talk about stepping into a legacy! As a key tip for visiting, especially on weekends, make sure you arrive early if you want to snag your pick of those legendary pastries from the case. Once they sell out for the day, they’re completely gone! You can find République at 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Its opening hours vary slightly by day, but it serves breakfast/lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, plus brunch on Sunday.

7. **Damian**: It sits in the Arts District now. Chef Enrique Olvera owns it. His restaurants include Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in NYC. It’s neat that he has famous places like Pujol. By day, Damian is a taqueria called Ditroit. But by night, it becomes a fine dining restaurant. It is a dining experience from a top chef.

Damian’s prices put it in the fine dining group; trust this. Folks rave about the dishes here; they receive great care. Dishes use ingredients sourced with much serious effort too. The careful sourcing has built this place’s reputation. They make fantastic housemade cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic ones. This spot creates an ambiance that is both understated and stylish. It feels elegant but not stuffy; perfect for a night out.

So, what items should you check on the menu? The menu changes season to season; it’s always fresh. Watch for the famous duck carnitas and pollito al pastor. Folks rave about them. Here’s a tip for saving money now: happy hour is on Mondays and Thursday evenings at the bar. The best part is that it has regular menu items. One tip: get small plates for yourselves if you can.

8. **Jitlada**: This next place is for those seeking spice. We go to Thai Town for the Jitlada restaurant now. Chef Jazz Singsanong owns it. The menu is very large, offering much spice. The place serves in memory of Jazz’s brother, who was legendary. His legacy adds history to every dish now.

Why do people flock to Jitlada here? Simply, it nails it all for Thai food. They get regional Thai food right, and also offer Americanized versions. A few dishes feel like you must order them. The crispy morning glory salad is a must-try here. If you like spice, try the curries. Even the chicken wings are a must-get here.

The sheer depth of the menu is cool. Visit weekly for a year and find new things. That’s the amazing fact about the menu now. It rewards you for exploring and visiting more. There is an off-menu item, the Jazz Burger. Ask your server if the Jazz Burger is available. You never know. Experts say to be careful with the spice level.

9. **Soban**: Let’s find the gem Soban on the west edge of Koreatown. Don’t expect fancy here; it is a no-frills eatery. What it lacks in decor, it gains in flavor. Soban is famous for the best banchan and ganjang gejang now. If you only know BBQ, Soban goes deeper.

The restaurant’s name comes from old low tables. Chef Jennifer Pak is making cozy homestyle delights now. Service might be brusque, but the food makes you forget about it now. Experts say no other place beats their buttery crab. The crab is marinated with chilies, onion, and soy. People dream about it. But the crab is not the only thing. A dozen banchan plates come with every meal. Banchan plates burst with flavor and texture.

Beyond crab and banchan, find other great Korean dishes. Try braised short ribs or spicy black cod stew. Other places might be viral, but Soban is the best. If you visit on the weekend, call ahead now. This place is very popular now with everyone. Expect to wait unless it is a weekday afternoon. Is the crab and banchan worth the wait?

10. **Holbox**: Get ready for something unique in LA dining. It’s mind-blowing. We go to South LA’s Mercado La Paloma for the Holbox stall. What makes Holbox so very special then? It is a casual stall that somehow got a Michelin star. Chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. is running this stall now. It offers great Mexican seafood at a good price here.

Holbox feels amazing if you like spice, citrus, and smoke. Find simple dishes like fish tacos or coctel mixto. These dishes attract larger daytime crowds after the star rating. But it’s not only casual bites here. Try smoked kanpachi tostadas or fresh oysters here.

Try the tasting menu on Wednesday and Thursday. It’s the best way to eat Pacific seafood at $130. But getting a reservation is hard. They drop on Resy monthly at 11 am; book fast. You need to be very quick now. If Holbox’s lines are long, try Komal nearby. Komal is a newer stall focusing on masa dishes. This is a great Plan B.

11. **Osteria Mozza**: Lastly on our tour is Osteria Mozza now. This place is an Italian cornerstone by Nancy Silverton. Inside, you’ll find housemade pasta, antipasti, and a mozzarella bar. It is part of Nancy Silverton’s “Mozzaplex” group. This is an upscale spot with a Michelin star. It feels both classic and vibrant now.

Even with new spots, Osteria Mozza stands out. Why does it stand out this much? Newer spots lack its refinement and quality now. Certain dishes here have become legendary now. You must try Nancy Silverton’s famous ravioli. Get fresh mozzarella from their special bar. They serve sides. Try Nancy’s Caesar and duck rillettes crostino now. They are good.

It’s cool that it is part of the larger Mozzaplex. Try Chi Spacca or Pizzeria Mozza nearby now. All three places offer different types of Italian food. Enjoy the same great gelato at all three spots. You can take this high-end gelato home. Experts say don’t forget the places next door. This whole complex is a total win here.

So, this is our wrap-up of the LA dining journey now. LA is full of amazing food spots now. Your taste buds will thank you for trying these. Use this list for your next great meal now. It helps. Book tables and eat the best of LA now. Happy dining, everyone! Enjoy it.

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