The Best Restaurants in LA

Whether you’re visiting or moving to Los Angeles, there can be a lot to take in upon your first arrival. From the traffic of the 405 to the nonstop flights from LAX, Los Angeles is a city that welcomes a diverse population of movers, shakers, and most importantly, chefs. 

People have to eat, after all—plus, going out to eat is one of the many fun things to do in LA.

The best restaurants in LA are known for their style, elegance, and their broad arrays of international flavors. Ready to explore all that Los Angeles has to offer, from sharable bites to culinary masterpieces? We’ll be diving deep into seven undeniable restaurants, including:

1. Asanebo
2. Needle
3. Angelini Osteria
4. République
5. Big Boi
6. Soban
7. Alta Adams

Let’s get started!

1. Asanebo

In the heart of the San Fernando Valley is a renowned sushi restaurant that’s spent 30 years building up its California cuisine reputation. Asanebo is Studio City’s answer to gourmet Japanese cuisine and impeccable service.

The restaurant has frequently earned top spots on various roundups of the best Japanese restaurants in the city. In fact, it’s grown from a local hotspot to a full-on institution!

Feeling hungry at the thought of sharable Japanese delicacies? Some of Asanebo’s signature dishes include: 

• Wagyu (Japanese seared beef)
• Spanish Mackerel
• Red Snapper
• Squid
• Sea Eel

Plus, there’s a whole host of classic rolls and sushi options to appeal to adventurous eaters or those exploring Japanese cuisine for the first time.

A little about the chef

Notably, Asanebo was started by Chef Tetsuya Nakao, who immigrated to the U.S. with his brother Shunji in 1982. After spending nearly a decade honing their skills in Beverly Hills, they opened Asanebo in 1991. Known for sourcing the best in quality ingredients, as well as his warm temperament, Nakao was instrumental in earning the restaurant two Michelin Stars in 2008 and 2009.

Now, Asanebo is known around the world and welcomes international customers through its doors regularly. Even if it’s your first time in, you can expect to be treated as though you were a regular. Perhaps you’ll even share in an omakase feast at the lunch counter!

2. Needle

Needle is a colorful Cantonese restaurant with a menu inspired by the streets of Hong Kong. At the corner of Sunset and Hyperion in Silver Lake, you can visit this unique and quirky establishment to enjoy a culinary experience like none other.

Through several iterations and pivots, Needle has refined its style of service while remaining true to its values. Needle aims to create a distraction-free dining experience, so you can focus on appetizing dishes and the company you share with.

Some favorite dishes include:

• Pork Chop Bun
• Beef Curry
• Scrambled Eggs and Shrimp
• Wood Ear

Best of all, Wednesday through Saturday, Needle hosts Siu Yeh outside on the patio.

What is Siu Yeh?

Siu Yeh is an elevated street food dining experience with a customized tasting menu. You can purchase a reservation and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere with delicious food and drink pairings.

Needle’s Chef Ryan draws inspiration from both his childhood and the taste of Hong Kong street vendors to make Siu Yeh a memorable dining experience for all who join.

3. Angelini Osteria

For 20 years, Angelini Osteria has brought the flavors of classic Italian food to greater Los Angeles. This Fairfax District eatery has an elegant atmosphere with low light and outstanding service, as well as an extensive wine list with bottles from several distinct regions of Italy.

Since Gino and Elizabeth began the restaurant in 2001, they’ve continued to grow their reputation for fantastic dishes, and their commitment to hospitality. Now, they offer catering services and retail selections, alongside their unmatched dining experience.

You can’t go wrong with the menu at Angelini Osteria, but some essential menu items include:

• House-made Spaghetti Chitarra alla Norcina
• Sautéed Maine scallops Veal Chop alla Milanese 
• Grilled Swordfish with rapini ripassati

A peek into the kitchen

Chef Gino Angelini brings the flavors of his childhood in Italy into every dish, whether it is handmade pasta or pizza. Cooking is a family tradition, passed down from Angelini’s mother and grandmother, and has remained his greatest passion since age 14.

Angelini has been honored with multiple awards both in Los Angeles and in his home city of Rimini, so it should come as no surprise that his restaurant remains a legendary location for Italian cuisine. 

4. République

A combination restaurant, cafe, and bakery, Répulique offers something for every appetite. The brainchild of Walter and Margarita Manzke, Répulique opened in 2014 following several successful ventures from its founders.

République is housed in a historic and iconic building designed by the architect Roy Seldon Price and built by Charlie Chaplin. Through the years, various businesses have made the space their own and provided a number of stylistic updates. When République took over, the goal was to restore the building to its original look—brick, tile, and an open floor plan.

Now you can enjoy all of République’s fare in a breezy and intimate atmosphere. Consider trying popular menu items like the:

• Cuban Sandwich: A classic sandwich of rotisserie pork, house cured-ham, and gruyére cheese with garlic mojo, mustard, and pickles.

• Shakshouka: A Maghrebi dish consisting of oven-baked tomatoes and peppers, farm eggs, black kale, chickpeas, yogurt, and served with a baguette.

• Mushroom Toast: This modern spin on a breakfast staple includes house-cured ham, scrambled eggs, and spinach topped with hollandaise and red wine sauce.

With happy hour cocktails, wine, beer, juices, teas, and smoothies, it’s easy to find the perfect beverage to pair with your meal.

Private dining options

If you’re looking to host a private get-together with friends, family, or co-workers, République offers several options for private dining. You and your guests can enjoy spaces like The Left Bank Wine Room, The Right Bank Mezzanine Room, The Bakery, The Alcove, and The Bar. 

You can even buy out the entire restaurant for an elegant evening of celebration and festive food. Keep République in mind as a great venue and a top-notch restaurant.

5. Big Boi

Chef Barb Batiste followed up the success of her B Sweet catering company by launching Big Boi, a revolutionary establishment excelling at Filipino classics and comfort food. Many of the dishes at Big Boi are based on Batiste’s childhood favorites, while incorporating her own personal twist.

While Big Boi brings diverse cuisine to Los Angeles, Chef Batiste looks to educate her clientele on the sweet, salty, and sour flavors that define Filipino food. 

Big Boi’s menu boasts many popular dishes including:

• Chicken adobo: A Big Boi classic—chicken in a garlic, soy, vinegar marinade.

• Impossible Longanisa: Sweet-tasting sausage links made with all vegan ingredients. 

• Filipino-Style Spaghetti: A new spin on the well-known handmade pasta dish, this spaghetti is covered with a sweetened tomato sauce and topped with ground beef, hot dogs, and shredded cheese. 

For delivery, catering, or in-house dining, you can look to Big Boi to serve up some seriously scrumptious dishes. 

Take something home

When you stop into Big Boi’s West Los Angeles location, you’ll have the chance to shop their homemade Big Boy Butter. Sold in three different variations (Ube, Buko Pandan, and Ensaymada), this butter lets you introduce Big Boi’s signature flavors into your own home-cooked meals.

6. Soban

When you eat at Soban, it’s as though you’ve been transported 6,000 miles to the best restaurant in Seoul. Soban prides itself on taking its customers on a culinary journey with a traditional dining experience and a menu curated by Jennifer Pak.

You can stop into the Koreatown location and choose from an exquisite menu of items including:

• Grilled Atka Mackerel
• Bibimbap
• Braised Black Cod
• Beef Bulgogi
• Grilled Yellow Croaker

Words of praise

Don’t just take our word for it—plenty of reputable publications have lauded praise for Soban. Check out what they had to say:

• The Michelin Guide: “The menu holds innumerable other delights.”

• The Los Angeles Times: “That full-table hospitality that will keep you coming back.”

• LA Weekly: “The best braised beef short ribs in LA.” 

7. Alta Adams

Tuesday through Sunday, Alta Adams serves up delicious and inventive soul food in the historic West Adams neighborhood. Chefs Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson combined their individual culinary prowess to form a menu that fuses West African, Californian, and Southern flavors. The results are an unmistakable masterstroke in modern dining.

From 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Alta Adams offers a wide variety of dishes off their “All Day Menu,” including crowd favorites like:

• Alta Fried Chicken with Fresno Hot Sauce
• Oxtails and Rice
• Shrimp and Grits
• House Smoke Brisket with Homemade Apple BBQ Sauce

Plus, there are a wide variety of desserts, including Classic Southern 7 Up Cake, and Banana Pudding. Why not enjoy a sweet treat on the beloved back patio? At Alta Adams, you can truly enjoy, indulge, and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Adams Wine Shop

This boutique wine shop imports local and international bottles, specifically selling wine produced by women and BIPOC. Ruben Morancy is the Certified Sommelier at the head of operations, providing exceptional wine options at reasonable prices. 

Make the best restaurants in Los Angeles your local go-to

Is your stomach rumbling, or is that the sound of your car idling on the freeway? Despite the traffic, there’s nothing that can hold you back from experiencing all the mind-blowing culinary experiences Los Angeles has to offer. If you’re settled on letting your tastebuds run wild in LA, there may be an even easier way to secure your next home in the city.

With Landing, you can find a fully furnished, pet-friendly, and no-stress home in less time than it takes to choose what you’re having for dinner. Landing offers the ultimate convenience, flexible leases, no application fees or security deposits, and 24-hour support, so you can sleep soundly even on a full stomach.

Land right in the middle of one of the best culinary scenes in the country with Landing and browse our available apartments in Los Angeles today.