The 40 best restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try right now

What is it? A Michelin-starred kaiseki spot in Palms from chef-owner Niki Nakayama, a protégé of the legendary Morihiro Onodera and one of the stars of the Netflix documentary Chef’s Table (2011).

Why we love it: Nakayama focuses her talent on kaiseki: a classical style of Japanese cooking that dictates a specific progression of textures, temperatures, tastes and seasonal ingredients. À la carte is not an option, and when every dish is this good, that’s okay by us. n/naka typically offers a 13-course tasting menu ($365) with a vegetarian option, plus wine and sake pairings. A newer renovation has given the dining room a sleeker look—with a requisite price bump to match—but n/naka still delivers the most delicious, wonderfully serene dining experience in the city. Years in, these are still some of the hardest reservations to land in all of Los Angeles. It’s best to follow along on Instagram for announcements and watch n/naka’s Tock page like a hawk.

Time Out tip: If you’re trying to book a reservation for a party of four, you no longer have to go through the whole rigamarole to book a table. Now, you can book up to three months in advance by emailing [email protected].

Address: 3455 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034

Opening hours: Wed–Sat ~5:45 and ~9:15pm seatings

What is it? An exquisite, two-Michelin-star kaiseki dinner ($450 per head) that feels like more of a transportive experience than a meal. 

Why we love it: The space is intimate, the ceramics are handcrafted and imported from Japan, service is respectful and diligent, and chef-owner Brandon Go's precision and technique come by way of training in Japan for years. There is something almost criminally understated here; Hayato's delicate flavors could lead Angelenos to overlook some of the most beautiful cooking happening in the city. I hope they don't. They'd be missing out on steamed abalone with an unctuous liver sauce; an owan course of delicate crab meatball soup; and the spectacular donabe finale, where one can fill one's bowl with freshly cooked seafood and rice over and over. Go has truly built something beautiful with Hayato.

Time Out tip: Dinner reservations are usually released at the top of each month, and sell out almost immediately for the entire month. Set an alarm to get a table. It's worth it.

Address: 1320 E 7th St #126, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Opening hours: Wed–Sun, 6:30pm seating

What is it? An Arts District tasting menu that brings a distinctive Taiwanese edge to Michelin-starred fine dining.

Why we love it: After relocating to ROW DTLA in 2021, James Beard Award-winning chef Jon Yao, front-of-house managing partner Nikki Reginaldo, sommelier Ryan Bailey and bar director Austin Hennelly have crafted a world-class dining (and drinking) destination that rivals L.A.’s more established fine dining institutions. Yao’s ever-evolving seasonal tasting menu ($325) has come into its own, reflecting the native Angeleno’s Taiwanese heritage and San Gabriel Valley upbringing. Hennelly’s non-alcoholic beverage pairing ($120) is among the best of its kind in L.A., with drinks that capture the complex tasting notes of spirits and wine with none of the actual bite. (To be frank: I tried all the other booze-free pairings in town; they’re sorely lacking.) For skeptical first-timers or longtime fans, there’s the bar-only tasting menu ($185) incorporating some of Kato’s greatest hits, including the city’s best milk bread. The high-touch service here never feels too stuffy, and Bailey’s 70-plus page wine list will satisfy even the biggest wine snobs.

Time Out tip: Unless you love caviar and jamon ibérico, you can skip the supplemental youtiao. While delicious, it’s far from the most interesting thing on the menu. Save the space for the trio of Asian desserts or even another cocktail—non-alcoholic or otherwise, the drinks upstage some of the city’s bars.

Address: 777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–10:30pm

What is it? A three Michelin star fine dining institution offering the freshest seafood available and all the bells and whistles of a modern white tablecloth experience. 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. This is Michelin-level luxury in the eyes of chef-owner Michael Cimarusti and co-owner Donato Poto, who ensures all diners receive a warm—and unstuffy—welcome.

Why we love it: For serving a city next to the Pacific, Providence somehow still manages to showcase newer facets of seafood. Michael Cimarusti's mostly-aquatic menus deftly showcase the bounty of the West Coast, as well as the globe: Santa Barbara spot prawns and steelhead trout from the Quinault River in Washington can appear among the varied choices, depending on seasonality. His knack for finding the best product will make you focus on the perfect bite hanging from your fork, and nothing else. A recent renovation, pastry chef Mac Daniel Dimla's zero-waste chocolate desserts and a compelling non-alcoholic pairing ($125) reflect the restaurant's ability to keep up with the times—a distinction that other L.A.'s other veteran fine dining spots don't necessarily have.

Time Out tip: You'll absolutely need a reservation—and plan ahead, as reservations, at least for primetime dinner slots, 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? Chef-owner Jazz Singsanong's Thai Town restaurant with a sprawling menu and plenty of heat is one of the city's cult favorites—and serves Angelenos in memory of her brother, L.A. Thai food legend Tui Sungkamee.

Why we love it: Whether it’s a regional specialty or a more Americanized dish, Jitlada nails it all. The crispy morning glory salad is a must—a flavorful mix of crunchy, deep-fried Chinese watercress and plump shrimp—while Northern and Southern Thai curry specialties such as green mussel curry or the jungle curry might light your mouth ablaze in the best way. Even the American-familiar options such as the turmeric chicken wings are a must. You could visit Jitlada every week for a year and still find gems and surprises on that menu. We’re especially partial to the off-menu Jazz Burger–ask your server if it's available on your visit.

Time Out tip: Be careful how spicy you tell Jazz to go. You've been warned.

Address: 5233 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 11:30am–3pm, 4:30–10pm

What is it? A no-frills eatery on Koreatown’s western edge with an early close (8:30pm is the last call for orders) that happens to make the city’s best banchan and ganjang gejang, a.k.a. soy-marinated raw crab. For those only familiar with Korean barbecue, Soban is a wonderful entry point into the complex and increasingly evolving East Asian cuisine beyond tabletop grills. 

Why we love it: Named for the low-slung tables traditionally used for communal dining, Jennifer Pak’s cooking is full of cozy homestyle delights. Though service may be brusque, no other place in Los Angeles holds a candle to the buttery, sweet crab marinated in a blend of green chilies, white onion and soy sauce. The dozen or so tiny plates of housemade banchan that accompany every meal burst with flavor, texture and painstaking attention to detail, from the kimchi to the seasoned acorn jelly. You’ll also find first-rate versions of galbi jjim (braised short ribs) and a fiery gochujang stew made of buttery black cod and sliced daikon radish. As of late, other L.A. eateries offering ganjang gejang have gone viral on TikTok, but you won’t find a better version than the one offered at Soban.

Time Out tip: Call ahead for a reservation. Everyone from the late Jonathan Gold to Oscar-winning South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has eaten at Soban—so unless you’re stopping in on a weekday afternoon, you’ll very likely have to wait for a table.

Address: 4001 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 11am–9pm

What is it? A casual Michelin-starred food stall in South L.A. offering one of L.A.’s best Mexican seafood experiences—and all at a fairly reasonable price. 

Why we love it: Housed inside food hall Mercado La Paloma, Gilberto Cetina Jr.’s Yucatecan-style mariscos counter is a profound revelation for those who enjoy spice, citrus and smoke. The approachable deep-fried fish tacos and well-made coctel mixto, of course, bring in the daytime crowds (which have only swelled since the restaurant received a Michelin star), but more upmarket dishes like the smoked kanpachi tostadas and freshly shucked oysters more than hold their ground against other seafood heavyweights. For a special occasion (even if that's just a random Thursday night), Holbox's experimental eight-course tasting menu on Wednesday and Thursday evenings is the most delicious, inexpensive way to enjoy the best of the Pacific. Just note that reservations for the $130 tasting menu drop on Resy on the first of each month at 11am—and book out almost instantly.

Time Out tip: If you’re deterred by the heavy weekend lines, it’s worth diverting to Komal, a newer stall in Mercado La Paloma launched by two former Holbox employees. The casual, recently Michelin-recognized eatery focuses on heirloom masa and offers affordable, tasty corn-based dishes like tamales and quesadillas.

Address: 3655 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 11:30am–9pm

What is it? After closing in 2018, Kwang Uh’s critical darling has made a triumphant return in the form of an Arts District tasting menu—including one of the best examples of vegan fine dining in Los Angeles. 

Why we love it: Alongside his wife and business partner, Mina Park, Uh now offers a $125 seven-course offering that’s a little small in terms of portion size, but big on the fermentation-forward Korean flavors that first captivated L.A. in 2015. On my most recent visit, I especially enjoyed the newer jaetbangeo (amberjack) course. Loosely inspired by traditional hwedupbap—a type of raw fish salad and rice bowl—the raw dish comes with a side of greens and a crispy seaweed cracker. The standard menu comes with wild mountain greens rice, which adds a bit of a welcome heft at the end of the meal. For vegans and vegetarians, there’s the sumptuous banchan platter, plus a bowl of seaweed-topped buckwheat noodles I wish I could enjoy over and over. The fare here isn’t quite as bold or in your face as most other Korean restaurants in L.A., but it’s one of the most quietly excellent special-occasion meals in the city right now.

Time Out tip: If you’re a fan of kombucha, order the alcohol-free pairing ($45). Otherwise, I’d steer clear—the nonalcoholic beverages included in the pairing don’t really mimic the taste of alcohol.

Address: 905 E 2nd St #109, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–9pm

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. 

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.  

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