Much like my precious recommendation blogs I’ve included only Restaurants, Bars, & Theaters that I’ve been to. I can’t very well recommend something in good conscious that I, myself, haven’t tried.
Also, if you want to skip the area specific sections my “Quick Picks” are at the bottom!
LA PROPER: (Restaurants With Multiple Locations Around LA)
In-N-Out Burger: The west coast chain everybody raves about! I recommend going in with some knowledge of the secret menu! Double Double served Animal & Protein Style is my go to! Animal Style Fries are also a solid choice!
Lemonade: One of my favorite west coast chains, Lemonade is the healthy version of cafeteria style dining. Pick any number of options you like, but don’t skip on a Lemonade & a Giant Macaron! They have pretty solid Spicy Tuna Poke as well!
Salt & Straw: Started in Portland, OR then overtook California! Salt & Straw features its normal handful of Ice Cream but also does a series of “prompt” flavors that change every month!
Sugarfish: An LA sushi chain, it’s worth a bit of a splurge. Grab the Chef’s “I Trust You” & enjoy the Sushi journey!
Urth Cafe: Incredible Food, Incredible Coffee! This Persian inspired Coffee Shop is a great place to hang or have a mid day meal! There is one in the Southwest Terminal of LAX as well!
Beverly Hills:
Catch: Upscale Seafood, overlooks the divid between West Hollywood & Beverly Hills. Get a reservation, walk ins are few & far between.
Gracias Madre: Vegan Mexican that doesn’t suffer from a lack of meat & cheese. Get the Cauliflower Nachos for sure as well as the Jackfruit Tacos!
Zinque: Very trendy, the Tuna Tartine is incredible! Great drinks & atmosphere though!
Big Bear:
Local Tropicali: Excellent Poke Bowls, perfectly brewed Cold Brew, & other incredible Hawaiian inspired Bowls. Not to be missed in Big Bear! Staff is beyond friendly & helpful as well! Try the secret menu item the Krakatoa!
Burbank:
Bob’s Big Boy: You know it from the GIANT MAN ON THEIR ROOF. A Diner that boasts a pretty solid Burger & the like! The Antique Cars in the lot are a nice touch too!
Mama Hong’s: My favorite Pho place in America! Just really solid all around & inexpensive! I get the Filet Mignon Pho with Sliced Steak & Brisket added!
Priscilla’s Coffee: Get the House Specialty Latte. It’s incredible!
Chinatown:
Chego!: Korean Rice Bowls. Inexpensive but still amazing! Usually enough food to last two meals! I like the Pork Belly & the Fries!
Downtown:
Pitchoun: Cute little French Bakery tucked right in downtown LA. Their Pastries & Desserts are where they shine but their Sandwiches & Tartines are not to be ignored either!
The Grove:
Dominique Ansel Bakery: The inventor of the Cronut, Dom Ansel offers a variety of incredible Desserts & a Cronut of the Month! In addition to sugary confections they also have a restaurant!
Nonna’s Empanadas: Amazing Empanadas of all varieties! Sweet, Savory, you name it! The Guava/Cream Cheese is mind-blowingly good!
Hollywood:
Beauty & Essex: Contemporary American a little higher up on the price scale. Famous for their Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Bites as well as their Croque Madame Mac & Cheese & their Dessert Ferris Wheel. Bring friends & share plates!
Black Rabbit Rose: A Magic Themed Cocktail Bar with Live Music! Grammy Winning Pianist plays with his band there every Tuesday evening & Thursdays are Jazz nights!
Dirty Laundry: A dark, dingy bar that’s strangely still upscale! Alcoholic Frozen Drinks abound! Occasionally have Live Music.
Fat Sal’s: Exactly how it sounds. Massive amounts of food for cheap. Bomb Sandwiches & Milkshakes, just don’t go on a diet.
Frog Frozen Yogurt Bar: My favorite Frozen Yogurt in LA, always have fun flavors & are open late. They deliver as well!
Good Times at Davey Wayne’s: One of my favorite bars in LA. Davey Wayne’s is a fun 70s Themed Bar with a lot of charm. Their “Backyard” offers Yard Games, Hammocks, Fresh Grilled Tacos, & Alcoholic Snow Cones!
Hotel Cafe: Amazing, historic venue. You never know who will pop in here! Often have two shows going at once, so check online before you go!
Javista: A subsidiary of Urth Cafe. The same high quality Coffee & Food, but I think a little cheaper!
Jones: An LA staple. Jones is a late night Italian Restaurant that has been around forever. A good place for Celebrity sightings as well.
Lost Property: Inconspicuous as they come. A little bar tucked under a skyscraper. A great hang spot!
Mama’s Shelter: Part Boutique Hotel, Part Bar, Part Restaurant! The Shelter is a cool retro Hollywood styled Hang! There’s always something fun going down there! Amazing view of Hollywood from their Rooftop Bar!
No Vacancy: Another one of my favorite Bars in LA. No Vacancy is a Prohibition Style Speakeasy. Entering the bar is a little like being at Disneyland. I won’t spoil the fun but inside are Prohibition Era Drinks, A Live Jazz Band, & A Burlesque Show!
Roscoe’s: The O.G. LA Chicken & Waffles place! Open late & they you can also get it delivered!
Rubies + Diamonds: Salted Coconut Cold Brew, Medium Sweet. That’s all you need to know. You’re Welcome.
The Rusty Mullet: Beer Pong. Darts. Drinks served in a Sand Pail. What’s not to love? Rednecked Themed, but this bar is a total blast!
Stout Burger: So Cal Burger Chain. Go during Happy Hour, their burgers are half priced! Stout also boasts an extensive Draft List that’s always rotating!
The Study: Used to be “Hemingway’s,” The Study’s drinks are all literature themed! Often have Live Music there as well!
Velvet Margarita: Late Night Mexican Food! Make them bring back the Weekend Fish Stew, it was life changing.
Inglewood
Kanpai: THE. BEST. SUSHI. Hands down. End of story. Owner goes & picks out fresh fish every morning!
La Brea:
Bluestone Lane: Aussie Coffee shop! Get you a Milo Mocha & a Square of Poundcake (Frozen) & sit back & enjoy the chill atmosphere!
Tartine: A West Coast chain but there’s definitely a reason behind their fame! Incredible baked goods, don’t skip the Morning Bun or another form of Croissant, they’re to die for!
Three Borders Brunch: A must stop & I cannot stress that enough. El Salvidorian meets Mexican meets American food! It’s INCREDIBLE. So good it made me cry & the owners are always there cooking up a storm!
Larchmont Village:
Cafe Gratitude: A very pleasant Vegan Cafe! Sandwiches, Pasta, Etc, all bangin!
Go Get Em Tiger: Hella cool Coffee Shop! Awesome Lattes with an awesome crew!
Las Feliz:
Alcove Cafe & Bakery: A bit pretentious but I’ve never had anything bad there! Very broad menu ranging from Eggs Benedict to Salads to Sandwiches!
Ample Hills Creamery: This NYC Based Creamery is incredible. Their flavors are inventive while still being within the realm of classic taste!
Malibu:
Malibu Seafood: Fresh Seafood! Don't know what to get? Get the sampler! The Sandwiches are also pretty great!
Nobu: Probably one of the most famous LA restaurants, Nobu is High End, & I mean High End Sushi!
Melrose:
Blu Jam Cafe: One of my go-to stops in LA. Blu Jam is famous for their Crispy French Toast! It’s bangin’! I recommend getting the Tropical Variant of the French Toast with the Vanilla Creme Sauce! The Churro French Toast is incredible too as is their Breakfast Quesadilla!
Market Provisions: The best Yogurt & Granola I’ve ever had! May seem like a little thing but it’s incredible as is their Dungeness Crab Croque Madame!
Taste on Melrose: Get the White Truffle Lobster Mac & Cheese. End of story!
Wolf: An interesting place to Brunch, the Golden Eggs are one of their specialties as are their Crispy Potatoes!
North Hollywood:
Aroma Cafe: Very large menu with a lot of variety to it. Never had anything bad there! Huge pastry selection as well. Quant & Cute. A fun morning meeting place!
El Tajano: Tuesday night Two-For-One Margaritas & Tacos! Go with friends & play some Yard Games!
Silverlake:
DeSano Pizza: The Nashville Pizza Gods go west! Get the Diavola & the San Genarro!
Las Globos Theater: Awesome Hip Hop Club! Go discover the next big thing in Hip-Hop!
Silverlake Ramen: A must stop. My favorite Ramen in the States! Get the Blaze (Spicy Tankatsu) with Pork Belly, Extra Egg, & Black Garlic Oil. You’ll thank me later!
Sqirl: A Fun little Healthy Breakfast/Lunch spot! The Sorrell Bowls are great as is the fresh Brioche with Ricotta Rainbow Style!
The Thirsty Crow: If Silverlake Ramen has a line, wait it out here! The cocktails are all amazing!
Studio City:
La Loggia: Upscale Italian. Amazing fresh baked bread & pasta. Get a bottle of Baby Blue while you’re there as well!
Voodoo Doughnuts: The Portland Doughnut Giant goes south! This one is located at Universal CityWalk & unlike its siblings, isn't open 24/7. They are also lacking the more “risqué” doughnuts i.e. The Cock & Balls & the Blunt. Still worth it for a Portland Cream, Memphis Mafia, & Maple Bacon Bar!
West Hollywood:
Barnie’s Beanery: A good Celebrity spotting location! Been at the same location forever. I recommend their chili sampler!
Flaming Saddles: A gay bar with the best dance floor in town, no matter what your sexuality is, they cater to it!
Motherlode: Cheap, STROOOONG Drinks! Start your night out here to save some cash & get the bang for your buck!
Night & Market: My favorite Thai spot in LA since Pok Pok pulled out. Very similar to Pok Pok in design & taste! Go potluck with some friends & try a few things!
Pump: Vanderpump’s WeHo Bar. Drinks are a little pricy but they’re very tasty & very strong!
Quick Picks:
Bakery: Dominique Ansel
Breakfast: Blu Jam Cafe
Brunch: Blu Jam Cafe (Traditional) Wolf (Upscale) Market Provisions OR Sqirl (Interesting)
Burger: Stout (Specialty) In-N-Out (Normal)
Coffee: Diamond + Rubies
Contemporary American: Beauty & Essex
Donuts: Voodoo Doughnuts
Empanadas: Nonna’s Empanadas
Frozen Yogurt: Frog
Healthy: Lemonade
Ice Cream: Salt + Straw OR Ample Hills
Italian Jones (Normal) La Loggia (Upscale)
Korean: Chego!
Late Night: Jones
Mexican: Three Borders Brunch
Pho: Mama Hong’s
Pizza: DeSano
Ramen: Silverlake Ramen
Special Occasion: Beauty & Essex
Sushi: Kanpai
Thai: Night & Market
Vegan/Vegetarian: Gracias Madre