Patricia Kelly Yeo

Despite the rising cost of doing business, L.A. is still home to one of the most innovative, exciting and diverse food scenes in the country. Brick-and-mortar restaurants, Instagram pop-ups, street vendors and food trucks: No matter the form, you can find amazing food in a city whose reputation is built as much on off-the-beaten-path tacos and pop-ups as it is on fine dining-trained chefs making quick work of farmers’ market produce and mainline access to the top-notch Pacific seafood.At its core, L.A.’s restaurant scene thrives on diversity, resulting in genre-bending formats and cuisines that have given rise to some of the country’s best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. Every month, I visit dozens of restaurants across the city looking for amazing eats, great ambience and top-notch customer service. I also crowdsource recommendations from readers and industry insiders on the best places to grab a meal—but a restaurant can’t get onto this guide until I’ve actually visited it multiple times. I prioritize fun, flavor, freshness—and value at every price point. This list is updated regularly to reflect changes in menu offerings, style of service, new locations and the ever-changing pulse of the city’s food scene. If it’s on the list, I think it’s awesome and worth the hype, wait and money —and I bet you will, too. June 2025: Last month, I revisited Baroo, Henry’s Cuisine and Birdie G’s and reviewed Bar Cecil, a Palm Springs dining destina

In a city where you can find a farmers’ market any day of the week, finding casual vegetarian—and even vegan—fare is easy. What’s a little harder, however, is finding a nicer eatery for special occasions that satisfies everyone's dietary needs. We’ve combed through the city’s eateries to bring you L.A.’s best vegetarian restaurants—including many that are 100% plant-based, some that are vegetarian (a.k.a. incorporate eggs and dairy) and a few vegetarian-friendly spots we think deserve a shout-out.  June 2025: Since my last update, Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresponding to “amazing,” four to “great” and three to “good,” and we’ve also standardized how most listings are structured. This year’s update to the vegetarian guide includes the addition of new vegetarian-friendly picks from my guide to the best restaurants in the city (Azizam, Funke) and plant-based soul food destination Crystals Soul Cafe. Departing this update are Stuff I Eat, Gracias Madre, The Butcher's Daughter and Satdha Thai after more recent middling experiences at these establishments. I’ve also removed Berbere, which is temporarily closed, and Zinc, which is no longer vegetarian as of August 2024. For more on our new policies, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

Sure, liquor’s been legal since Prohibition’s end, and there’s no practical use for smuggling hooch in basement bars post-1933, but there’s still something sleek about a speakeasy—especially in an age where everything is on full display across social media, removing all the mystery. Fortunately, L.A. keeps a bit of the playful, adventurous, seek-and-ye-shall-find spirit going thanks to the city’s oldest bars and modern-day spots tucked into corners as video stores, hotels, barber shops and anything else you need to explore to find the door. What defines a speakeasy? Some of L.A.’s top examples are shifting and adapting: Even K-town’s beloved pirate-themed speakeasy, R Bar, ditched its passwords a few years ago, and now it’s just a bar—nothing wrong with that, though, let’s be clear. So for the purposes of this list, we whittled the criteria. Every bar on this list has an entrance that’s physically hidden or unmarked, whether it’s a door within a restaurant or in a basement, or the door is actually a bed that flips around to reveal a secret staircase. You’ve got to be in the know to find these top-notch cocktail dens. Once you’ve unlocked these great bars, you’ll usually find burlesque, live jazz, vinyl nights and other secrets waiting to be discovered. Hit the town like it’s 1922 for our city’s top new, old and everything-in-between speakeasies. June 2025: In this seasonal update, I’ve updated information on existing speakeasies and removed Employees Only, which now has regu

From the array of toppings to the differing sizes, to the freshness of the fish, it can be difficult to distinguish a great poke place from one that's below average. In fact, it's almost as hard as picking your favorite sushi spot. But one thing's always certain: whether you're looking for traditional Hawaiian poke or a build-your-own SoCal hybrid, there's never a lack of great seafood options to choose from. Because poke involves a ton of decision making already, we thought we'd take one decision out of the equation: where to go the next time you're craving lightly marinated raw fish over rice (or salad, if that's more your speed). Below are the absolute best restaurants to eat poke of just about every variety.  June 2025: In this annual update, I’ve fact-checked information on existing poke spots and removed Studio City pop-up Smogen Appetizers, which is currently on hiatus. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies, and we’ve also standardized how most listings are structured. For more on our new policies, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

Since the pandemic, rising inflation has put a damper on L.A.’s late-night dining scene, with plenty of classic after-hours joints closing earlier and earlier to trim down on operating costs. In the last year or two, though, we’ve seen enough of a return in late-night dining options (beyond tacos and fast food, of course) to put together this up-to-date guide. The definition of “late,” in our honest opinion, means until at least midnight, and we’ve also included the best late night food options that go past official last call at most lounges, bars and nightclubs.Maybe you just got off your flight at LAX, or you want the party to go a little bit longer before you head home for the night. Whether you’re grabbing takeout as a bedtime snack or just trying to stave off a hangover, these late-night restaurants—many of them iconic—will definitely fit the bill. May 2025: Since last year, the Four Brothers street stall has mysteriously vanished from the Thai Town dining scene. This year’s update removes Fluffy’s, Cole’s, JJ Hong Kong Cafe and Dante Beverly Hills in favor of a few old-but-new additions in Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Burbank, San Gabriel and Chinatown. This includes another late-night KBBQ option in the form of Hae Jang Chon, excellent cold noodles and stews from Lee Ga and HK Macau Bistro, a truly standout Hong Kong-style café. I’ve also added Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank (which now stays open until 3am on weekends), Chinatown classic Hop Woo and vegetable-forward noodle shop

Since its initial revitalization in the late aughts, the Downtown L.A. dining scene has honestly seen better days. In the two years, great all-day options in the Historic Core and South Park like Little Sister and Woodspoon have shuttered. Last summer, the area also lost the Varnish, one of the city’s premier craft cocktail speakeasies. The bulk of the action has largely moved to the Arts District—now home to some of the best restaurants in the entire city.  Still, you’ll find a few decent options for lunch and dinner if you’re willing to walk around a bit—and thanks to slightly better public transit than the rest of the city, it’s just a hop, skip and jump to all the great ramen, sushi and other Japanese fare in Little Tokyo and classic Chinese spots and sandwiches in Chinatown. Whether you’re looking to splurge or save for a rainy day, here’s where you should be eating the next time you head Downtown.RECOMMENDED: Where to eat in the Arts District May 2025: Since last year, Yangban has unfortunately closed (though owners Katianna and John Hong are looking for a new location). This year’s update includes Camélia and Baroo, two new additions to the dynamic Arts District dining scene. I’ve also opted to trim down the list, and thus have removed Badmaash, Sonoratown, Smorgasburg and Cole’s from the Downtown dining guide.  Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in review policies. All food and drink venues included in guides now have star ratings, with five stars corresp

Before the Yelp ratings and “best of” accolades start to roll in, how do you know what’s actually good or not among L.A.’s just-opened eateries? Every month, I put myself through the wringer attempting to visit every new, notable restaurant around Los Angeles. Usually, I enjoy revisiting the city’s best eateries and sipping cocktails at tried-and-true bars, but scouting for the best new restaurants and bars in L.A. is, to put it nicely, kind of a grab bag. Whenever I’m out scouting for the latest openings, I’m just as likely to blow hundreds of dollars on an overhyped dud as I am to stumble upon the city’s next truly great restaurant. With Time Out’s guide to L.A.’s best new restaurants, you don’t need to sift through pay-to-play influencer videos and user-generated reviews to decide where to head next—I’ve done the work for you, from looking for parking and waiting in line to trying those ultra-pricey tasting menus, since there’s nothing worse when dining out than wasting your precious free time and, of course, money. I also strive to include valet prices and parking information for every restaurant—further taking the headache out of trying the next great new spot. Questions I ask myself before including a spot on this guide: Does this new restaurant offer something more interesting, delicious or unique than any of L.A.’s existing restaurants? Is it worth the hype (and money)? Is it worth going out of the way for? If the answer to any of these is “No,” I don’t include it. Ge

For better or for worse, Angelenos are a bunch who love to brunch—try saying that five times fast. To help you in your quest for weekend morning grub, I’ve tried dozens of different variations on eggs Benedict, omelettes, pancakes and fried chicken and waffles in my quest to find the best brunch in Los Angeles.  While my personal taste leans more towards old-school classics and top-notch dim sum, I make every effort to suss out which boozy, more upscale affairs are worthy of your next special occasion gathering. Quality of the food matters above all; if I can tell a restaurant is phoning it in with gloppy hollandaise sauce, overcooked eggs and sugar bombs pretending to be pancakes, it doesn’t matter how great the ambience is. (That being said, if you’re looking to party, I’ve got you covered with guides for drag brunch and bottomless brunch.)Go to any of these restaurants on this list, and you’ll find delicious, well-made food with a distinct point of view and the kind of atmosphere conducive either to celebrating birthdays and other special occasions or catching up with friends or family. In practice, this means we’ll exclude a few great weekday options like Liu’s Cafe from this list, simply because the trendy Koreatown destination curtails its menu on the weekends to better serve the heavy crowds and the cramped space isn’t conducive to groups larger than one or two people. Of the more casual or walk-in-only restaurants I’ve included, I think the meal is worth the wait and

Home to one of the most accessible beaches in Los Angeles, Venice is a longtime artist and bohemian enclave whose colorful characters have managed to stick around despite more recent waves of gentrification and an influx of white-collar tech workers. Having grown up on the Westside, I’ve seen the neighborhood change from a sleepy, somewhat trendy artist’s enclave with more than a few sketchy corners into a gleaming collection of expensive homes and tech company offices.  These days, there are fewer affordable, locally owned restaurants than ever before—and more specialty coffee shops than you can shake a stick at—but Venice is still worth a visit for the always vibrant boardwalk; charming historic canals; and collection of shops, cafés and eateries that line Abbot Kinney, which can get quite crowded on the weekends. No matter the reason you’re in the area, this increasingly pricey beach neighborhood still offers plenty of delicious eats. But be warned: Aside from being home to one of L.A.’s only Panamanian restaurants, I wouldn’t say it’s the most interesting dining neighborhood in Los Angeles. The neighborhood’s full of breezy, all-day Californian restaurants serving grain bowls and avocado toast, plus more Italian and pizza joints than you could possibly need or want. Nevertheless, this guide includes the standout options in those genres, plus a handful of Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian strip mall standouts. March 2025: Since my last update, Willie Mae’s has unfortunately

Hot, sunny weather can make an appearance any time of the year in Los Angeles, which means it’s technically always ice cream season in our city. Slowly but surely, I’ve trekked across L.A. County, sampling dozens of different kinds of ice cream, soft-serve and yes, non-dairy desserts like paletas and vegan ice cream—all of which deserve just as much recognition as dairy-based classic frozen treats. I’ve decided to exclude excellent restaurant-bound ice cream options like the traditional Italian gelato from Antico Nuovo and Nancy Silverton’s Mozzaplex, not to mention the soft-serve from Jon & Vinny’s and Yang’s Kitchen, simply because you don’t need to always spend money on entire meal every time you’re in search of amazing ice cream in Los Angeles.  The next time temperatures climb (and sometimes even if they don’t), treat yourself to the city’s tastiest frozen treats, many of which are built on fresh fruits and herbs from L.A.’s incredible farmers’ markets. Whether you’re looking for jam-swirled seasonal flavors, globally inspired scoops or straight-up classic combos done right, L.A. has it all—and then some more. June 2025: In this seasonal update of the best ice cream in L.A., I’ve shuffled rankings slightly, with Fosselman’s now rightly attaining a spot in the top 10 ahead of Fluffy McCloud’s. I’ve also added new information for Fosselman’s, Kanomwaan, Mateo’s, Honeymee and Handel’s. New to this year’s guide is Arcadia’s 626 Ice Cream, which has improved since my first vi

In Los Angeles, there seem to be as many good-to-great taco spots as there are stars in the sky, but how can one even begin to decide where to start? After all, you can easily find chef-driven tacos in the $10 to $20 range made with the finest ingredients—though we'll have little to none of that on this list—as you can find $3 street tacos, ready to be popped straight into your mouth while you're standing on the sidewalk. Our non-exhaustive best tacos list serves as a carefully curated selection of what we think are the city's finest tacos (some of which have even landed on our best restaurants list), along with a few more practical considerations like more regular operating hours and consistency in quality and service. (In our eyes, a “best” taco only the most dedicated, patient fans can get after waiting several hours isn't really a best taco at all.) Whether you’re a visitor or a local, read on for an excellent guide for anyone hoping to become a well-rounded taco connossieur. May 2025: This most recent update adds Tijuanazo and Barbacoa Ramirez, both of which rank in the top 15 tacos in a taco-laden city. I’ve also removed Tacos La Guera (which is still open in SoCal, but the Venice and Highland Park locations are no longer listed on the official Instagram). In the last year, the critically acclaimed Guerrilla Tacos also closed its doors, and thus has been removed from the guide. Time Out has also instituted a sitewide change in how most listings are structured. For more

After years of struggling through the pandemic, L.A.’s bar scene has learned to roll with the punches, and there’s always no better time than now (or this weekend) for a good, well-made drink, preferably with a side of good, old-fashioned camaraderie with slightly buzzed strangers. After all, bars, like restaurants and public parks, give rise to the sought-after sense of belonging and community that characterizes what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called “third spaces.” Right now, L.A.’s drinking scene is back and better than ever, and we’re glad to be back at a busy bar, credit card in hand, hoping to flag down a bartender. L.A. might have cozy dives near the beach, happy hours with views of the Hollywood Hills, and plenty of buzzier new watering holes, but if you’re really asking us, here are the 18 best bars in Los Angeles—for any occasion. June 2025: Last month, I checked out Daisy Margarita Bar, which comes from the same team behind Mírate, and have updated the Los Feliz bar’s listing to reflect that experience. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.

This all-vegan restaurant in Reseda and Cerritos hits all of the high notes of Vietnamese cuisine, minus the need for animal products. You can barely taste the difference, aside from some textural shifts, in Vinh Loi’s selection, including delicious “shrimp” and lemongrass grilled “duck” rolls. Chef-owner Kevin Tran delivers the same beautiful blends of aromatic herbs and long-simmered meaty flavor (courtesy of plenty of mushrooms) in Vinh Loi’s bun bo hue and “beef” pho. For dessert, look to Vinh Loi’s soy milk and creamy tofu custard served with ginger-infused simple syrup; they’re just as delicious as the savory menu offerings, which include plenty of fusion items. In Reseda, Tran will probably try to steer your order in a particular direction. Unless you’re particularly adamant about trying a specific item, just let him.

This vegan restaurant chain with locations in Venice, Larchmont and Newport Beach is (in)famously known for its woo-woo ethos to service and hospitality. Its dining rooms are always full of cheerful wait staff, diners with perfect postures and glowing skin and dishes named for affirmations so you’ll have to declare something like, “I Am Thriving,” to order the soup of the day. It’s true: When the server takes your order, they’ll most likely ask, “What are you grateful for today?” But don’t let that stop you—embrace it, because the beautifully composed plant-based food will have you coming back. If you’re feeling especially out of tune with the world and need a drink, look for the sangrias, elevated tonics or wine. There’s also a great happy hour on weekdays from 4 to 7pm with discounted snacks like warm almond burrata, grain bowls and smoothies. Omnivores would do well to try one of the creamy, decadent desserts: The tiramisu is some of the best in town, and there’s usually a completely raw sweets option on the menu.

This review was originally published on March 30, 2022, and has since been been updated to changes in price and menu structure. In 1903, Auguste Escoffier published Le Guide Culinaire, a cookbook of French recipes and techniques still heralded as the gold standard by today’s classically trained chefs. Within the pages of its English translation, you’ll find now-common French culinary loanwords like bouillon, roux and consomme, along with plenty of ways to prepare meat, seafood, poultry and game. Substitute plants for dead animal products, and the vegetarian tasting menu at Koreatown’s Le Comptoir—literally, “the counter” in French—honors Le Guide in just about every way, though you’ll still find supplementary meat and seafood options available. Run by French Laundry alum Gary Menes, the 10-seat chef’s counter inside Hotel Normandie dates back to 2014, with previous pop-up stints in Glendale and Downtown, and was awarded a star when the Michelin Guide returned to L.A. in 2019. While this makes Le Comptoir a relatively long standing trailblazer in the realm of plant-based fine dining, a meal here—though interesting, painstakingly sourced and obviously well-made—is unfortunately nothing to write home about in terms of actual flavor. In this way, the Koreatown chef’s counter is no different from the famed Napa Valley restaurant where Menes first cut his teeth professionally, part of an elegantly stagnant scene which the New York Times described as “delicious and dull.”  Compared

This plant-based fast-casual restaurant in Culver City comes from Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, the sisters behind Spork Foods, a vegan catering and cookbook empire. Since opening last August, Hey, Sunshine Kitchen has become one of the highest rated independent restaurants on Yelp. After one bite of food here, you’ll quickly realize why. The warm, vibrantly colored grain bowls, particularly the Mediterranean chickpea option, pack major flavor in humble packages and can be modded out to your exact specifications. The hot sandwiches and tacos made with plant-based fish, jackfruit carnitas and Impossible beef crumble hit the spot for a tasty lunch or comfort food craving. The attention to detail and overall deliciousness is on par with one of my favorite plant-based restaurants of all time: Chef Tanya’s Kitchen in Palm Springs. Grain bowls, tacos and sandwiches might not sound all that exciting, but Hey, Sunshine Kitchen is proof that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you merely need to perfect it.

Right next to Studio City's virally popular Easy Street Burgers, chef Shanshan Liu Estacio is serving some of L.A.’s most flavorful, affordable vegan sushi and ramen. Aside from optional egg add-on, everything at Gokuku is 100% plant-based. Creations like the Salmon Lover (made with a tapioca-based fish substitute), Dynamite Shrimp and Gokoku’s take on a classic California roll would fool even the biggest sushi roll fan, and the rich, sunflower seed-based broth here is one of the best bowls of ramen in the city, vegan or not. Estacio rounds out her menu with rice plates, a killer take on garlic noodles and plenty of appetizers—and while the dizzyingly large menu might offer dozens of options for your meal, no need to worry: Everything’s pretty great.

With reasonable prices, flavorful cooking and a charming dining room, it’s no surprise that Kitchen Mouse has stuck around in Highland Park for so long. Run by punk-singer-turned-chef Erica Daking, the vegetarian café and bakery serves delicious buckwheat pancakes, a selection of grain bowls and other thoughtfully executed brunch fare. While eggs are still available as an add-on, the entire menu is meat- and dairy-free. Popular items include the Buffalo Bowl (which tops black beans, mashed yams and braised greens with buffalo sauce and cashew cheese) and the Psychedelic Daalipop (red lentil daal paired with curried mushrooms and garlic herb chapati). 

At most of L.A.’s Middle Eastern restaurants, the only substantial, filling option for vegans is falafel, the deep-fried balls of herb-and-chickpea dough that often come out dry and tasteless. (You can also make a meal of rice, bread, sides and dips, but that’s not always what you’re in the mood for!) The only place in Los Angeles you’ll find plant-based “lamb” and “beef” kebabs is this homey Eagle Rock eatery located in a former diner. Served with creamy hummus, cucumber salad, a whole roasted green pepper, basmati rice and naan, the soy-based imitations capture all of the flavor and 90 percent of the texture of the real deal. BeeWali’s menu also features a handful of straightforward curries, a well-executed Daring chicken shawarma and excellent cheeseburgers that use their housemade “lamb” patties. The reason to make a trek here, however, is the kebab, whether you’re opting for the generously portioned plates, the lunch-friendly bowls or a handheld wrap.

Long before plant-based meat substitutes became mainstream, the San Gabriel Valley has maintained a small but compelling collection of Chinese and Vietnamese eateries catering to the traditionally vegetarian Buddhist diet. Among them is Vege Valley, a vegan-friendly restaurant in a San Gabriel strip mall serving excellent soy-based mock meats and all manner of stir-fried Asian vegetables, including hard-to-find long xu cai (chayote shoots). Most items on the menu are vegan and some of those that aren’t can be made vegan; just ask your server. Other menu highlights include the mock fish in bean paste sauce, mock kung pao shrimp and the shredded “pork” with bamboo shoots. During lunch hours, Vege Valley also offers a trio of reasonably priced combo meals, all of them well under $20.

Run by chef and vegan activist Wo’se Kofi, this Black-owned daytime spot in South L.A. serves flavorful mixed plates and other creative items that’ll keep you coming back for more. The plant-based Jamaican-style patties that first put Kofi on the map back in Baba’s catering days are generally only available by the dozen and via preorder, but they’re well worth the advance planning for dinner parties and family gatherings. Walk-ins can savor the Welcome Plates, which come with fried cauliflower, rice and beans, curried vegetables, kale salad, steamed purple cabbage and your choice of macaroni salad or (my recommendation) hot mac-and-cheese. Nutrient-dense and homey, it’s the kind of meal that won’t weigh you down afterwards. Other options include tacos, smoothies, sandwiches and “bachos,” which consist of thick corn chips topped with chopped mushrooms, beans, salsa, kale salad and cashew cheese.

Health-conscious, airy and bright (but with a tad bit of grunge), this all-day eatery is essentially Silver Lake incarnate. Since opening Botanica in 2017, owners Emily Fiffer and Heather Sperling have built a dedicated following with flavorful, light dishes like Turkish eggs and white bean hummus by day and shaved celery root salad and roast chicken with romesco by night. Throw in the cute, well-curated market out front for natural wines and gourmet goods, the occasional author talk or wine tasting event and a bevy of floral, herbaceous-leaning cocktails and you've got the recipe for an ideal Silver Lake neighborhood restaurant with a little bit of something for everyone. For a little sweet treat during the day, order the “cake for breakfast,” a gluten-free coconut cake with passionfruit cream and jam.

This review was originally published on February 2, 2022, and has since been been updated to changes in prices and menu structure. I’ve also upgraded Kato from four to five stars. Despite its ill-timed initial debut just before the pandemic, Ardor at the West Hollywood EDITION has quietly become one of the most exceptional newer fine-dining experiences in all of L.A.Founded by Michelin restaurant alum and NYC restaurateur John Fraser, the self-described “vegetable-forward” lobby restaurant offers astonishingly good food and an air of sweeping romance that’ll make you forget all about the fact you’ll pay at least $22 for valet parking, if not more. Insulated from the chaos of Sunset Strip traffic, Ardor’s separate entrance seamlessly segues to the restaurant’s stunning backlit bar, where you might need to sit a spell while waiting for a table to open up. After check-in, conventionally attractive hosts in slinky white dresses and kitten-heeled boots will usher you to your table, while Ardor’s servers clad in similar all-white attire move about the modern, greenery-lined dining room. Thanks to careful lighting, the overall effect is nothing if downright cinematic. You’ll find yourself willing to forgive a few lags in service, since the essentially flawless cuisine, well-made drinks and extremely West Hollywood aura of the place generally make up for these occasional shortcomings in attentiveness and timing. Cocktails remain delightful and impressive whether made with or without

Step into this purple-hued, plant-filled Compton oasis for some of the most deliciously indulgent plant-based cuisine in Los Angeles. Soul food staples like barbecue ribs, fried chicken and macaroni and cheese are delightfully veganized, mostly with the aid of mushrooms rather than processed meat substitutes. On my visit, I enjoyed the Cajun spiced deep-fried oyster mushrooms, which come with sides of tender, umami-rich collard greens and red beans and rice. The lion’s mane “ribs” offer the sweet, smoky flavor of barbecue, and a convincing enough texture to sate the average omnivore. Crystals Soul’s small staff handles takeout orders while presiding over the handful of tables, which means the wait for your food after ringing up your meal can stretch to half an hour or more. If you’d like your food to be ready more quickly or upon arrival, I recommend calling in advance before heading over.

Since last Friday, much of L.A. has been in uproar over widespread immigration raids, with many Angelenos taking to the streets to protest and others still turning to grassroots organizations to make an impact through donations, grocery drop-offs, reporting suspected ICE activity and other mutual aid efforts. In the city’s hospitality industry, where a sizable portion of the workforce is made up of immigrants, restaurants and bars have been preparing for the possibility of ICE raids.  Now, with the nightly curfew Mayor Karen Bass imposed on greater Downtown L.A. last night, restaurants, bars and other businesses in the area have been forced to adjust their hours, with some closing entirely out of an abundance of caution, either due to the ongoing raids or due to the possibility of civil unrest. Others, aware of confirmed ICE activity in the area, have opted to close their doors temporarily to protect immigrant communities. It’s important not to underestimate the gravity of these business decisions; between the wildfires and the lingering impacts of the slowdown in the entertainment industry, many places in L.A. have already been quietly struggling with fewer guests.  In alphabetical order, here is a confirmed list of restaurants, bars and other food-related businesses in and around the nightly curfew zone—which includes Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and parts of Boyle Heights—which have either closed or announced curtailed hours to allow workers and guests to get

It’s the seventh straight day of immigration raids, protests, and a region-specific nightly curfew in Los Angeles, and a handful of L.A. County restaurants and organizations are showing up to support the immigrant and undocumented communities for the long haul. Across the nation, but particularly in L.A., undocumented individuals are an indispensable, often invisible part of the restaurant and bar industry and the food system as a whole. From the agricultural workers who pick and process our fruits and vegetables to the dishwashers, busboys, and other important jobs that help transform restaurants and bars into places of celebration, pleasure, and escape, immigrants are an essential part of L.A.’s hospitality industry. Through street food, often in the form of tacos, they contribute to L.A.’s vibrant, ever-shifting food culture, where affordable dining options are just as venerated as fine-dining institutions. Of course, many people in L.A., including food and drink business owners, haven’t accepted this state of affairs without question. Beyond protests and other grassroots efforts to protect marginalized communities, hospitality operators are preparing their staff for potential encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Across the city, many restaurants and street vendors have closed their doors or paused operations while they figure out how to protect their immediate communities. Local advocacy group Independent Hospitality Coalition has even proposed

Today is National Doughnut Day, and in case you needed another reason to reach for a deep-fried treat, Culver City’s Helms Bakery will be frying up a weekend-only special doughnut in collaboration with beloved chocolate brand See’s Candies. The locally founded company operates one of its main chocolate factories just a few blocks away on a busy stretch of La Cienega Boulevard.  The See’s Toffee-ette doughnut ($5) consists of a raised yeast round filled with toffee cream and topped with chocolate glaze, crushed Toffee-ettes and drizzled white chocolate. I actually had the opportunity to try the doughnut in a day-before preview, and it’s delicious. The toffee cream isn’t overpoweringly sweet, and the chocolate glaze plays nicely with the crushed nuts and toffee and hint of white chocolate.  Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time Out The limited-time item is available from today (while supplies last) through Sunday, June 8, with the potential to continue into subsequent weekends, depending on popularity and supplies. By our accounts, Helms Bakery is already home to some of the city’s best doughnuts—though fewer than a half dozen flavors are available at any given moment. The Toffee-ette doughnut is the first of a series of limited-time collabs between the two iconic L.A brands, according to Sang Yoon, the chef-owner of the newly revived Helms Bakery. Over the summer, the Culver City bakery, deli and gourmet market plans to unveil at least three unique items—a pastry, a sundae

The first time I dined at Bar Cecil, my visit to Palm Springs had been planned less than 48 hours before. It was in the midst of the devastating January wildfires, and my sinuses were screaming in protest, even with two air purifiers running in my apartment. I was lucky enough to live outside of the evacuation zones, but I could not sleep well, I could not breathe well and after two days of inhaling toxic chemicals, I could barely think straight. Guiltily, my partner and I decided to flee to the desert. The suburban sprawl of the San Gabriel Valley was bathed in ominous, orange-tinted sunlight as we drove east. Eventually, we reached the Inland Empire, where the skies were once again a peaceful, comforting shade of blue.  By the time we arrived at the Plaza Del Sol Shopping Center in Palm Springs, it was nearly 5pm and we were hungry, both literally and for a taste of normalcy. We parked the car and I sprinted to put my name down. Alas, I was too late: The 12 walk-in bar seats at Bar Cecil were already full. In the end, we opted to wait in the tiny, tranquil courtyard for over an hour. The chilled, expertly made martini that followed, as well as the green salad, duck liver pate, flat iron steak frites and chocolate chip cookies that accompanied it, turned out to be one of the most satisfying meals I’ve had in Southern California this year—and I’ve visited over a hundred restaurants since. Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time Out Since opening in 2021, Bar Cecil has been

If you haven’t been to the Third Street Promenade lately, we don’t blame you. Santa Monica’s outdoor shopping district has struggled in recent years to attract locals amid empty storefronts and increased public safety concerns due to the sizable increase in the area’s homeless population. While the area still sees heavy tourist traffic in the summer and on the weekends, even newer restaurant openings like an oceanfront Din Tai Fung have largely failed to lure back the Promenade’s pre-pandemic crowds. Now, Santa Monica will be turning the entire three-block area into an open container zone sometime in June—which means you’ll be able to walk and drink freely along the Promenade from approved to-go containers between 6pm and 2am. ABC 7 Los Angeles reports that the zone’s borders will be between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway. Last night, the city council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance in a likely bid to change the fate of the struggling commercial district.  The move seems to dovetails perfectly with the newest occupants of the Promenade, which has seen the departure of major retailers. These days, area landlords are experimenting with “experiential retail,” according to the Los Angeles Times, which includes pickleball and boozy art classes. Last fall, the area saw the opening of Holey Moley, a mini golf club that sells booze and offers Instagrammable courses. Apparently, per the Times, people are also live-selling on TikTok on the Promenade. The new “Outdoor Enter

From the whimsical yellow giraffe at the front entrance to the red number stamped on the back of the menu presented at the end of the evening, every aspect of Somni has meaning, intent and purpose. The outdoor sculpture, according to chef-owner Aitor Zabala, nods to the animal’s meaning in some cultures as a symbol of good fortune, elegance and tranquillity. The little red digits correspond to the thousands of diners the newly revived tasting menu restaurant (back after a four-year hiatus) has served since its buzzy debut in West Hollywood last November.  Before you even take a single bite or sip, there’s the breathtaking hidden courtyard, where dreamy white cloud sculptures suspended from the trees overhead sway in the breeze. (The feeling is no coincidence—Somni means “dream” in the chef’s native Catalan.) By the time you nibble on a delicate cheese feather and crunch into a fried almond painstakingly reconstructed to resemble the original in its shell, you can almost forget the fact it costs at least $840 per person, with a minimum party size of two, to be there. Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time OutThe courtyard at Somni, where guests enjoy early snacks and drinks. Six months after reopening, Somni is undisputedly L.A.’s most dazzling, destination-worthy fine dining experience. Playful, elegant and downright delicious, the Spanish-influenced meal is full of avant-garde delights and insider nods to now-closed Michelin giants like Spain’s famous El Bullí—where Zabal

The official Michelin Guide ceremony won’t happen in Sacramento until June 25, but the multinational tire company just added another three notable L.A. County restaurants to the guide. All additions are considered “recommended” and could go on to receive either a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand (the guide’s budget-friendly category) later this year.  In greater Los Angeles, three restaurants made the guide: Komal, a masa-focused street stall in South L.A.’s Mercado La Paloma from two Holbox alums. The second is Somni in West Hollywood, the most expensive restaurant in Los Angeles. Founded by Jose Andrés in 2018, the Spanish-leaning modernist tasting menu held two Michelin stars in its previous iteration. Last fall, former day-to-day lead Aitor Zabala revived Somni as an independent project. The third is Vin Folk, a tiny South Bay bistro run by two Somni alums serving casual bistro dishes with fine dining flare and an impeccable wine list. Elsewhere across the state, Michelin recognized restaurants like Sungho, a homey Korean spot in San Francisco and Atelier Manna in Encinitas, which the guide describes as a “hipster haven” with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. Three more restaurants down in San Diego County made the cut: Tanner’s Prime Burger and 24 Suns in Oceanside, as well as Lilo in Carlsbad.  Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time OutThe courtyard at Somni, where guests enjoy early snacks and drinks. Two months ago, Michelin added seven other L.A. restaurants to

The votes for 2025 are in: Six L.A. chefs, restaurants, bars, bakeries and writers have been named James Beard Awards finalists. Known widely as the “Oscars of food,” the awarding body recognizes chefs, restauranteurs, bar directors, authors and journalists across the nation.  While the restaurant and chef awards were first announced on April 2, the media awards weren’t announced until today. Whittled down from 16 semifinalists, just three L.A. County chefs, restaurants and bakeries have advanced to the final round: Kato’s Jon Yao in “Best Chef: California” category; Redbird’s Tobin Shea in “Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service”; and Gusto Bread in Long Beach—which I consider one of the city’s best bakeries, and totally worth the drive—for “Outstanding Bakery.”  Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time OutGusto Bread In the media category, three local journalists from the Los Angeles Times have picked up nominations. Critic Bill Addison received a nomination in “Dining and Travel” for his guide to San Francisco and columnist Jenn Harris was also recognized for her work in the “Craig Claiborne Distinguished Criticism” category. In “Home Cooking,” senior editor Danielle Dorsey received a nomination for her recipe and reporting package on Black Thanksgiving traditions. Within Southern California, a few of our neighbors in Orange County also picked up nominations: Anaheim tiki bar Strong Water (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program) and Daniel Castillo of San Juan

For the second year in a row, Mírate in Los Feliz and Thunderbolt in Historic Filipinotown have made this year’s list of North America’s 50 Best Bars, which dropped late last night. Veteran L.A. drinkers likely won’t find this surprising given the strength of Mike Capoferri’s precise, delicious and sustainably made cocktails at Thunderbolt and Max Reis’s stellar bar program at Mírate, which incorporates pre-Hispanic indigenous fermented beverages and showcases rare agave spirits from smaller producers you can’t find anywhere else in the United States.  This year, however, Mírate has jumped significantly in the ranking, coming in at 12th across the continent after debuting on last year’s list at number 46. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants organization, which also decides the annual North America’s 50 Best Bars list, also awarded Mírate the Nikka Highest Climber Award and named the Los Feliz restaurant and bar the “Best Bar in the West.” Conversely, Thunderbolt has fallen out of its top 10 ranking at number 8 to number 24—but don’t worry, we still love you Thunderbolt. The organizations touts the bar’s open patio and “bright and breezy” feel, but also shouts out the drinks program as “boundary-pushing” in a way that weaves community, philanthropy and sustainability. As such, the Historic Filipinotown bar also earned the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2025. In the last year, both Capoferri and Reis have been busy working on other new concepts around town. Last December, Capoferr

Can a little star power help revive Downtown’s struggling restaurant scene? Actor and writer Issa Rae—along with cofounders Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan—is opening a pizzeria and bar at 718 South Hill Street inside the same historic early-20th-century building that houses Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen and Lost, a rooftop cocktail and taco bar that opened last September.  Named Downtown Dough, the restaurant’s menu will be centered around the space’s wood-fired pizza oven, with dishes incorporating seasonal produce. Think classic, nostalgia-inducing dishes like cheesy garlic bread made from toasted focaccia, crispy Old Bay calamari and banana pudding tiramisu. Guests can also expect clever twists on cauliflower pizza and lobster pasta. Two years ago, GVO Hospitality—the group owned by Hagos and Relan—first debuted the fourth location of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen within the space, which previously housed the short-lived Gusto Green (pictured below). Now, after 6pm, venue will flip into the 179-seat Downtown Dough.  Photograph: Time Out/Patricia Kelly YeoThe dining room of the previous tenant, Gusto Green. Rae has also previously collaborated with GVO Hospitality on Somerville, a soul food-inspired jazz club in View Park-Windsor Hills that opened last fall. Downtown Dough’s first day of service for is slated for this Saturday, May 3; look out for reservations on OpenTable. Downtown Dough 718 S Hill StLos Angeles, CA 90014Wed–Sun 6–11pm

It feels like every day another iconic L.A. restaurant is closing or struggling—which is why it’s all the more heartbreaking that Papa Cristo’s, the longtime Greek restaurant at the corner of Pico and Normandie, is closing its doors on May 4. Originally founded as an import company in 1948 by Sam Chrys, this family-run neighborhood institution predates the formation of Koreatown as we know and love it today.  Chrys Chrys, the son of Sam, confirmed the news and announced the final day of service in an Instagram post on April 3. “After 77 unforgettable years on the corner of Pico and Normandie, it’s time for me to hang up my apron and for us to say goodbye (for now),” the current owner of Papa Cristo’s wrote. “We will close this chapter with our hearts full of love and gratitude for the incredible community that has supported us for generations.” Chrys bought the original Greek import business from his father in 1968, turning it into a restaurant in the early 1990s. In 2010, Chrys’s daughter Annie joined the family business. On April 1, the restaurant property was spotted on Loopnet with an asking price of $5.2 million.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Papa Cristo’s Greek Food (@papacristos) According to Chrys himself, Papa Cristo’s will live on in some form. “The story of Papa Cristo’s doesn’t end here—exciting things are coming,” the restaurant’s owner wrote at the end of his farewell message. The family already have a pre-existing line of he

Cheese-obsessed local ghost kitchen chef Eric Greenspan will run the upcoming, now politically charged Tesla diner (and drive-in) in Los Angeles, according to Sawyer Merritt, a self-professed Tesla investor who periodically shares news related to Elon Musk’s electric car company on X. The March 26 post says that the yet-to-open project will feature “1950s retro charm” and “dazzling neon lights,” along with the scent of burgers and milkshakes.  Merritt also confirmed that the property will feature two drive-in movie screens and 75 V4 charging stations—the fastest tier of Tesla’s chargers. Musk himself commented on the post less than an hour after it was published, appearing to confirm the news—or at least not deny its veracity. “It will be cool,” he said. “When’s it opening?” Merritt replied, to no response. Though a resident of Los Angeles, Greenspan hasn’t run a sit-down restaurant in several years. Instead, he’s turned his focus to delivery-only concepts, a.k.a. ghost kitchens, and New School American, a boutique cheese company that’s used in the burgers at Chi Spacca, one of the city’s best restaurants. His previous concepts include the Foundry on Melrose, the Roof on Wilshire and Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese. He’s also starred in or appeared in several food-related TV shows. Reporting by The New York Times further uncovered via expired job postings that L.A. restaurant industry veteran Bill Chait will also be involved in the restaurant, which sits at the border of Hollywoo