The best restaurants in Hollywood

With dozens of celebrity photos and "best of" lists on the walls, chef Jazz Singsanong’s Thai Town restaurant is one of the city’s cult favorites—and serves Angelenos in memory of her brother, L.A. Thai-food legend chef-owner Tui Sungkamee, who passed away in 2017. The Crispy Morning Glory Salad is an obligatory dish: a flavorful mix of crunchy, deep-fried Chinese watercress, plump shrimp, red onions, cilantro, cabbage and bell peppers marinated in the spicy house dressing. If perusing the lengthy menu leaves you dazed and confused, the green mussel curry—succulent New Zealand mussels piled high and bathed in an aromatic Southern curry flavored with lemongrass, sweet pineapples and chiles—is a good place to start on the extensive list of fiery Northern and Southern Thai specialties.

Featuring a minimalist Japanese-inspired menu that defies categorization, Kensho exists in the liminal space between the Magic Castle and historic landmark Yamashiro. Pairing a carefully curated sake and natural wine list with a small, almost-Japanese menu full of excellent small plates, Kensho’s less-is-more ethos has made it one of the most magical, underrated dining experiences in the city.

Few restaurants aim for, little less achieve, the level of culinary precision and excellence on display at Providence on Melrose Avenue every night of service. While this hushed, white-tablecloth restaurant is based around seafood, it’s really much more than a fish palace. It’s one of the best fine dining restaurants on the West Coast, with the two Michelin stars to match. Fish just happens to be its primary muse—from farm-raised sustainable caviar to Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, abalone, geoduck clams, Spanish octopus, Santa Barbara spot prawns and wild, line-caught Atlantic striped bass. Whether you're ordering a la carte or opting for the chef's menu, there’s always an incredible cut of steak thrown into the mix as well.

Located in the Second Home co-working space in East Hollywood, this Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant from Vietnamese American chef Minh Phan (also of the temporarily closed Porridge + Puffs) is a post-pandemic homage to the natural world. Named for a crystal formed under extreme conditions, Phenakite presents guests with an ever-evolving, seasonal omakase menu that not only draws on Phan’s heritage, but all the cuisines of L.A., to produce lively, entertaining dinners worth the cost and need for advance planning.

If you want amazing California-influenced French food and well-made cocktails, go to Gigi’s. If you want to see paparazzi attempt to snap photos of B-listers, go to Gigi’s. If you want a sculptural hunk of bread as moving as any exhibition at LACMA, go to Gigi’s. If you want to dress up, go to Gigi’s. Despite the mid-luxury cars lining the nearby curbs and the tryhard crowd, the food at this NYC-inspired upscale French-ish dinner spot with an intimate dining room and string-lit sidewalk patio makes trying to snag a reservation more than worthwhile. They now also offer a smaller food menu at their gorgeous bar, a friendlier set-up for last minute walk-ins.

Located in the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt, one of the city's most historic hotels, the Barish is award-winning local chef Nancy Silverton's Italian-influenced version of an old-school steakhouse. Named after Silverton's 19th-century Canadian family farm, the Barish features a menu with steakhouse classics and new takes on the chef's trademark bread and pasta dishes—including an unforgettable rigatoni filled with squash and goat cheese. Don’t miss out on ordering Silverton’s famous gelato for dessert.

San Francisco's famous Tartine bakery continues its L.A. expansion with Tartine Sycamore, a café and coffee shop located just steps from Gigi’s and Sightglass Coffee. Selling house-made bread, sandwiches, pastries, rice porridges, quiches and, of course, Tartine's signature smørrebrød toasts, this location is the daytime cafe that keeps the neighborhood around it well-fed until Gigi’s opens for dinner. We also love their swoon-worthy morning buns—though they’re also available at their Silver Lake and Santa Monica locations across town.

Angelenos rhapsodize about Thai Town’s Ruen Pair with a fervor that borders on obsession. At this round-the-clock favorite, the enticing Southeast Asian menu is full of beer-friendly, shareable plates like fish cake pad ka prow, spongy, light rounds sautéed in basil leaves and vibrant chilies, which justifies a visit on its own. Stir-fry with Chinese olive and ground pork is served with crispy bits of flavorful meat and fresh garlic paired alongside a bowl of steaming rice. Another must order: the sautéed morning glory. Ask for it with crispy pork belly for the ultimate late-night Thai combo.

The Vietnamese-meets-French pop-up from chefs Casey Felton and Armen Piskoulian finally found a home, and at Banh Oui's bright, casual, counter-service spot, they brought all the flavor—and then some. You can catch their signature banh mi sandwiches, plus their cult-classic sesame fried chicken sandwich, specials and some of the best wings in town. At their nearby Oui Melrose location, there's also a restaurant within a restaurant: Tony Khachapuri, the chefs' Georgian-flatbread concept serving spins on the cheesy, eggy, doughy baked good you can't put down. 

The homestyle cooking of this Thai Town joint attracts traditionalists citywide. You won't find fusion or overly sweet noodles at Sanamluang Café—only some of the best Asian comfort food (and slightly intimidating waitresses). Start with the classic tom kha kai, a spicy coconut soup with plump chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, lime juice and fresh chili for a refreshing starter. Then take a menu detour with the khao pad krapow gai, a satisfying and fiery chicken-basil-rice stir-fry topped with an optional egg, and khana moo grob: This crispy and juicy chunks of pork paired with broth-wilted Chinese broccoli is a must. Wear relaxed clothing and dig in.

BBQ and grilling authority Adam Perry Lang’s first L.A. restaurant brings turn-of-the-century steakhouse charm to life with APL, a temple to both beef and simplicity. The lights are low, you've just settled in at your comfy leather booth and you know full well that the dry-ageing cellar beneath your feet is about to provide some serious steaks. At lunch, find a casual menu of some of the best BBQ in the city; at dinner, opt for chops and "APL selects," plus old-school items like the decadent shrimp cocktail or a classic caesar upgraded by a slab of house-cured bacon.

When you’re craving cozy Mexican American food with (literal) flaming margaritas, the Hollywood location of El Compadre (the other is in Echo Park) is ready to serve you every iteration of cheese, tortilla, rice, beans, salsa and a dash of sour cream and guacamole under the sun. Endless chips and salsa also mean that you’ll never leave hungry from this oldschool spot, which dates back to the '70s. El Compadre’s fun, unfussy atmosphere and solid food mean that it’s a party almost any day of the week—so make a reservation if you can.

Karabagh is a market, deli and butcher shop that serves East Hollywood's Armenian community and in-the-know food (and bargain) hunters. Trays of lule, ground beef or chicken kebabs are crafted in-house and on display. Order a kebab sandwich—packed with juicy lule, parsley and red onion in between slices of lavash—at the counter and take it to-go or dine in at the next-door bakery with coffee and pastries. With each sandwich at around $5 apiece, two sandwiches easily make a bargain lunch

There's a reason why weekend crowds congregate at Square One for breakfast and brunch: A bright, cozy interior sets the tone for delicious AM feasts of eggs Benedict, brioche French toast with seasonal warm fruit, baked eggs with chorizo and gruyere, and braised greens with eggs and grits—all accompanied by the local coffee, plus a few house-made juices quaintly served in mason jars. Meanwhile, a front patio, though rarely empty, offers a laid-back, leisurely vibe.