The 100 best dishes and drinks in Los Angeles 2015: Entrees

While Ostrich Farm's menu changes on a regular basis, this is one entree that seems to stick around—and for a good reason. Golden, moist pastry envelops tender beef, shredded among carrots and parsnips and fennel in what is some of the best pot pie we've had in a long time. Most of its success is due to the dough, but it's an all-around stellar dish that could be easily shared between two people. $26. - Erin Kuschner

This dish drew well-deserved raves from almost every outlet in town. Hearty strips of rabbit are wrapped in dough and topped with bing cherries, white beans and dollops of mustard, the last of which offers a welcoming hit of zest. You could pin the baklava’s popularity on its oddity, but really it's just a fantastic plate of food. $20. - Erin Kuschner

Noorook may be one of the most complex dishes at Baroo, which is saying a lot given the fusion nature of the menu. Job's tears (also known as Chinese pearl barley), kamut, farro, roasted Koji beet creme, concentrated kombu dashi and a host of other unique ingredients fill the plate for a flavor bomb in each bite. $12. - Jakob Layman

In this memorable dish from Broken Spanish, two hefty lamb neck tamales come with king oyster mushrooms and queso Oaxaca. The meat is beautifully tender, and the tamale isn’t so starchy that it sinks like a stone in your stomach. There is a goat cheese version, too, if the thought of lamb neck weirds you out. $15. - Erin Kuschner

Chef Piero Topputo's pasta at Forma is phenomenal, especially when it comes to the dalla forma selections (a method that involves pasta being tossed in a cheese wheel). The Italian restaurant has one of the best cacio e pepe dishes in town: heavily peppered without being bitter, and finished in a wheel of pecorino romano cheese. $22. - Erin Kuschner

This dish is an absolute treat. The broth is sweet with the added punchiness of lime and plum while the fish is moist and flaky—plus, it comes in a much-appreciated fish-shaped dish. $18.99. - Jakob Layman

There's plenty of fantastic BBQ to be had at Maple Block, but the pork spare ribs are the standout choice here. Fall-off-the-bone tender and sporting a beautiful rub, they're worthy of sitting through 405 traffic, and have quickly become the gold standard of quality ribs in LA. $25 half rack/$48 whole rack. - Erin Kuschner

Hatchet Hall’s wood grilled pork chop is outstanding, one the best versions I’ve had in a very long time. The pork is from Peads & Barnetts, which sells its heritage meat at the Santa Monica farmers market, and the quality meat combined with a bite of blackened peach—everything drizzled with fig and brown butter maple jus—made this one of the most standout dishes of the year. $38. - Erin Kuschner

Roy Choi revamped A-Frame earlier this year, and introduced the Loco Moco: Hambagu steak piled on sticky rice and topped with curry gravy and a sunnyside up egg. It's a phenomenal dish, and one we hope sticks around for a while. $15. - Erin Kuschner

If you’ve been to Guelaguetza, you’ve had the delicious red mole served atop pre-meal tortilla chips (and if you haven’t been to Guelaguetza, we hope this convinces you). That same sauce, the restaurant’s famed and decidedly un-chocolatey mole coloradito, graces the menu again served over fresh enchiladas with your choice of filling. You can’t go wrong, whatever you choose—it’s all about that sauce. $14.95. - Kate Wertheimer

Before sinking your teeth into a leg or thigh of Honey's Kettle fried chicken, give it a moment to cool: the golden pieces come out piping hot, with a skin that crackles under each bite and and tender meat that is perfectly cooked. You're going to want a side of those famed biscuits, too. Prices vary. - Erin Kuschner

This just might be the most decadent bowl of rice you'll ever have. Made with chicken dashi, blue crab, uni and shrimp, it's something you want to treat yourself to every now and then—and with an egg on top, the leftovers are just as good for breakfast. $24. - Erin Kuschner

It might be hard, at first, to get past the vegan aspect of Ramen Hood, but this new Grand Central Market spot doesn't serve watery, flavorless bowls. The vegan ramen (and, more specifically, the spicy version) boasts a thick, sunflower seed broth filled with king oyster mushrooms, nori, scallions, bean sprouts and hearty noodles, so satisfying that you'll hardly miss the absence of pork belly. $10. - Erin Kuschner

2015 was the year of poke—now you can hardly throw a rock in LA without hitting a poke restaurant, making it hard to know where to find the best quality. We’ve tried a lot of them and Sweetfin—specifically their spicy yuzu salmon bowl—is one of the few that keeps us coming back. $12.95. - Jakob Layman

One of the best dishes at Catch & Release is the bucatini, thick strands of wonderfully crafted pasta tossed with Dungeness crab and sweet corn. Flecks of chili give the dish a welcome kick, but the sweetness pervades and keeps you twirling your fork until the bowl is empty. $19. - Erin Kuschner