Patricia Kelly Yeo is Time Out L.A.'s food and drink editor, where she writes restaurant reviews, covers notable restaurant and bar openings and news, and updates, fact-checks and oversees close to 100(!) local food and drink-related guides. You might also recognize her from Netflix's Pressure Cooker (episode 7, "Yelp Doesn't Count").

Before joining Time Out, she interned at Insider, The Daily Beast and Los Angeles Magazine. She is a proud alumnus of the UCLA Daily Bruin and the USC Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism (M.S. in Journalism). As a freelancer, she's previously written for the New York Times, the Guardian, Bon Appétit, Food and Wine, Eater and the Infatuation, among others. She is at work on her debut novel, which is set in the greater Atlanta area and has nothing to do with food writing.

Corrections, comments or concerns? Reach her at p.kelly.yeo@timeout.comTo find out where she's eating right now, follow her on Instagram @froginawell69, and for more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines

Patricia Kelly Yeo

Patricia Kelly Yeo

Food & Drink Editor, Time Out Los Angeles

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Articles (159)

The best Filipino restaurants in Los Angeles

The best Filipino restaurants in Los Angeles

For lovers of vinegar, pork and fresh seafood, there’s nothing like the bright, flavorful dishes of the Philippines. The Southeast Asian island country’s culinary traditions offer everything from the crackle of the country’s world-famous lechon to the nuanced, complex flavors of kare-kare and chicken adobo. With a unique blend of Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and indigenous culinary influences, modern Filipino cuisine is an ever-changing phenomenon—and though L.A. isn’t the very best place in the country for Filipino cuisine, the sizable Filipino population in Southern California and a handful of modern chef-driven concepts ensure there’s enough lechon, halo-halo, pancit and sweet spaghetto to go around. (Note that we’re not including Jollibee here, given the fast food chain’s ubiquity throughout Southern California.) Why should you trust me? I’m an L.A. native whose parents immigrated from the Philippines, which means I’ve been eating lechon, ensaymada (cheese-covered sweet brioche rolls), sinigang (tamarind soup) and other staples of the archipelago since before I could read. Growing up, I spent a large bulk of my childhood driving to West Covina, where my family would visit Goldilocks and Red Ribbon. Most summers, I’d visit my extended family in Philippines, where I’d feast on balut (fertilized chicken or duck eggs) and usually come down with a terrible case of food poisoning. My favorite foods growing up were fried chicken and (sweet) spaghetti with hot dogs—in other words,
The best Dine LA summer specials you can't miss

The best Dine LA summer specials you can't miss

After three years of being hosted in the spring, the summer edition of Dine LA is back with a vengeance. (The restaurant week itself is in its 17th year.) Running from July 25 to August 8, over 300 eateries will provide special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus running from $15 to $65-plus, with plenty of meal deals involved. This summer, you’ll find scattered among the biannual restaurant week’s dizzying full list of menus more than a handful of L.A.’s best restaurants, as well as our plenty of fresh new faces, offering their signature dishes at a more budget-friendly price point. Not interested in hunting through the list? We’ve scoured the lineup and found our favorite Dine LA lunch, brunch and dinner deals, from upscale date night spots to cozy family-style feasts. Though we’ve found that the discounts have shrunk in recent years, we found the best Dine LA menus that provide the most bang for your buck in terms of quality, price and portion size. Read on, fire up your Resy and OpenTable accounts, and enjoy! July 2025: Amid ongoing immigration raids, a slowdown in the entertainment industry and continuing economic recovery efforts from the January wildfires, it’s no surprise that it was particularly hard for me to find great deals this Dine LA season. Two of L.A.’s best restaurants, Soban and Damian, are offering meal deals; but longtime Dine LA favorites like Cabra and A.O.C. Brentwood are sadly shutting their doors this summer. This update includes new pricing and menu in
The best rooftop restaurants in L.A.

The best rooftop restaurants in L.A.

When it comes to Los Angeles rooftops, restaurants and bars are as alike as apples and oranges: Sure, they both get the job done, but in entirely different ways. Unlike many of best L.A. rooftop bars in the city, these mostly open-air rooftop eateries offer food that runs the gamut from excellent to decent (rather than barely tolerable), gorgeous views and, in most cases, basically require a reservation to nab a table. More than a handful are in the skyscrapers of Downtown, and some are better suited for a breezy brunch than a romantic dinner. In rarefied air, things get pricey fast, so budget accordingly before enjoying a meal at one of L.A.’s best-in-class rooftop restaurants.  April 2025: Since my last major update, a few more L.A. rooftop restaurants and bars have opened, but not all of them are worth going out of your way for. New to this year’s guide are San Laurel at the Conrad and Butterfly at the Shay Hotel, which I visited earlier this year. I also substantively updated the listings for LA Cha Cha Chá, which recently revamped its menu, and added Ballast Point Brewing in Long Beach. The Rooftop has dropped the “by JG” part of its name, as celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is no longer affiliated with the Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills. 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 als
The best restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles

The best restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles

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
The best happy hour deals in Los Angeles

The best happy hour deals in Los Angeles

Not every happy hour special is created equal, and what makes a spot someone’s go-to for a much-needed early-evening drink can vary. But we think there’s a little something for everyone among these happy hour spots below. Los Angeles is never short on great bars to try, ranging from your neighborhood dive bars to sports bars and delicious restaurants that compliment that 4pm cocktail with some delectable food. Of course, having to navigate the city’s web of freeways for the perfect special puts a dent in that discount, so we’ve gone ahead and compiled a comprehensive list of the best happy hour deals all over L.A. Set a reminder in your calendar this coming workweek and round up your friends because here is where you can grab a drink and meal for just a fraction of the price.
The best brunch restaurants in Los Angeles

The best brunch restaurants in Los Angeles

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
The best new restaurants in Los Angeles to try right now

The best new restaurants in Los Angeles to try right now

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
The best bars in Los Angeles

The best bars in Los Angeles

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 best bars in Los Angeles—for any occasion. July 2025: I’ve updated listings for Accomplice and the Let’s Go to reflect changes in the two venue’s menu and happy hour offerings, respectively. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.
The 40 best restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try right now

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

Los Angeles is still home to one of the most innovative, exciting and most importantly, culturally diverse food scenes in the country, despite the ever-rising cost of doing business (and more recent ICE-related raids, related protests and overall chilling effects on the local economy). 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 top-notch Pacific seafood.Decades of immigration from Asia and Latin America have translated into genre-bending formats, eclectic hybrid cuisines and some of the country’s best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. At a time when L.A.’s undocumented communities are being targeted by federal agents for detention and deportation, I think it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the indispensable role immigrants play in our country’s food system, from picking crops to washing dishes, bussing tables and working the line at your favorite restaurant. And if you’ve ever dined out in Los Angeles, something on your plate or the plate itself has likely been touched by an immigrant.  Every month, I visit dozens of bustling restaurants across the city looking for amazing eats, great ambience and top-notch customer service. Last month, however, felt a lit
The best new bars in Los Angeles to try right now

The best new bars in Los Angeles to try right now

Though we consistently cover new restaurants with killer cocktail offerings, new bars in L.A. are few and far between—but deserve just as much attention. To keep you up to date on the city’s bar scene, we’ve got a quarterly guide to the city’s best new bars, where you can find the city’s freshest places to drink that are actually worth checking out.  Plenty of newer drinking-oriented establishments straddle the line between bar and restaurant, but on this list we prioritize venues where it’s not strange at all to order a single nightcap or aperitivo—without your server trying to upsell you on bar bites when you aren’t hungry. We also strive to include establishments that stay open past 10pm on weekends, though we of course make exceptions for standout spots.  While these fledgling watering holes and lounges might lack the storied reputations of the city’s best bars and cocktail dens, they make up for it with stylish interiors and unique booze offerings. Some even have delicious bar bites perfect for whenever you’re feeling peckish, but this list focuses on destination-worthy venues with excellent drinks or first-rate atmosphere for going out (ideally, a combination of both).  So just how new are these drinking dens? We limit our list to bars, lounges and breweries that have opened in the past nine months. We check out each bar personally to make sure it’s worth your time and hassle—since there’s only so much booze money to spare. July 2025: This quarterly update includes four
The best rooftop bars in L.A.

The best rooftop bars in L.A.

What is it that they say about L.A.’s smog? Oh yeah, the reason for its beautiful sunsets that never get old. Make the city’s pollution and marine layer work for you at these sky-high cocktail bars, where the views rightfully rival the booze. With so many new rooftop restaurants and bars in town, we’ve narrowed this list to the best drinking-oriented spots in the city, rather than full-blown dining destinations. They run the gamut from lowkey Westside rooftops to see-and-be-seen hotspots in West Hollywood, with a few longtime favorites thrown in for good measure. Most take walk-ins, thankfully, and those that require reservations aren’t necessarily the places we’d endorse paying for a full meal anyway. None of our picks require a cover fee or drink minimum, unless stated otherwise. (There are many more rooftop bars than the ones featured on our guide, but trust us, we’ve visited every single one of them, and not all of them merit paying premium cocktail prices.) From rooftop watering holes in Downtown and Hollywood to a few tried-and-true beachside bars in Venice and Santa Monica, here are the city’s—literally—top rooftop bars. April 2025: Since my last major update, a few more L.A. rooftop bars have opened (and the Shay Hotel at Culver City has reopened its rooftop restaurant), but not all of them are worth going out of your way for. New to this year’s guide are Sauced and Florentín, both in Downtown L.A. A few places have come off the list, reflecting changes in service fo
The best pizza in Los Angeles

The best pizza in Los Angeles

Move over, New York City: You might have dollar-ish slices, but these days, the Los Angeles pizza scene has grown to encompass dizzying variety of pizza styles, including Detroit-style squares, classic NYC-style triangles, Tokyo-style Neapolitan, Roman pinsas and yes, the California-style flatbreads first made famous by Spago and later, California Pizza Kitchen. Since the pandemic, it’s become easier than ever to grab a slice of great pizza in L.A., no matter where you live—almost as easy as stopping by a taco stand or stumbling across some great strip mall sushi.In researching this guide, I've tried (and retried) over 70 different L.A. pizzas, pitting imports from elsewhere like Phoenix’s Pizza Bianco, New York City’s Emmy Squared and Naples’s very own L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele against beloved hometown favorites and up-and-coming newcomers. While they all make wonderful pizzas, I also excluded more upscale, less specialized restaurants like Bestia, Gjelina, Jon and Vinny's and Evan Funke’s powerhouse trio (Felix, Funke and Mother Wolf) since while they all make great pies, pizzas generally a nice-to-have at these restaurants, not an essential part of your meal. I’m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest pizzas in L.A., and I’m not afraid to drop old-timers from the list if quality has dropped off. Gourmet or lowbrow, takeout or dine-in, thin crust or thick—these places are serving the best pizzas in Los Angeles right now. February 2025: Since I last updated this g

Listings and reviews (853)

Dine L.A. Restaurant Week

Dine L.A. Restaurant Week

The summer edition of Dine L.A. is back from July 25 to August 8, with hundreds of restaurants participating in the two-week blitz of bang-for-your-buck set menus. Scattered among the prix-fixe tradition’s dizzying full list of menus are some of L.A.’s best restaurants offering their signature fare at a more budget-friendly price point. Before you make a reservation, check out our list of the best lunch and dinner deals the event has to offer.
Manila Inasal

Manila Inasal

While Manila Inasal isn’t my absolute favorite Filipino restaurant in town, the former catering operation serves a chicken inasal that actually satisfied my uncle who grew up in Bacolod, a city in the Western Visayas widely considered the birthplace of the grilled chicken dish. Unlike most places, Manila Inasal has yet to figure out how to scale down its cooking—the restaurant practically demands a group of four or more to enjoy a meal with a variety of dishes. I can award points for creativity when it comes to the slightly over-the-top fusion dishes, such as squares of focaccia bread served with a side of laing (stewed spinach and taro in coconut milk). Still, dishes here generally tend to run on the heavier side, even for Filipino cuisine. The kare-kare, for example, ran too mild and sweet for my taste, and the crab tortang talong smeared with aioli and tobiko fish roe felt downright greasy. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the chicken inasal, and vegan-friendly jackfruit and tofu adobo—so maybe stick to that?
Kubo Restaurant

Kubo Restaurant

3 out of 5 stars
There’s nothing fancy about this longtime turo-turo in Historic Filipinotown, but that’s simply part of the place’s charm. You point at what you want; you pay, you eat, you leave. Despite the no-frills ambience, the quality of the food more than delivers with a peanutty kare-kare, a spicy bicol express (coconut milk stew) and inihaw baboy (grilled pork). For those who want to indulge in even more swine, try the paksiw, a soy-based hock stew made with onions and banana flowers; or the bopis, a sautéed, slightly spicy mix of lungs, heart, tomatoes, chilies and onions that’s perfect as a salty snack on the side. Kubo is also a popular catering option in the Filipino community for baby showers, birthday parties and weddings.
Little Ongpin

Little Ongpin

3 out of 5 stars
This longtime turo-turo joint with locations in East Hollywood and Eagle Rock serves a lunchtime feast of Chinese-inflected items like miki bihon (which uses thick wheat noodles), siopao (steamed meat buns) and the Filipino version of shumai. Other Little Ongpin staples include the lumpia shanghai and maki, a Chinese Filipino soy-based pork noodle dish whose thickness calls to mind Chinese American hot and sour soup. Be sure to check the screens up above when you’re ordering for specials—there’s always something interesting on the menu. Most people love the pancit and lumpia here, so if you’re at a loss for what to get, start with that.
Big Boi

Big Boi

4 out of 5 stars
Named after the father of chef-owner Barb Batiste, this takeout-oriented storefront on Sawtelle serves delicious rice and pancit combo plates that incorporate Filipino classics like pork sisig, chicken adobo, longganisa (a chorizo-like pork sausage) and even housemade Spam. Each combo comes with a piece of Big Boi’s pandesal—a plain dinner roll and staple carb within Filipino cuisine. Other than Jollibee, Big Boi is the only place in Los Angeles where you can regularly find Filipino-style spaghetti, a sweet, yellow cheese-covered version of the classic American dish that uses hot dogs and banana ketchup. For dessert, head a few hundred yards over to B Sweet, which peddles several kinds of bread pudding, ube-flavored desserts and other craveworthy desserts.
The Park's Finest

The Park's Finest

4 out of 5 stars
For generations, the Concordia family has been mastering the art of barbecue—and the Park’s Finest is the happy result. At this casual eatery in Historic Filipinotown, chef and co-owner Johneric Concordia spices up Southern barbecue with Filipino flavors. The smoky-sweet barbecue sauce mixes cane sugar, pineapple, soy sauce, chili peppers and spices atop traditional cuts like pork ribs, hot links, pulled pork and tri-tip. While the fare here is by no means traditional, the flavors of the Philippines shine true here in dishes like the coconut beef adobo, which combines cubes of 16-hour smoked chuck in a stew made of coconut cream, vinegar, chili and fish sauce and the must-order cornbread bibingka. Time Out tip: On Wednesdays, the Park’s Finest offers the $18.50 Worker Wednesday plate. This midweek smorgasbord meal includes portions of coconut beef, a medley of hot links, pulled pork, candy-coated chicken, vegetables and rice, plus a hefty piece of cornbread bibingka. It’s a hearty meal for the tired and hungry masses, in the best way possible.
Spoon & Pork

Spoon & Pork

4 out of 5 stars
With relatively affordable prices and a chef's attention to detail, Spoon & Pork is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles proper for a comforting Filipino meal. There are the standard pork-heavy dishes, including patita, a slow-braised, deep-fried pork shank; lechon kawali, or crispy pork belly; and a sizzling pork sisig, which delivers an ample kick courtesy of Fresno chilies and comes topped with a runny fried egg. But Spoon & Pork knows how to feed the typical Silverlake and Westside crowd—there are plant-based options on the menu, including a vegetarian-friendly mushroom salpicao and tofu adobo. If it’s your first time visiting, be sure to order their crunchy lechon kawali. Time Out tip: Order the food for the gods for dessert. It's the chef's family recipe and a sweet option you won't find at most other Filipino places in L.A.
L.A. Rose Cafe

L.A. Rose Cafe

3 out of 5 stars
For the last four decades, L.A. Rose Cafe has served a solid, consistently good menu of Filipino dishes that still fires on all cylinders today. The charming atmosphere and generous portions—Rose Cafe’s pancit palabok with salted dried fish can easily feed two—keep locals coming back for more, and dishes like the buchon (Cebuano-style roasted pig) and dinuguan (pork blood stew) rival those of restaurants in the Philippines itself. It’s also one of the best places in the city for a traditional halo-halo—the country’s answer to shaved ice, which is very likely influenced by Japanese kakigori. Here, the dessert is served in a banana split bowl instead of a plastic cup or tall sundae glass, which allows for better mixing of the bright purple ube ice cream, candied fruits, purple yam and creamy flan.Time Out tip: Order one of the restaurant’s famous empanadas, which come with a housemade sweet mustard sauce.  
Edna’s Filipino Cuisine

Edna’s Filipino Cuisine

4 out of 5 stars
This affordable Long Beach lunchtime staple has served the area’s sizable Filipino community for over three decades. The appeal? An alluring assortment of turo-turo dishes which can be ordered as multi-item combo plates. (Turo-turo literally translates to “point-point” in Tagalog, which might clue you into just how you'll be ordering a meal here.) There may not be much in the way of atmosphere here, but the soulful cooking shines through in shades with a pinakbet (a quintessential vegetable dish) rich in bagoong (fermented fish paste) and crisp chicharon bulaklak served with a spicy palm vinegar. The lip-smackingly sour sinigang (tamarind-rich soup) and other staples don’t break the bank either—just note that Edna’s closes its doors at 3pm most days of the week, and 2pm on Sundays.
Gemmae Bake Shop

Gemmae Bake Shop

4 out of 5 stars
Given the importance of pandesal in Filipino cuisine (I used to eat one every morning for breakfast as a child), I’d be remiss not to include at least one bakery in our guide to L.A.’s Filipino dining scene. This Long Beach bakery is simply one of the best, with coconut- and ube-stuffed versions of the pillowy dinner roll that arrived to the islands during Spanish colonization. You’ll also find multiple kinds of ensaymada (a cheese-topped sweetbread), mamon (sponge cake) and hopia—a tiny, mooncake-like pastry with Chinese roots. On the savory side, Gemmae Bake Shop also makes siopao—the Filipino version of Chinese steamed white buns—and chicken empanadas.
Dollar Hits

Dollar Hits

4 out of 5 stars
Over the years, I can always count on Dollar Hits for a no-frills, affordable meal that takes me back to my childhood summers visiting my late grandfather and extended family in Cebu. The move, of course, is the DIY $1 skewers, which you then take to cook yourself on grills set up in the parking lot. Those who prefer to stick to more conventional meats will find plenty of pork and chicken, but where Dollar Hits truly shines is in its offal selection, from intestines to glistening hunks of pork blood. Fish balls, longanisa sausage, quail eggs and potato fritters round out the rest of the skewer selection, but the hot food counter itself is also worth a second look, especially for turon (deep-fried banana rolls) and balut (fertilized duck eggs). More recently, the Dollar Hits in Historic Filipinotown has also begun offering daily lunch combos for $12 and under, which are available before 2pm. The grill situation doesn’t start up until 4:30pm, however—so plan your visit accordingly. Time Out tip: Skip the small strip mall parking lot and look for a spot around the corner on the street instead.
Max’s Restaurant

Max’s Restaurant

4 out of 5 stars
In addition to Jollibee, this Quezon City-based international chain with locations in Glendale and Santa Clarita is a go-to spot among first-generation Filipino Americans looking for a taste of the motherland. Known as “the house that fried chicken built,” Max’s has been a household name in the Philippines for its succulent whole fried birds since World War II. For Angelenos, however, Max’s is also a great way to experience traditional Filipino cuisine—the menu offers chicken adobo, sinigang, multiple types of sisig (a sizzling, allium-rice plate) and iconic desserts like buko pandan, halo-halo and leche flan. I also like Max’s version of pancit palabok, which consists of plain rice garnished with shrimp paste and pork, plus garlic, pork cracklings, green onions and sliced egg.

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This new Pasadena hotel rooftop eatery offers stunning views of the San Gabriel Mountains

This new Pasadena hotel rooftop eatery offers stunning views of the San Gabriel Mountains

The fairly sleepy city of Pasadena just gained another stylish rooftop in the form of Osa Rooftop, a brand-new eatery atop the newly opened AC Hotel Pasadena. The predominantly outdoor restaurant, which made its public debut last Friday, is located in the Playhouse Village District. Come New Year’s Day, the sixth floor vantage point will make for great viewing of Pasadena’s world-famous Rose Parade—the hotel restaurant sits along a key part of the route. For the other 364 days a year, however, guests can look forward to sweeping views of the San Gabriel Mountains and a beautifully designed open-air terrace with string lights, fire pits and other landscaping elements inspired by the nearby Angeles National Forest. The interior design sports a desert-inspired color scheme inspired by Baja California and the work of world-famous Mexican architect Luis Barragán. Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time Out While I’m normally bearish (pun intended—“osa” translates to female bear in Spanish) on hotel rooftops in general, I was able to visit Osa firsthand over the weekend, and I can honestly say the new opening is a major win for Pasadena. After all, the California cuisine restaurant comes from Boulevard Hospitality Group, the restaurant and bar veterans between Yamashiro, Adults Only and Inglewood’s Cork and Batter. Head chef Carlos Couts, formerly of Encino’s Sushi by Scratch and Hollywood’s Rokusho, offers a globally influenced, ingredient-first approach to standard, crowdpleas
LAの「東京スタイルナポリピザ」人気店、全米ランキングで第2位に

LAの「東京スタイルナポリピザ」人気店、全米ランキングで第2位に

タイムアウトロサンゼルスのベストピザランキングでトップに選ばれた「ピッツェリア セイ(Pizzeria Sei)」が、再び栄誉を手にした。 今回は、イタリアにルーツを持ち「世界最高のピッツェリアを紹介する最初のガイド」と自負する業界有力誌「50 Top Pizza」からのもの。その2025年アメリカ版「50 Top Pizza USA」で、見事2位にランクインしたのだ。 ウィリアム・ジュウが手がけるピッツェリア セイは、ロサンゼルス郡から唯一このガイドに選出。2024年は8位にランクインしていたが、今年は一気に6ランク上昇する快挙を達成した。 「ローナン(Ronan)」や「ピッツァナ(Pizzana)」などのロサンゼルスの名店で腕を磨いたジュウが、「街一番」にふさわしいピザとして提供するのは、東京スタイルのナポリピッツァ(ジュウは中目黒「聖林館」に影響を受けたことを公言)。薄く焦げ目の付いた円形の生地に、厚みを持たせた縁が特徴で、結果として「餅」のような食感が楽しめる。 これまでも数々の賞を獲得し、すでに大人気店だが、現在の店構えは比較的小規模。2025年の後半に、ピコ・ロバートソン地区からパームス地区への移転する予定だというので、今後は、より多くの人がその味を体験できるチャンスが増えそうだ。 今年の「50 Top Pizza USA」でトップに輝いたのは、ニューヨークの「ウナ ピッツァ ナポレターナ(Una Pizza Napoletana)」。南カリフォルニアからは、ハンティントンビーチにある「ナルド(Nardò)」(カルヴァーシティにも支店がある) が24位に、ダナポイントの「トゥルリー ピザ(Truly Pizza)」が9位と、トップ10入りを果たした。また、ピッツェリア セイおよびトゥルリー ピザの両店は、国際的な「Best Pizza Awards」でも近年表彰されている。 「50 Top Pizza USA」は、世界版と比べると競争はやや穏やかだ。とはいえ、ニューへブン、デトロイト、シカゴ、そして言うまでもなくニューヨークと、地域ごとに個性豊かなピザ文化が根づくアメリカで、こうした評価を得ることは依然として極めて困難といえる。 なお、同ガイドの順位決定に当たっては、世界各地のピザ屋を匿名で訪れた審査員たちが、生地の品質、トッピング、サービス、そして総合的な体験を評価基準にして審査し、投票している。 関連記事 『This Tokyo-style L.A. pizza joint was just named the second-best pizzeria in the U.S.(原文)』 『東京、ベストピザ2025』 『東京、ニューヨークスタイルピザ5選』 『タイムアウトが「世界のベストピザ 19」ランキングを発表』 『イタリア人も称賛するピッツァの名店「ダ イーサ」が目黒川沿いに移転』 『大阪、薪窯焼きナポリピッツァ5選』 東京の最新情報をタイムアウト東京のメールマガジンでチェックしよう。登録はこちら  
This Tokyo-style L.A. pizza joint was just named the second-best pizzeria in the U.S.

This Tokyo-style L.A. pizza joint was just named the second-best pizzeria in the U.S.

In yet another bit of pizza-related news, L.A.’s Pizzeria Sei (also known as Time Out’s top pick for pizza in Los Angeles) continues to rack up culinary awards—this time from 50 Top Pizza, an influential industry guide with roots in Italy and the self-described “first guide of the best pizzerias in the world.” William Joo’s tiny, multiple-award-winning Pico-Robertson pizzeria, which is slated to move to Palms later this year, just clinched the No. 2 spot on the 50 Top Pizza USA guide at an awards ceremony held earlier today inside NYC’s Chelsea Market. Last year, the same guide ranked Pizzeria Sei at No. 8. In 2025, the Tokyo-style pizzeria jumped an astonishing six places and continues to be the only pizzeria in L.A. County recognized by 50 Top Pizza. Two other Southern California pizzerias also made 50 Top Pizza’s annual U.S. list: Nardò in Huntington Beach (which also has a satellite location in Culver City), ranked 24th in the nation, and Dana Point’s Truly Pizza, which came in at No. 9 and thus made the top 10. Both Pizzeria Sei and Truly Pizza were also recently recognized at the international Best Pizza Awards. To determine its regional rankings—a recent ranking also dropped for all of Europe—the 50 Top Pizza judges use anonymous inspectors to sample pizzerias across the globe in search of high-quality dough, toppings, service and overall experience. While a national guide naturally isn’t as competitive as an international list of rankings, it’s still pretty darn diffi
Two L.A. pizzerias were just named among the best in the world

Two L.A. pizzerias were just named among the best in the world

In a move that probably won’t surprise local pizza lovers, three different standout Southern California pizzerias—and the chefs behind them—just made the top 100 list of the world’s best pizzas at the third annual Best Pizza Awards in Milan. William Joo of Pizzeria Sei, also known as Time Out’s top pick for pizza in Los Angeles, came in at number 44 in the world, beating out dozens of pizzaiolos in New York City and cities across Italy. Justin De Leon of Apollonia’s Pizza (another one of our favorite pizza joints) ranked number 58, while Chris Decker of Truly Pizza in Orange County’s Dana Point clinched the highest spot among SoCal recipients at number 42.  Organized by the Best Chef Awards, the Best Pizza Awards first began three years ago and puts an emphasis on individual chefs, rather than restaurants or the places they inhabit. The European awarding body was founded in 2015 by a Polish neuroscientist and an Italian gastronomist and emphasizes a transparent, “chef-led” voting and selection process. Both Joo (Pizzeria Sei) and De Leon (Apollonia’s) have previously earned recognition from the Best Pizza Awards; 2025 is the first year that Decker (Truly Pizza) has made the awards’ global top 100 list. Photograph: Courtesy @pizzaphile_ The Best Pizza Awards praised Joo for making Tokyo-style Neapolitan pies that are “technically refined and full of character.” In particular, the European awarding body recognized Joo’s “salt-punch” technique, which involves sprinkling salt i
Michelin awards new stars to four L.A. restaurants for 2025—including the city’s first-ever three-star eateries

Michelin awards new stars to four L.A. restaurants for 2025—including the city’s first-ever three-star eateries

Tonight, Michelin announced its list of starred California restaurants for 2025 at an awards ceremony in Sacramento, and the results for Los Angeles are now in: Two all-new one-star additions; three Michelin stars (the city’s first) awarded for Somni, the most expensive restaurant in Los Angeles; and a highly coveted third star for Providence, Michael Cimarusti’s longtime Hollywood fine dining institution, which has held two stars every year that Michelin has rated L.A. restaurants since 2009. (The guide left L.A. for a decade, returning in 2019.)  One of the world’s most famous dining guides (as well as a multinational French tire company), Michelin decides what it considers worth visiting by sending anonymous inspectors all over a given city, state, region or country. In North America, the guide’s overall bias towards Japanese omakase and French fine-dining restaurants is well-known, though it also includes a variety of unstarred restaurants in terms of cuisine and price point within each edition of the guide. Photograph: Patricia Kelly Yeo for Time OutThe lamb course at Restaurant Ki in January 2025. This year in L.A. was largely no different. The two newest one-starred L.A. restaurants for 2025 are Restaurant Ki, a modern Korean tasting menu in Little Tokyo run by eponymous chef Ki Kim (who also earned Michelin’s Young Chef Award) and Mori Nozomi, a standout, female-led omakase experience in West L.A. by eponymous chef and Osaka native Nozomi Mori. Almost every other tw
Review: I tried the buzzy new “Starbucks of tea” that just opened in Century City and it didn’t live up to the hype

Review: I tried the buzzy new “Starbucks of tea” that just opened in Century City and it didn’t live up to the hype

When I see influencers of every stripe and specialty posting about a buzzy new L.A. opening, I tend to take a wait-and-see approach before going—if I bother to even visit at all. Which is why, despite loving tea (and preferring it over coffee), I waited nearly two months before trying the brand-new Chagee Tea House at Westfield Century City, a brand founded in Yunnan, China, one of the world’s most important tea-producing regions.  In April, the fast-growing Chinese company, which has over 6,400 locations around the globe, made its debut on the Nasdaq and is reportedly worth approximately $6 billion. Given that valuation, some folks in the media have billed Chagee (pronounced “CHAH-jee”) the “Starbucks of tea." After trying the drinks firsthand earlier this month, I wholeheartedly agree with that metaphor—Chagee serves the same exact kind of premium mediocrity as the multinational Seattle-based coffee chain.  Photograph: Courtesy Chagee USAThe Chinese tea company’s ornate branding is a blatant ripoff of Dior While I wouldn’t say the drinks are terrible, per se, there are much better milk tea options in the San Gabriel Valley, including a handful of independently run boba shops and tea houses you probably already know and love. Nevertheless, it’s easy to see why the masses love Chagee. The aspirational, Dior-esque branding and high-touch customer experience carries the patina of luxury, even if the semi-automated brewing leaves much to be desired in the taste department. In
I had dinner at the iconic Chateau Marmont—and it was surprisingly worth it

I had dinner at the iconic Chateau Marmont—and it was surprisingly worth it

With nearly a century of celebrity-studded history under its belt, the Chateau Marmont is the living, breathing embodiment of Hollywood, old and new alike. In 1929, the French-inspired hotel opened on Sunset Boulevard; in the decades since, the Chateau has earned a well-deserved reputation for glamour and mystique. Entire books have been written on the famous actors, musicians, industry execs and other creatives that have slept, partied and even died within its walls. Recently, Miley Cyrus hosted a private concert at the Chateau for close friends, family and a handful of lucky superfans; prestige TV showrunner Ryan Murphy redecorated two different suites; and Doja Cat was snapped sitting inside the lobby, deep in conversation. Every year, countless high-profile parties and magazine launches are hosted in the lobby, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s annual Oscars afterparty.  The restaurant and bar attached to the hotel are far more recent additions. In 1995, current owner André Balazs added Bar Marmont, a cocktail bar down the street, which reopened at some point after the pandemic but remains closed as of writing. The ground floor restaurant followed in 2003. In 2020, Balazs briefly considered converting the entire hotel into a members-only club and laid off the majority of the staff after they attempted to unionize. (A deal was eventually reached in 2022, and the hotel is still in operation today.)   Photograph: Gerry Matthews for ShutterstockExterior of Chateau Marmont Hones
An L.A. chef just took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California

An L.A. chef just took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef: California

Jon Yao, the Taiwanese American chef behind Michelin-starred Kato in the Arts District, took home one of the top prizes at the James Beard Foundation Awards—the only nominee in Southern California to do so. The annual awards ceremony, which takes place in Chicago (almost) every year, recognizes excellence in restaurants, bars and food media, including books, broadcast media and journalism and is widely understood as the Oscars of the (American) food world. In 2016, Yao first opened Kato inside a West L.A. strip mall, and moving the restaurant to the Arts District in 2022. Immediately, the then-scrappy restaurant attracted the attention of critics for its uniquely Asian American spin on fine dining. Over the years, the self-taught chef has honed his craft and grown into one of the city’s best restaurants, at least if you ask me. In 2022, Kato earned its first Michelin star; last year, the restaurant was named as “one to watch” by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants organization, which has yet to name any L.A. eatery to its prestigious annual list.  Photograph: Courtesy Jeni AfusoThe dining room at Kato. In his acceptance speech, Yao thanked his staff, past and present, and acknowledged the ongoing immigration raids happening across Los Angeles and the nation. “L.A. is a city built by the toils of immigrant communities, and right now, those same communities are being ripped apart,” he said. “As the children of immigrants, I’m sure many here can imagine a scenario where we couldn’
These Downtown L.A. area restaurants are closing early due to the nightly curfew

These Downtown L.A. area restaurants are closing early due to the nightly curfew

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
These L.A. restaurants and orgs are fundraising for and providing food assistance to immigrant Angelenos

These L.A. restaurants and orgs are fundraising for and providing food assistance to immigrant Angelenos

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
Helms Bakery and See’s Candies are teaming up for some limited-time, chocolatey treats this summer

Helms Bakery and See’s Candies are teaming up for some limited-time, chocolatey treats this summer

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
Review: There’s nothing in L.A. quite like the hardest reservation in Palm Springs

Review: There’s nothing in L.A. quite like the hardest reservation in Palm Springs

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