Eating Through Los Angeles: Alex Canter’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2023
Los Angeles is full of iconic people, places and restaurants. As an Angeleno, born and raised by generations of restaurateurs, food and dining experiences have played a huge role in my life. I started waiting tables at a young age at Canter’s Deli, one of the last standing authentic, traditional Jewish delis in L.A. that my great-grandfather founded in 1931.
It’s a passion of mine to discover the most delicious dishes and share them with others, and that’s what’s led me to create this annual list of my top 100 restaurants in the city.
If you feel I’ve missed any key restaurants here, please let me know by messaging me at @deliboyswag on Instagram. It is hard to keep track of all that our amazing city of Los Angeles has to offer.
Join me in trying and celebrating these outstanding local restaurants — from street tacos to omakase — there’s something for everyone. Let’s eat!
Check out the entire list on this google map and be sure to follow Alex Canter on Instagram at @deliboyswag!
Alex is a restaurant industry innovator, in-demand speaker, and passionate advocate for restaurant operators and workers. He is the 4th-generation of Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles, where he and his team invented Nextbite, a leader in virtual restaurants and the pioneer in online order management. The company is focused on helping restaurant partners successfully enter the virtual restaurant space with new delivery-only menus, using underutilized labor and kitchen capacity, to increase margins and revenue. Headquartered in Denver and Los Angeles, Nextbite has more than $150M in funding, with its most recent round led by SoftBank. Alex is a recipient of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fast Casual Executive’s Top 25.
100 Best Restaurants in LA (in alphabetical order):
Ackee Bamboo Jamaican Cuisine
Favorite Dish: Jamaican Oxtails Plate
Cuisine: Jamaican
Location: 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Price: $$
Instagram: @ackeebamboo
Ali’i Fish Company
Favorite Dish: 1/2 Hawaiian & 1/2 Onion Limu Ahi
Cuisine: Hawaiian/Poke/Seafood
Location: 409 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245
Price: $$
Instagram: @aliifishcompany
Alta Adams
Favorite Dish: Fried Chicken
Cuisine: Southern Comfort/Soul Food
Location: 5359 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Price: $$$
Instagram: @altarestaurant
Anajak Thai
Favorite Dish: Chinese Sausage Tostada
Cuisine: Thai
Location: 14704 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Price: $$$
Instagram: @anjakthaifood
Angler
Favorite Dish: Caviar Banana Pancakes
Cuisine: Refined Seafood
Location: 8500 Beverly Blvd Suite 117, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @anglerlosangeles
Avra Beverly Hills
Favorite Dish: Grilled Fish
Cuisine: Mediterranean/Greek/Seafood
Location: 233 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Price: $$$
Instagram: @avrabeverlyhills
Bavel
Favorite Dish: Oyster Mushroom Kebab
Cuisine: Middle Eastern/Modern
Location: 500 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Price: $$$
Instagram: @baveldtla
Bay Cities Italian Deli
Favorite Dish: Godmother
Cuisine: Italian Deli/Bakery
Location: 1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Price: $$
Instagram: @baycitiesitaliandeli
Bestia
Favorite Dish: Roasted Marrow Bone Gnocchi
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$
Instagram: @BestiaDTLA
Bicyclette
Favorite Dish: Caramelized Onion Tart
Cuisine: French
Location: 9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Price: $$$
Instagram: @bicyclette.la
Bistro Na’s
Favorite Dish: Chili Tofu Skin
Cuisine: Chinese
Location: 9055 Las Tunas Dr #105, Temple City, CA 91780
Price: $$$
Instagram: @bistronasus
Broad Street Oyster Company
Favorite Dish: Lobster Roll
Cuisine: Seafood
Location: 23359 CA-1 #3874A, Malibu, CA 90265
Price: $$$
Instagram: @broadstreetoysterco
Burger She Wrote
Favorite Dish: Oklahoma Burger
Cuisine: Burgers
Location: 7454 1/2 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Price: $
Instagram: @burgershewrote__
Burritos La Palma
Favorite Dish: Birria, Bean & Cheese Burrito
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 5120 N Peck Rd, El Monte, CA 91732
Price: $
Instagram: @burritoslapalma
Canter’s Deli
Favorite Dish: Pastrami Reuben
Cuisine: Jewish Deli
Location: 419 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Price: $$
Instagram: @canters_deli
Carla Cafe
Favorite Dish: Tuna Chop Sandwich
Cuisine: American/Salads-Sandwiches
Location: 11419 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Price: $$
Instagram: @carlacafela
Chi Spacca
Favorite Dish: Focaccia di Recco
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @chispacca
Coni’Seafood
Favorite Dish: Aguachiles
Cuisine: Mexican/Seafood
Location: 3544 W Imperial Hwy Inglewood, CA 90303
Price: $$
Instagram: @coniseafood
Courage Bagels
Favorite Dish: Smoked Salmon on Burnt Everything Bagel
Cuisine: Bagels
Location: 777 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Price: $$
Instagram: @courage_bagels
Daikokuya
Favorite Dish: Daikoku Ramen
Cuisine: Ramen
Location: 2208 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Price: $$
Instagram: @bishamongroup
Dal Rae Restaurant
Favorite Dish: NY Pepper Steak
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Location: 9023 Washington Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @dalraerestaurant
Damian
Favorite Dish: Tamal De Elote
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @damiandtla
Daybird
Favorite Dish: Szechuan Hot Chicken Sando
Cuisine: Chicken
Location: 240 N Virgil Ave Suite 5, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Price: $$
Instagram: @daybirdla
Din Tai Fung
Favorite Dish: Pork Xiao Long Bao
Cuisine: Taiwanese/Chinese
Location: 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard #2400 Level 2, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Price: $$
Instagram: @dintaifungusa
Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen
Favorite Dish: Smothered Chicken
Cuisine: Traditional Soul Food
Location: 202 E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301
Price: $$
Dunsmoor
Favorite Dish: Sour-Milk Cornbread
Cuisine: American
Location: 3501 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Price: $$$
Instagram: @dunsmoor.la
Elite Restaurant
Favorite Dish: Crispy Shrimp Rice Noodle
Cuisine: Chinese/Dim Sum
Location: 700 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754
Price: $$
Felix
Favorite Dish: Cacio e Pepe
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$$
Instagram: @felixlosangeles
Genwa Korean BBQ
Favorite Dish: Marinated Galbi
Cuisine: Korean BBQ
Location: 5115 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Price: $$$
Instagram: @genwaofficial
Gjusta
Favorite Dish: Smoked Fish Plate
Cuisine: American/Bakery
Location: 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$
Instagram: @gjustabakery
Golden Rice Co. (Pop-up)
Favorite Dish: Original Golden Rice
Cuisine: Persian
Location: 755 N La Cienega Blvd, CA 90069
Price: $$$
Instagram: @goldenriceco
Guelaguetza Restaurante
Favorite Dish: Festival de Moles
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Price: $$
Instagram: @laguelaguetza
Guerrilla Tacos
Favorite Dish: Sweet Potato Taco
Cuisine: Contemporary Mexican
Location: 2000 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$
Instagram: @guerrillatacos
Hayato
Favorite Dish: Kaiseki
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: 1320 E 7th St #126, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @hayatorestaurant
Heavy Handed
Favorite Dish: Double Short Rib Burger
Cuisine: Burgers
Location: 2912 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Price: $$
Instagram: @heavyhanded.la
HiHo Cheeseburger
Favorite Dish: Double Cheeseburger (Make it Spicy)
Cuisine: American
Location: 1320 2nd St Ste. B, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Price: $$
Instagram: @hihocheeseburger
Holbox
Favorite Dish: Tacos de Pulpo
Cuisine: Latin American/Seafood
Location: 3655 S Grand Ave #C9, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Price: $$
Instagram: @holboxlosangeles
Horses
Favorite Dish: Crispy Pork Milanese
Cuisine: American (New), Italian
Location: 7617 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Price: $$$
Instagram: @horsesonsunset
Howlin Ray’s
Favorite Dish: Hot Chicken
Cuisine: Southern/Fried Chicken
Location: 727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Price: $$
Instagram: @howlinrays
Il Tramezzino
Favorite Dish: Chicken Special Panini
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 454 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Price: $$
Instagram: @iltramezzino
Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya
Favorite Dish: Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Location: 11680 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
Price: $$
Instagram: @katsuyagroup
Jitlada
Favorite Dish: Green Curry
Cuisine: Thai
Location: 5233 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $$
Instagram: @jitlada_la
Jon & Vinny’s
Favorite Dish: Spicy Fusilli
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 11938 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Price: $$$
Instagram: @jonandvinnydelivery
Kato
Favorite Dish: Tapioca, Brown Butter, Uni
Cuisine: Taiwanese
Location: 777 Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @katorestaurant
KinKan
Favorite Dish: Sun-Moon-Shine Kaiseki
Cuisine: Thai/Japanese
Location: 771 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @kinkan_la
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
Favorite Dish: Margherita Pizza
Cuisine: Italian Pizzeria
Location: 1534 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Price: $$$
Instagram: @pizzeriadamichele
La Scala
Favorite Dish: Chopped Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 434 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Price: $$$
Instagram: @lascalabeverlyhills
Larchmont Wine and Cheese Shop
Favorite Dish: #1-Caprese, Add Soppressata
Cuisine: Wine/Cheese
Location: 223 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Price: $
Instagram: @larchmontvillagewine
Leo’s Tacos
Favorite Dish: Al Pastor Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican/Tacos
Location: 1515 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Price: $
Instagram: @leostacostruck
Loqui
Favorite Dish: Mushroom Taco on Flour
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 8830 Washington Blvd #104, Culver City, CA 90232
Price: $$
Instagram: @eatloqui
Majordomo
Favorite Dish: Whole Plate Short Rib
Cuisine: New American/Asian
Location: 1725 Naud St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Price: $$$
Instagram: @majordomola
Manzke
Favorite Dish: Tasting Menu
Cuisine: Modern European/Seafood
Location: 9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @manzkerestaurant
Margot
Favorite Dish: Pan Con Tomate
Cuisine: Spanish/Mediterranean
Location: 8820 Washington Blvd Suite 301, Culver City, CA 90232
Price: $$$
Instagram: @margotlosangeles
Mariscos Jalisco
Favorite Dish: Shrimp Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 3040 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Price: $
Instagram: @mariscosjalisco
Mini Kabob
Favorite Dish: Lule Plate
Cuisine: Armenian
Location: 313 1/2 Vine St, Glendale, CA 91204
Price: $$
Instagram: @mini_kabob
Mizlala
Favorite Dish: Falafel Plate
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Location: 5400 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Price: $$
Moo’s Craft BBQ
Favorite Dish: BBQ Platter
Cuisine: Barbecue
Location: 2118 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031
Price: $$
Instagram: @mooscraftbarbecue
Morihiro
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Location: 3133 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @morihiroatwater
Mother Wolf
Favorite Dish: Fiori Di Zucca
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 1545 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Price: $$$
Instagram: @motherwolfla
N/Soto
Favorite Dish: Lamb Chop with Wasabi
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: 4566 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
Price: $$$
Instagram: @nsotorestaurant
Night + Market
Favorite Dish: Crispy Rice Salad
Cuisine: Thai
Location: 9043 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Price: $$
Instagram: @ntmrkt
Nobu Malibu
Favorite Dish: Tiradito
Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Location: 22706 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @noburestaurants.us
Ospi
Favorite Dish: Crispy Provolone
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 2025 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$$
Instagram: @ospivenice
Osteria La Buca
Favorite Dish: Rigatoni Bolognese
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 5210 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$
Instagram: @osterialabuca
Osteria Mozza
Favorite Dish: Grilled Octopus
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @osteriamozza
Papi Tacos y Churros
Favorite Dish: Birria Quesatacos with Consomé
Cuisine: Mexican/Tacos
Location: 313 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Price: $
Instagram: @papitacoschurros
Park’s BBQ
Favorite Dish: Short Rib
Cuisine: Korean Barbecue
Location: 955 S Vermont Ave G, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Price: $$$
Instagram: @parksbbq
Pasta Sisters
Favorite Dish: Lasagna
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 3280 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90232
Price: $$
Instagram: @pasta_sisters
Pearl River Deli
Favorite Dish: Hainan Chicken Rice
Cuisine: Chinese
Location: 727 N Broadway #130 Los Angeles, CA 90012
Price: $$
Instagram: @prd_la
Petit Trois
Favorite Dish: Big Mec
Cuisine: French
Location: 718 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$
Instagram: @petittroisla
Phillipe The Original
Favorite Dish: Beef French Dip
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Location: 1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Price: $
Instagram: @philippetheog
Pijja Palace
Favorite Dish: Malai Rigatoni
Cuisine: Indian
Location: 2711 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: $$
Instagram: @pijjapalace
Pizzeria Bianco
Favorite Dish: The Rosa
Cuisine: Pizza
Location: 1320 E 7th St #100, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$
Instagram: @pizzeriabiancolosangeles
Plancha Tacos
Favorite Dish: Bean and Cheese Burrito
Cuisine: Mexican/Tacos
Location: 8250 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Price: $
Pollo a la Brasa
Favorite Dish: Half Roasted Chicken (Extra Aji Sauce)
Cuisine: Peruvian
Location: 764 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Price: $$
Porto’s Bakery and Cafe
Favorite Dish: Potato Balls
Cuisine: Cuban Bakery
Location: 3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Price: $
Instagram: @portosbakery
Providence
Favorite Dish: A5 Wagyu
Cuisine: Contemporary American/Seafood
Location: 5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @providencela
Republique
Favorite Dish: Kimchi Fried Rice
Cuisine: Modern French
Location: 624 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Price: $$$
Instagram: @RepubliqueLA
Roberta’s Pizza
Favorite Dish: Bee Sting
Cuisine: American/Pizza
Location: 8810 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Price: $$
Instagram: @robertaspizza
Sarita’s Pupuseria
Favorite Dish: Revuelta Pupusa
Cuisine: Salvadoran
Location: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Price: $
Instagram: @saritas_pupuseria
Sea Harbor Seafood Restaurant
Favorite Dish: Steamed Salty Egg Yolk Bun
Cuisine: Seafood/Dim Sum/Cantonese
Location: 3939 Rosemead Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770
Price: $$
Instagram: @seaharbourseafood
Shibuya
Favorite Dish: Albacore Sashimi with Crispy Onions
Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Location: 4774 Park Granada, Calabasas, CA 91302
Price: $$$
Instagram: @shibuyacalabasas
Sonoratown
Favorite Dish: Beef Chivichanga
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Price: $
Instagram: @sonoratownla
Sugarfish
Favorite Dish: Trust Me Nozawa
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 4722 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Price: $$$
Instagram: @sugarfishbynozawa
Sun Nong Dan
Favorite Dish: Galbi Jjim
Cuisine: Korean
Location: 3470 W 6th St #7, Los Angeles, California 90020
Price: $$
Sushi Ginza Onodera
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi
Location: 609 La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @sushiginzaonoderala
Sushi Kaneyoshi
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 250 E 1st St B1, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @sushi.kaneyoshi
Sushi Note
Favorite Dish: Halibut Yuzu
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 13447 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Price: $$$
Instagram: @sushinotela
Tacos y Birria La Unica
Favorite Dish: Birria Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican/Tacos
Location: 2840 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Price: $
Instagram: @tacosybirrialaunica
Ta-Eem Grill
Favorite Dish: Shawarma Plate
Cuisine: Mediterranean (Kosher)
Location: 7422 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Price: $$
Instagram: @taeemgrill
The Win-Dow
Favorite Dish: Cheeseburger
Cuisine: American/Hamburgers
Location: 1827 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $
Instagram: @americanbeauty.la
Tire Shop Taqueria
Favorite Dish: Carne Asada Tacos
Cuisine: Tacos
Location: 4077 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Price: $
Tsujita LA
Favorite Dish: Char Siu Tsukemen
Cuisine: Japanese/Noodles
Location: 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Price: $$
Instagram: @tsujitala
Versailles Cuban Food
Favorite Dish: Roasted Garlic Chicken
Cuisine: Cuban
Location: 1415 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Price: $$
Vito’s Pizza
Favorite Dish: Cheese Slice
Cuisine: Pizza
Location: 2455 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Price: $$
Instagram: @vitospizzaweho
Woodspoon
Favorite Dish: Chicken Pot Pie
Cuisine: Brazilian
Location: 107 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Price: $$
Instagram: @woodspoon
Ye Rustic Inn
Favorite Dish: Hot Wings (Extra Crispy)
Cuisine: American/Dive Bar
Location: 1831 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $$
Instagram: @yerusticinn