Eating Through Los Angeles: Alex Canter’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2024
Los Angeles remains a vibrant hub 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.
I find joy in discovering and sharing delicious food, motivating me to compile an annual list showcasing my top 100 restaurants, capturing the ever-evolving culinary scene in Los Angeles.
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 fried chicken 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 foodie. He is the 4th-generation of Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles, where he and his team invented Ordermark/Nextbite, a leader in virtual restaurants and the pioneer in online order management. As CEO of Ordermark/Nextbite, he raised more than $150M in funding (SoftBank-backed) before selling to SBE Hospitality in 2023. Alex is a recipient of the Forbes 30 Under 30, Business Insider’s Top 33 Food-Tech Power Players, and Fast Casual Executive’s Top 25.
100 Best Restaurants in LA (in alphabetical order):
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: $$$
Instagram: @anjakthaifood
Apollonia’s Pizzeria
Favorite Dish: Cheese Slice
Cuisine: Pizza
Location: 5176 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Price: $$
Instagram: @apolloniaspizza
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
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: $$
Instagram: @courage_bagels
Dal Rae Restaurant
Favorite Dish: NY Pepper Steak
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Location: 9023 Washington Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @dalraerestaurant
Damian
Favorite Dish: Tamal De Elote
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @damiandtla
Daybird
Favorite Dish: Szechuan Hot Chicken Sando
Cuisine: Chicken
Location: 240 N Virgil Ave Suite 5, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Price: $$
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: $$
Instagram: @dintaifungusa
Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen
Favorite Dish: Smothered Chicken
Cuisine: Traditional Soul Food
Location: 202 E Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301
Price: $$
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: $$$
Instagram: @genwaofficial
Gjelina
Favorite Dish: Heirloom Tomato Salad
Cuisine: New American
Location: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$$
Instagram: @gjelinarestaurant
Gjusta
Favorite Dish: Smoked Fish Plate
Cuisine: American/Bakery
Location: 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $$
Instagram: @gjustabakery
Go’s Mart
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 22330 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
Price: $$$$
Guelaguetza Restaurante
Favorite Dish: Festival de Moles
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 3014 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006
Price: $$
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
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: $$$$
Instagram: @katorestaurant
KinKan
Favorite Dish: Sun-Moon-Shine Kaiseki
Cuisine: Thai/Japanese
Location: 771 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @kinkan_la
Kuya Lord
Favorite Dish: Lucenachon
Cuisine: Filipino/Barbeque
Location: 5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$
Instagram: @kuyalord_la
La Dolce Vita
Favorite Dish: Bucatini Al Limoni
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 9785 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @ladolcevitabevhills
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
Favorite Dish: Margherita Pizza
Cuisine: Italian Pizzeria
Location: 1534 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Price: $$$
Instagram: @pizzeriadamichele
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: $$$$
Instagram: @manzkerestaurant
Mariscos Jalisco
Favorite Dish: Shrimp Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 3040 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Price: $
Instagram: @mariscosjalisco
Mini Kabob
Favorite Dish: Lule Plate
Cuisine: Armenian
Location: 313 1/2 Vine St, Glendale, CA 91204
Price: $$
Instagram: @mini_kabob
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: $$$$
Instagram: @noburestaurants.us
Nozawa Bar
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 212 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Price: $$$$
Instagram: @nozawabar
Osteria La Buca
Favorite Dish: Rigatoni Bolognese
Cuisine: Italian
Location: 5210 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$$
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
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: $$
Poncho’s Tlayuda’s
Favorite Dish: Three Meats Tlayuda
Cuisine: Mexican/Barbeque
Location: 4318 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Price: $$
Instagram: @ponchostlayudas
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: $$$$
Instagram: @providencela
Quarter Sheets Pizza Club
Favorite Dish: Pepperoni Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza/Patisserie
Location: 1305 Portia St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: $$
Instagram: @quartersheets
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
Soban
Favorite Dish: Banchan
Cuisine: Korean
Location: 4001 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90019
Price: $$$
Instagram: @sobanlosangeles
Sonoratown
Favorite Dish: Beef Chivichanga
Cuisine: Mexican
Location: 208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Price: $
Instagram: @sonoratownla
Sugarfish
Favorite Dish: Trust Me Nozawa
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 4722 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Price: $$$
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
Sushi Park
Favorite Dish: Omakase
Cuisine: Sushi
Location: 8539 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Price: $$$$
Tacos y Birria La Unica
Favorite Dish: Birria Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican/Tacos
Location: 2840 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Price: $
Instagram: @tacosybirrialaunica
Ta-Eem Grill
Favorite Dish: Shawarma Plate
Cuisine: Mediterranean (Kosher)
Location: 7422 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Price: $$
Instagram: @taeemgrill
The Win-Dow
Favorite Dish: Cheeseburger
Cuisine: American/Hamburgers
Location: 1827 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Price: $
Instagram: @thewindow.la
Tire Shop Taqueria
Favorite Dish: Carne Asada Tacos
Cuisine: Tacos
Location: 4077 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90011
Price: $
Tonchin LA
Favorite Dish: Tokyo Tonkatsu Ramen
Cuisine: Ramen
Location: 5665 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Price: $$
Instagram: @tonchinlosangeles
Tsujita LA
Favorite Dish: Char Siu Tsukemen
Cuisine: Japanese/Noodles
Location: 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Price: $$
Instagram: @tsujitala
Versailles Cuban Food
Favorite Dish: Roasted Garlic Chicken
Cuisine: Cuban
Location: 1415 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angels, CA 90035
Price: $$
Instagram: @versaillescubanfood
Willie Mae’s Restaurant
Favorite Dish: Fried Chicken
Cuisine: Southern
Location: 324 Lincoln Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Price: $$
Instagram: @williemaesnola
Yangban
Favorite Dish: Twice-Fried Soy Garlic Wings
Cuisine: Korean/New American
Location: 712 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Price: $$$
Instagram: @yangbanla
Ye Rustic Inn
Favorite Dish: Hot Wings (Extra Crispy)
Cuisine: American/Dive Bar
Location: 1831 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: $$
Instagram: @yerusticinn