Restaurants
Akatora
302 Rosecrans ave., Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266
310-802-1131
The Sushi Roku founder and former Matsuhisa GM (as well as Lazy Ox Canteen owner) has transformed the struggling Katsu Sushi into this funky izakaya
Website: http://akatorala.com/
Neighborhood: Manhattan Beach
Al-Watan
13619 Inglewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90250
(310) 644-6395
A tandoor as large and hot as a jet engine is the centerpiece of this Pakistani and Indian gem. Disks of buttery naan emerge looking like Neapolitan pizzas. Bright orange chicken quarters arrive whole on a sizzling plate or chopped up and drenched in curry sauce.
Website: http://www.alwatanrestaurant.com
Category: Indian, Restaurants
Aladin Sweets & Market
139 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90007
At Aladin Sweets & Market, folks stop in for glasses of milky tea with honey-dipped fried pastries, though savory dishes are the main draw.
Website: http://www.aladinla.com
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2013: Eat, Best of LA: 2013, Best of LA: Eat, Restaurants, Southeast Asian
Alejo’s Presto Trattoria
4002 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90292
310-822-0095
This tiny, always busy minimall restaurant is famous for pizza and spaghetti and meatballs…
Website: http://www.alejosrestaurant.com/
Neighborhood: Los Angeles, Marina del Rey
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Alibi Room
12236 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90066
310-390-9300
A Korean-Mexican dungeon, this dark funky bar has full menu of delicious fusion dishes like kimchi quesadillas and galbi tacos for soaking up their lemongrass caipirinhas.
Website: http://www.alibiroomla.com/home.php
Neighborhood: Culver City
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Bars, Fusion/Eclectic/Global, Restaurants
All’ Acqua
280 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90039
323-663-3280
The Barbrix team opens an enjoyable Italian restaurant and wine bar.
Website: http://allacquarestaurant.com
Neighborhood: Atwater Village
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Amalfi
143 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90036
323-938-2504
A buzzing patio or a quieter room inside with beamed ceilings and a fireplace are the seating options here…
Website: http://amalfiristorante.com
Neighborhood: Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Angeles
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Amarone Kitchen & Wine
8868 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90069
310-652-2233
Owner Alessandro Polastri has borrowed his mother’s old-world cookbook…
Website: http://www.amaronela.com
Neighborhood: Los Angeles, West Hollywood
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Amici Brentwood
2538 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90402
310-260-4900
This is another restaurant from the Amici folks, and it’s got the warmth and authentic Italian cuisine we’ve come to expect…
Website: http://amicibrentwood.com
Neighborhood: Los Angeles, Santa Monica
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Ammo
1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90038
323-871-2666
Restaurant years work a bit like dog years in this town. That makes Ammo—celebrating its 14th birthday—very old indeed…
Website: http://ammocafe.com
Neighborhood: Hollywood, Los Angeles
Category: American, Restaurants
Ana Maria’s
317 S. Broadway, C9-10, Los Angeles, CA, 90013
213-620-0477
The carnitas tacos at this haven of Mexican food are huge things: nearly half a pound of juicy meat piled on two corn tortillas…
Neighborhood: Downtown, Los Angeles
Category: Mexican, Restaurants
Anajak Thai
14704 Ventura Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 91403
818-501-4201
This is a pleasant Thai café offering just the right dishes at just the right prices…
Website: http://www.anajakthai.com
Neighborhood: Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks
Category: Restaurants, Thai
Angelini Osteria
7313 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90036
323-297-0070
Gino Angelini grew up on the green lasagna his grandma made in Rimini and came to L.A. to help Mauro Vincenti open Rex in the mid-’90s.
Website: http://angeliniosteria.com
Neighborhood: Fairfax, Hancock Park, Los Angeles
Category: Italian, Restaurants
Animal
435 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90036
323-782-9225
At their still-unmarked Fairfax enclave, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo have maintained—even honed—their knack for rejiggering comfort food into balanced, thoughtful dishes that leap with spurts of acid and fat.
Website: http://animalrestaurant.com
Neighborhood: Fairfax, Hollywood, Los Angeles
Category: Best of LA, Best of LA 2012: Eat, Best of LA: 2012, Best of LA: Eat, New American, Restaurants
Antojitos Bibi
2400 W. 7th St., Ste. 109, Los Angeles, CA, 90057
213-383-8595
Overlooking MacArthur Park Lake, Antojitos Bibi offers Honduran rarities like cashew nut juice and crunchy enchiladas along with soulful coconut milk-based soupsl…
Neighborhood: Westlake
Category: Caribbean, Latin American, Restaurants
Apple Pan
10801 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90064
310-475-3585
The conventional wisdom is that this little shack has burgers like God intended…
Neighborhood: Los Angeles, West Los Angeles
Category: American, Restaurants
Arnie Morton’s of Chicago
435 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90048
310-246-1501
This Windy City offshoot is a classic American steak house, complete with mahogany paneling…
Website: http://mortons.com
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills, Burbank, Downtown, Los Angeles, West Hollywood
Category: Restaurants, Steakhouse
Aroma Bakery Cafe
18047 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, 91316
818-757-0477
Pastries emerge from the stone oven hourly, and the house makes a grand array of fruit preserves.
Website: http://www.aromabakery.com/
Neighborhood: Encino
Category: Cafe, Restaurants
