With the temperature dropping, cold weather comfort food is becoming a prime pick in restaurants around the city. Macaroni and cheese being one of those top comfort foods. Prevalent on most menus as a side dish or even gut-busting appetizer, mac and cheese is a simple construction that has plenty of room for interpretation, from the pasta to the cheese to the toppings. Here now, a compilation of some of the best mac and cheeses in Los Angeles.
Read More16 Great Mac & Cheese Dishes to Try Right Now in LA
The Chicken Lady Cafe
Arguably one of the best examples of this humble side dish, this Southern-style eatery in Mid-City has a nice smokiness and a slight tang to balance it out, resulting in a mac & cheese that's not too rich. The base is a curly pasta that's just right for bite-sized eating.
Pete's Cafe & Bar
Easily one of the most popular orders here, the mac & cheese is finished off with a toasting on the top, which gives it a baked, bubbling appearance. Flavored with blend of cheese that includes some goat cheese, it's a wallop of rich, stringy goodness.
Bludso's Bar & Que
This super creamy comfort dish is a nice thing to add to the sides at this popular barbecue joint on La Brea and Melrose. With a nice, even cheese sauce that boasts a slight spicy kick.
Horse Thief
A slightly heartier mac & cheese, this barbecue spot in Downtown uses some larger pasta that holds up well to the brisket and pulled pork. The cheesy goodness is a little saltier than most sides, but the ends get slightly crisped for a textural contrast.
Beer Belly
The French onion mac & cheese at this Koreatown beer bar is a massive onslaught of flavor, based on a caramelized onion beer cheese whiz, gruyere, asiago, and fried shallot crumbs. A nice mish-mash of classic American and French flavors.
The Curious Palate
Sprinkled with bread crumbs, this hearty side dish at this Venice cafe gets a finish in the oven for a slightly toasted flavor. Creamy, not too rubbery, and based on four different cheeses, it's hard not to order the large size and save some for later.
The Capital Grille
The lobster mac & cheese at this clubby steakhouse in West Hollywood is pure decadence. Chock full of stringy cheese and chunks of fresh lobster, it's not a cheap order. But for a fantastic shareable side, it doesn't get much better than this.
CUT by Wolfgang Puck
Topped with a crust of bread crumbs for an extra dose of crunch, this ultra rich dish using corkscrew pasta has a base of Quebec cheddar and mozzarella. It's probably the most expensive mac & cheese here, but it's also more than big enough for two hungry people to share.
Blue Palms Brewhouse
This lobster mac & cheese is pretty reasonably priced at around $8, though there's a slight fishiness that could be off-putting. Still, it's creamy, decadent, and addictive, something that you almost won't want to share.
Nook
This rosemary-intensive mac & cheese has some complaining that it's not rich or creamy enough, but this baked version topped with crunchy bread crumbs has a more mild flavor that's a little more approachable.
Bar & Kitchen
This mac & cheese gets a spicy kick from jalapeno and a rich smokiness from the bacon crust on top at this Downtown eatery. Served piping hot, it's a great thing to share with a crew.
Also featured in:
Cube Marketplace & Cafe
This pasta-centric restaurant in Mid-City is more straightforward, topped with crunchy bread crumbs and served in a wide pan for sharing. The cheese blend in the dishes results in a creamy, rich goodness that shows off the perfect texture of the pasta.
Hyperion Public
The truffle mac & cheese gets a slight hit of truffle oil, which can normally be repulsive, but balances out when served with the creamy cheese sauce and hearty pasta. A smaller portion served in a ramekin, it's a good side dish to the fare at this Silver Lake Gastropub.
33 Taps
This sports bar in Hollywood boasts are nice, hearty mac & cheese that might be one of the richest examples of this dish in the city. Topped with toasted bread crumbs, it's a fine dish to pair with a pint of IPA while catching a game.
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
Served from a large casserole platter, this maximalist's mac & cheese has more ingredients than fingers on your hand. A slew of cheeses, a hearty pasta and pieces of that awesome bread make up for one of the heaviest examples of this dish in town.[Photo: Guzzle & Nosh]
Pacific Dining Car
Served elegantly in a ramekin, this elbow macaroni and cheese gets baked off with a nice crust at this all night diner in both Santa Monica and just west of Downtown. At 3 a.m., it's hard to argue with this kind of decadence.