Driving along York Boulevard and Figueroa Street in Highland Park, there’s no denying that the neighborhood is undergoing tremendous changes. While the restaurant scene has steadily transformed over the past decade, the ongoing uptick in new tenants has left some residents and business owners feeling uneasy. Gentrification is a complicated matter — one that will continue to face many of Los Angeles’s neighborhoods in the coming years. For better or worse, Highland Park is one of the most exciting places to grab a bite in LA. From excellent Peruvian cooking to smash burgers and more, here are the 17 essential restaurants in Highland Park.
Read More17 Fabulous Restaurants to Taste in Happening Highland Park
Hefty vegan sandwiches, delicate Mexican “sandals,” punchy Peruvian fare, and so much more
The Greyhound Bar & Grill
Even with a shiny newish location in Glendale, the original, decade-old Greyhound in Highland Park still holds its own. The bar fills up quickly when the Dodgers are playing or with NFL season underway, but the commotion is worth it for the energy, the beers, and the chicken wings available in 15 different flavors and levels of heat.
Bagel + Slice
Come into Bagel + Slice for hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and plank-baked organic bagels, along with bagel sandwiches, pizza bagels, and 18-inch, New York-style pizzas sold by the slice or as whole pies. In addition to offering some of LA’s very best bagels and pizza, Bagel + Slice is an environmentally conscious and community-minded business.
Joy
From food to service and ambiance, Joy delivers on all fronts. The menu of Taiwan’s greatest hits includes shrimp wontons, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, and minced pork over rice. Wash it all down with milk tea drinks made with housemade puddings and tapioca balls.
El Huarache Azteca
The Mexico City-style antojitos or “little whims” served at this neighborhood gem are perfect for any meal of the day. The namesake huraches, deep-fried rafts made of masa dough and topped with things like huitlacoche (corn smut), head cheese, and chorizo, never fail to satisfy.
Villa’s Tacos
Villa Tacos debuted a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2023 after five years of operating out of owner Victor Villa’s grandmother’s Highland Park house and along York Boulevard. The menu brings together family recipes with Villa’s culinary flair. The signature tacos are made using blue corn tortillas with a crispy cheese-griddled interior, refried beans, onions, cilantro, crema, cotija, guacamole, and a choice of three kinds of mesquite-grilled meat.
Goldburger
In LA’s crowded smash burger scene, Goldburger stands out with its 100 percent grass-fed meats sourced from regenerative farms in California. The patties are not fully flat, with a medium smash in the center and edges that spread out, leaving a very juicy middle and crispier rim.
Amiga Amore
Danielle Duran-Zecca introduced Amiga Amore to Highland Park in 2023. The chef came into her own in recent years while working in partnership with her husband Alessandro Zecca to meld Mexican and Italian flavors with chorizo-crusted cod, confit chicken with mole blanco, and cavatelli with chile de arbol and a guajillo-braised beef shank. It’s a cozy transformation of a former shop that’s delicately lit with a patio for overflow.
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Maciel's Plant-Based Butcher & Deli
The stellar sandwiches at Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli are constructed using cold cuts made from recognizable ingredients like chickpeas, vegetables, seitan, tofu, spices, and brines. The Reuben comes with pastrami, sauerkraut, vegan cheese, and vegan Russian dressing on rye bread, while the popular Flores is made with Mexican ribs, pickled onions, arugula, and vegan mayonnaise on ciabatta.
Penny's Burgers
Corner burger and breakfast burrito spot Penny’s has been serving Highland Park since 1969, offering a crowd-pleasing menu that spans Mexican and American comfort foods. Stop in for fries, burritos, tacos, burgers, and more.
Hippo
Located in the former Highland Park post office, Hippo serves big and small plates that are smartly composed with seasonal influences and well-sourced ingredients. The handmade pastas are particularly excellent, especially the parcels filled with fresh corn during summer months.
Jeff's Table
Jewish deli sandwich lovers will get a kick out of Jeff’s Table, a semi-hidden shop inside Flask Fine Wines & Whisky, with new-school takes on roast beef, hot pastrami, and more. The Jeff’s Special is a showstopper with hand-sliced pastrami, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and Comté cheese on rye.
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Otoño
Swing into Otoño for chef Teresa Montaño’s expertly-crafted Spanish menu. Sip on a well-made cocktail or some cider while nibbling on delicate ribbons of jamón Iberico de Bellota or boquerones y mantequilla to start. Sharing a large pan of paella is a must, and the negra is particularly excellent.
Las Cazuelas Restaurant & Pupuseria
Opened in 1985, this family-owned restaurant prepares some of LA’s homiest Salvadoran dishes in a comfortable setting. The menu is comprised of recipes that have been passed down matrilineally for decades by owner Carlos Lopez’s mother. The most popular dish is the pupusa revuelta stuffed with crisped chicharron and a mix of Monterrey, cotija, and ranch cheeses.
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Burgerlords
With its prime location next to the Lodge Room, the Highland Park outlet of Burgerlords boasts plenty of diner-style seating and an omnivorous menu of fries, single and double burgers, and tahini milkshakes.
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Rosty
Rosty serves a hefty menu of traditional Peruvian fare including ceviches, fried rice, lomo saltado, and more. The anticuchos arrive smoky and tender and are an absolute must-order for those who embrace offal. The kitchen doesn’t skimp on portions so dine with a group and share everything on the table.
Highly Likely Highland Park
Though the interior is comfy and stylish, it’s all about the patio at Highly Likely in Highland Park. The stunning restaurant fills up quickly, especially the outdoor bar that serves frozen daiquiris on weekends and a cocktail menu at all other times. The daytime menu is the same as the original West Adams restaurant, but chef-partner Kat Turner’s dinner options are all new. Starters include yuzu deviled eggs and chicken liver mousse, while Midwest comforts from Turner’s childhood are featured with fettuccine Alfredo, fried chicken schnitzel, and steak au poivre. — Mona Holmes, reporter
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Via-Mar Restaurant Express
For a daily dose of cocteles, fish and shrimp tacos, tostadas, and more, get to the longstanding Via-Mar Seafood truck on Figueroa. The few-frills walk-up spot is still turning out some of the neighborhood’s most flavorful fried fish, all served in a friendly outdoor space.