Just beyond the Walk of Fame and a stone’s throw from the touristy crowds around the Dolby Theater are dozens of restaurants worth battling tourists and traffic for. Hollywood has a little bit of everything, offering old-school haunts, new-school diners, Chinese dumplings, and so much more. Here now are 15 of the essential restaurants to taste in Hollywood.
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The 15 Essential Hollywood Restaurants
Where to eat in the heart of LA’s historic movie-making district

Clark Street Diner
It’s never easy to replace a beloved eatery, but Zach Hall’s Clark Street Diner has improved upon the fabled 101 Coffee Shop with great coffee, fluffy pancakes, and patty melts, all served in a buzzy dining room.
Sincerely Syria (Hollywood Shawarma)
Valley-based Sincerely Syria took over Hollywood Shawarma in late 2021, and Adham Kamal’s shawarma at this Hollywood outpost is as great as it is in Sherman Oaks. Order the shawarma wrap with rotisserie beef, lamb, or chicken. Every wrap gets a bit of tahini, diced tomatoes, and pickled cucumber spears before meeting the griddle.
Musso & Frank Grill
Martinis done right and a menu that’s barely changed since 1919 has kept Musso & Frank relevant and running for over a century. Grab a booth and dig into continental favorites like mushrooms on toast, seafood chiffonade salad, and turkey á la king.
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Uka
Located on the fifth floor of the expansive Ovation Hollywood complex, Uka at Japan House comes from decorated chefs Yoshitaka Mitsue and Shingo Kato. The refined nine-course kaiseki menu is priced at around $300 per person (before tip and tax), with wine and sake pairings available for about $120 per person.
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Hui Tou Xiang
It’s always great to have a go-to dumpling spot, especially when it’s the second location of San Gabriel’s Hui Tou Xiang. The namesake hui tou dumplings filled with pork or beef are nothing short of excellent.
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Mother Wolf
Nab a table at Mother Wolf for a taste of chef Evan Funke’s ode to Rome. The room is boisterous and full of well-dressed diners, while the tables are topped with plenty of pasta and pizzas. Invite the amaro cart over for a post-dinner digestif to pair with Shannon Swindle’s unbeatable desserts.
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Ixlb Dimsum Eats
Ixlb Dimsum Eats is considered one of the finest options for dim sum outside of the San Gabriel Valley. The takeout-only spot serves up Cantonese classics including har gow and sui mai, along with Taiwanese-style shaved ice for dessert.
Gwen
Chef Curtis Stone’s Michelin-starred steakhouse, which operates as a neighborhood butcher during daytime hours, makes for a celebratory destination in the heart of Hollywood. Start with the house-made charcuterie before diving into fine cuts of beef, like the 30-day aged ribeye.
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Luv2eat Thai Bistro
Luv2eat Thai Bistro stands out in a crowded Thai restaurant market for its well-executed southern cooking from chefs Noree Pla and Fern Kaewtathip. The Phuket-style crab curry, jade noodles, and hat yai fried chicken are popular with regulars.
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RoRo's Chicken
RoRo’s Chicken has all the strip mall ambiance that an LA diner can hope for, from the faded menu board highlighting rotisserie chicken and kababs. The best bet for this longtime Lebanese restaurant is the half chicken plate, served with rice, hummus, and salad, and a steal at well under $14.
Salt's Cure
There’s never a bad time to swing into Chris Phelps’s all-day restaurant. The chef’s signature oat griddle cakes are served for breakfast and lunch, while dinner brings thoughtfully sourced and seasonally driven fare. The pork chop with apple sauce and brown butter is always a good call.
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Jones
Even as developers transform Hollywood’s iconic streets, some places like Jones remain comfortingly unchanged. The menu of Italian American hits includes ravioli, bruschetta, thin-crust pizza, and of course, spaghetti and meatballs. It’s impossible to have a bad meal at this nearly 30-year-old restaurant.
Rao's
New York’s legendary restaurant Rao’s has settled in nicely on the West Coast. The Hollywood menu is chock-full of Italian American classics including plump meatballs, veal Parmesan, and cheesecake. Dine with a crowd and sample a bit of everything.
Mother Tongue Restaurant
Find Mother Tongue perched atop the 75,000-square-foot, five-level fitness club called Heimat in Hollywood. Chef Fernando Darin draws myriad influences from Asia, South America, the Middle East, and more. (Heimat’s facilities and services can only be accessed by club members, the restaurant is open to the public daily.)
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Providence
Two-Michelin-starred Providence serves one of the most elegant seafood-centric tasting menus in the city. The dining room is packed almost every evening thanks to chef Michael Cimarusti’s exceptional cooking which is only matched by Donato Poto’s warm and efficient service.
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