This staple Valley hot dog stand in Winnetka survived the pandemic in part by converting to a rollerskating carhop setup on select nights. Now the family-run restaurant is back to rolling at full steam, turning out what may be the best hot dogs in all of Los Angeles from a simple corner stand. —Farley Elliott

Don’t like the sign be misleading; Northridge’s Baja Subs is a Sri Lankan specialist that offers some of the most fulfilling food in all of Los Angeles. Rich fish curries, chicken biryani, patties, noodles, lamprais, and string hopper meals… it’s all possible here form one of the most surprising (and delicious) places deep in the Valley. —Farley Elliott

Dave Beran’s Santa Monica French restaurant has developed into one of the Westside’s most impressive fancy restaurants, with stellar renditions of Parisian bistro dishes with a California mentality. Though Beran’s ambitious tasting menu restaurant Dialogue had to close due to the pandemic, the team’s efforts at Pasjoli show an extra level of creativity and execution, from gorgeous chicken liver-stuffed brioche to dry-aged ribeye with roasted fingerling potatoes. —Matthew Kang

With multiple locations across the greater Valley, Tel Aviv Grill is a staple Israeli dining experience that speaks to generations of expats from across the Middle Eastern diaspora. From shawarma to schnitzel to falafel this place does it all, but first-timers should definitely head for the sabich. —Farley Elliott

Redondo Beach’s Sushi Chitose remains one of the most unsung sushi spots in town. serving a stellar omakase for under $70 a person from chef Hirofumi Sakamoto, who goes by Gen. With a traditional, if a bit run down, dining room but friendly service, this is arguably the best bang for your sushi buck in LA. —Matthew Kang

Tal Ronnen debuted Crossroads Kitchen in 2013, where his plant-based menu served on white tablecloths and accompanying wine list made quite the splash. The Melrose restaurant simply doesn’t feel like a vegan restaurant with the dim lights, cocktails at the bar, and carbonara complete with a runny tomato-based “egg” yolk. The dish is a huge step forward in plant-based cuisine, as fresh pasta usually requires the use of eggs. There’s plenty to appreciate about Ronnen, who co-founded Kite Hill Foods in 2014, and introduced vegan cheeses that simply taste better. Vegan cuisine has evolved considerably thanks to Ronnen, along with Plant Food and Wine by Matthew Kenney in Venice. —Mona Holmes

There are many terrific restaurants lining Fairfax Avenue in Little Ethiopia, but Rosalind’s is the one that started it all. Take owner Fekere Gebre-Mariam’s advice and order the iconic doro wat — a soul-satisfying, deeply ruddy stew fortified with ground chiles and spiked with warming spices. This chicken-and-egg staple has been on the menu since day one and is even considered the national dish of Ethiopia. —Cathy Chaplin

There’s amazing Thai food in nearly every neighborhood in LA, but Chao Krung, one of the city’s oldest and longest running, could be one of its most underrated. The green curry alone is a destination, with intense flavors of galangal, ginger, lemongrass, and Thai basil carrying the aromatic and comforting solid ingredients. Noodle dishes and other familiar classics make this a fantastic takeout spot or low-key weekday dinner. —Matthew Kang

Gino Angelini opened LA’s beloved Angelini Osteria in 2001, with an ease and charm that keeps longtime diners returning and newcomers arriving to see what all the fuss is about. That fuss is partly due to Angelini’s pasta skill, along with his signature lasagna verde or the salt-encrusted branzino, but there’s something special about sitting in this Fairfax District restaurant. There’s a lot to appreciate at Angelini Osteria from the low light, the emphasis on service, wines from all over the globe, all done in tandem with the chef’s confident and joyful presence that keeps this classic thriving. —Mona Holmes

When Walter and Margarita Manzke took over the iconic Campanile space, they knew the stakes were high. And who in LA would have thought they would’ve succeeded this much, offering a breakfast-to-dinner menu with a French point of view? Throw in some pockets of new American and Asian influences, and the bill of fare will likely appeal to everyone. The desserts, breads, and pastries by Margarita are as good as one can expect, while the charcuterie board is sure to stun anyone. —Matthew Kang

Kim Prince, one of the descendants of the famous Prince’s Hot Chicken from Nashville, the originator of the dish, has established her family’s hot chicken legacy in the heart of Baldwin Hills, frying up superb spicy fried chicken with an array of sides. —Matthew Kang

There are a bevy of excellent Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles thanks to influx of settlers from the 1990s, and Gish Bac might be the best of the bunch thanks to the work of chef and owner Maria Ramos. This Mid-City classic serves a bit of everything from Oaxaca, including a great tlayuda and delicious torta, but the star of the show is the goat barbacoa enchilada, slow cooked for five hours in guajillo chiles. Truly one of LA’s best regional Mexican restaurants. —Matthew Kang

Bong Joon Ho made it a point to celebrate here after winning Best Picture for Parasite. The Koreatown restaurant specializes in ganjang gejang, raw marinated flower crab that tastes like the pinnacle of Korean cuisine with its rich, slightly fermented umami and buttery sweetness (especially over warm rice). The spicy braised black cod and braised short ribs for the complete experience. —Matthew Kang

Ari Kolender’s ode to East Coast seafood has struck a chord with East Hollywood locals, serving pristine oysters and fresh clams at the bar with chilled glasses of wine. The menu isn’t particularly wide or ambitious, but everything is on the level of what you’d expect from a great clam bar, like chowder and lobster roll that stand up to the city’s best. The wedge salad, artichoke brandade, and scallop tostada are worth ordering too. —Matthew Kang

This is the Korean barbecue to end all arguments, with some of the highest quality meat and banchan one can find in Los Angeles, one of the world’s epicenters for Korean cuisine. Order prime American short ribs and eat with the restaurant’s well-aged kimchi and fresh lettuce wraps. Also the stews are sneaky good here, from the braised black cod to the kimchi jjigae. —Matthew Kang

Yes, the No. 19 pastrami sandwich is an amazing sandwich, but the pure pastrami on house-baked rye is simplicity at its best. There's a reason why people make pilgrimages to try this place’s pastrami and even corned beef: There is no better version anywhere in town. Pro tip: Try the No. 44, served on griddled rye bread with hand-sliced pastrami, nippy cheese, and sauerkraut, for a decadent take on a Reuben sandwich. And don't skip the rest of the classic Jewish deli menu — it's all very well executed in one of the best daytime dining rooms in town. —Matthew Kang

Silver Lake’s casual daytime and evening Mediterranean restaurant has developed and grown into a beloved neighborhood favorite, serving polished and seasonal fare in a wonderful indoor-outdoor space. The cooking is polished but never too serious, with highlights including roasted Japanese sweet potatoes and grilled shawarma-style chicken thighs served alongside crisp natural wines. —Matthew Kang

Regarded as one of LA’s most impressive taco restaurants, this tiny Downtown LA spot prepares Sonoran-style tacos and quesadillas with grilled meats and flour tortillas. Don’t forget to order the chivichanga, a burrito with cheese and shredded chicken or machaca beef. It’s all really affordable too, though parking can be tough in this part of Downtown. —Matthew Kang

Timothy Hollingsworth is a bona fide culinary star with a fine dining pedigree and TV accolades galore. It’s no surprise, then, that the Downtown LA restaurant he runs has become one of the best places to find an upscale meal in all of Los Angeles. The menu offers options from truffle butter to chicken liver mousse to caviar supplements, but the real winners are often the vegetables, from honeynut squash with ricotta to sweet potato agnolotti to ash-baked beets. For more animalistic diners, fatty fish collar, braised lamb neck, and Snake River Farms ribeyes should do the trick. —Farley Elliott

For color and community and some really great Filipino food, best to get to Chinatown’s Lasita. The evening restaurant has become a hub for natural wine and big, homey flavors, served in an upscale casual strip mall environment by some of the most heartfelt folks in the business. Stop in for big, boisterous plates of lechon with friends, or to cozy up into a small table for a low-lit date night. —Farley Elliott

Wes Avila’s Chinatown window is pushing out some of LA’s most inventive modern Mexican fare like farmer’s market pull-apart quesadillas, beautiful crisp wild Mexican shrimp tacos, and an incredible uni hamachi tostada inspired by Ensenada’s La Guerrerense street cart. Avila’s regular dishes of chilaquiles, burritos, and tortas are still excellent, but the daily specials are a reason to see why Angry Egret Dinette is potentially one of LA’s most underrated places to eat. —Matthew Kang

Rashida Holmes’ tribute to Caribbean food, inspired by her mother Joy Clarke-Holmes, has wowed LA diners with incredible red pepper goat and chicken curry rotis, wonderfully crisp cod cakes, hearty oxtail-stuffed patties, and saucy, puffy doubles. Bridgetown pops up on weekends in Arts District and on Sundays at Smorgasburg. —Matthew Kang (Note: Eater LA reporter Mona Holmes is related to Rashida Holmes and was not involved in the writing of this entry)

Mexico City chef Enrique Olvera’s LA restaurant didn’t quite land with the fanfare of his New York City restaurant Cosme, with its similarities of a la carte offerings inspired by his upscale approach to modern Mexican cuisine. But Damian has found a stride by resonating with Los Angeles flavors and staying the course with stellar service, a restrained dining room and outdoor patio, as well as top notch execution. —Matthew Kang

Though it remained mostly closed during the pandemic, Majordomo is now fully back under the guidance of chef Jude Parra-Sickels, who has been leading the kitchen since its opening. With big tableside smoked meats like pork shoulder “bossam” and plate short ribs, plus all of the classic starters of stuffed jalapenos and bing bread, Majordomo remains one of LA’s most reliable and well-executed modern Asian restaurants. —Matthew Kang

Longtime LA operation Moo’s Craft Barbecue found a permanent home in Lincoln Heights and has quickly established itself as one of the top Texas-style barbecues in the city. Founders Andrew and Michelle Muñoz have done a great job of capturing the spirit of Austin with a walk-up counter, wide list of craft beers, and well-executed array of smoked meats with sides. Anyone who says LA doesn’t have good barbecue will be pretty quiet after taking a few bites at Moo’s. —Matthew Kang

Gusto Bread is a Long Beach success story, the kind of place that can start in a living room and become a citywide sensation, thanks entirely to local support. The popular 4th Street bakery, owned and operated by Arturo Enciso and Ana Salatino, makes some of the finest baked good anywhere in Southern California, and continues to innovate with collaborations, ancient grains, and recipes all their own. —Farley Elliott

Tamales Elena has been a mainstay of South LA for well over a decade, serving out of a truck in Watts. The family recently located to a drive-thru location for early morning tamales, pozoles, and guisados from Afro-Mexican cuisine that makes it one of the most impressive regional Mexican restaurants in the city. —Matthew Kang

In a city as Italian food obsessed as Los Angeles, few people do it better than Union. The Pasadena staple leans into traditional Italian-American flavors (think spaghetti and meatballs, for one) while still providing a California backbone with larger mains, salads, and plenty of coastal wines. —Farley Elliott