Forget Training Day; the baseball steak at Pacific Dining Car transcends any one movie or Denzel Washington catchphrase. The meaty softball-sized main is the centerpiece of a large, classic menu at the Sixth Street location, which has been providing steakhouse elegance 24 hours a day since 1921.

There is no more iconic single sandwich in Los Angeles (and no better pastrami sandwich in America) than the #19 at Langer’s. It’s the absolute pinnacle of a Jewish deli staple, complete with mile-high stacks of pastrami, Swiss cheese, and coleslaw on rye.

A modern, casual French bistro can be surprisingly hard to find in Los Angeles, which is in part what makes Petit Trois so sought after. Having chef Ludo Lefebvre behind the bar, whipping up a decadent true French omelette, cooked slow using salty French butter and lots of movement, certainly helps.

The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge has become synonymous for people watching and its McCarthy Salad. A favorite since 1948, the prettily arranged dish that plays on the classic Cobb winds up on nearly every table.

Is there a better price to quality ratio in all of Los Angeles than chef Nozawa’s “Trust Me?” Probably not, which explains the rapidly expanding empire growing across the city.

Yes, you’re going to have to wait in line, but is there a more LA experience than digging into SQIRL’s ricotta toast with housemade seasonal jam (and Instagramming it after)?

Nancy Silverton's been known as one of LA's seminal pastry chefs, but this dessert, made in conjuction with fellow James Beard winner Dahlia Narvaez, is the must-order dessert at Pizzeria Mozza. With a dense custard pudding as its base, the whipped cream and sprinkle of salt rounds out the rich flavors that'll have you swoon after having your fill of pizza. And the rosemary cookies on the side are the perfect accompaniment.

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo made their mark in the late aughts with this over the top dish, packing stewed oxtail and cheddar cheese atop french fries in a minimalist space along Fairfax. At the time, the elevated stoner fare was a revelation, and the iconic dish remains on the menu today.

This gorgeous soup-stuffed dumplings are the signature item at Din Tai Fung, a global chain of Chinese restaurants with three locations in the greater LA area. Glendale's sparkling space inside the Americana at Brand is the easiest to get to for most Angelenos, and the waits more than worth it. Choose between pork, shrimp, and crab varieties, though the truffle dumplings are worth a splurge every once in a while.

There are so many great burgers in L.A., but Sang Yoon's "burger" (some liken it to a sandwich) was probably the seminal gourmet burger in America. Using house dry-aged beef, arugula, caramelized onions, and maytag blue cheese on an elongated sandwich bun, it's big enough to share.

There is perhaps no more iconic dish in Los Angeles than the French dip, that juicy, fall-apart tender sandwich made famous by Philippe’s all those decades ago. And better still: they’re still cheap as heck, and totally delicious.

Chicken and waffles are something of a civic dish for Los Angeles. It’s one of those plates that people who have never been here ask about, and retains a kind of homespun pride — particularly at the enduring Roscoe’s chain, where the mash-up was popularized.

You haven't lived in LA unless you've had a double-double from In-N-Out, but something equally awesome is the chili cheeseburger at Tommy's. With plush white buns and a dense bean-less chili, it's a taste of LA history.

Glendora’s famed Donut Man stand is universally accepted by Angelenos as a thing worth driving for. No small feat considering its location well east of Downtown, but one bite into the doughnut shop’s seasonal strawberry offerings, and it’s easy to understand why.

Koreatown's got more restaurants per square mile than any part of Los Angeles, and the one that's percolated to immense fame is the braised short ribs, called galbi jjim, and Sun Nong Dan, which draws long waits throughout the day. The massive caldron is packed with tender short ribs, served with a sweet soy sauce, or a spicy variant. Bring a crew and finish one of LA's most epic dishes.