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The 38 Essential Los Angeles Restaurants, July 2014

by Matthew Kang@mattatouille Jul 1, 2014, 3:00am PDT

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by Matthew Kang@mattatouille Jul 1, 2014, 3:00am PDT

25 comments / new

Inside Spago, Beverly Hills. Photo by Elizabeth Daniels

The Eater 38 needs an overhaul every once in a while, and this time around, the highly elite group of restaurants that represents of variety of cuisines and culinary styles has gotten a complete refresh. Spanning Westside to Eastside, with eateries clustered around the best dining neighborhoods, this collection aims to answer the question, "Can you recommend a restaurant?" Eater will continue to update restaurants every few months, adding in eligible places that have been open for at least six months. Remember, each establishment is listed alphabetically, not in order of preference or quality.

For those of you readying the pitchforks because your favorite restaurant isn't on the list, it's probably easier to just state your case in the comments or to the tipline.

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Alma

Ari Taymor's first venture might be the one of the most notable places in L.A. to have taken a meteoric rise, thanks mostly to a Best New Restaurant from Bon Appetit. But beyond the hype, which is immense, lies a dedication to impeccably sourced hyper-local ingredients presented in a rather unique and innovative manner. Love it or hate it, it's now on the forefront of anyone who visits Los Angeles, and deserves a spot on the must-try list for locals as well.

952 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

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Animal

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo captured a certain idea that's remained at the prime spot of restaurant culture in L.A. Minimal, pure, on-point yet adventurous, controversial yet comforting. Shook and Dotolo's Fairfax restaurant doesn't feel bad about serving offal meat or unusual animals. Many have attempted to copy their approach, but few have succeeded.

435 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048

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AOC

Suzanne Goin's newly relocated but enduring Mediterranean restaurant on West Third continues to churn out some of the most reliable, and seasonally driven cooking in the city. With the new digs and one of the most charming patios in town, it's hard to find much fault with AOC. The produce-driven cocktails, which weren't available at the previous location, also bump up the experience.

8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048

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Bäco Mercat

Josef Centeno took the best parts of his days at Lazy Ox Canteen and refined it into Baco Mercat, a casual dining spot in Downtown that's good for an office lunch or refined enough for a second date. Rustic, soulful, and decently priced, Baco is the ideal gateway to the Centeno mini-empire.

408 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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The Bazaar by José Andrés

Jose Andres explores a different kind of dining inside the SLS Hotel, the kind of sexy, stylish, and sophisticated dining room that still pushes out a varied and delectable collection of Spanish-inspired tapas through the lens of avant garde cuisine.

465 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

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Bestia

Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis knew something about finding the perfect spot and offering the area the perfect concept. Seasonal, meat-driven rustic Italian in an industrial space in the heart of the Arts District. Who knew it was going to be one of the most talked about and constantly books restaurants in the city despite having a nearly hidden location? The pizzas, pastas, appetizers and mains all shine, with cocktails and wine as impressive as any restaurant in town.

2121 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021

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Bucato

Evan Funke's oddly laid out restaurant some notable quirks, namely a no-cellphone and camera policy, stove-less kitchen, and completely handcut and rolled pasta menu. The compromises are worth it when the dishes are served, as flavors and textures collide to create one of the most compelling new Italian restaurants to hit LA.

3280 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90034

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Canele Restaurant

L.A. doesn't have as many great neighborhood restaurants as say, New York or San Francisco. You know, the kind of places where you could slip into a two top, order a bottle of rose, and order up a parade of seasonal American/French bites. But Canele fits the billing nicely in a tiny space in Atwater Village. Brunch is no slouch, either, though come early to beat the crow.d

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3219 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Chengdu Taste

Tony Xu has essentially created a brand new destination restaurant in San Gabriel Valley, a part of town that's shock full of great places to eat. This ode to Sichuan doesn't hold back with flavors, so expect to endure massive lines to enjoy near-perfect renditions of spicy classics.

828 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803

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Chi Spacca

There's steak, and then there's Chad Colby's absolute obsession with all things meat, including a mighty Bistecca alla Fiorentina that would make grown carnivores cry. The house charcuterie is appropriately fantastic while other dishes like the bone marrow pie defy any person's sense of moderation.

6610 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

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Din Tai Fung Dumpling House #3

This international dumpling and noodle purveyor still makes some of the most solid Chinese food in the city, though with three locations to pick from (two essentially next to each other in Arcadia), it's hard not to opt for this spot in Glendale. It's right in the Americana, making longer waits easier to deal with, plus the ambiance is much nicer than the other spots. Get those famous xiao long bao dumplings and don't look back.

171 Caruso Ave, Glendale, CA 91210

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Father's Office

The gourmet burger didn't really exist until Sang Yoon decided to offer one at his Santa Monica gastropub. Since then, a larger, more comfy outlet has opened to crowds in Culver City, offering a massive tap list, decently priced cocktails, and a slew of pub fare that only a top flight fine dining chef could compile. Going beyond the burger, everything from the duck salad to steak frites and even mushrooms go fantastic with all the beverages on deck. Just don't ask for ketchup, or any modifications, actually.

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3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034

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Gjelina

Travis Lett's enduring Abbot Kinney restaurant still attracts a steady clientele with a compelling mix of vegetable-driven small plates and well executed fare. Other than Axe, perhaps the most "Venice" restaurant in Venice.

1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

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The Hart + The Hunter

Southern cooking had a brief moment in Los Angeles, but the production at this Melrose hotel defies trends, with everything from crispy fried chicken skin and steak with polenta in a tiny dining room toward the back. But it's all even more impressive when one realizes how strapped and simple this kitchen is, with no hood and basic equipment. Flavors, ingredients, execution are all on point.

7950 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

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Hinoki & The Bird

Placed in one of the most unique restaurant spaces in town, Hinoki & the Bird remains a world-class eatery under the helm of Kuniko Yagi, who adds East and Southeast Asian touches to a menu that seems simple to the beginner's eye. But underneath each dish is a compendium of complexity that would stand up to some of the best places in the city.

10 W Century Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90067

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ink.

Michael Voltaggio's avant garde restaurant on Melrose is one of the spots that will truly impress a diner that's been through the classics and wants more. Prepare for the mind to be warped and even toyed with, as Voltaggio blends traditional technique with unexpected ingredients.

8360 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069

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Kang Ho Dong Baek Jeong

There are so many great Korean barbecue restaurants, but this relative newcomer that's sprouting franchises across the U.S. is still the one to beat. The best quality meats, the best marinades, only the most essential banchan, and an ambiance lifted straight out of a street-side spot in Seoul, Kang Ho Dong Baek Jeong might actually be worth the tremendous waits and raucous environment. The pork neck slivers and lightly marinaded brisket, when slow cooked over smoking charcoal, might be the closest thing to Texas barbecue in LA.

3465 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020

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Kobawoo House

There are more than a dozen outstanding Korean restaurants in Koreatown, an enclave that might hold the highest density of eateries in LA. Notable picks around Ktown: Soban, Seong Buk Dong, and Kobawoo, the last of which tends to have the most menu options and the most consistent execution. The lunchtime bossam is a great deal while the stews, fish, and pancakes are all top drawer.

698 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005

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La Casita Mexicana

LA is known for great Mexican food, but there aren't a ton of great Mexican restaurants to be found in central L.A. Petty Cash is contender for great tacos while Rocio's Mole de Los Dioses is a bit north for most people. Guelaguetza is another strong choice, but La Casita Mexicana has the whole package, from breakfast to dinner. Try the chiles en nogada or the enchiladas.

4030 Gage Ave, Bell, CA 90201

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Langer's Delicatessen

Yes, the #19 pastrami sandwich is an amazing sandwich, but the pure pastrami on house-based rye is simplicity at its best. There's a reason why people make pilgrimages to try their pastrami and even corned beef: there is no better version anywhere in town, and perhaps even in the country. Pro tip: try the #54, a blend of both the pastrami and corned beef in one sandwich. And don't skip the rest of the classic Jewish deli menu - it's all very well executed in one of the best day-time dining rooms in town.

704 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

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Mélisse

Josiah Citrin's nearly ten year old fine dining establishment holds down the high-end side of things on the Westside. With a regal ambiance and world-class service, it's hard to think of a better place to experience Michelin-level food in Los angeles. Opt for a tasting menu and order up a bottle of good wine. You deserve it.

1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Milo And Olive

Quietly occupying a rather barren stretch of Wilshire Blvd, Milo & Olive serves what might be the most compelling every day food on the Westside, from fantastic pizzas and pastries to market-driven bites that will turn even the hardest skeptic. Too bad the space is about as small as one could imagine, though it's worth the wait.

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2723 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Night + Market

Kris Yenbamroong struck the right nerve when he opened this Thai street food eatery in the heart of West Hollywood's Sunset Strip, a relative food desert considering its notoreity. Since opening a few years ago, the strong Thai dishes never fail to impress out of towners and locals alike, with addictive dishes and modest prices. If you're on the Eastside, try Night + Market Song, a near carbon copy with a few specialties of its own.

9041 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

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Orsa & Winston

Josef Centeno decided to come back to fine dining with a bang, this time taking over a 40 seat spot right next to his other two restaurants in Downtown. This sort-of Japanese and Italian high end restaurant offering medium and larger tasting menus that appeal to the international diner who's used to counting Michelin stars, to the local foodist who knows his or her salt. Either way, the meals here are immediately gratifying and more than reasonably priced for this level of quality.

122 W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Osteria Mozza

While Nancy Silverton's adjacent Pizzeria Mozza is no slouch, offering one of the best pizzas in the city, the Osteria sets the standard for elegant Italian cuisine in a convivial atmosphere. A good place to hit during the weekday for an amaro and plate of burrata, or a fine spot to celebrate an anniversary or birthday, the service is always going to be top notch. Don't skip any of the pastas or main dishes, which are prepared to perfection.

6602 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

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Providence

Michael Cimarusti's ode to seafood-centric fine dining has gotten a much needed revamp in Hancock Park, with a nautical theme to reinforce the kind of preparations happening on the plate. The tasting menu-focused eatery is an easy choice for a celebration or special occasion.

5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

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Red Medicine

Jordan Kahn and partner Noah Ellis have had their share of PR mishaps, but it's mostly been forgotten now that the concept, which is essentially New Nordic through the lens of Asian ingredients. And the winners are anyone who's willing to venture to this stretch of Wilshire. Nothing on the short menu is particularly weak, but the desserts are extremely strong, especially the iconic coconut bavarois.

8400 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

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République

When Walter and Margarita Manzke took over the iconic Campanile space, they knew the stakes were going to be high. And who in LA would have thought they would've succeeded this much, offering a swell breakfast to dinner menu that ranges a French point of view, with pockets of New American and even Asian influences that appeal to nearly everyone. The desserts, breads, and pastries by Margarita are near-perfect while the charcuterie board is sure to stun anyone.

624 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Rustic Canyon Wine Bar

Jeremy Fox revitalized one of the Westside's strongest restaurants, bringing a Northern California elegance and finesse to a market-driven menu that almost didn't need it. The result is wonderful set of dishes that doesn't need fireworks to impress. The ingredients, technique, and chef's touch speak for themselves.

1119 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Sapp Coffee Shop

A humble Thai breakfast and lunch spot, Sapp Coffee Shop has two iconic dishes that are must-trys for visitors and Angelenos. First, the jade noodles, both dry and immersed in soup (for former is better). Second the Thai Boat Noodles, which are dank, intense, spicy, and not for the faint of heart. But beyond that, the fried rice and crab pad thai are more than respectable. Cash only.

5183 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027