Now on Resy: Tsubaki, Quarter Sheets, White Elephant, and More Local Favorites

Like other Tao locations around the country, the Hollywood outpost is a real jaw-dropper. Burrowing at least two stories into the ground, Asian-inspired artifacts, sultry reds, and glittery golds fill every inch of the sunken dining room. Scenesters flock for the neon orange chicken, tuna crisps, and lobster fried rice.

When you want to impress someone who has a penchant for tequila and mezcal, this hidden oasis inside a hidden oasis will send their agave-loving heart all a flutter. The intimate room at Sendero, the Ritz-Carlton’s 24th-floor restaurant downtown, celebrates all things pan-Latin, including rare and hard-to-find spirits. Expect a communal experience with other like-minded sippers.

The ground-floor restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria turns towards Jean-Georges Vongerichten and coastal Europe for its all-day menus, which fits this corner of Beverly Hills just fine. Think tuna carpaccio with Espelette pepper, scrambled eggs and caviar, and wood-grilled fish for two.

There’s so much to say about this small pizza outfit that we’ll keep it simple: Sit at the counter, order a few appetizers, maybe a tricolore salad and some burrata, and a couple of pies — the white pie with preserved lemon and a diavola with a soppressata kick, perhaps. Then watch the Neapolitan-style magic that comes out of those ovens.

This residency is all about Filipino food from the mind of a Los Angeles chef. Think red bean waffles and garlic karaage fried chicken for brunch, a “Fili” cheesesteak with queso de bola sauce at lunch, and tamales with kare kare-inspired braised oxtail and peanut velouté for dinner. The cocktails are just as creative.

Any great izakaya worth its binchotan charcoal should have an array of grilled skewers, tantalizing appetizers, and a great selection of beverages. Hatch has all that and more, from corn fritters to squid ink karaage chicken, various cuts of chicken on sticks, pork belly, lamb lollipops, and more. Have a ball with some highballs (classic, green tea or otherwise).

Fresh air and a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings are hallmarks of Catch restaurants around the globe, whether it’s in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan or Playa del Carmen in Mexico. The West Hollywood outpost has it all: A seamless indoor-outdoor rooftop space with vine-covered columns and twinkling lights everywhere, towering shellfish platters, next-level sushi rolls, overloaded lobsters, and more.

Just like the original in Silver Lake, this airy South Park spot serves craveable Taiwanese and Chinese dishes, like twice-cooked pork, beef rolls, potstickers, dan dan noodles, and more. Pro tip: Whatever fresh, green vegetable is available, get it.

Note: Reservations are only available for parties of 12- 24 committing to the $29/person family-style prix-fixe menu.

What started as a home restaurant for creative bento boxes is now a cathedral of global experiences on the plate. Chef Nan Yimcharoen has fun with her menus, taking you to favorite destinations via seafood preparations that sing of Thailand, bites of Japanese sashimi, French-influenced tartare, Mexican ceviche, and more.

Because Tesse is super chic with its wide booths, a fantastic bar, and a West Hollywood vibe that just won’t quit. The menu screams French with a California soul, so plates of housemade charcuterie, hamachi crudo, and strip steaks with bordelaise are fitting. Start with cocktails, natch, and definitely explore the wine list — it’s tailor-made for sampling and sipping through the night.

From a bright orange sashimi food truck to a haven for smoky wood-grilled dishes, this Arts District spot from lauded London chef Junya Yamasaki fits right in with the buzzing neighborhood. Order something from the ever-changing menu, grab a drink, and then expect to order at least another round.

When it’s peak Santa Monica summer, consider this your next stop along the beach bike path for lemon-scented kale salads, burgers with twice-fried fries, and hibiscus coolers spiked with mezcal. It’s amazing how easy a bottle of rosé disappears here. 

It’s pink, it’s sleek, it’s the kind of hidden DTLA space you want to stumble upon when the need for a plate of calamari friti, Caesar salad, and spaghetti alla vognole (clams) strikes. We love the well-curated wine list with just enough to keep everyone in the group happy. 

Because there’s likely not much that can top sitting under the canopy of sumac trees at this lovely lounge and bar, sipping on some choice cocktails and pours from California wine country. Classic dishes are a perfect pairing for the drinks, too. Our preferred combo? The Rocking Horse Winner cocktail and an order of calamari and the burger. P.S. Brunch boasts bottomless mimosas and a tableside Bloody Mary.

Depending on who you ask, this K-town spot is a fantastic sushi restaurant, a home to kaiseki and omakase masters, or a blowout happy hour find. Thankfully it’s all of the above, so you can’t really go wrong. The build-your-own hand roll lunch option is always a hit, but the small dishes and pristine sushi served in the omakase menu are pretty exquisite, too. Sake pairings are worth it.

Those who know, know this is where you go for hot, bubbly wood-fired pies, lots of shareable bites (burrata and meatballs, mini burgers, and a great chopped salad), and top-notch cocktails. It’s one of those Valley gems regulars want to keep to themselves.

When your night on the Sunset Strip beckons for a one-pound Wagyu meatball smothered in marinara and creamy burrata, a hot cacio e pepe pizza, and pastas (many gluten-free), you’ve found the place. Drinks vary from the classic to the dramatic, including one served under a smoke-filled cloche.

From the same duo behind sandwich specialists Wax Paper, you’ll find a family-friendly vibe and views of the Los Angeles River at this all-day spot. It’s streamlined but cozy, just what you’d expect for a neighborhood place that serves patty melts and piles of matchstick fries, really lovely salads and vegetable dishes, and root beer-braised beef cheeks with polenta.

Because discovering tasty scallion beef rolls, Hunan-style steamed fish, scallion pancakes, and other dim sum specialties at the base of a Little Tokyo apartment building is what dining in Los Angeles is all about.

Whether weekend brunch or dinner, the view of the surf, sand, and pier is pretty stunning at this perch on Santa Monica State Beach. If you time it right, you’ll get a picture-perfect sunset with that hamachi crudo, lobster spaghetti, and Liquid Gold cocktail. 

The French-focused dining room adds even more reason to walk through the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Tucked towards the back, hidden and somewhat romantic — if only because it’s nothing like the tourist chaos out front — you’ll find favorites like Lyonnaise salads, beautifully curated charcuterie boards, and wood-grilled steaks and seafood.