The Resy Guide to L.A.’s Best French Restaurants

A very recent addition to L.A.’s French dining scene, Camphor opened in February from two chefs who met working for chef Alain Ducasse’s Blue in Bangkok. Co-chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George incorporate their South and Southeast Asian backgrounds into modern bistro fare that, at first glance, looks classically French. But the dishes here are lighter, and more playful and spice-accented, than they appear upon first glance. Take, for example, the fried baby shrimp snack dusted with “gunpowder” seasoning, or beef tartare served alongside aromatic herb tempura chips. The simple frites are spectacular as well.

Slated to open this month in the Thompson Hollywood (and on Resy soon), Mes Amis draws inspiration from a wide range of French cafes and brasseries. Chef Lincoln Carson, a renowned pastry chef whose award-winning Bon Temps closed at the height of the pandemic, will be using ingredients sourced from the nearby Hollywood Farmers Market in reinterpreted French classics. To start, the restaurant will be open solely for dinner, so don’t expect to see Carson’s everything croissants on the menu just yet. More information here. 

Republique chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke opened this Parisian-inspired bistro last summer, bringing their well-known California-sourced French cuisine to Beverlywood. It’s continued to thrive in the midst of the pandemic for a reason — and it’s not just the duo’s famed baguette with Normandy butter. Hearty dishes include the caramelized onion tarte tatin and Burgundy escargot en croûte, a memorable take on the classic with soft snails bathed in garlic, butter, and parsley beneath a layer of flaky puff pastry in a ceramic shot glass, intended to be flipped upside down and tossed in your mouth all at once. More information here. 

Housed in the former Ye Coach & Horses space, an iconic industry hub that kept its doors open for 73 years, Horses infuses California bistro vibes into a classic Hollywood space. Chefs Liz Johnson and Will Aghajanian (Mimi, Freedman’s, The Catbird Seat) pay homage to the history of the restaurant through expertly-prepared classics like endive Caesar salad, roast chicken, and a phenomenal burger. The fashionable crowd can cause a bit of a scene, but the well-oiled staff is adept at handling the crowds with panache.

This elegant neighborhood bistro in Hollywood’s booming Sycamore District feels a bit like Bemelmans Bar in New York’s Carlyle Hotel, with gilded murals lending an old-school aesthetic to the space. Gigi’s crowd, however, is younger, hipper, and much more into food. There are more vegetables on the menu than many a bistro, such as roasted carrots and a very popular little gem salad, but the steak frites is a must-try for those who do eat meat, washed down with a very of-the-moment espresso martini.

This tiny slice of a restaurant is the leader of L.A.’s new-school bistros, with the late Jonathan Gold once describing chef Ludo Lefebvre’s cuisine as “the kind of unpretentious cooking you may remember from your first trip to France.” And if you’ve never been, the black pepper Boursin-laced omelette will transport you in a single bite. While it was once a challenge to reserve a stool at the original location — the Valley location is far larger — the pocket-sized bistro now boasts a welcoming patio out front with actual tables.

Figaro Bistrot, with its tightly-packed sidewalk tables, covered awning, and gold-leaf text on the windows, looks like it was plucked straight out of Le Marais. The place serves hearty dishes, including omelettes and French onion soup, for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The best time to go, however, is early evening (5 to 7 p.m.). The happy hour is one of the best in town, with a solid selection of affordable snacks, including escargot, oysters, beef carpaccio, and excellent frites, paired with $4 wines and cheap dirty martinis. More information here. 

Dave Beran’s Michelin-starred bistro serves classics like onion soup, steak au poivre, and duck rillettes at a level of perfection that’s rare outside Paris — which is exactly why the place has racked up so many awards. While many of the ingredients are sourced within California, the wine list comes solely from France, offering a deep selection of hard-to-find bottles and ciders. The semi-rustic, semi-industrial, thoroughly glam space is an ideal place to linger over chocolate soufflé on date night, or when you just want to splurge.

Walking into République is like entering a medieval village. A giant skylight hangs over the brick-walled dining room, which looks straight into the open kitchen from a long communal table, while Gothic arches lead toward a more private dining area. During the day, the bright restaurant serves upscale brunch dishes like mushroom toast, shakshuka, and a kimchi fried rice that features chef Walter Manzke’s beloved red-wine braised beef short ribs, as well as an awe-inspiring pastry case. At night, the menu gets a bit more formal, with traditional selections like beef tartare, duck pâté en croûte, and Dover sole à la meuniere. More information here. 

Michelin-trained Bar Boulud alum Dean Yasharian brings expertly prepared French dishes with a bit of California flair — including several vegetarian options — to his Old Town Pasadena bistro. In addition to a regularly changing four-course tasting menu, Yasharian offers an a la carte menu of time-honored favorites, including coq au vin and a charcuterie board with excellent pâté and terrines. The lively restaurant, which has gained a devoted following in spite of opening during peak pandemic, offers indoor and outdoor dining overlooking all the action of Union Street.

Loupiotte Kitchen is another quaint Los Feliz bistro with charming sidewalk tables that’s open from breakfast through dinner. The concise, frequently changing menu features dishes spanning from pain perdu and soft scrambled eggs in the morning to goat cheese salad and mussels with grilled bread at night. Make sure to scan the walls inside this country-inspired cafe for retail offerings, including wines by the bottle and a wide array of French cookies, preserves, and other snacks. More information here. 

This modern French-ish restaurant serves excellent interpretations of  continental favorites including housemade charcuterie, handmade pastas, and multiple variations of bone marrow in a sleek, dimly lit space that wouldn’t be out of place in a fancy hotel. The food is solid, but what is most impressive about this industry favorite is the serious wine list — and attached bottle shop — that includes a “Holy Shit” selection of rare wines dating back to at least the 1950s. More information here. 

At its core, Marvin is a neighborhood wine bar, with a robust menu of French-leaning snacks and entrees to round out the drinks. Its marble-topped bar is an excellent place to sip $10 wine and $6 beers for happy hour while filling up on little bites like mussels and oysters (and a notoriously good cheeseburger). If you can’t make it from 6 to 7 p.m., brunch, lunch, and dinner are worth paying full price for dishes such as asparagus with fried egg, steak frites, and ratatouille with goat cheese. The sprawling wine list offers such a great selection of Old World bottles and glasses, with a heavy emphasis on French reds.

This gas station-turned-wine bar feels like it could have been pulled straight from a Raymond Chandler novel. Located under the Gold Line, the neon-lit restaurant is like a beacon on a quiet, dark street, beckoning locals for a drink (or three) and a bite to eat. A short selection of bistro favorites like escargot, bavette steak, and moules mariniere are paired with an impressive wine list that offers an enviable selection of by the glass options, with an above-average selection of sparklers and Champagnes. More information here. 

Visit this French-Basque country stalwart while it’s still standing —  the 1960s-era chalet-inspired building is slated to be turned into condos at some point in the not-distant future. While the proposed apartment promises to keep the historic signage and beloved cherrywood bar, you should really plan a visit for a dinner of steak frites, creamy soups by the tureen, and escargot in the Mad Men-era bar while you still can. Expect a lively crowd of young Echo Park locals mixed with older couples making a night of it. More information here. 

Sara Ventiera is a reporter based in Los Angeles County. She writes about food, pets, and real estate for Food & Wine, AARP, and realtor.com. Follow her on instagram @saraventiera. Follow Resy, too.