Hollywood Restaurants

When Clark Street took over the former 101 Coffee Shop space, locals crossed their fingers that not too much has changed. And Clark Street Diner honors the building’s roots: They serve standard diner fare, just with better bread.

We came for the blistered rotisserie chicken, but it’s Kismet’s vegetables that converted us into regulars. The shredded carrots, cabbage doused in tangy yogurt dressing, turmeric-and-barberry-roasted cauliflower are standouts, and no order is complete without a dollop of fennel tzatziki and extra pita. If you’re all out of ideas for lunch for the kiddos in your life, the children’s plate of chicken, pita, veggies, and hummus is a solid option that’s as tasty as it is healthy. Place your order online an hour before you plan to pickup.

If you haven’t read Eat, Pray, Love here’s a brief recap: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. In addition to a life’s journey, a transcontinental catharsis, and so much more, writer Elizabeth Gilbert goes to Naples and eats at da Michele. In no time, the rest of the world falls in love with this place—a hole-in-the-wall pizzeria that basically serves only pizza with cheese, pizza with no cheese, and pizza with extra cheese. For argument’s sake (and also because it’s true), let’s agree that this really is the best pizza in the world. So imagine the thrill that ran through goop HQ when they decided to open their first US outpost in Los Angeles. The first da Michele in America is a galaxy away from the hole-in-the-wall in Naples: There’s an elegant wood patio, luxuriously long bar, and a dining room with greenery, high ceilings, a fireplace, and a polished crowd. The menu is rounded out with Italian appetizer all-stars (we’d suggest the fiori di zucca), the freshest pastas imaginable (we’d suggest the linguine with olives, capers, and tomatoes), and all manner of pizzas (we’d suggest them all). You could eat…

The breakout taco stand of 2018 now has a brick-and-mortar spot on the corner of Spring and 6th Streets, and it couldn’t be more well-deserved. Whether you order the mushroom or the adobada tacos, get it “con todos”—the team applies salsa, onions, and other toppings with mixologist-level precision. Victor Delgado and Jorge “Joy” Alvarez-Tostado understand, in the same way a white-tablecloth restaurant does, that the excitement and energy a dish is served with is critical to the dining experience—their version is just way more fun. Head to Tacos 1986 to get the best street taco in LA without having to hang on a street corner all night: The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. during the week and to 3 a.m. on the weekends.

Tucked into the tail end of a Hollywood strip mall (across the street from Nancy Silverton’s Mozza empire, if you’re lost) is one of the most sublime French bistros outside of France. Chef Ludo Lefebvre has clung on to his Burgundy culinary roots—and his accent—despite more than twenty years in Los Angeles. The dining room, a small, narrow room that seats maybe twenty, has antique mirrors running the length of the wall reflecting the dim lights and open kitchen. Small stools and slivers of table space force diners to sit close; French rap makes the vibe as appealing as the food. A plate of garlicky escargots and half a warm baguette—never sliced, just torn with your hands—the confit-fried chicken, and a carafe of house red is the perfect order. Petit Trois doesn’t take reservations, but a much bigger sister restaurant has opened in the Valley, and honestly, an aperitif at the tiny bar while you wait is half the pleasure.

Formerly crammed into a tiny space on Santa Monica Boulevard–where it quickly became known for both amazing oatmeal griddle cakes and long waits for brunch—the new Salt’s Cure has found a happier home. A few miles east on Highland, it now has a much larger, more relaxed dining room and really good cocktails. The menu stays true to the restaurant’s original ethos: Animals are bought whole, directly from California farms; seafood is sustainable and caught by local fisherman; produce comes from LA-area farmers’ markets. Make a reservation in advance if you can, for brunch especially. (If you want less fanfare with the best of the morning offerings, stop by Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, which recently opened in the restaurant’s original space.)

Considering Nong Lá’s immense popularity, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually a small, family-run operation. It started with brother-and-sister duo, Elaine and Victor Phuong, and their mom Khanh Phan, who sourced family recipes and adapted them into a perfect menu of Vietnamese banh mi, egg-topped fried rice, and a light, flavorful pho that you can customize to your liking. The La Brea location is just a smidge fancier than the Sawtelle original but the menu is for the most part identical. Tip: Treat yourself to a glass of the homemade passion fruit iced tea—it’s delicious and just sweet enough.

The in-house pastas are particularly stand-out here, especially the bucatini and the rye rigatoni. A young, friendly staff and airy brick-and-wood interior with floor-to-ceiling windows and long steel bar make this place feel more like the East Village than LA. The extensive wine list, great pizzas, and even better prices make it a real gem. There's a second location in Sherman Oaks.

You wouldn't expect it from the outside, but this place serves up excellent and innovative Southern Thai cuisine, that pushes the boundaries on flavor and spice. The mussels are a standout and people rave about the 'crying tiger.' It's tiny, which makes for long but worthwhile waits.

Susan Feniger opened Mud Hen Tavern in the space previously occupied by her popular restaurant, Street. The menu reads over-the-top and all-over-the-place, but it's actually exciting, innovative, and comes together as a great meal. The chicken & waffle croquettes with bacon and spicy maple syrup is a great example: The spice kicks up the maple syrup, which, glazed on crispy chicken meatballs, makes for an insanely delicious small plate. Everything else we tried was equally good, from the tuna ceviche with toasted corn to the vegetarian tostada (the walnut 'chorizo' on this is delicious, deceiving, and brilliant). It's mobbed here on weekend nights, with loud, upbeat music (Eye of the Tiger was blasting during dessert), and the vibe is definitely more pre-game than date.