Restaurants / guide (147)

Oysters at Portsmouth

The Best Oyster Happy Hours in Los Angeles

04/12/2014

Bill Esparza

Los Angeles is now lined with oyster bars like they were palm trees, and restaurants are shipping in oysters from sea to shining sea. Angelenos have an oyster bar or restaurant serving oysters in nearly every neighborhood, with condiments, beverages, and menus catering to the local flavor. Aside from the sensation of privilege that an oyster happy hour bestows, it’s a titillating first taste - the ultimate culinary foreplay when getting to know a restaurant. Here are ten of the best oyster happy hours in the greater Los Angeles area.

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The Best Fritters in Los Angeles

04/03/2014

Joshua Lurie

There are no rules when frying. Just get a vat of oil bubbling, gather delectable ingredients that are either savory or sweet, and let the oil work its magic. At the L.A. County Fair, vendors have been known to bomb deep fryers with items as disparate as candy bars and artichokes. Thankfully, L.A. chefs have more sense and restraint, and we’ve been graced with some truly inspiring fritters.

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Charcuterie at Bestia

The Best Restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles

03/24/2014

Discover Los Angeles

GQ Magazine has called Downtown Los Angeles “America’s Next Great City” and “the coolest new downtown in America.” Downtown L.A. has certainly come a long way in recent years. There were great places to eat in Downtown before its current renaissance, but the choices were limited. That's no longer the case, as acclaimed chefs and visionary restaurateurs have created a thriving dining scene in Downtown L.A. With so many restaurants opening in Downtown, deciding where to eat can be a tough choice. Read on for a guide to Downtown L.A.’s newer restaurants and classic dining spots.

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Where to Find the Best Bread in Los Angeles

03/14/2014

Zach Brooks

It’s hard to say when exactly gluten became Public Enemy No. 1 in Los Angeles. Luckily there are a few establishments that run against the grain (or with it, depending on your point of view). Not necessarily bakeries, or even restaurants that make good bread, but places to eat where a South Beach dieter shouldn't even bother. Here are 10 places in L.A. worth a visit just for the bread.

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The Best Restaurants to Dine with the Stars in Los Angeles

02/23/2014

Discover Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, and if you’re a fan of movies, TV or music, there isn’t a better city to spot a celebrity. No matter where you are in LA, there’s a good chance you’ll bump into a star, whether you're browsing a farmers market or hiking in Runyon Canyon. But if you really want the odds in your favor, here are 11 restaurants that are sure bets to make your next meal even more memorable.

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Fried chicken sandwich at Akasha

The Best Restaurants in Culver City

02/13/2014

Joshua Lurie

Culver City’s culinary scene has finally arrived. Sure, plenty of places opened in the Aughts, particularly downtown, but not many places generated enough excitement or staying power. Now, a new wave of gastronomy is washing over Culver City, spanning from the Marina del Rey border to Mid-City. Here are some favorites.

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Ludo Lefebvre at Trois Mec

March 22, 2014: Grill & Chill at the All-Star Chef Classic

02/09/2014

Discover Los Angeles

On March 21-23, 2014, 25 chefs from across the country and around the world are gathering for the All-Star Chef Classic, a three-day modern food event taking place at L.A. LIVE in Downtown Los Angeles. Celebrated chefs and the rising stars they have mentored will showcase their culinary mastery in two unique venues: Restaurant Stadium™ and The Chefs’ Tasting Arena™. The former welcomes over 250 guests “kitchen-side” in an intimate VIP setting, while the latter features a more expansive layout and a market-style experience with family-style seating.

Grill & Chill presented by dineLA is an international cookout taking place on Saturday, March 22 from 7:30-10 p.m. Grill & Chill celebrates the many ways that different cultures embrace the experience of cooking over an open flame, featuring chefs Roy Choi, Michael Cimarusti, Ludo Lefebvre, Jon Shook, Ricardo Zarate and more. Along with delicious tastings, admission includes alcoholic beverages, and recipe ideas. For those looking to beat the crowds, there is a VIP ‘Diamond’ ticket that gets guests in 60 minutes early with VIP access to the Chefs’ Tasting Arena™.

Following are Los Angeles restaurants where you can experience the acclaimed culinary creations of Grill & Chill participating chefs.

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Lucky Chinese Dishes in Los Angeles

02/02/2014

Clarissa Wei

The Chinese New Year is the start of the new Lunar Calendar and the onset of the agricultural season. For the Chinese, this date is single-handedly the most important holiday of the year. It’s a 15-day soiree - a time of reunion, a time for family. Each day has a new theme. The first day is for lighting fireworks and bamboo sticks, the fifth day is for dumplings, and so on. The common link for each day is food - the half-month is filled with an abundance of dishes. After all, food is the cornerstone of Chinese culture. Traditional dishes are steeped with symbolism – many of which are homophones for lucky phrases.

Here are eight auspicious Chinese dishes and where to get them in the greater Los Angeles area.

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The Best Nachos in Los Angeles

01/27/2014

Joshua Lurie

Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya supposedly invented nachos at the Victory Club, a Piedras Negras restaurant located just across from the Texas border. What’s now a widespread classic initially featured fried tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and jalapeños. In L.A., they’re rarely so restrained, and while nachos typically appear at Mexican restaurants, that's not always the case. Here are some of our favorite Los Angeles nachos.

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Celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Los Angeles

12/23/2013

Discover Los Angeles

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, aka La Vigilia (The Vigil), is a traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration that commemorates La Vigilia di Natale, the wait for the midnight birth of the infant Jesus. The feast typically features at least seven different seafood dishes, which are served before midnight Mass. The custom of eating seafood on Christmas Eve comes from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence - i.e., no meat or milk products - on the eve of certain holy days. 

Although La Vigilia’s true origins are unknown, the custom is said to have begun in Southern Italy. The number seven may refer to the seven sacraments, the Seven Hills of Rome, or perhaps the idea of completion - according to Genesis, God rested on the seventh day. Baccalà (salted cod fish) is a traditional favorite of the sumptuous meal, along with a myriad of other seafood dishes.

From traditional family-style menus to modern twists, restaurants across Los Angeles are celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

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