Travel Guide
5 Days of Eating in Los Angeles
From legendary delis and dollar slices to Michelin-starred temples — every meal planned across five unforgettable days. Organized from splurge-worthy dinners to budget-friendly gems.
Day 1
Eastside Icons
Sqirl
Jessica Koslow's iconic café that helped define LA's modern food scene. Famous for towering rice bowls, thick-cut toast with house-made jam, and a line that wraps around the block.
Must Order
- Sorrel pesto rice bowl
- Brioche toast with ricotta & jam
- Turmeric latte
Pro Tip: Go on a weekday to avoid the worst lines. The jams are available to purchase — grab a jar.
Guisados
Handmade corn tortillas filled with slow-braised stews — this is tacos elevated to art. The braised meats melt into the fresh tortillas in a way that's purely LA.
Must Order
- Cochinita pibil taco
- Bistec en salsa roja
- Horchata
Pro Tip: Get the sampler plate to try multiple flavors. The cochinita pibil is life-changing.
Bestia
Ori Menashe's Arts District powerhouse remains one of the toughest reservations in LA. Rustic Italian food with bold flavors, house-made charcuterie, and wood-fired pizzas.
Must Order
- House-made sausage pizza
- Bone marrow agnolotti
- Butterscotch budino
Pro Tip: Book exactly 30 days out on Resy — tables go fast. The budino dessert is legendary.
Day 2
Koreatown & Mid-City
Courage Bagels
LA's answer to the New York bagel — hand-rolled, wood-fired, and impossibly good. This tiny shop has earned a cult following for a reason.
Must Order
- Everything bagel with scallion cream cheese
- Sesame bagel with lox
- Cold brew
Pro Tip: They sell out — check their Instagram for daily availability. Go early.
Park's BBQ
The gold standard of Korean BBQ in LA. USDA Prime galbi, wagyu brisket, and impeccable banchan — Park's is a temple of grilled meat and sizzling tableside perfection.
Must Order
- Prime galbi
- Wagyu brisket
- Naengmyeon (cold noodles)
Pro Tip: Lunch is more affordable and less crowded than dinner. The cold noodles are essential.
Providence
Michael Cimarusti's two-Michelin-star seafood temple. Pristine ocean-to-table cuisine with Japanese precision and California soul. One of the finest restaurants on the West Coast.
Must Order
- Tasting menu
- Santa Barbara uni
- Seasonal fish preparation
Pro Tip: The tasting menu is the way to go — it showcases the best of what's in season.
Day 3
Westside & Venice
Gjusta
The bakery-deli from the Gjelina team. Incredible pastries, smoked fish platters, and sandwiches in a sun-drenched industrial space steps from the beach.
Must Order
- Smoked salmon tartine
- Almond croissant
- Shakshuka
Pro Tip: Grab food and walk to the beach — Venice is just blocks away.
Jitlada
Southern Thai food that will rearrange your understanding of the cuisine. Fearlessly spicy, deeply flavorful, and beloved by chefs and food critics worldwide.
Must Order
- Crying tiger beef
- Morning glory with crispy pork
- Southern Thai curry
Pro Tip: Ask for 'Thai spicy' if you can handle real heat. The crying tiger is a must.
Sushi Ginza Onodera
A Tokyo-caliber omakase experience in the heart of WeHo. Fish flown in from Tsukiji, expert knife work, and a serene hinoki counter that transports you to Japan.
Must Order
- Chef's omakase
- Otoro
- Uni
Pro Tip: This is a splurge — but it's one of the best sushi experiences outside of Tokyo.
Day 4
The Valley & Beyond
Brent's Deli
LA's best Jewish deli — towering pastrami sandwiches, fresh-baked rye, and matzo ball soup that rivals anything on the East Coast. A Valley institution since 1967.
Must Order
- Pastrami on rye
- Matzo ball soup
- Potato pancakes
Pro Tip: Go for breakfast or early lunch to beat the crowds. Portions are enormous — consider splitting.
Mariscos Jalisco
The famous shrimp taco truck that Jonathan Gold called the best taco in LA. Crispy, golden tacos dorados stuffed with whole shrimp and served with avocado salsa.
Must Order
- Shrimp tacos dorados
- Poseidon tostada
- Ceviche
Pro Tip: It's a truck on Olympic Blvd — look for the line. Squeeze lime and hot sauce on every taco.
n/naka
Niki Nakayama's kaiseki restaurant is a transcendent 13-course journey through the seasons. Every dish is a painting, every bite a revelation. This is LA dining at its most refined.
Must Order
- Full kaiseki tasting menu
Pro Tip: Book far in advance on Tock — this is one of the hardest reservations in America. Worth every effort.
Day 5
The Grand Finale
Howlin' Ray's
The hot chicken phenomenon that took LA by storm. Crispy, crunchy, and as spicy as you dare — this is worth every minute of the wait.
Must Order
- 3-piece combo at 'Medium' heat
- Mac and cheese
- Slaw
Pro Tip: Start at 'Medium' — it's already very spicy. The line moves fast once you're in.
Bavel
Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis' stunning Middle Eastern restaurant. Lamb neck shawarma, fluffy pita from the wood-fired oven, and desserts that steal the show.
Must Order
- Lamb neck shawarma
- Wood-fired pita with dips
- Malabi dessert
Pro Tip: Book on Resy 30 days out. The lamb neck is the signature — don't skip it.
Mélisse
End your LA food trip at Josiah Citrin's two-Michelin-star jewel. Now a tasting-menu-only format that blends French precision with California's best ingredients. A perfect finale.
Must Order
- Full tasting menu
- Wine pairing
Pro Tip: This is your grand finale — go all in with the wine pairing. A meal you'll remember forever.
By Budget
Splurge ($$$$)
- Providence
- Sushi Ginza Onodera
- n/naka
- Mélisse
Upscale ($$$)
- Bestia
- Park's BBQ
- Bavel
Moderate ($$)
- Sqirl
- Gjusta
- Jitlada
- Brent's Deli
Budget ($)
- Guisados
- Courage Bagels
- Mariscos Jalisco
- Howlin' Ray's
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