Where To Eat In Los Angeles

What do you get when you mix Canadian and Indian cuisine? Poutine with a dose of tandoori. With a unique blend of traditional and modern, Badmaash is a playful, yet quintessential hub for all the spices and comforts of authentic Indian fare. A decorated gastropub, Badmaash is run by the Indian-Canadian Mahendro family, which is a recipe for success consisting of one dad and his two sons. The stylish eatery serves Los Angeles in two locations: downtown, near Little Tokyo, and Fairfax in Hollywood. From Indian street food like onion fritters to traditional dishes like chicken tikka masala, including various curry, vindaloo, and chutney selections, the menu is concise, yet dynamic (per The Infatuation).

What is everyone eating at Badmaash? As Canada's notable poutine dish crossed over to India, the Chicken Tikka Poutine or vegetarian Channa Masala Poutine are natural highlights. You might also try their exclusive Oat Milk Chai drink, which can be taken on the go, as it's available in a bottle. With a hip Gandhi vibe, Badmaash offers dine-in or dine-out options, including online ordering, reservations, and a merchandise shop.

Another creation by Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis is buzzy Bestia (or "beast" in Italian), an always popular Italian restaurant that features highly acclaimed seasonal recipes. Located within blocks of Bavel, the chic, handcrafted Italian menu features antipasti like house-made cured meats and mussels, handmade pasta and pizza, and seasonal main-course dishes like fish, lamb, and rib-eye steak. Dolci! On the sweeter side, Bestia offers innovative desserts created by Gergis, a self-taught pastry chef, such as her signature Chocolate Budino Tart or Coffee & Donuts, consisting of spiced chestnut zeppole (Italian pastry) and served with coffee ice cream. They also serve fresh, intoxicating cocktails, wine, beer and cider, and non-alcoholic beverages like pomegranate or classic lemonade.

With a rustic, industrial edge, Bestia serves up a fanciful old-world fare, as customers have said they appreciate the substantial ingredients while giving close attention to every aspect (via Google Reviews). While the trendy bistro is open daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., excluding all major holidays, the husband-and-wife team also welcomes guests to host their events there. 

Exuberantly fresh and Italian, Felix Trattoria stands out for its authentic homemade pasta creations cultivated by Bologna-influenced Chef Evan Funke. Within the colorful, carefree air of Venice, Felix Trattoria may be a cut of dough above the majority of L.A.'s Italian restaurants. With Funke's deeply rooted culinary vision, Felix (Latin for "happy") offers a provocative menu that crosses over the traditional elements of regional Italy with local, seasonal California ingredients. From antipasti to pizza, customers tend to focus on the made-to-order pasta dishes that are prepared within the distinguished "pasta lab." With secondi or second-course dishes, you might choose from market fresh fish, including pork bone-in rib chop or ribeye.

Eating in at Felix Trattoria is highly exclusive and customers generally make reservations months prior, which is suggested to do so online. If you want to experience the process of your order being freshly procured, you may want to secure a table within view of the isolated, windowed "pasta lab" (via Time Out). 

You want it hot and spicy? Tucked away in an East Hollywood strip mall, Jitlada is far from mundane and notorious for its highly piquant, Southern Thai food from owner and chef Jazz Singsanong. Taking over the establishment in 2006 with renowned Thai chef, Tui Sungkamee, Jazz honors her late brother by carrying on their homestyle Southern Thai recipes. Often enhanced with heavy, bold blends of curry paste and spices, Southern Thai is extremely spicy compared to Northern Thai recipes, as are many of the selections at Jitlada (per Thaiger). 

Jazz's dense menu centers on various seafood, fish, beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and vegetable dishes, highlighted with ample amounts of curry spices, including turmeric. Whatever level of spiciness you prefer, make sure to specify. While some dishes, including smoothies, can be ordered "non-spicy," many customers find items on Jitlada's menu irresistible, like the turmeric chicken wings, spicy basil eggplant, pineapple fried rice, and Jazz burger (via Google Reviews).

Convenient and delicious, food trucks are an American staple stemming from western chuckwagons, evolving from cured meats and hot dogs to tacos and much more (per Prestige Food Trucks). As many modern food trucks specialize in a particular fast food or nosh, Mariscos Jalisco stands out with fresh and savory ingredients, including various shrimp and seafood (or marisco) selections. With four locations to choose from — Boyle Heights, Downtown, La Cienega, or Pomona — you can feast on breakfast burritos, ceviche, tostadas, nachos, salads, shucked oysters, tacos, and even freshly made cocktails.

An L.A. favorite, Mariscos Jalisco is an essential stop, serving up authentic Mexican plates for over 20 years. Faithful customers are drawn back to the seafood eatery for the mouth-watering, deep-fried shrimp tacos, which is crispy corn tortilla with fresh avocado and salsa. You'll want to dive into their signature tostada dishes as well like the spicy shrimp and octopus ceviche called "Poseidon." One thing to note is that only cash is accepted. With condiments readily available, you can load up your plate yourself or ask them to do it on the truck.

Craving some authentic Korean barbeque? Park's BBQ is a legendary, woman-owned restaurant that locals love to indulge in and return to, especially for social gatherings. Korean BBQ may be traced back to the controversial Goguryeo era, as roasting meat over a fire with skewers was ignited (via Next Shark). These days, Park's BBQ offers both a spirited social experience and a satisfying taste of KBBQ. Situated in a fitting spot within Koreatown, Seoul-native chef Jenee Kim's restaurant features superior meats that include marinated prime beef short ribs, ribeye bulgogi, beef tartare, pork belly, and spicy black cod. Many dishes are also paired with their special award-winning BBQ sauce.

Combining tradition with inventive approaches, Kim uses high-quality ingredients within her many award-winning flavors and inventions. Well above average, Park's BBQ encompasses the flare of Korea with its lunch and dinner menu, including soups, rice, and noodles to accompany your BBQ. The drink menu is also a highlight, as it features various Korean liquors and sake, beer, and wine. 

Whether you're craving a crispy croissant or roasted confit entrée, République is an all-in-one stop for modern French fare. Located off Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area, the sophisticated French café bakery and restaurant attracts patrons for an authentic taste of France within a modern, medieval atmosphere. The building itself is historic, as it was once owned and occupied by entertainer Charlie Chaplin as a film studio (per Martin Turnbull), as well as the setting for late great culinary crusader Mark Peel's Campanile restaurant. Within the rustic, castle hall, Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke concoct various recipes that change periodically, like artisanal baguettes, cheeses, roasted duck, and fancifully French desserts. The Manzke's emphasize their expertise in pastries with a culinary vision of Wildflour Bakery and Cafés within Margarita's home of the Philippines.

Indulge in Republique's café and bakery daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the restaurant open for business Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get there early on weekends for dining in, but you can also order or make reservations online with pickup or delivery also available.

Leave it to the chef. Not only is Sushi Chitose beloved for its price-to-quality proportions, but the Redondo Beach establishment also features an opulent omakase-style dining experience by chef Hirofumi Sakamoto. Omakase, which in Japan translates to, "I leave it up to you," (via Michelin) emerged in the 1990s amidst Japan's economic shift. As noted by Sushi Umi, a bustling economy allowed more patrons to visit upscale sushi establishments, but these guests weren't familiar with the ordering procedures at a sushi restaurant. With the omakase menu, they could leave it to the chef to decide.

For approximately $75 a person, the omakase at Sushi Chitose will amaze your taste buds. Chef Sakamoto delivers tasty produce, ultra-fresh a la carte rolls, and plate presentations of tender portions of Hamachi (yellowtail tuna) and mackerel with savory, vinegared rice. Reasonably close to the Pacific coast, Sushi Chitose is a humble sushi spot with an innovative twist.