L.A. Times - Food & Dining

Yes, the fried fish sandwich is famous. But dive deeper into this Melrose Hill seafood menu

Bill Addison — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Little Fish Melrose Hill is decidedly a seafood restaurant, but its owners evade the template that calls for shellfish towers and clam chowder and fried calamari.

'Love Island' fame turns a Mar Vista surf cafe into a neighborhood destination

Melody Xu — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Saba coffee shop has become a destination for fans of the Peacock reality show "Love Island USA" after owner Gal Tshnieder was cast as a bombshell.

'Please control your children': California restaurateur charges parents when kids run wild

Suhauna Hussain — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 22:02:51 GMT

The owner of a restaurant in Northern California has charged parents as much as $327 for damages wrought by their unruly children.

Five fancy hot dogs for when you want a gourmet glizzy

Stephanie Breijo — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Head to these five L.A. restaurants and bars for caviar-topped hot dogs, house-made options and links drowning in decadent Alpine cheese sauce.

A meal with an animated Mona Lisa? Immersive dining goes high tech — but will L.A. eat it up?

Todd Martens — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

At the "7 Paintings" experience in West Hollywood, guests are urged to to paint with vinaigrettes and unlock a treasure chest of cheese.

The legacy of regional hot dogs lives on at this L.A. pizza shop

Danny Palumbo — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 15:27:40 GMT

LaSorted's has become a hot dog hot spot in a city where franks are firmly part of its culinary identity.

LaSorted's chili verde for topping your hot dogs

Tommy Brockert — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 15:26:43 GMT

Make this recipe for LaSorted's pork chile verde — with jalapeños, poblanos and Anaheim chiles — at home to top your own hot dog or brat of choice.

With World Cup glory on the line, Argentina fans flock to this family-run Valley mercado

Maddie Connors — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 18:46:33 GMT

Mercado Buenos Aires in Van Nuys is a natural draw for fans eager to watch Argentina's World Cup matches. But the deli's cultural pull extends beyond games.

Yes, Los Angeles really is the pizza capital of the world

Jenn Harris — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

This tiny Silver Lake pizza shop is making seven styles of pizza.

L.A. Venezuelan restaurants unite to provide earthquake relief

Melody Xu — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 17:20:40 GMT

After twin earthquakes left devastation and more than 40,000 people missing in Venezuela, L.A.'s local Venezuelan restaurants are jumping into action to provide relief.

This Pico Rivera restaurant is home to the best chilaquiles in L.A.

Jenn Harris — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For Mexico City-style tacos and the best chilaquiles in the city, head to Taquearte in Pico Rivera.

Katsuya Uechi, pioneering sushi chef and creator of spicy tuna crispy rice, dies

Melody Xu — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 21:51:04 GMT

Master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi, who defined Japanese dining in Los Angeles and beyond, has died at 67.

Here are L.A.'s 2026 Michelin winners, and the world's first three-star Mexican restaurant

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:50:55 GMT

L.A.'s Kato earns its second star, two local chefs are rising-star talent, a San Francisco restaurant just became Michelin's first three-star Mexican restaurant in the world, and other accolades from this year's 2026 California Guide reveal.

Why Melbourne's global food scene feels like home

Bill Addison — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In Melbourne, L.A. Times restaurant critic Bill Addison discovers a city that, like L.A., resists easy labels.

Tell us: What are your favorite restaurants around the world?

Danielle Dorsey — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A. Times Food writers shared their favorite global restaurants in 12 new guides. Now we want to know: What are the food experiences around the world that you recommend the most?

Travel the world with these 12 global (and local) dining guides

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Will you stay close to home or do you plan to travel far this summer? Our dining guides have you covered either way.

I've been to 24 out of 32 states in Mexico. This overlooked gem is a new favorite

Daniel Hernandez — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A spectacular volcano, unfussy beaches, and unique foods and restaurants. Don't sleep on Colima, my new favorite state in Mexico.

Mexico's palm wine has been a fascinating culinary bridge to the Philippines since 1565

Daniel Hernandez — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

For hundreds of years, a trade route between Mexico's Pacific coast and the Philippines brought a ferment made of palm sap. It's experiencing a revival in the state of Colima.

As the Boyle Heights fire burned, restaurants depended on which way the wind blew

Stephanie Breijo — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:13:04 GMT

Following a string of already tumultuous years, restaurants in Boyle Heights watch the skies for signs of hope during a weeklong warehouse fire that's decimating business.

Trailblazing Alta California chef Joshua Gil dies at 50

Stephanie Breijo — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:13:41 GMT

Chef Joshua Gil, who helmed groundbreaking L.A. restaurants, helped reimagine Mexican cuisine in the city and mentored local chefs, died Monday morning.

Ranch lovers can soon travel with a TSA-friendly kit of the popular American dressing

Tracy Brown — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 23:08:57 GMT

Ranch dressing is having a viral moment thanks to World Cup fans discovering the American condiment. Kraft is seizing the opportunity with a TSA-compliant travel kit.

World Cup watch parties where the food is as exciting as the matches

Stephanie Breijo — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 19:41:01 GMT

Cheer on your team with new dishes and live-fire cooking from one of L.A.'s most exciting chefs, the return of Clifton's and more.

Anissa Helou's bulgur 'risotto' is perfect for hot summer days

Anissa Helou — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:02:21 GMT

Anissa Helou's recipe for bulgur wheat cooked with greens and a tomato sauce for L.A. Times Food.

Tell us what we missed: What are the most essential L.A. dining experiences?

Danielle Dorsey — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 18:47:37 GMT

The Food team gathered a list of the top 50 dining experiences that define eating in Los Angeles. What did we miss?

All of the L.A. winners at the James Beard restaurant awards

Stephanie Breijo — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:42:35 GMT

The prestigious food event celebrated multiple L.A. chefs, restaurants, programs and nonprofits in its 2026 awards ceremony on Monday night.

Contributor: The next big thing in restaurants? Small and steady growth

Karen Stabiner — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:01:00 GMT

People keep setting up shop — small shops, to be sure, but that could be a good thing. They might be part of a correction after 20 years of excess.

There's a new L.A. waffle to obsess over, and it comes with Filipino-style fried chicken

Jenn Harris — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Baking With Ish bakery has expanded and started serving pancakes and chicken and waffles for breakfast.

This startup was supposed to revolutionize California's wine industry: 'It totally failed'

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Monarch Tractor, a startup founded in 2018 with promises of saving farmers time and money, collapsed after customers reported its tractor could not operate autonomously.

Inside L.A.'s Armenian banquet halls, where the caviar flows and the party never stops

Ani Duzdabanyan — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A.'s Armenian banquet halls host lavish parties with caviar, food trucks and two-foot skewers of khorovats that keep traditions of celebrating alive.

Hop on this party bus for joyful tours of L.A.'s Black food scene

Danielle Dorsey — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

L.A. native Daisy Miles returned to her hometown to find Black-owned restaurants struggling. Her food tour aims to bring renewed attention their way.

José Andrés' Olive-Oil Fried Eggs and Potatoes

José Andrés — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:46:10 GMT

José Andrés makes eggs poached in olive oil — served over soft-fried potatoes and topped with morcilla, chorizo, jamón and sautéed onions.

Where should you be eating this summer? This cozy Echo Park bistro is the answer

Jenn Harris — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The roast chicken is turning this tiny neighborhood restaurant into a destination.

A new L.A. Times feature: Now you can save our expert recs for your next adventure

Jeff Poirier — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:09:13 GMT

Explore restaurants, shops, museums, unique experiences and more. Then save what piques your interest to make our vast array of guides your own.

Restaurants are paying influencers for promotional posts. How messy can it get?

Stephanie Breijo — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

It started with $500 and a comped meal at Hollywood Thai.

Toisanese cooking shaped Chinese American food. At this must-try SGV cafe, taste why

Bill Addison — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Bao Kee Cafe in South El Monte showcases regional Cantonese comfort cuisine. Flavors from the area just west of Macau, such as sweet and sour sauce, informed the Chinese American culinary canon.

Illegal-fishing investigation hits Venice seafood restaurant Dudley Market

Stephanie Breijo — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 20:35:13 GMT

Dudley Market in Venice and its fishers is fined over $100,000 after an investigation found illegal commercial fishing, unlicensed harvesting and underreported catches.

An Indian food gem flourishes inside this Echo Park convenience store

Maddie Connors — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Where to find the best Indian food near Dodger Stadium. It's at Leo Market, an Echo Park convenience store on Sunset Boulevard.

This iconic Japanese spaghetti glistens with butter

Betty Hallock — Sun, 31 May 2026 16:42:55 GMT

An easy one-pot dish of Japanese spaghetti with umeboshi (pickled plum) paste, butter and shiso.

Struggling Carls Jr. franchisee plans to close 10 and sell 49 California locations

Lily Wright, Itzel Luna — Sat, 30 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A Carl's Jr. franchisee has made the decision to sell 49 of his Southern California locations.

Four L.A. restaurants land on the new 50 Best in North America list

Angela Osorio — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:10:55 GMT

Four L.A. restaurants were officially named among North America's 50 Best, in addition to five others from San Francisco and San Diego.

This Kyoto restaurant is perfecting Wagyu katsu in L.A.

Jenn Harris — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Ten No Meshi is serving the most luxurious fried Wagyu in Los Angeles.

Krispy Kreme customers could get $3,500 in payouts after data breach

Caroline Petrow-Cohen — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The popular doughnut company Krispy Kreme could owe some customers up to $3,500 after settling a class-action lawsuit.

'This is a reckoning': Michael Cimarusti on Connie & Ted's closure and the state of restaurants

Stephanie Breijo — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

One of L.A.'s most ambitious seafood restaurants from a Michelin three-star chef will close July 1. Owners Michael Cimarusti and Crisi Echiverri share why. Also, what to expect in the last weeks of Connie & Ted's.

'KPop Demon Hunters' fries and Grogu shakes: Why Hollywood keeps feeding the fast-food machine

Iris Kwok — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Hollywood's decades-long love affair with fast-food chains shows no signs of slowing down, from purple 'demon' sauce inspired by 'KPop Demon Hunters' to blue milkshakes for 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.'

Daniel Patterson's more relaxed fine-dining return is the chef's answer to how L.A. wants to eat

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:35:50 GMT

The lauded Coi chef Daniel Patterson stepped away from fine dining to launch Locol and Alta. Now he's back with a new partner and a new perspective at Jacaranda.

The new crown jewel of Los Feliz excels at British food. But that's just for starters

Bill Addison — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

No one will mistake the menu at Wilde's in Los Feliz for pub grub. With the arrival of spring comes the shape-shifting kitchen's lightness, swells of vegetables and a sense of refinement.

Michelin adds 11 L.A.-area restaurants, announces the date of its 2026 Guide reveal

Stephanie Breijo — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:32:37 GMT

The world-famous Michelin Guide just added 21 new restaurants to its California tome — and 11 of them are in Los Angeles.

L.A.'s best ice cream is from this secret pop-up. Here's how to get a pint.

Jenn Harris — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

This West Hollywood pop-up is churning out L.A.'s best ice cream.

L.A. Times Concierge: 'Where can I buy the best celebration cake for a dear friend?'

Kailyn Brown — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Looking for things to do in L.A.? Ask us your questions, and our expert guides will share highly specific recommendations.

This Marinara Sauce Is Perfect for Any Pasta

Zahra Tangorra — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

This marinara sauce is perfect for any pasta, lasagna or anything your heart desires.

Zahra Tangorra's Lasagna, a.k.a. Zaza Lazagna

Zahra Tangorra — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

A lasagna recipe from Zahra Tangorra's "Extra Sauce" memoir.

This Afro-Caribbean stunner might spark a comeback for Fairfax

Jenn Harris — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Lucia, the only Afro-Caribbean fine dining restaurant in L.A., is a destination on Fairfaix Avenue.

Coca-Cola manufacturer to shutter major Southern California center

Itzel Luna — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:25:49 GMT

Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling will close its Ventura plant on July 10 after more than a century of operations, affecting 85 workers.

Arellano: How a fast food taco showed us who Steve Hilton really is

Gustavo Arellano — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The social media blowback exploded like a digital Montezuma's revenge. Some noted that "street tacos" are made with corn tortillas and bought from a food truck or street stall.

Latin American cuisines are front and center during L.A.'s Dine Latino Restaurant Week

Angela Osorio — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:53:39 GMT

From May 12–24, Dine Latino Restaurant Week spotlights over 200 Latino-owned restaurants across L.A. County.

Why Mel's Drive-In in Santa Monica is the perfect final stop on your Route 66 trip

Stephanie Breijo — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Once the Penguin Coffee Shop, and now Mel's Drive-In, this Googie gathering place marks the unofficial end of the Mother Road.

Find the platonic ideal of a Midcentury dive on Route 66 in Albuquerque

Bill Addison — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Find two of L.A. Times restaurant critic Bill Addison's favorite restaurants in New Mexico along Route 66 in Albuquerque. Both are quirky, atmospheric and have a sense of place.

California consumers accuse popular Italian food brand of tomato fraud

Itzel Luna — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A U.S.-based food giant claims its product contain premium, Italian-grown tomatoes. Two Californian shoppers are calling it out, alleging tomato fraud.

Gary Baseman serves up quirky drawings on real restaurant menus at iconic L.A. coffee shop

Iris Kwok — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Gary Baseman's new exhibition at the historic Johnie's Coffee Shop features 40 drawings on menus of local restaurants including Canter's and Max & Helen's.

Rats, other vermin spark notable restaurant closures by L.A. health department

Stephanie Breijo — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A review of L.A. County records by The Times tallied more than 120 vermin citations issued to food facilities in the region in 2026, with 67 — the majority — of these occurring in April alone.

L.A.'s best new poke is in a parking lot in Koreatown

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 7 May 2026 20:43:25 GMT

Dover Sole Market, a new online-only seafood service, sells fresh, Oahu-inspired poke from a local seafood purveyor.

An Armenian restaurant like L.A. has never seen — in a former doughnut shop in Glendale

Bill Addison — Thu, 7 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

At Yerord Mas, a second-generation son of the city takes the cooking of his people and turns it into something personal, deeply researched, modern in lightness and inspiringly delicious. His viral $38 basturma brisket sandwich is worth the hype.

The only place this critic will be watching the World Cup games, with proper pub food

Jenn Harris — Mon, 4 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Watch the World Cup games at Robin Hood British pub in the San Fernando Valley, where every food that comes out of the fryer is perfect.

What's next from Mexico City's Enrique Olvera? A new mariscos restaurant in Venice

Stephanie Breijo — Fri, 1 May 2026 16:33:37 GMT

Enrique Olvera is set to open a seafood-focused restaurant called San Damián in Venice, featuring ceviches, fish tacos and cocktails inspired by the Pacific Coast, led by the team from downtown L.A.'s Damián.

Can you trademark a 'bean club'? Rancho Gordo's legal claim is dividing the industry

Angela Osorio — Fri, 1 May 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Rancho Gordo registered a trademark for its famous Bean Club. Now, it's pursuing other brands using the same name.

L.A.'s best rotisserie chicken may be at this former gas station in Pasadena

Jenn Harris — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

At Loli Farms in Pasadena, find excellent Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, lomo saltado sandwiches and a Peruvian market with Inca Kola.

Long Beach's hottest new restaurant is an old-school pizza tavern

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Inside the nostalgic pizzeria that's cracking open a mysterious safe this weekend. Plus, a popular pop-up debuts a cafe and an immediate expansion, while a modern bistro heads to Manhattan Beach.

Their love blossomed in the buzzy L.A. restaurant scene. So what was their wedding food?

Kit Warchol — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Fresh off being added to the Michelin Guide, the owners of Little Fish in Echo Park and Melrose Hill tied the knot. But who catered the wedding of this buzzy foodie couple? Other buzzy L.A. eateries.

Why the iconic Hollywood Arby's sign from Sunset Boulevard was at Stagecoach

Vanessa Franko, Mikael Wood — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:05:07 GMT

The Hollywood Arby's on Sunset closed in 2024, but its sign found a temporary home in the desert at the Stagecoach Music Festival over the weekend.

This Arby's dupe is the roast beef sandwich of your dreams

Andrew Marco — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Koreatown's Open Market has the sandwiches — and the meats — you crave. In celebration of its five-year anniversary, the cafe just released a cookbook that includes a recipe for its own take on an Arby's classic.

A mountain version of a Parisian wine bar opens in Altadena

Stephanie Breijo — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:00:33 GMT

Plus, a stalwart Italian chef unveils a Tuscan steakhouse, dry-aged hand rolls and a seafood market land downtown, and a Petit Trois alum heads to the beach.

In Y2K L.A., white Zinfandel was Sunset Boulevard's 'gateway drug'

Maddie Connors — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:52:18 GMT

My father roamed from the Beverly Hills Hilton to Chateau Marmont, arguing the case for his best Chardonnays. He did not own a cell phone, only a pager and good taste.

Who cares if Max & Helen's is really a classic diner when the waffle's this good

Bill Addison — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Culinary celebrities Phil Rosenthal and Nancy Silverton built a nostalgia-fueled dream diner in Max & Helen's and everyone showed up.

Workers protest at Carl's Jr. in North Hollywood for protection from violent customers

Itzel Luna — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

North Hollywood Carl's Jr. workers detailed violent interactions with customers, including robberies and physical assaults, and said the company refused to provide safety training.

Chipotle who? Your newest build-your-own-bowl obsession just opened in Carson

Jenn Harris — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

At Urban Comfort Foods Kitchen, the customizable bowl restaurant is reimagined with African diaspora food.

'We've lost our way': Clifton's operator gives up on downtown Los Angeles

Roger Vincent — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The proprietor of Los Angeles' legendary Clifton's has given up on reopening the shuttered venue.

Why a trailblazing cheese store is closing in downtown L.A.

Betty Hallock — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:39:02 GMT

DTLA Cheese Superette, the little cheese shop that brought a world-class selection to downtown L.A., closes this week. Its next-door wine bar Kippered is open.

Coachella is more expensive than ever. Here are 5 great meals for $20 or less

Danielle Dorsey — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:30:00 GMT

With rising ticket costs, gas prices and pricey accommodations, attending Coachella is more expensive than ever. Here's where to find affordable meals on festival grounds.

Your new favorite steak frites might come with masala au poivre

Stephanie Breijo — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:28:56 GMT

Plus, one of L.A.'s best new rooftop restaurants launches in West Hollywood, New York-style pizzas and piled-high sandwiches come to Downey, and a modern Vietnamese coffee shop expands with plans for a full kitchen and more.

L.A.'s new must-try tasting menu is less than $100 at this tiny French restaurant

Jenn Harris — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

At Electric Bleu in Mar Vista, French food is served with a California bent, along with the city's most accessible tasting menu.

Bitter is beautiful. Greens and beans for grown-ups

Michelle Huneven — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Plus a surprising and versatile pineapple tart.

A Surprising and Versatile Pineapple Tart

Michelle Huneven — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:25:00 GMT

Bake this easy and tasty pineapple dessert in a tart pan or go free-form for a rustic look. The choice is yours.

Bitter Greens and Beans for Grown-Ups

Michelle Huneven — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:24:00 GMT

Lima beans and bitter greens — the long-simmered with the quickly sauteed — have enough complexity and umami to please carnivores and vegetarians alike.

A New York bagel fest rolls into L.A. to show the best of West Coast innovation

Angela Osorio — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:54:19 GMT

BagelFest New York founder pays respect to evolving Los Angeles and West Coast bagel scene with an L.A. version of his annual celebration of all things bagel. The sold-out BagelFest West drew more than 1,000 to sample "innovative and groundbreaking bagel bites."

Vegan crunch wraps, prawn chip nachos and frosé. Here's what to eat and drink Coachella Weekend 2

Danielle Dorsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

From vegan crunch wraps to $12 caviar bumps and L.A.-style tacos, here's everything you need to eat and drink at Coachella Weekend 2.

Curry Boys BBQ's Curry Queso

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Liven up a Tex-Mex classic with a jolt of Thai curry paste, Cajun seasoning and more with a recipe from the owners of San Antonio's Curry Boys BBQ.

These are all the cookbook authors you can see at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

Laurie Ochoa — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:10:03 GMT

L.A. Times Food and the cookbook shop Now Serving are collaborating on book signings and more at the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Check out the full schedule of cookbook author signings and food demos.

Noma launches pop-up shop in Silver Lake. Protests are 'under consideration'

Stephanie Breijo — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:02:59 GMT

Copenhagen-based Noma restaurant, beset by protests in L.A., debuted a pop-up retail shop this week with hot sauces, coffees and other products from the fine-dining kitchen.

Blank Street lands on the West Coast

Iris Kwok — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:47:07 GMT

The $500-million coffee chain from New York City will start its California expansion in Beverly Hills.