What I love about L.A. Weekly’s 99 Essential Restaurants list is that it’s a good mix of places that has something for everyone – especially in a city with some of the world’s most eccentric characters. I’ll admit there were some surprises, but I was pleasantly pleased with the numerous Asian entries on the list.
This year’s list is a little different – not just because of the new entries on the list – but because this is the first time other contributors have also worked on this list besides famous food writer Jonathan Gold (Tien Nguyen and Christine Chiao were enlisted). With a place as big and diverse as L.A., it’s important to have a mix of different voices to offer their opinions (and you know, share with us their hidden gems).
Did some of your favorites make the list? Click on to see!
The 99 Essential Restaurants List:
(Asian restaurants have the *** next to their names.)
A-Frame ***
Alma
Angelini Osteria
Animal
Attari Sandwich Shop
Bäco Mercat
Bar Amá
The Bazaar
Bestia
BierBeisl
Bludso’s
Cacao Mexicatessen
Canele
La Casita Mexicana
Cemitas Poblanas Elviritas
Chichen Itza
Chung King ***
Cole’s
Coni’Seafood
Cube Cafe & Marketplace
Din Tai Fung ***
Eva
Father’s Office
Fred 62
Gjelina
Golden Deli ***
Go’s Mart ***
Il Grano
Guelaguetza
Guisados
Hatfield’s
Ha Tien Quan ***
Hawkins House of Burgers
Hayat’s Kitchen
El Huarache Azteca
Huckleberry
The Hungry Cat
ink.
Jar
Jitlada ***
JTYH Heavy Noodle II ***
Kang Ho Dong Baekjong ***
Kiriko ***
Kiyokawa ***
Kogi Truck ***
Krua Siri ***
L&E Oyster Bar
Langer’s
Little Dom’s
Lucques
Ludo Truck
Lukshon ***
Mariscos Jalisco
Matsuhisa ***
Meals by Genet
Melisse
Milo and Olive
Mo-Chica
Musso & Frank
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa ***
Nickel Diner
Night + Market ***
Oinkster
Osteria Mozza
Pann’s
Pa-Ord Noodle ***
El Parian
Park’s BBQ ***
Philippe the Original
Picca
Pink’s
Pizzeria Mozza
Playa
Pollo a la Brasa
Providence
R&R Soul Food
Ración
Red Medicine ***
Ricky’s Fish Tacos
Rivera
Rocio’s Moles de los Dioses
Salt’s Cure
Sapp Coffee Shop ***
Savoy Kitchen ***
Sea Harbour ***
Shanghai No. 1 Village Seafood ***
Soban
Son of a Gun
Sotto
Spago
The Spice Table ***
Superba Snack Bar
Tacos Leo
The Tasting Kitchen
Tavern
Tsujita LA ***
Vincenti Ristorante
Wurstkuche
Zam Zam Market ***
