Must-try foods in Los Angeles: 12 delicious local delights

If you’re wondering what the best things to eat in Los Angeles are, look no further. While the City of Angels is known for its fast-paced lifestyle, the glitz of the entertainment industry, and year-round warm weather, Los Angeles has a unique food scene. The hybrid of cultures in LA means you’ll find that it has some of the best culinary delights to satiate your palate, even if you’re only in LA for 48 hours on a layover.

With over 20,000 restaurants, cafes, and bars scattered around the city, there is a wide variety of scrumptious must-eat options, like these 12 delicious foods to try.

1. Savor the original French dip sandwich

Although it might sound European, the French dip sandwich is an entirely LA local delicacy. This dish contains a slice of roast beef served in a crispy French roll, topped with cheese, onions, and a kick of mustard. Several restaurants in Downtown LA claim to have created the original French dip sandwich, including Cole’s, who invented the delicacy in 1908— head downtown and try it for yourself.

How to eat the best French dip sandwich in Los Angeles?

Wash it down with a classic Old Fashioned cocktail, a tradition at Cole’s.

2. Try authentic LA-style tacos

Los Angeles has some of the most authentic tacos on this side of the Mexican border and the most Mexican restaurants in any US city. Whether you like them soft or hard-shelled, simple or gourmet, you can find delicious varieties of tacos all over Los Angeles at any time of the day or night. This is one food you must eat to feel like an Angeleno.

How to eat the best tacos in Los Angeles?

It doesn’t matter if you go for soft tacos or hard-shells, just put the cheese first so it melts.

3. Fill up on delicious Korean BBQ

LA’s Koreatown is home to the largest Korean population in the US, hence the prevalence of the unique and flavorsome Korean method of marinating and barbecuing meats. The neighborhood has delicious BBQ eateries, from Michelin star-level restaurants to more casual eateries serving LA-style Korean dishes.

How to eat the best Korean BBQ in Los Angeles?

Find the most authentic kalbi, short ribs — it should taste sweet and smoky and bulgogi, salty, a sweet and ever so slightly nutty barbecued beef.

4. Indulge in the perfect donut

If you want rich, thick, and creamy varieties of donuts, then Los Angeles has some of the best flavors of this famous food around. From strawberry donuts made from real berries to meticulously crafted artisanal donuts, this is one of the best sweet foods to try in Los Angeles.

How to eat the best donuts in Los Angeles?

Santa Monica’s famous food eateries on Wilshire Boulevard offer a wide selection of donut varieties, from apple fritters to bear claws.

5. Get messy with some animal-style fries and burgers

Los Angeles has more than its fair share of fast-food chains. In some of these restaurants, you can request to have your burgers and fries cooked ‘animal-style’: this is cooked in mustard and topped with chopped tomato, lettuce, onions, pickles, and sauce. The craze started in LA and has spread across the Western states — it’s very messy but also very tasty.

How to eat the best animal-style fries and burgers in Los Angeles?

Animal-style fries and burgers are sold throughout LA. If you don’t see it specified on the menu, just ask.

6. Go upmarket with a gourmet hot dog

Throughout Los Angeles, you can find delicious recipes that turn the humble hot dog into a delicious work of art. Whether you like your hot dogs with salsa or mayo, sauerkraut, or jalapenos, you can find all sorts of inventive combinations in the city.

How to eat the best gourmet hot dogs in Los Angeles?

Many Los Angeles eateries have unique gourmet hot dog recipes, especially in Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles. Try a pork hotdog topped with French onion marmalade, cheese fondue, spicy mustard, and pickled pepper — the only hotdog you’ll probably ever eat with a knife and fork.

7. Seek out the best vegan food

Los Angeles is full of plant-based restaurants and is known for having some of the top vegan food options, even at non-vegan eateries. Even if you aren’t vegan, you should still try some of the innovative vegan recipes here. From jackfruit tacos to coconut bacon donuts, the choices here are far from bland.

How to eat the best vegan food in Los Angeles?

Some of the best vegan dishes are in the Playa del Rey neighborhood and Highland Park. You can also find tasty dishes at Los Angeles’ Ethiopian restaurants. Ethiopian cuisine is known to be mostly plant-based.

8. Eat a traditional wood-fired pizza

While pizzas are plentiful in Los Angeles, one of the best ways to eat pizza is when it’s cooked the traditional way, in a brick oven. Wood-fired pizzas bring out the flavors of various toppings, such as cheese, sausage, and peppers. In addition, they have a perfectly light, crisp, and smoky base.

How to eat the best wood-fired pizza in Los Angeles?

You can find excellent wood-fired pizzas served in eateries around Echo Park and the Original Farmers Market, home to LA’s first pizzeria.

9. Treat yourself to a refreshing gourmet ice cream sandwich

When the weather warms up, nothing beats a cool ice cream, except perhaps a delicious ice cream sandwich. Visit any of the ice creameries in LA, and you will find unique flavors like lavender and saffron rosewater rolled in nuts and candy and sandwiched between two crisp wafers.

How to eat the best ice cream sandwich in Los Angeles?

Creamy ice cream sandwiches are known to be a popular choice when visiting Venice Beach and Santa Monica. For something different, try a completely wacky flavor, like rosewater sorbet & rice noodle, or sun-popped corn.

10. Live adventurously with a smoked salmon pizza

The idea of smoked salmon and caviar on pizza might sound weird, but once you try it, you’ll see why it’s a Hollywood favorite. The result of a happy accident by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, this dish is served with dill, crème fraiche, garlic oil, and red onions.

How to eat the best smoked salmon pizza in Los Angeles?

This popular food is a celebrity favorite, so you can find it in restaurants throughout Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The best slices are covered entirely with smoked salmon.

11. Enjoy a hot bowl of pho

While hot soup dishes might seem like an unusual choice in the Los Angeles weather, once you’ve tried the local version of this Thai classic, you’ll definitely return for seconds. Choose from substantial or light pho meals served with beef or chicken, along with rice noodles and seasonings like basil.

How to eat the best pho in Los Angeles?

Take a trip to Downtown Los Angeles to try some of the best pho in the city, from pork to spicy tuna.

12. Start the day with an authentic breakfast burrito

If you are wondering what to eat in Los Angeles in the morning, many of the best burritos in the United States are made right here in the City of Angels. A simple breakfast burrito uses cheese and beans as its base, plus additional ingredients such as egg or steak. After you’ve tried one, you’ll agree that the best breakfast burritos are in LA.

How to eat the best burrito in Los Angeles?

Discover some of the best burrito dishes in Boyle Heights and Pasadena. Burritos can be enjoyed at any time, in fact, many people in LA would choose to have a breakfast burrito for lunch or dinner.

FAQs

What are the must-try traditional dishes in Los Angeles?

The French dip sandwich is the dish you must try to feel like a true Angeleno. You should also sample many of the local tacos and burritos, considering the heavy Mexican presence in the county. Donuts and gourmet hot dogs make delicious fast food options while you’re here.

Where is the best place to take a food tour in Los Angeles?

Tours of the Original Farmers Market and Grand Central Market provide plenty of dining options. There are also great food tours of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica to explore.

What are the top local food markets in Los Angeles to visit?

The most popular food markets in Los Angeles are the Grand Central Market and Original Farmers Market. Other favorite markets include the Hollywood Farmers Market, Santa Monica Farmers Market, and KTOWN Night Market, a fun nighttime activity in Los Angeles.

What is the best time of year to visit Los Angeles for food lovers?

Fall and spring vacations are the best options for food. The weather is pleasant during these seasons, there is more fresh produce available, and LA hosts plenty of food festivals like Taste of Eataly.

How much should I budget for food in Los Angeles?

For three meals a day, you should aim to budget at least $70-$90 daily. An average meal will cost under $30, with breakfast being the cheapest.