“Nunc est Bibendum,” Latin for, “now is the time to drink.”
And Now We Eat
The only thing our mother made was reservations. Et voilà, she created a foodie! Not just any foodie, but an absolute-snob foodie. The sourcing should be top-notch. Are the employees happy? And is the produce local and organic? Not every box gets ticked each time, but we can dream.
But first, LA’s Mexican food scene is off the hook. Truly remarkable. Check out some top-tier places to nosh tacos n’ more.
Some faves include:
Playa Provisions, Seafood (Playa Del Rey, near LAX)
Élephante, Italian rooftop (Santa Monica)
Bestia, Italian (Arts District)
Holbox, Latin, Bib Gourmand (USC, near Downtown)
Quarter Sheets, Detroit-style Pizza, Bib Gourmand (Echo Park, near Dodgers Stadium)
Sun Nong Dan, Korean (Koreatown, open 24 Hours)
Pine & Crane, Asian, Bib Gourmand (Silverlake)
Tacos Villa Corona (AtWater Village)
Ruen Pair, Thai (Hollywood)
Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles, Thai, Bib Gourmand (Hollywood)
Mariscos Jalisco, Mexican food truck, wild-fish (Mid-city)
Some faves include:
Playa Provisions, Seafood (Playa Del Rey, near LAX)
Élephante, Italian rooftop (Santa Monica)
Bestia, Italian (Arts District)
Holbox, Latin, Bib Gourmand (USC, near Downtown)
Quarter Sheets, Detroit-style Pizza, Bib Gourmand (Echo Park, near Dodgers Stadium)
Sun Nong Dan, Korean (Koreatown, open 24 Hours)
Pine & Crane, Asian, Bib Gourmand (Silverlake)
Tacos Villa Corona (AtWater Village)
Ruen Pair, Thai (Hollywood)
Mae Malai Thai House of Noodles, Thai, Bib Gourmand (Hollywood)
Mariscos Jalisco, Mexican food truck, wild-fish (Mid-city)
Click on the photo above to tour LA’s spectacular food scene with Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza owner, Nancy Silverton. Courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler.
Osteria Mozza, Italian, Michelin Star + Green Star (Hancock Park)
Tere’s Mexican Grill (Hancock Park)
Gwen, Michelin Star (Hollywood’s a cesspool, but this art-deco spot is “primal elegance”)
Uchi, Japanese (West Hollywood)
Pura Vita, Award-winning, plant-based Italian, founded by our favorite chef! (West Hollywood)
Gracias Madre, Vegan Mexican (West Hollywood)
Tere’s Mexican Grill (Hancock Park)
Gwen, Michelin Star (Hollywood’s a cesspool, but this art-deco spot is “primal elegance”)
Uchi, Japanese (West Hollywood)
Pura Vita, Award-winning, plant-based Italian, founded by our favorite chef! (West Hollywood)
Gracias Madre, Vegan Mexican (West Hollywood)
Pizzeria Sei, Voted #9 in the world, according to Robb Report (Mid-city)
République, Best Brunch in Town! French-inspired (Mid-city)
Taqueria Los Anaya, Mexican (West Adams, south of Mid-city)
Vespertine, Contemporary, Michelin Star + Green Star (Culver City)
Gott’s Roadside, James Beard award-winner (Fairfax, pictured, + Santa Monica)
Pho 79*, Vietnamese, Bib Gourmand (Anacrime, Near Disneyland)
République, Best Brunch in Town! French-inspired (Mid-city)
Taqueria Los Anaya, Mexican (West Adams, south of Mid-city)
Vespertine, Contemporary, Michelin Star + Green Star (Culver City)
Gott’s Roadside, James Beard award-winner (Fairfax, pictured, + Santa Monica)
Pho 79*, Vietnamese, Bib Gourmand (Anacrime, Near Disneyland)
Gott’s first SoCal location settling in at the iconic Farmer’s Market on Fairfax. This all-American diner is quickly becoming a mainstay in LA: famous for its sushi-grade Ahi Tuna Burger, this James Beard Winner insists on only serving premium, locally sourced ingredients, including seasonal California produce. Photo courtesy of Gotts.com.
Sweets for the Sweet
Susie Cakes, INSANE cupcakes + should-be-illegal-in-all-50-states Whoopie Pies & Sugar Cookies (Several locations around LA and the OC)
Levain Bakery, Voted Best Cookie in NYC, now in LA (Venice, 90210, Larchmont)
Susie Cakes, INSANE cupcakes + should-be-illegal-in-all-50-states Whoopie Pies & Sugar Cookies (Several locations around LA and the OC)
Levain Bakery, Voted Best Cookie in NYC, now in LA (Venice, 90210, Larchmont)
Bagels, Bish!
Bagel Broker (West Hollywood)
Daniel’s Bagels (Palms, near Culver City)
Bagel Nosh Deli (Santa Monica)
Sam’s Bagels (Larchmont Village)
Courage Bagels (East Hollywood)
Phil Rosenthal Top 5 in Los Angeles
Filmed September 2025, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter
Gjusta Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch (Venice)
Sonoratown, Mid-city (Mexican)
Osteria Mozza (listed above, thankyouverymuch)
Budonoki, Japanese Izakaya (East Hollywood)
République (also listed above)
Bagel Broker (West Hollywood)
Daniel’s Bagels (Palms, near Culver City)
Bagel Nosh Deli (Santa Monica)
Sam’s Bagels (Larchmont Village)
Courage Bagels (East Hollywood)
Phil Rosenthal Top 5 in Los Angeles
Filmed September 2025, courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter
Gjusta Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch (Venice)
Sonoratown, Mid-city (Mexican)
Osteria Mozza (listed above, thankyouverymuch)
Budonoki, Japanese Izakaya (East Hollywood)
République (also listed above)
Tips n’ Tricks: Download and play with the Michelin Guide app; while you may not want to spend hundreds to nosh on a Starred restaurant, LA has an exhaustive list of food spaces awarded the Bib Gourmand. Most of the restaurants listed above are linked to Yelp, which lists reviews and location on an LA map.
*Miss Ali Wong says that if there isn’t a number in the title, it isn’t authentic pho!
Above: Bibendum, widely known as the Michelin Man since 1898, is seen here in an early ad, raising a glass littered with nails and broken glass, indicative of Michelin tires being puncture-proof.
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