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. So far, we've been quite impressed with LA’s menu. 

Some faves include:
Playa Provisions, Seafood (Playa Del Rey, near LAX)
Élephante, Italian rooftop (Santa Monica)
Bestia, Italian (Arts District)
Holbox, Latin, Bib Gourmand (Downtown)
Osteria Mozza, Italian, Michelin Star + Green Star (Hancock Park)
Uchi, Japanese (West Hollywood)
Pura Vita, Vegan Italian (West Hollywood)
Vespertine, Contemporary, Michelin Star + Green Star (Culver City)
Gracias Madre, Vegan Mexican (West Hollywood)
Sun Nong Dan, Korean (Koreatown, open 24 Hours)
Ruen Pair, Thai (Hollywood)
Hui Tou Xiang, Chinese (Hollywood)
Pizzeria Sei, Voted #9 in the WORLD, according to Robb Report (Mid-city)
République, Best Brunch in Town! French-inspired (Mid-city)
Pho 79*, Vietnamese, Bib Gourmand (Anacrime, Near Disneyland)

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)

Bagels, Bish!
Bagel Broker (West Hollywood)
Daniel's Bagels (Palms, near Culver City)
Bagel Nosh Deli (Santa Monica)
Sam's Bagels (Larchmont Village)

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 haunts awarded the Bib Gourmand. The restaurants above are linked to Yelp, which lists reviews and location on an LA map.

Lazy hotel reading. 

*Miss Ali Wong says that if there isn’t a number in the title, it isn’t authentic pho!