From laid-back food stalls to sophisticated gourmet restaurants, Los Angeles has a stunning variety of flavors to offer its diners. The following renowned restaurants provide some of the most unique dining experiences in the city and will cost an arm and a leg.
Michelin Star restaurants in Los Angeles
Urasawa | The West Coast answer to Masa
Urasawa - 218 N Rodeo Dr Beverly Hills CA 90210 USA
Phone: (310) 247-8939
On the West Coast, we have Urasawa, just as New York has Masa. Urasawa justly demonstrates American fine dining’s exalted place for Japanese cuisine through highly personalized meal service, masterful presentation, and precise knifework. It is a meal that makes the expense feel warranted. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, do not take a photograph of each course as this practice is prohibited. Make sure to reserve far in advance, and take someone special to the occasion.
Mélisse | Seasonal and imaginative cuisine
Melisse Restaurant - 1104 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica CA 90401 USA
Phone: (310) 395-0881
French Chef Josiah Citrin has owned this French restaurant for over a decade, and has managed to host countless romantic dinners. While French cuisine is the backbone of this restaurant, it is unmistakably influenced by Californian cuisine. Perhaps the restaurant's biggest draw is its seasonal menu filled with masterpieces comprised of small bites and dishes featuring Santa Barbara sea urchin and spot prawns, pasta tossed in a lobster sauce, and expertly aged beef. Located by the Santa Monica shore, the restaurant offers refined cuisine and attentive service.
Reservations are recommended.
Providence｜A premier seafood restaurant in Southern California
Providence - 5955 Melrose Ave Los Angeles CA 90038 USA
Phone: (323) 460-4170
Even when there was no Michelin rating system, Providence was one of the defining seafood restaurants in Southern California. Chef owner Michael Cimarusti built the restaurant into a renowned establishment far beyond Los Angeles. The wild fish from Southern California is expertly handled, and the cooking is clearly from the city. For seafood fans in Los Angeles, this is a mandatory stop. Make a reservation.
Spago｜Wolfgang Puck’s Beverly Hills institution
Spago - 176 N Canon Dr Beverly Hills CA 90210 USA
Phone: (310) 385-0880
During his decades of hosting the Oscars, Wolfgang Puck became one of the most famous chefs in Los Angeles, and his restaurant Spago in Beverly Hills has been a long-standing favorite. The restaurant has a warm and bustling ambiance, and there is much drinking and talking. While Puck no longer cooks every meal, he is still around a lot and watches to see how the guests react. You’ll experience a refined version of modern American cooking with touches of pan-Asian cuisine in an upscale and stylish atmosphere. Don’t expect to walk in for dinner, as reservations are a must. However, you can aim for a drink if that's all you want.
Asanebo｜Sea urchin is a must
Asanebo - 11941 Ventura Blvd Studio City CA 91604 USA
Phone: (818) 760-3348
The restaurant has new owners, but the same original team member is still in charge of keeping the same culinary standards. The sea urchin is still an exceptional dish, and the house-made tofu is especially notable.
Warm chawanmushi with sea urchin, miso soup with sea snail, and fresh selected seafood. Seasonal menus, freshly picked seafood, balanced sauces, and restrained seasoning are used to let the ingredients speak for themselves.
Cut | Steak, refined
Cut - 9500 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills CA 90212 USA
Phone: (310) 276-8500
An American steak doesn't have to be oversized and blunt. CUT in Beverly Hills shows that it can be precise and elegant. Wolfgang Puck’s selection criteria are as high as they come: Angus beef from the US and Australia, Japanese wagyu, and A5 Kobe beef from Hyogo Prefecture. Roasted with hardwood and charcoal, these steaks are a challenge to any serious meat eater. The fresh sides and vegetables are as appealing as the ambience created by the interior and the wine cellar.
Mori Sushi | A temple of nigiri
Mori Sushi - 11500 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles CA 90064 USA
Phone: (310) 479-3939
Nigiri is one of the most basic tests of a Japanese restaurant. The rice and fish, the house-brewed soy sauce, the presentation… At Mori Sushi, that focus on details even includes custom-made dishware, a simplistic dining area, and even specially sourced rice. Although there was a change of ownership, the transition from the previous second-in-command seems to have kept the standard that is expected of this demanding style of sushi.
Patina | A distinguished guest experience
Patina Restaurant - Walt Disney Concert Hall 141 South Grand Ave Los Angeles CA 90012 USA
Phone: (213) 972-3331
The attentive service alone made Patina worthy of recognition.
Because of the reputation of the restaurant group and the investments in the chefs, they were able to build trust in both the dining and the kitchen. Its site at the Walt Disney Concert Hall positioned it quite well in the culinary map of Los Angeles.
Valentino \ | A pioneer of Italian cooking in Los Angeles
Valentino - 3115 Pico Blvd Santa Monica CA 90405 USA
Phone: (310) 829-4313
After decades in Los Angeles, Valentino has earned its reputation as a true pioneer and has shaped the city’s palate for Italian cuisine. Some dishes, although they may seem, classical and traditional, are a full charm for the clientele who appreciate the fine and classical tastes. Make sure to enjoy the impressive exhaustive selection of the cellar.
Water Grill \ | Seafood platters and more
Water Grill - 544 S. Grand Avenue Los Angeles CA 90071 USA
Water grill is an excellent option is for families and friends gatherings and at the same time it has a great downtown location which is one of the recognized restaurant spots in the whole area. It has generous seafood platters, fish dishes cooked perfectly, and a bread pudding which you shouldn’t miss.
Osteria Mozza \ | Where he Exceptional Baking Italian Cooking
Osteria Mozza - 6602 Melrose Ave Los Angeles CA 90038 USA
Phone: (323) 297-0100
Italian food is loved by a large number of people, but to find a restaurant that offers both great quality and high standard service of pasta and pizza is really rare. The well-known Italian chef Mario Batali is famous for his big culinary ideas and he came up with lots of regional inspirations whilst he was in Bologna and other cities in Italy.
The collaboration with Los Angeles baking icon Nancy Silverton helped Osteria Mozza stand out as an Italian restaurant with an added emphasis on baked goods.
Sushi Zo - Affordable High-Quality SushiSushi Zo
9824 National Blvd Los Angeles CA 90064 USA
Phone: (310) 842-3977
Sushi Zo is marketed as a cheaper option to quality nigiri located within the $100-$200 range as opposed to a $500 meal. Their small nigiri portions highlight seasonal fish, house made soy, and chosen pairings from the chef like yuzu, salt, shiso, and wasabi.
