Los Angeles Dining Guide
I think we can all agree that one of the best parts of traveling is the food! I will literally plan my whole day around my meals. When I found out I’d be traveling to LA early this year, I knew I had to be strategic about the food I’d eat while I was out there. SO much good food, so little time! Here’s what I ate while in LA.
Breakfast:
Tacos Villa Corona
I love the late Anthony Bourdain. He had such a gift for finding super authentic, hole in the wall eateries. This taco restaurant is no exception! While it’s technically in Pasadena, it’s totally worth the drive! Loved my meal here and would come back in a heartbeat.
Sqirl
Sqirl is one of those restaurants that everyone talks about. If you google “best breakfast in LA” this is on every list. I started to wonder if they’re just popular because it’s trendy to talk about them right now, or if the food is really worth the hype. I knew they had to be the real deal when I started googling “chef’s guide to LA dining” (one of my favorite ways to find incredible eateries) and Sqirl was all over those lists, too!
I loved the vibe at Sqirl. It took forever to find parking, and when I got inside, I grabbed a seat at the bar, which is tiny. Literally not even wide enough to fit a standard sized plate, so probably a good thing the kids weren’t with me. But it was still 100% worth it!
Everyone raved about the Ricotta Toast, so that’s what I got! I sat at the bar with a cappuccino and Ricotta Toast and was in heaven. Totally lived up to the hype.
Millie’s Cafe
Millie’s Cafe is like if Waffle House, my true breakfast love, was a cute little LA breakfast joint. I first heard of Millie’s from Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with Jerry Seinfeld.
I sat at the bar and watched the kitchen prepare me some fried eggs and potatoes. It was delicious. There’s little better than an egg and potato breakfast prepared right in front of you on a greasy griddle.
Lunch:
The Palm
So. Yummy. I had the wedge salad and cocktail shrimp. You know a salad has to be really good in order for it to be good enough to comment on. And I’ve truly never had better cocktail shrimp.
In-N-Out Burger
I mean, you can’t really go to California and not get In-N-Out, right? It’s the perfect stop right after you leave the airport, when you already feel gross and greasy and don’t want to go into an actual restaurant. I love how simple the menu is.
Probably my favorite thing about In-N-Out is that if you order in the drive-through you can tell them that you’re planning on eating your burger in the car, and they’ll prepare the packaging of your meal so it’s super easy to eat on the go or in the parking lot. That’s a small thing that makes a huge difference (and, let’s be honest, probably decreases food related car accidents.)
Dinner:
Craig’s
I had the Chicken Paillard, which was amazing! It’s hard to go wrong when a dish has both chicken and cheese, right? Craig’s also serves some incredible cocktails.
The Polo Lounge
The Polo Lounge is my favorite place to eat in LA. I love the old-school Hollywood glamour feel, and the service is excellent. If you want to eat somewhere and guarantee you’ll have some sort of major or minor celebrity sighting, eat at The Polo Lounge. This past visit, I saw Josh Flagg from Million Dollar Listing.
While I’m sure every menu item is amazing, one of my favorite picks is the beef tartare.
I loved my visit to LA for a lot of reasons, but you just can’t beat the food! I can’t wait to go back soon and try some new spots. Make sure to comment some of your favorite LA restaurants, and I’ll put them on my list for next time!
