The First Timer's Guide to Eating In LA

If LA had an official food pyramid, rice and raw fish would be the foundation. This casual West Hollywood spot is a great entry point for first-timers (there are plenty of rolls), but will also satisfy those who know their golden eye from tai. Line up around 5pm to get a table when they open at 5:30pm.

Just because LA is a relatively new city doesn’t mean we’re short on classics. Case in point: Musso & Frank, an Old Hollywood institution that's been in business since 1919. The steaks are big, the martinis are crisp, and members of the Rat Pack have sat in every booth.

Koreatown’s three square miles are overflowing with BBQ, but Park's is the icon of the bunch, with the best bulgogi and Kobe-style beef in the neighborhood. There are photos of celebrities on the wall for you to ogle and you’ll almost certainly be scolded if you flip your meat too early. Both are key to the dining experience.

Eating at a restaurant with ocean views is one thing, but eating fried seafood while in contact with actual sand? Now That’s What We Call Vacation. Paradise Cove in Malibu is one of the only restaurants on the coast with tables directly on the beach, which means it doesn’t matter that the American food here is totally average.

Ending up on Hollywood Boulevard is inevitable for a first timer, and trust us, you’re going to need plans for a cocktail to temper the chaos of that experience. That’s where this pool bar inside the historic Roosevelt Hotel comes into play. It’s one block from the Walk Of Fame and the perfect comedown spot after being publicly bullied by a knock-off Dora The Explorer.

Calabra’s rooftop is the ideal refuge after weaving through the hoards along the pier. At this Mediterranean spot, locals get all dressed up to stand next to a pool and people who have IMDb pages slurp oysters and well-made margaritas on rattan furniture. Slurp along with them.

The Getty has world-class art, free admission, and gardens where you can eat lunch even though they’re arguably too pristine for any mayo- or mustard-adjacent activity. Pick up supplies at Reddi Chick or Farmshop, two great options in the Brentwood Country Mart, a shopping center cosplaying as a barn. This is also one of the most celebrity-friendly parts of town, so odds are good you’ll see Gwyneth Paltrow eating soup with her stylist.

Disneyland might be the happiest place on earth, but eating there is pure misery. Save yourself the Tums and take the family to Anaheim Packing District instead. This former citrus packing center is 10 minutes from the park entrance and has food stalls, bars, speakeasies, and live music venues. We always head straight to Adya for creamy tikka masala and lamb curry.

No LA rooftop has unobstructed views like The Rooftop by JG, but it’s crucial to know how to use this place. On your last night in town, ride the elevator up to watch the sun crawl down the horizon and sip a $25 martini. Do not have dinner here (make a post-photo reservation at La Dolce Vita instead), and consider the overpriced drink a trade for the perfect panorama over Beverly Hills.

After hiking Griffith Park (or just driving around the canyons for 45 minutes in search of the Hollywood Sign) you’ll probably require something calorically dense. All Time is a five-minute drive from the Fern Dell trailhead and has a great back garden where you can eat a breakfast burrito loaded with bacon, cheddar-y eggs, and a tart salsa verde.