8 places to eat on a date in Los Angeles, hand-picked from our A-to-Z guide — from Chinatown to West Hollywood. Every spot below was verified by an editor on the ground, with the address, the best time to go, and a one-line reason it earns the trip.
8 hand-picked spots
C
Downtown LA
Far East Plaza food court IS the date. Howlin' Ray's hot chicken first — yes, wait in the line.
Tip Far East Plaza is the hub — Howlin' Ray's Nashville hot chicken (line is long but moves; come 4:30 PM weekdays for under 30min), Endorffeine for coffee, Joy on Yale for Taiwanese. Phoenix Bakery for almond cookies since 1938. LA's Chinatown is smaller than NYC's but the food density is real.
D
Downtown Los Angeles
Grand Central Market since 1917, The Last Bookstore three blocks south, Angels Flight for a dollar.
Tip Grand Central Market since 1917 — Eggslut for the breakfast sandwich, Belcampo for the burger, Wexler's Deli for pastrami, Olio for Roman-style pizza. Walk three blocks south to The Last Bookstore (453 S Spring), the largest used + new bookstore in California, sci-fi labyrinth on the second floor. Then up to Angels Flight — the world's shortest railway (since 1901, $1 ride).
F
Mid-City LA
Canter's matzo ball soup since 1948, Supreme flagship, Original Farmers Market with 90+ stalls.
Tip The Grove (massive outdoor shopping center) is at the south end if you need that, but the date is on Fairfax itself. Canter's Deli — 24h since 1948, matzo ball soup and pastrami. Supreme flagship for the streetwear pilgrimage. The Original Farmers Market (since 1934) next to the Grove for cheaper food + Mr. Marcel cheese. The whole stretch is mid-century LA preserved.
J
Downtown LA
Tsujita tsukemen at 4:30 PM (no, you can't skip the line), Bunkado for imports, Far Bar down the alley.
Tip Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle for tsukemen (cash only, line out the door — go at 4:30 PM). Bunkado for Japanese imports + Daiso for everything else. Japanese American National Museum (JANM) for context. Nijiya Market for groceries + bento. End at Far Bar (347 E 1st) — a hidden speakeasy down a narrow alley, opened 2009.
K
Mid-Wilshire LA
Park's BBQ at 11 PM, The Prince cocktails at 1 AM (since 1949), kalguksu at 3 AM. The biggest K-town in America.
Tip LA's K-Town is bigger than NYC's by a factor of 5+. Park's BBQ (955 S Vermont) for the meat splurge. Saint Martha for new-American with K-flavor. The Prince (3198 W 7th, since 1949) for cocktails in a Mad Men-era setting. Quarters Korean BBQ for AYCE. Cafe Mak for shaved ice. The neighborhood doesn't sleep — 3 AM kalguksu is normal.
L
Mid-City LA
Republique inside Chaplin's 1928 studio, Pizzeria Bianco's first LA outpost, the densest restaurant strip in mid-city.
Tip Republique inside a 1928 Charlie Chaplin building — pastries by Margarita Manzke, brunch by Walter Manzke, one of the most photographed restaurant interiors in LA. Sycamore Avenue is the adjacent strip — Pizzeria Bianco (the Phoenix import that opened LA), Going Places, Carrie Hammer. Two blocks east: La Brea Tar Pits + LACMA. Combine for a full mid-city day.
N
Northeast LA
York Boulevard between Avenue 50 and 56. Joy on York, Donut Friend, the eastside hip strip.
Tip York Blvd between Ave 50 and Ave 56 is the strip. Joy on York for Taiwanese, Donut Friend for vegan donuts, Wax Paper deli, Block Party for vintage. Highland Park Brewery's taproom one block south. Kindness & Mischief Coffee. The most genuinely-cool eastside neighborhood that hasn't been completely gentrified out of itself.
W
Westside
1.5 miles of the most-storied nightlife in America. Cha Cha Matcha for the photo, Cecconi's for brunch.
Tip Sunset Strip — 1.5 miles of the most-storied stretch of nightlife in America. The Roxy, Whisky a Go Go (since 1964, Jim Morrison's home club), Viper Room. Cha Cha Matcha on Melrose for the photo. Cecconi's on Melrose for brunch — the best people-watching in WeHo. Pacific Design Center (blue, green, and red glass buildings) is a free architecture stop. End at the Sunset Tower bar for cocktails.