The best restaurants California

This successful local restaurant has seven locations in California. It serves ocean-fresh fish and seafood. On the menu: fish'n'chips, sandwiches of all kinds, sushi, grilled squid, ceviche (beware, sometimes very spicy!) and other dishes to be enjoyed in a Japanese atmosphere. The establishment in front of the Botanical Gardens boasts a large wooden terrace, not particularly well decorated but pleasant enough to enjoy the sunshine. Perfect for a quick break before continuing your tour.

Located on the Walk of Fame, this small, unpretentious Japanese restaurant is worth a visit for its attractive rolls card. The compositions are particularly well cared for. You will surely find your happiness between the classic rolls, the rolls cooked in frying and those filled with meat or cooked fish. The terrace is very noisy, because it gives directly onto the boulevard. You can dine at the bar to see the masters at work!

This charming place is located in the heart of Old Town, in one of Pasadena's oldest brick buildings. Despite its name, Cafe Santorini is not a Greek tavern: it's a restaurant specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, in the broadest sense of the word. You'll find risotti and pasta dishes - don't miss the lobster ravioli or the red curry risotto - a wide range of mezzés, kebabs and salads, as well as meat and fish dishes such as grilled entrecôte. Bonus: the rooftop terrace.

Hidden away from the beach of Ocean Beach, this wine-cellar restaurant is one of our heartbeat. They eat in the middle of local and international bottles, bottles that can be bought and consumed during their meal at the boutique price. The atmosphere is very warm with a few jazz notes. The menu, Italian inspired, is not with refined and rich dishes. You'll be advised in particular of the seafood risotto. It is also possible to take a seat around the long bar for a glass of wine, which is found at unbeatable prices during happy hour.

If you like fish and seafood - or culinary experiences that are out of the ordinary - don't miss this market. On the waterfront, facing the harbor, it sells fresh products by weight: customers bring them to the cook, who will prepare them according to their tastes. Grilled, sautéed, a la plancha, with spices, fried... Many options are available. You can also order ceviches and fish tacos before taking a seat at one of the large tables to share.

A safe value to taste the classic American cuisine. A beautiful outdoor terrace gives you the arms to taste the famous meatloaf followed by a dessert to fall on the ground: the banana toffee crunch cake.

The pins never stop turning to Zankou. Roasted chickens are cooked daily, for tasting on site or to take away. Tarna, shish kebab and falafel: whether hot or cold, Zankou chicken, seasoned with spices, is full of intense aromas. A good address for the gourmands in the small budget.

Established in 1925, Lobster was originally a small restaurant with 60 seats and up to types of fish. In 1989, the small shop leaves out to the great dam of the inhabitants. After a long decade, the Lobster finally reopened in 1999 and became a renowned place with history. The chowder clam is delicious and the seafood is well cooked, but it is true that you come here to admire the sun on the pier of Santa Monica.

An institution in Palm Springs. For years, the restaurant has been the rendezvous of celebrities, locals and visitors seeking refined food.

We are very committed to the tradition of Melvyn's. The habitués love to find their fetish table each week, their favourite dishes and staff is, for the most part, in service since the beginning. more than 40 years! A complete test, the cooked dishes next to your table, including the famous steak Diane.

Opened in 1968, Café Beaujolais claims French roots... But that doesn't stop its few pasta dishes from transporting the customer to Italy. This is due to the expertise of the chef, Julian, who has worked in several Italian kitchens during his travels in Europe. In addition to its refined menu and tasty dishes, the restaurant is located in a very pleasant setting: a Victorian country house built in 1893 and surrounded by lush gardens. The icing on the cake: a fine selection of wines.

Here, they serve a typical Californian cuisine: simple and prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We love their lunch formula to be tasted on the terrace (heated when it's cold) with a breathtaking view on the bay. In the evening, you can enjoy these dishes inside, nicely decorated. The menu is rather short, which is a good sign. The pizzas are excellent and very well garnished with good products. The restaurant also has a small garden that it cultivates in the farm-to-table spirit. A good address!

He's the tebasaki specialist, roasted chicken wings. The menu includes over 30 varieties of grilled fish, dozens of vegetables and kushiyaki. The place is noisy and lively; many Japanese students and young professionals come back here, in the heart of the Sawtel district that is nicknamed, not without reason, Japantown.

A warm welcome awaits you at this bistro serving French cuisine reinterpreted according to the chef's whims. You can enjoy coq au vin, beef tartare, mussels marinière or cod. The restaurant has also made roast chicken its specialty. For dessert, we recommend profiteroles and bananas with crème brûlée. Music in keeping with the decor, recalling the spirit of popular Parisian troquets. The cable car that passes incessantly in front of the restaurant will offer you a little more exoticism.

This restaurant has an air of Lost in Translation with its neon and black colours. Katsuya offers a menu of excellent sushi, in new kitchen mode. Shrimp and grilled meats with fish specialities, always prepared with passion and inventiveness. This is the Posh Posh meeting.

The Wurstküche, literally the "sausage kitchen", offers hot dogs and sausages imported from all over the world, from Poland to Thailand: you will be surprised how long it will take you to decide! French fries and coleslaw accompany the sandwiches at reasonable prices. A wide choice of organic beers completes the menu. The interior design is very nice, we sit on very long benches around very large tables... while the DJ plays records.

The place doesn't look like much, but the tacos are excellent, and that's all that matters. The choice is wide: with birria (goat cheese), camaron (fried shrimp), not to mention chorizo. Tacos of all kinds are served with a delicious sauce. Police officers, eccentrics of the Walk of Fame and employees of the surrounding businesses come to be satisfied there at any time of the day. Cactus is open until 3:30 am on weekends, for the long Hollywood nights.

There's noise, it's shown, there's always scenes at the bar, it's expensive and everyone has fun in Mastro's. For some years now, it's the number One location of Beverly Hills where it's good to be seen. This is largely due to its excellent cuisine. Steaks, cocktails, potatoes and spinach are all prepared with a master's hand and served in large portions. Here you can see movie stars and victims of plastic surgery.

Italian cuisine and a wine menu give you a breathtaking view. A little side has seen me and some dishes that are sometimes too rich but so tasty. Booking recommended.

Bottega Louie is a vast space with white marble floors, white walls, and a high ceiling... And white. More than a restaurant, this establishment is an army of cooks who prepare the pizzas and delicious salads on the menu. It's one of Downtown's most fashionable places, as friendly and loud as it is chic. On weekends, the brunch offers a quieter atmosphere, especially since the pastries are to die for. In addition, a new branch has opened in the West Hollywood neighborhood.

This little place has been attracting falafel lovers for nearly three decades. It makes sense: they may be the best in Los Angeles. Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these dumplings rival shawarma - the traditional kebab of the Middle East - as delicious. Also on the menu: hummus and shish kebab, among others. All at very affordable prices. At lunchtime, it is not uncommon for a long line to stretch out in front of Falafel Arax; it would be a shame not to wait.

This Brazilian barbecue is probably one of the most popular spots at The Original Farmers Market, as evidenced by the lineup. And for good reason, the meat grilled on rotisseries is tasty. Picanha - a little-known cut of beef, typical of Brazil and Portugal -, spicy chicken legs, pork loin, leg of lamb... A 100% carnivorous place where you can eat by the kilo - or at least by the pound, equivalent to about 450 grams.

Open only at midday, it would be a shame to go next to this temple of dim sum which, since 1958, has become the high-end alternative of the restaurants of Chinatown. Everything is exquisite and we appreciate all the delicious dishes made to pork and barbecue sauce.

The setting alone justifies a meal at this beautiful establishment. The main dining room overlooks the ocean, while the waves break at the foot of the Moonshadows. Although the a la carte dinner dishes are more expensive, we recommend coming here in the evening and asking for a table with an ocean view. On the menu: the cuisine of Venetian chef Andrea Bullo, who cleverly blends Californian flavors with more distant tastes from Asia and Italy. Special mention to the grilled swordfish, bursting with flavors.

We would like all neighbourhood restaurants to be so refined. The menu is inspired by the Santa Monica farmer market and changes every month. The list of wines has been carefully designed, but the price is paid. Artisanales beer also has their sommelier, which is why it is just as impossible to choose at the time of order. Here, everything is organic and everything is good!

Opened in 1924, it is the oldest bar in Long Beach and one of the most popular. The regulars come for the famous pickled collect (eggs in vinegar), but also for the wide selection of beer. Prices are reasonable. Other favorites from the menu: the fresh peanuts roasted, the excellent peanuts, and the Joe's Special, a hot dog with cheese. Friendly atmosphere at noon and in the evening.

Chouquet's is a French restaurant. The staff were friendly and helpful. The sun terrace is very pleasant at noon.

It is probably the favourite location of Sacramento residents for breakfast and lunch or dinner. The food is simple (omelettes, pizza, hamburgers, grilled salmon), but good and very inexpensive. A very relaxed atmosphere.

Since 1851 the hotel welcomes the faithful of Bolinas. Local ambience guaranteed. Live music every week.

Michael McCarty opened this restaurant on his behalf in 1979; it then influences Californian cuisine and becomes the leader of the fusion movement. He was among those who popularized the alliance of goat cheese with arugula and caramelized onions. He is also among the first to have deign taken California's wines seriously. Today Michael seems to have remained stuck in his golden age. A small lifting of the menu would not hurt anyone. The breakfast on its terrace is simply a necessity. Artists, writers, actors and all those who can afford it come here.

The name says everything. This restaurant is an institution where traditional dishes from the South of the United States are served. Fried chicken, waffles and other dishes full of fat and sugar: we know it's bad for health, but it's so good! With good value for money, this formula attracts local musicians, the Afro-American community (especially families) and young students.

This tiny local on Main Street is the first and only southern California to specialize in the omusubi, a small ball of rice filling meat or vegetables very popular in Japan. This is a little the equivalent of the sandwich for our Japanese counterparts. Everything is fresh and cooked on demand using mainly local products. Count between two and four omusubi depending on your appetite.

The particularity of this place is that you will never find the door closed. Since 1924, the institution has never ceased its activity, day and night. Most servers, exclusively male, have been there for 20 years or more, and are an integral part of the site. A kind of large family canteen, with all that this entails positive: a good classic kitchen, served generously… It follows naturally that the Pantry has some records of consumption: for example, 20 steers per day are needed to satisfy the demand for steaks! Moreover, the menu changes every day. Their motto: Never closed, never without a customer, "Never closed, never without a customer".

With the alléché smell, you will not find it hard to find this small wooden house at the end of the jetty. Among various seafood and smoked fish, you will not be promoting Clam clam or Crab and Shrimp Salads.

The most pleasant restaurant in the city, especially during the day, to enjoy the lovely terrace overlooking a small river. Not to spoil anything, the cuisine is good, including an excellent grilled salmon. Save room for desserts, they're divine!

Spago features a decorative wall of 7,000 bottles of wine, a patio with a glass roof and an open kitchen with a contemporary feel. It's known for its 100% California specialties, with an emphasis on provenance and quality ingredients. Add a touch of inventiveness and you have one of the most iconic restaurants in Los Angeles, opened by the highly acclaimed Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck in 1982. Puck has cooked for several American presidents.

Founded by Harvey Baskin in 1983, this beautiful restaurant is located on the site of the Holiday House, a historic hotel opened in 1948, where stars such as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy have stayed. Geoffrey's quickly became a Malibu institution, with everyone flocking to the restaurant for its fish and seafood specialties. In addition to the sublime view of the Pacific, this address is acclaimed for its cuisine, which attracts current celebrities such as Pierce Brosnan.

French cuisine in this small, appreciated restaurant. Good atmosphere on weekends.

This minimalist restaurant with its attractive metal counter is all about raw seafood. Delicious plates of scallops, tuna, butterflyfish, etc., all raw, but also oysters to delight your palate. Fish arrivals are local and sustainable. These feasts are accompanied by a (very good) glass of white wine. You can also enjoy the superbly stocked seafood platters, or a few hot dishes like the classic San Francisco chowder soup.

What an atmosphere! On the terrace overlooking a small garden where a fountain flows, you can enjoy a plate of oysters or one of the big salads of the house. We recommend the Beet and pear salad, a real delight with pears, pecans and cheese. The desserts are all very tempting like the Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake, etc. The list of alcoholic drinks is impressive, it's the right place to try cocktails!

This Italian restaurant with its modern, refined decor is located on Chestnut Street, the shopping street in the Marina district. Very popular with San Franciscans, a second restaurant has opened in Union Square. Very welcoming, the pizzas are hearty and the dishes well-stocked. The kitchen is open, with a pizza oven in front of the restaurant, the bar has a wide selection of spirits and you can ask them for any cocktail, which they will prepare in front of you. It's advisable to get there in advance, as the address is quite coveted.

This address does not need to make tons to impress, since it is already in a "castle", the one of the stars. It is indeed in this hotel that many celebrities from all over the world stay when they come to L.A.; the restaurant, accessible to everyone, is therefore full of famous heads. The cuisine is rustically inspired (duck confit with mushrooms, beef bourguignon, sea bass...) but remains elegant. Even if, in the end, no one really comes here exclusively to eat. We go to Le Marmont to be seen, especially if we work nearby, in Hollywood for example. Prices are not as high as we think.

Just a ten-minute walk from Old Town, Takeaki Tadokoro offers a fantastic dining experience that will take you on a journey to Japan - the real thing. To get a taste of the different specialties on the menu, sit at the counter and take the omakase. The chef will ask you what you don't want to eat, then serve you a succession of plates to enjoy at your own pace. From oysters to scallops, sea urchin, eel and the gourmet fatty tuna - toro - everything is a treat. Reservations are highly recommended.

A successful Peruvian-Californian restaurant with several locations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specialties: ceviche, leche de tigre, grilled meats and the famous anticuchos, Peruvian chicken skewers with chimichurri potatoes and Peruvian corn. Delicious aji sauces and copious quantities. You can accompany your dish withyucca French fries. The atmosphere is noisy and lively. The cocktails are also delicious, like the Diablito (pisco, pomegranate juice, angostura, ginger syrup, lime).

This chain specialized in bagels has been implanted across the country. It is interesting to go, not for the frame (rather sober and impersonal) but to try different kinds of bagels. You can enjoy onion, garlic, potato, sesame, but also cranberries, cinnamon, honey or pumpkin. All are fresh and made on-site.

In this Peruvian and Nikkei (fusion cuisine between Peru and Japan) restaurant, you enter the realm of ceviche in its most luxurious version. An emblematic dish of marinated raw fish, lime, onions and corn. It can be enjoyed in its most classic version, but also in other more creative and succulent forms. The menu also includes incredible tiraditos (a kind of Peruvian sashimi), causa (potato millefeuilles) and anticuchos (meat skewers). These marvels are served in a romantic setting.

This bright wooden restaurant is one of the best in the region. Refined Mediterranean and French cuisine and a good wine list. The pizzas are known throughout the region, and the menu changes according to the seasons. A real delight, with emphasis on quality products.

In the heart of the lively Gaslamp district, it is the place to go if you are homesick or just want to eat well. Here everything is homemade, chef Eric supervises the pastry and bakery part, Ludivine, the owner takes care of the salty menu. We enjoy brunch, salads, sandwiches and pancakes, gourmet pastries and pastries. In the evening, it is a wine bar with plates of cold meats and cheese. They were voted "best desserts" by San Diego Magazine in 2019.

This is a very pleasant place, where you can enjoy a delicious espresso and small dishes to eat on or off. Some people have created their own dishes, which are not à la carte but they can be asked. Ideal in the morning for breakfast or a terrace brunch, or even for the mid-afternoon creux, because the pastries are excellent.

Opened in the 1980s, Madeo Ristorante is a true Italian restaurant. The reputation of this elegant establishment is due in part to the unique family atmosphere that reigns in the kitchen and in the dining room. The cuisine is also a rich source of inspiration. The carpaccio, the gnocchi with pesto, and the fish soup are all prepared and served to perfection. The clientele is made up of agents, producers, actors and doctors working at the famous Cedars-Sinai Hospital, which is located nearby. A sure bet!