Where to eat dinner in Hollywood
And now the final installment of the Where to Eat in Hollywood series. I hope these posts guide you when you are in this neighborhood and have no idea where to eat. Today, I will list all of my recommendations for Where to Eat Dinner in Hollywood. These recs range from great places to grab a group dinner or celebratory meal.
UPDATED: September 2023
Table of Contents
Dinner in Hollywood
It’s not lost on me that the majority of the restaurants on my Where to Eat Dinner in Hollywood are considered celebrity chefs. I want you to know that I am not a person who cares about that stuff. In fact, I wish they weren’t celebrities so that it was easier to get reservations. The truth is, these restaurants are the best in the area, serving BBQ, Southern Thai, Florentine steaks, and vegan pastries.
If you haven’t guessed the restaurants by that little hint, continue reading.
Bludso’s BBQ
When Kevin Bludso decided to open a second location for his famous Texas BBQ joint, he landed on La Brea and Melrose. His small takeout-only place in Compton was one of the first Texas BBQ joints in Los Angeles before it was a trend. His BBQ has a loyal following, and the little place in Compton couldn’t keep up with demand.
This larger location is great for lunch or dinner. The lunch special gives you a great sampling of what this place is known for. If you want to explore the area, I suggest going for dinner.
The brisket in either fatty or lean cuts is a must-order. Delightfully Smokey and rich with a sauce that doesn’t drown out the hours and the work spent.
LOOK AT THAT SMOKE RING!
Where most BBQ joints have either great BBQ or great sides, Bludso’s is the anomaly, serving the best sides in town with expertly smoked mains.
Go hungry, go with friends, and don’t forget to get a little messy.
Hours, location, and what to eat
- Website: https://www.barandque.com/
- Location: 609 N. LaBrea Ave.
- Eat: The brisket is what Bludso is known for. My favorite sides are the collard greens, Texas caviar, and cornbread.
- Instagram (for food pics): https://www.instagram.com/bludsosbbq/
- Cost: My order above will cost you $30 + tax and tip, and you will need a friend.
- Other: Kevin Bludso is currently a judge on Netflix’s BBQ Showdown.
Mother Wolf
Mother Wolf is one of Chef Evan Funke‘s newest endeavors. This ode to Rome sits on a side street inside an old newspaper factory off Sunset Blvd.
Although you won’t find his famous handmade pastas, the restaurant is too huge for that type of attention; you will still find expertly made dishes filled with California ingredients. The Sunday Hollywood Farmer’s Market is just steps away.
Luckily, the times I have gone, I have been in groups large enough to eat a wide variety of the menu.
The can’t-miss dishes are:
- Meatballs-which are deep fried and delicious
- Spagettoni a la Gricia–a great alternative to Carbonara
- Stuffed zucchini blossoms
- Anything with in-season fruit or vegetables.
This is the restaurant I would reserve for a group of friends and/or family in Hollywood. The portions are large, and it is hard not to please everyone at your table.
The only thing I don’t like is that you can only make reservations seven days in advance.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: https://www.motherwolfla.com/
- Location: 1545 Wilcox Ave.
- Cost: Pastas are around $30–you get large portions here. Pizzas cost around $29. The meatballs are $28.
Pizzeria Mozza
I have to say that I avoided Pizzeria Mozza much longer than I should have. When it opened, it was so hot, trendy, and full of celebrity, which is my kryptonite. It took a few years for me to decide to visit Mozza, mainly because I was so impressed by another place in the Mozzaplex, Chi Spacca which is on this list in the fine dining section. There is a reason Pizzeria Mozza is so popular, and it isn’t due to the celebrities who dine there; it is because the ingredients used are impeccably sourced for their quality that even the simplest of dishes sing.
Walk-ins are welcome at the bar, but you are on your own to hover over patrons in hopes they get up. Reservations are recommended. The Mozzaplex, as it is sometimes called, is a culinary choose-your-own-adventure. Pasta isn’t served in the Pizzeria but is next door to the Osteria. If you are craving a steak, head to Chi Spacca.
Chef Nancy Silverton is a powerhouse. She has brought her talents to so many L.A. food icons, watch her episode of Chef’s Table. (She’s on season 3.)
Hours, location, and what to eat
- Website: https://la.pizzeriamozza.com/
- Eat: The famous Nancy’s chopped, grilled cheese, pizza, and anything dough-based.
- Instagram (for food pics): https://www.instagram.com/pizzeriamozza/
- Cost: For 2ppl sharing a salad, pizza, and dessert will cost around $45 total.
Fine Dining in Hollywood
Now, we head into Michelin Star territory. The majority of the places I will mention in this section have earned a one-star rating by the guide. This is not the reason I list them. I list them because I personally was blown away by the food, the execution, and the talent.
These are great places to celebrate special occasions, and you should make the trip to these restaurants even if you do not live in Hollywood. Get your Open Table, Tock, or Resy accounts on standby.
Kali
Kali, I want to have a long-distance relationship with you.
Every time I go to Kali, I kick myself for not going often enough. This is mainly due to the very L.A. problem of it being “far” away, a whole eight tortuous miles. Kali has become one of my favorite restaurants, and I think it should be yours, too.
Chef Kevin Meehan packs a lot of flavor in his California local-inspired menus. He has changed the way I feel about ingredients I thought I hated, like tomatoes and beef tartare. This is because I never had these ingredients or dishes executed well–before Kali. I will only eat beef tartare if Chef Meehan makes it. Other than that, I won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. Besides being blown away by that dish and the berries and tomatoes, there isn’t a dud on the menu.
The dining room feels intimate but doesn’t feel overly packed with guests, giving you the opportunity to talk to the people you are with, which makes it a great date location. It is fine dining without being stuffy.
At Kali, you have many ways to choose your dining adventure, from family-style a la carte dishes to multiple tasting menu options.
Hour, location, and other information
- Website: https://kalirestaurant.com/
- Location: 5722 Melrose Ave.
- Eat: The seasonal tasting menu
- Cost: It varies, but my pick is $165 with $55 optional wine pairing + tip and tax.
Chi Spacca
On the Melrose side of the Mozzaplex sits Chi Spacca. This smaller, more intimate place is accessible through the Mozza-to-Go entrance. This restaurant offers a wide range of meats and family-style dining. It would be a wise decision to bring friends with you since everything is served in massive portions, and you will want to try as much of the menu as you are able.
Let me build a scenario for you. It is my last meal in Los Angeles, and I don’t know when I will be back. I gather my friends for an epic potluck of my favorite dishes in Los Angeles. Two of Chi Spacca’s menu items are definitely on there. They are the focaccia di recco and the bone marrow and beef cheek pie. The focaccia stuffed with cheese hits all of my guilty pleasure flavor points: creamy, salty, and crispy. The bone marrow pie is so rich and flavorful and everything I want in a steakhouse meal. Beef on beef on beef. I always condone a place that uses the whole animal as part of its repertoire.
The vegetables shouldn’t be ignored here.
Hour, location, and other information
- Website: https://chispacca.com/
- Location: 6610 Melrose Ave.
- Eat: The bone marrow and beef cheek pie, focaccia, butter lettuce, and stuffed zucchini blossoms.
- Cost: A salad, vegetable, bone marrow pie, and wine will cost you around $85 + tip and tax.
Burger Night at Chi Spacca
The best time to be at Chi Spacca is their burger special nights. This is when they take the trimmings from their dry-aged steaks and grind them to make the most perfect cheeseburgers.
Originally on the first Saturday of the month, the popularity has made it a regular thing. Now on Mondays and Tuesdays, you can order them every week at as long as you reserve a spot at the Chef’s Counter.
The menu will switch up periodically to include regional burgers–like the Sooner Smash, an homage to Oklahoma burgers–patty melts, toasties, and more.
Cost: Around $18 and comes with thick cut fries.
The burger above is on my top eight smash burger ratings, Do you want to know the other seven? Subscribe to my newsletter.
Dessert
Salt & Straw
This small-batch ice cream shop came down from the Bay Area and spread like wildfire across Los Angeles. The one closest to Hollywood is in the Hancock Park neighborhood, a short walk from Kali. This area has a lot of celebrity homes, and you aren’t sure who you will run into. I lived within walking distance from this neighborhood during my first three years in L.A. Had Salt & Straw been in this neighborhood when I lived there, I probably would have weighed a ton. I love ice cream. Salt & Straw’s flavors run from classics like double-fold vanilla to interesting combinations that you think shouldn’t work with ice cream, like black olive and goat cheese.
Plus, the Student Inventor series is beyond adorable. It is where local kids come up with new flavors to add to the Salt & Straw repertoire. This month’s flavors range from Churro Horchata to Avocado Toast Supreme. (September 2019)
Hours, location, and what to eat
- Website: https://saltandstraw.com/la-locations/
- Location: There are several locations across the city. Check the website for locations and hours.
- Eat: Whatever suits your fancy
- Cost: Single $4.50, Double $6.50, Kid’s $3.50
- Other: They are dog-friendly as well and serve a pup cup.
Erin McKenna
When people are in the Larchmont neighborhood, I recommend Erin McKenna’s Bakery. Formerly known as Babycakes, they became famous for their vegan and gluten-free baked goods. This was my go-to when I was on a gluten-free diet. I still craved her pastries even after I started eating gluten again. I love their chocolate-covered donuts and the sandwich cookies with coconut cream filling. Although the baked goods are both vegan and gluten-free, they aren’t the flavorless sand in the form of a baked good like the other vegan/GF counterparts located throughout the city.
Hours, location, and what to eat
- Website: https://www.erinmckennasbakery.com/our-menu/
- Location: Check the website for various locations
- Eat: chocolate iced cake donut, vanilla cupcakes, and chocolate chip cookie sandwich.
- Instagram (for food pics): https://www.instagram.com/erinmckennasbakery/
- Cost: $4.50 for the donut and $6 for the cookie sandwich
Late night in Hollywood
Head to Thai Town!
When I first moved here, I was surprised by the paradox of a) how late people in Los Angeles eat dinner and b) how most of the restaurants stop serving food at 9:PM; so, what do people do? For the best places to eat dinner in Hollywood after 9:00 p.m., you should head to Thai Town.
Jitlada
Hollywood is next to Thai Town, and it would be a shame to get so close to this amazing food city within a city. This area is known for restaurants serving spicier Southern Thai cuisine, which was a rarity where I was from. I was so happy when a friend brought me to Jitlada, and we ate herby spicy crying tiger. I pondered at how you can cover a semi-cooked egg fishball and have curries both creamy and comforting that made me cry from spice at the same time.
The owner, Jazz, is a Los Angeles celebrity. She is the friendliest and warmest person you will meet. She loves bringing dishes from home to the people of L.A. This t-shirt in their shop says it all.
Hours, location, and what to eat
- Website: http://jitladala.com/
- Location: 5233 W. Sunset Blvd.
- Eat: This is one of the largest menus I have ever seen. I haven’t had anything here that I haven’t liked.
- Cost: $35 will get you a great meal
- Note: Open until 10:30 on the weekends
Bhan Kanom Thai
This Thai dessert and snack shop has one of the best mango sticky rices I have ever eaten. A trek through Los Feliz and Thai town to walk off dinner led me to this place. At first, it was to ogle over all of the new and exciting potato chip flavors, but then we were curious about a line forming in the shop.
In the back, there is a deli counter serving freshly made Thai desserts like fried bananas and mango sticky rice.
The mango was super ripe and sweet, the sticky rice was tender without being mushy, and it had the right amount of condensed milk and sugar without being super sweet.
Hours, Cost, and other information
- Website: https://www.bhankanomthai.com/
- Location: 5721 Hollywood Blvd
- Eat: Whatever looks good. This place is a feast for the eyes and stomach.
- Cost: Mango sticky rice is $10 and the other desserts average at $7.
I am mourning the loss of Hoy-Ka Noodle, which seems to have closed or moved. I loved their pad kee mao. If you have any information, please comment below.
So there you have it, my comprehensive list of where to eat dinner in Hollywood. I hope I gave you a lot of options for cuisines and prices while you are spending time in this neighborhood. If you feel like I overlooked a restaurant, please let me know.
If you missed my previous posts about alternatives to national chains, read it here Where to Eat Lunch in Hollywood.
I update my Where to Eat in (Hollywood, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Culver City, etc. …. posts often to reflect new additions and closures all the time. If you want updates on these posts, please subscribe to my newsletter.
This Ugly Beautiful City is a 100% self-funded publication. If you have used any of the advice on these pages and would like to send a thank you, consider buying me a coffee.
Comments (1)
Los Angeles, take-out guide part two – This Ugly Beautiful City
November 23, 2020 at 7:20 pm
[…] Other options that I have written about in previous This Ugly Beautiful City posts that make great fine dining take-out are Shunji and Chi Spacca. […]