12 Best Restaurants In California: Restaurant Guide 2025

California is a beautiful and versatile city, and its streets are often crowded with locals and foreigners. Apart from education and tourism, its food also gains prominence because it touches the taste buds and satisfies the culinary sense. 

California restaurants and foods are the best in all aspects, and it is full of restaurants and food spots. I have brought to you the list of the best restaurants in California that will help you select good places to eat and save your time.

List Of 12 Best Restaurants In California 

Californian food has many similarities with Mexican food, so if you like Mexican food, you will like Californian food as well. The following are the best places to visit.

• Holbox, Los Angeles
• Kato, Los Angeles
• Singlethread, Healdsburg
• Bell’s, Los Alamos
• Melisse, Santa Monica
• Providence, Los Angeles
• Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad
• Lazy Bear, San Francisco
• The French Laundry, Yountville
• Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
• Addison, San Diego
• Sushi Kaneyoshi, Los Angeles

Holbox, Los Angeles

Los Angeles is full of good places to eat, and one of the famous La restaurants is Mercado La Paloma. Holbox is the part of  Mercado La Paloma that serves delicious and traditional Californian cuisine for dinner and lunch. 

Seafood, including scallop aguachile, tacos (octopus), and uni tostada, are the main items of this place. There is an option to customize the food via à la carte menu, and it is the best option to choose the food of your choice.

Their 8-course menu is also delicious, but is available only on Thursdays and Fridays. Although it is a bit expensive (120 dollars per person), it is known as one of the best deals.

Kato, Los Angeles

There are many famous restaurants Los Angeles, but Kato was initially a small project at a mall in the Westside of Los Angeles. But soon it gained prominence, and then the founder, Chef Jonathan Yao, moved it downtown and converted it into a full-fledged restaurant.

Now Kato offers a 12-course menu worth $325 per person. Kato also has a bar that serves snacks and cocktails. It is a highly recommended place to enjoy the unique taste in a peaceful environment.

Singlethread, Healdsburg

It is a farm-based restaurant that is run by Chef Kyle Connaughton and his wife. The 24-acre farm meets the needs of the restaurant, and people like it because of the farm-to-table concept.

It occurs in Sonoma County and offers a 10-course food menu that is very famous and unique in the city. Their appetizers are very delicious and prepare you for the 10-course menu.

Their menu and presentation style are largely influenced by Japanese culture, which is mainly evident in the use of donabe (Japanese clay pot) for food serving. The tables can be reserved via OpenTable and can be made on the 1st of each month. 

They also offer rooms to stay inside the restaurant, and tables are guaranteed for those staying inside. They have just 5 rooms, so it is hard to get one.

Bell’s, Los Alamos

Bell’s was opened by Chef Greg Ryan and her wife as a small French-style bistro in Los Alamos. It gained fame and became a popular food spot in a short interval of time.

The main recognition of Bell’s is its 5-course prix fixe food that costs 110 dollars per person. The food is economical and worth tasting, but booking should be made in advance in order to avoid inconvenience. 

Melisse, Santa Monica

Melisse is an old French-style restaurant in California that was started by Chef Josiah Citrin in 1999. It is one of the best restaurants in California, and the owners gave it a new touch in 2019 by splitting it into two parts known as Citrin and Melisse.

They serve traditional French food with a Californian twist. Reservations for its regular food and famous 18-course tasting menu can be made via OpenTable. The tasting menu costs 399 dollars per person.

Providence, Los Angeles

There are so many iconic Los Angeles restaurants, and Providence is considered a unique ocean-style restaurant that gives the vibes of sitting under the sea. Its menu mainly includes seafood-related items, and the signature dish is the poached egg covered with sea urchin.

The tasting menu costs around 325 dollars per person, which is worth the food and sustainable surroundings. It is a top-rated green star restaurant, so tables need to be reserved up to 2 months in advance via OpenTable.

Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad

It is located in the beach town of Carlsbad, which is a beautiful place. The interior of the restaurant is amazing, and the French food is served stylishly. Their sea bass is very delicious and a famous item in California.

It is an economical place, especially for parties and gatherings, and tables can be booked through OpenTable. They serve a four-course prix fixe food at the cost of 120 dollars per person.

Lazy Bear, San Francisco

Lazy Bear is located in San Francisco, and initially it was a super club that used to host dinner parties. Its best location, fun environment and good serving style made it popular, and it became a restaurant about 10 years ago. 

It provides multi-course food at a cost of 295 dollars per person. The signature item of this restaurant is the lamb chop that is quickly cooked to retain its juicy flavour and served with sugar, mustard, fish sauce, and garlic. Reservations are made in advance via Tock.

The French Laundry, Yountville

It is an iconic restaurant in California that has been owned by Chef Thomas Keller since 1994. It is considered a pioneer in Californian cuisine and a centre for training the best chefs. It is a 3-Michelin-starred restaurant from the last 18 years.

People must try to book a table here on their visit to Napa Valley, but it is difficult to get a seat here, and bookings are announced on the 1st of each month for the whole upcoming month.

The good thing about this restaurant is that it offers an exclusive vegetarian menu along with the classic tasting menu at a cost of $390 per person.

Atelier Crenn, San Francisco

Atelier Crenn is owned by one of the best female chefs in California, Dominique Crenn. The classic French-Californian dishes of this place make it unique in the town. 

The signature item of Atelier Crenn is Kir aperitif, which is a mouthwatering sweet dish made up of white chocolate and apple cider vinegar with creme de cassis topping.

Some of the recent advancements, like a plastic free setting and a pescatarian menu, made it a unique place in California. There are many recognized Michelin star restaurants California, but it has gained recognition of Michelin green star status in the past few years.

The main course is available at the cost of 395 dollars per person, and booking can be reserved through Tock.

Addison, San Diego

Addison is a 3-starred eatery in California and is highly influenced by Spanish and Japanese cuisine. It is located in the beach resort town of Del Mar, 30 minutes away from San Diego. 

Their Koshihikari rice served with smoked sabayon and Regiis Ova Reserve caviar are the best ones, and seats can be reserved via OpenTable. They offer a 10-course food menu at the cost of 375 dollars per person.

Sushi Kaneyoshi, Los Angeles

One of the best restaurants in California that offers the greatest sushi is Sushi Kaneyoshi. The chefs here utilize the best old Edomae technique to prepare the delicious sushi.

The greatest experience is available only at 300 dollars per person, but reservations are difficult here because they offer only 12 seats for dinner. Bookings can be made via Tock and are confirmed on the 1st of every month for the upcoming month.

Conclusion

The 12 Best Restaurants In California showcase the incredible variety and quality of dining options available throughout the state. Food places in California not only highlight exceptional dishes but also reflect the vibrant culture and creativity that California is known for.

From iconic eateries to hidden gems, there is something for everyone to enjoy. As you embark on your culinary journey, keep these standout locations in mind for an unforgettable dining experience.

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