The Essential Blog

Pulitzer Prize winning food critic Jonathan Gold published his updated list of the 99 Essential LA Restaurants last November.

I love food, and I love LA. Here's to making my way through the list, no matter how long it may take. Only 91 to go!

* Been there
** Participating in DineLA's Restaurant Week- God's gift to those of us who can't afford this stuff in real life. January 25-February 6th.

1. Akasha**
2. Alcazar
3. Angeli Caffe**
4. Angelini Osteria
5. Animal*
6. Anisette
7. A.O.C.
8. Asanebo
9. A-Won
10. Babita
11. Bahn Thung
12. Bar Marmont
13. Bastide
14. Beacon**
15. BLD
16. Border Grill***
17. Bulgarini Gelato
18. Campanile**
19. Casa Bianca
20. Chameau
21. Chang's Garden
22. Chichen Itza
23. Chung King
24. Ciudad***
25. Comme Ca**
26. Cora's Coffee Shoppe
27. Cut
28. Daikokuya
29. Drago
30. 8 oz. Burger Bar
31. El Huarache Azteca*
32. El Parian
33. Elite
34. Euro Pane Bakery
35. Father's Office II
36. Flame
37. Foundry
38. Fraiche
39. Golden Deli
40. Golden Triangle
41. Grace**
42. Grill on the Alley
43. Guelaguetza**
44. Hatfield's
45. Hungry Cat
46. Il Moro
47. Jar
48. JiRaffe
49. Jitlada*
50. J N J Burger & Bar-B-Q
51. Kagaya
52. Kiriko
53. Kobawoo
54. Krua Thai
55. La Casita Mexicana
56. La Mill
57. Langer's*
58. Larkin's
59. La Terza
60. Let's Be Frank
61. Los Balcones del Peru
62. Lou
63. Lucques
64. M Cafe de Chaya
65. Marouch
66. Max**
67. Meals by Genet
68. Melisse
69. Musso and Frank Grill
70. Nickel Diner*
71. Nobu (Los Angeles)
72. Oinkster
73. 101 Noodle Express
74. Orris
75. Ortolan
76. Osteria Mozza
77. Palate Food & Wine
78. Park's Barbeque
79. Patina**
80. Pie 'n Burger
81. Philippe the Original
82. Phillip's Barbeque
83. Pizzeria Mozza*
84. Polla a la Brasa
85. Providence
86. Renu Nakorn
87. Rustic Canyon
88. Sanuki no Sato
89. Sapp Coffee Shop
90. Sona
91. Spago
92. Square One
93. Tacos Baja Ensenada
94. Terroni
95. Tiara**
96. Tirupathi Bhimas
97. Urasawa
98. Vincenti
99. Wolfgang's Steakhouse**