Best Fine Dining American Restaurants in Los Angeles
17 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Republique
Chef-driven French–American cooking in a historic 1929 space.
Essential Picks
#1
Republique
9.1
Republique is a grand all-day French–American cafe and restaurant from chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke, set in a soaring 1929 brick-and-tile space on La Brea. Locals line up for pastries, breakfast plates, and a polished dinner menu that balances serious technique with a lively, communal feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short Rib Kimchi Fried Rice, French Onion Soup, Strawberry Passion Fruit Tart
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven French–American cooking in a historic 1929 space.
#2
Gwen
9
Gwen, from chef Curtis Stone and his brother Luke, combines a European-style butcher shop with a Michelin-starred, fire-focused dining room built for milestone celebrations and tasting-menu splurges. The Art Deco interior, theatrical open kitchen, and deep wine list make it one of Hollywood’s most serious special-occasion destinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Housemade charcuterie board, 30-day dry-aged ribeye, Bacon Bolognese pasta
What Makes it Special: A Michelin-starred, fire-driven steak and tasting-menu temple with an in-house butcher shop.
#3
Providence
9
Chef Michael Cimarusti's seafood-focused tasting menus draw from California ingredients and line-caught fish through rigorous French technique, with a kitchen tank supplying live Santa Barbara spot prawns and sea urchins. The restaurant approaches its 20th anniversary having just earned LA's first three Michelin stars alongside a Green Star for sustainability. Expect refined, deliberate pacing and dishes that recent guests note feel perhaps slightly safer than past visits—still executed at an elite level.
Must-Try Dishes:
Santa Barbara Spot Prawn, Uni Egg, King Salmon
What Makes it Special: Three Michelin-starred seafood temple with a kitchen tank of live Santa Barbara spot prawns and sea urchins, orchestrating multi-course tasting menus from the freshest possible ingredients.
Notable Picks
8.9
Open since 1919, Musso & Frank Grill is Hollywood’s original special-occasion steakhouse, where red leather booths, classic martinis, and old-school service turn dinner into a ritual. Generations of locals and visiting celebrities still come here to celebrate over ribeye, fettuccine Alfredo, and tableside traditions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ribeye steak, Musso's Traditional Steak Tartare, Original Fettuccine Alfredo
What Makes it Special: A century-old Hollywood steakhouse where martinis, red booths, and film history define the occasion.
#5
Ardor
8.8
MICHELIN Plate restaurant inside The West Hollywood EDITION hotel showcasing vegetable-forward California cuisine by chef John Fraser. The lush, spa-like interior with verdant greenery creates an upscale sanctuary for elevated weekend brunch.
Must-Try Dishes:
Salmon Benedict with Trout Roe Hollandaise, Seasonal Egg Frittata, Cinnamon French Toast
What Makes it Special: MICHELIN recognition with vegetable-forward fine dining in hotel setting
#6
Chez Bacchus
8.8
Farm-to-table New American dining from Advanced Sommelier John Hansen and Chef Danny Le showcases seasonal California ingredients with refined technique. Open since June 2022 in the Arts District, this intimate spot earned People's Choice Best Fine Dining in 2025 and offers everything from weekend brunch to tableside desserts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Maple Leaf Duck, Miso-Glazed Norwegian Salmon, Bananas Foster (tableside)
What Makes it Special: Only fine dining in downtown with tableside service and sommelier-curated wine pairings
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Business Lunch Power Players
Luxury Dining Elite
Since 1984, this classic American steakhouse has built its reputation on hand-cut USDA Prime steaks dry-aged in-house for 30 to 120 days in a pink Himalayan salt brick room. The clubby, old-school interior with plush booths and dark wood paneling creates an atmosphere that has earned recognition as one of OpenTable's most romantic restaurants in the country.
Must-Try Dishes:
45-Day Bone-In Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Japanese Satsuma Wagyu A5 Strip
What Makes it Special: Long Beach institution with award-winning wine cellar and in-house dry-aging program
#8
Dunsmoor
8.6
Chef Brian Dunsmoor’s American heritage restaurant in Eagle Rock delivers wood-fired, grill-driven cooking with serious technique behind familiar flavors. The menu moves through richly seasoned meats, careful vegetable work, and shareable sides that feel both rustic and refined. A destination for Northeast LA when you want ambitious American cooking without pretense.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-grilled steak or chop of the day, Cornbread with seasonal butter, Beef tartare or crudo starter
What Makes it Special: Fire-driven American cooking with a chef’s-counter level of detail.
#9
Jar
8.6
Jar is a modern chophouse where pot roast, steaks, and retro-leaning sides get fine-dining treatment in a dim, mid-century room. It’s a long-standing choice for celebratory dinners that feel classic Los Angeles without being stuffy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jar's Signature Pot Roast, Char Siu Pork Chop, Banana Cream Pie
What Makes it Special: Steakhouse-era comfort dishes reimagined as polished, LA-style chophouse fare.
8.5
Vibes:
Luxury Dining Elite
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
Date Night Magic
National steakhouse chain's Long Beach outpost sits steps from the Convention Center, serving USDA Prime steaks on signature 500-degree sizzling plates. Modern interior with booth and bar seating offers prix fixe specials and weekday happy hour alongside classic sides like lobster mac and cheese.
Must-Try Dishes:
Center-Cut Filet with Crab Stuffed Shrimp, Salmon with Bay Scallops, Potatoes au Gratin
What Makes it Special: Convenient Convention Center location with consistent nationwide Ruth's Chris quality
#11
The Penthouse
8.5
Perched on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel, this sophisticated rooftop restaurant delivers contemporary Mediterranean-California cuisine with 360-degree panoramic views from downtown LA to Malibu. The wraparound windows and beach cabanas create an unmatched setting for sunset cocktails and special occasions.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Mediterranean Branzino, Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter
What Makes it Special: Unrivaled 18th-floor panoramic ocean and city views
#12
The Tower Bar
8.5
Since 1931, this Art Deco landmark at the Sunset Tower Hotel serves California bistro fare with Italian touches amidst Old Hollywood glamour. The poolside terrace and skyline views complement classic dishes like lobster tacos and carbonara while jazz duos provide the soundtrack nightly.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Corn Tacos, Carbonara with Bacon Lardons, Roasted Chicken with Blue Cheese Ravioli
What Makes it Special: Authentic Old Hollywood glamour with celebrity sightings guaranteed
#13
Wally's
8.5
Vibes:
Luxury Dining Elite
Trendy Table Hotspots
Business Lunch Power Players
Instagram Worthy Wonders
This upscale wine bar and restaurant elevates the french fry experience with truffle-topped pommes frites featuring shaved black truffles and parmesan. The extensive wine selection and market-driven menu create a sophisticated dining destination in the heart of Beverly Hills.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle Frites, Wally Burger, Wood Oven Baked Brie
What Makes it Special: Truffle fries with freshly shaved black truffles and truffle butter
#14
Dear John's
8.3
Frank Sinatra's former hangout revived by acclaimed chefs Josiah Citrin and Hans Röckenwagner brings Old Hollywood glamour to modern Culver City. The dimly lit, vintage steakhouse serves standout dishes like mozzarella-stuffed chicken parmesan and buttery sand dabs, though steaks can be inconsistent. Strong martinis and tableside Caesar salads complete the classic experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Parmesan (stuffed), Sand Dabs with Lemon-Caper Butter, Frank's Spaghetti & Clams
What Makes it Special: Frank Sinatra's historic 1962 steakhouse revived with vintage dark-room ambiance
#15
Meteora
8.3
Chef Jordan Kahn's one-Michelin-starred restaurant showcases primal live-fire cooking with a zero-waste ethos, set in a sculptural space of tangled greenery and moody lighting that reviewers describe as otherworldly. The 4-course ($115) and 6-course ($165) menus feature sustainably sourced wild ingredients like honey-grilled Sue Buxton scallops and charred yam with smoked trout roe. The theatrical environment and trance-y soundtrack create an immersive experience that overshadows straightforward service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sue Buxton Day Boat Scallops with Caramelized Honey, Job's Tears with Cachucha Peppers, Charred Yam with Smoked Trout Roe
What Makes it Special: Chef Jordan Kahn's Michelin-starred showcase of live-fire cooking with heirloom produce and rare grains, presented in a sculptural space that feels like entering a rainforest.
#16
Matu Kai
8
A steak omakase concept serving exclusively 100% grass-fed New Zealand wagyu in composed multi-course dinners, with each cut arriving warm-red and unadorned to let the beef speak. The $64-87 prix-fixe pricing undercuts comparable wagyu experiences significantly, though the moody room runs loud enough that conversation competes with the atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Tartare, 13-14 oz Ribeye, 24-Hour Bone Broth
What Makes it Special: Exclusively serves 100% grass-fed New Zealand wagyu in composed multi-course dinners resembling steak omakase
Worthy Picks
#17
Spago
7.7
Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant offers refined weekend brunch featuring Austrian-influenced dishes alongside California cuisine classics. Though primarily a dinner destination, the limited brunch service showcases seasonal ingredients with the same meticulous preparation that earned its reputation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smoked Salmon Pizza, Austrian Kaiserschmarrn, Chinois Chicken Salad
What Makes it Special: Wolfgang Puck's flagship defining California cuisine since 1982.