Best American Restaurants in Hollywood
16 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Providence
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.
Essential Picks
#1
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.
#3
Horses
8.8
Horses is a Michelin-recognized contemporary bistro on Sunset that channels old Hollywood energy with martinis, a tight seasonal menu, and one of the city’s most talked-about burgers. It’s a destination for long, lingering dinners where endive Caesar, off-menu vodka rigatoni, and Cornish hen share the table with strong cocktails and excellent people-watching.
Must-Try Dishes:
Horses Caesar (endive Caesar salad), Off-menu vodka rigatoni “The Herman”, Cornish hen with panzanella
What Makes it Special: A buzzy, Michelin-recognized Sunset bistro blending vintage pub bones with contemporary, French-leaning American cooking.
#4
Linden
8.7
Linden channels New York comfort food through a Hollywood lens, pairing a moody, vintage-inspired dining room with chef-driven takes on burgers, shrimp and grits, and wagyu oxtail pie. It reads equal parts neighborhood hangout and destination dinner spot, with cocktails and storytelling plates that reward repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Linden burger with duck fat fries, Wagyu oxtail pie, Southern-style shrimp and grits
What Makes it Special: Black-owned, New York-inspired spot weaving personal stories into elevated comfort food.
8.7
Superba’s Hollywood location feels like a modern all-day café, where sourdough loaves, laminated pastries, and colorful brunch plates land under high ceilings and big windows. Weekends skew lively, with neighborhood industry folks lingering over coffee, cocktails, and long brunches on Sunset.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soft-scramble sourdough toast, Ricotta pancakes with seasonal fruit, Fried chicken sandwich on house bread
What Makes it Special: Bakery-driven brunch where serious bread and pastry anchor bright California plates.
#6
Lemon Grove
8.3
Perched atop The Aster at Hollywood & Vine, Lemon Grove is a rooftop restaurant and lounge with citrus trees, skyline views, and a menu that leans Italian-California. It draws pre-Pantages crowds, industry meetups, and brunch groups who want cocktails and a polished but relaxed patio scene. The food is solid, but the setting and views are the main event.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short rib rigatoni, Smash burger or steak frites, Bougie chips or tuna tartare
What Makes it Special: A rooftop terrace with Hollywood-sign sightlines, citrus trees, and pre-theater energy.
8.3
The Griddle Cafe is a breakfast institution at the base of the Hollywood Hills, famous for colossal pancakes, French toast, and all-day brunch plates served in diner-style digs. Lines form early for over-the-top stacks that double as social-media bait and bona fide comfort food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Red Velvet Pancake, The Golden Ticket pancakes, Mom’s French Toast
What Makes it Special: Long-running Hollywood brunch spot known for skyscraper pancakes and all-day breakfast plates.
#8
Electric Owl
8.3
Perched along a former rail line, Electric Owl is a compact American bistro-bar known for cocktails, burgers, and patio seating that works for casual dates or after-work hangs. The menu leans into upgraded comfort food while the bar turns out serious drinks without feeling overly formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
House smash burger with fries, Spicy vodka rigatoni, Grilled chicken sandwich
What Makes it Special: Railside American bistro-bar pairing strong cocktails with elevated comfort food and a compact patio.
8.2
A 100% plant-based smash burger joint that offers creative and flavorful vegan burgers and sides in a casual fast-casual setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smashed Truffle Burger, Plant-Nuggets, Loaded Fries
What Makes it Special: A full 100% vegan burger concept on Sunset Blvd that nails flavor.
8.1
Tribute Hollywood is a neighborhood sports bar and cocktail spot on Cahuenga that upgrades game-day food with better burgers, wings, and bar snacks. Multiple screens, a long bar, and friendly staff make it a regular stop for locals who want to actually eat well while watching a match.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smash-style cheeseburger, House buffalo wings, Loaded fries or tots
What Makes it Special: Game-focused bar where cocktails and elevated bar food get equal attention.
#11
Running Goose
8.1
Tucked just off Hollywood Boulevard, Running Goose is a patio-centric spot serving globally influenced, vegetable-forward plates with Central American accents. String lights, an herb garden, and shared plates give it a low-key, design-conscious feel that regulars love. It flies a bit under the tourist radar, which only adds to its appeal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arugula tostada, Goose salad with burrata, Pork cheek or seasonal braised special
What Makes it Special: A garden patio hideaway serving creative share plates just off the main strip.
Worthy Picks
A long-running British pub on Highland Avenue that draws crowds for its patio as much as its kitchen—pints and shepherd's pie under string lights with a proper pub cadence. The menu sticks to British standards executed with enough care to hold a 4.5-star average across 850+ reviews, and the private lot off Waring Ave means you skip the Highland parking fight. It works best as a group landing spot where the outdoor space and familiar comfort food do the heavy lifting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Scotch Egg
What Makes it Special: Long-running British pub on Highland with one of Hollywood's most beloved patios for pints and proper pub fare
Above Madame Tussauds and the Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Rooftop serves crowd-pleasing brunch, burgers, and flatbreads with a front-row view of Hollywood Boulevard. It’s more playful than polished, but the bottomless brunch format, movie-themed cocktails, and tourist-meets-local energy make it a fun, low-pressure rooftop option steps from the theaters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Stuffed French Toast, BBQ Burger
What Makes it Special: Touristy-but-fun rooftop over Madame Tussauds with brunch, cocktails, and boulevard views.
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Brunch Bliss Spots
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
This Brazilian coffee bar brings Latin American soul to Hollywood with Intelligentsia espresso, açaí bowls, and authentic street snacks like pão de queijo. The casual spot serves handmade empanadas, brigadeiros, and fresh pizzas alongside organic teas and espresso milkshakes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pão de Queijo, Açaí Bowl, Coxinha
What Makes it Special: LA's Brazilian coffee culture meets quality Intelligentsia beans with authentic street food
#15
Hollywood Burger
7.6
Across from the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Burger doubles as a burger joint and casual brunch stop thanks to breakfast sandwiches, eggs, and coffee alongside its signature patties. It’s a practical choice for tourists and locals who want something fast and filling near Hollywood & Highland.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hollywood Sunrise burger with fried egg, Breakfast burrito, Classic Hollywood cheeseburger
What Makes it Special: Tourist-area burger counter that quietly serves a solid, quick brunch.
7.6
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Attached to the Dunes Inn Sunset, Dreams Cafe & Bar is an old-school American diner and lounge serving breakfast, burgers, and simple plates from early morning to late evening. It’s not flashy, but friendly service, solid portions, and quiet booths make it a reliable stop for workers and travelers avoiding the main Hollywood crush.
Must-Try Dishes:
All-day breakfast plate, Classic cheeseburger with fries, Patty melt on grilled rye
What Makes it Special: Motel-side diner pouring coffee and turning out simple comfort plates far from the tourist chaos.