Top 20 Iconic Dishes in Los Angeles, CA

#1

🥪

French Dip Sandwich

A roast beef sandwich served on a French roll with a side of beef broth for dipping, invented in Los Angeles.

#2

🍖

Korean BBQ Short Ribs

Thinly sliced beef ribs marinated in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce and grilled over charcoal.

#3

🌮

Al Pastor Street Tacos

Corn tortillas filled with marinated spit-roasted pork, pineapple, cilantro, and onions from local taco trucks.

#4

🥗

Cobb Salad

A classic garden salad featuring avocado, tomato, chicken, egg, and bacon, originally created at the Brown Derby.

#5

🍣

California Roll

An inside-out sushi roll containing cucumber, crab meat, and avocado, which helped popularize sushi in the US.

#6

🥪

Pastrami Sandwich

Thick-cut, hand-sliced hot pastrami piled high on rye bread, a staple of Los Angeles Jewish delis.

#7

🍩

Strawberry Donut

A large glazed donut split open and stuffed with fresh whole strawberries and a sweet glaze.

#8

🍔

Hickory Burger

A beef patty topped with a signature smoky hickory sauce, pickles, and lettuce on a toasted bun.

#9

🍜

Thai Boat Noodles

A rich, dark noodle soup with a complex broth of spices and aromatics, central to LA's Thai Town.

#10

🍔

Chili Burger

A beef burger smothered in a thick, meat-heavy chili, often served with a slice of tomato and pickles.

#11

🌮

Baja Fish Tacos

Crispy beer-battered fish topped with shredded cabbage and crema, reflecting Southern California's coastal ties.

#12

🥗

Chinese Chicken Salad

Shredded chicken with crisp lettuce, fried wontons, and a ginger-soy dressing, popularized by LA chefs.

#13

🍕

Smoked Salmon Pizza

A gourmet pizza topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche, and red onion, representing LA's fusion cuisine.

#14

🥭

Fruit Cart with Tajin

Freshly sliced seasonal fruit like mango and watermelon seasoned with lime juice and chili-lime salt.

#15

🌯

Breakfast Burrito

A large flour tortilla filled with eggs, crispy potatoes, cheese, and bacon or chorizo.

#16

🫓

Pupusas

Thick corn griddle cakes stuffed with cheese and pork, reflecting the city's large Salvadoran community.

#17

🥪

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

Spicy fried chicken breast served on a bun with pickles, which became a massive culinary trend in LA.

#18

🌮

Birria Tacos

Slow-cooked beef stewed in chilies and spices, served in tortillas with a side of flavorful consomme.

#19

🥟

Har Gow Dim Sum

Translucent shrimp dumplings served as part of the extensive Cantonese dim sum culture in the San Gabriel Valley.

#20

🍗

Korean Fried Chicken

Double-fried chicken glazed in a spicy gochujang or soy-garlic sauce, a staple of Koreatown nightlife.