Highland Parks is one of Los Angeles’ most dynamic neighborhoods!
The greatest bowling alley? Check. Outdoor beer gardens? Check. How about the food? The biggest check!
From lowkey seafood trucks to delicious Peruvian cuisine, you can definitely find something you like here!
Without further ado, keep reading our list of the 12 best Highland Park restaurants you gotta check out this year below.
1. Hippo
Hippo is a casual chic Italian restaurant with a Californian twist. With a huge outdoor dining area and covered seating set in a renovated parking lot, Hippo is all levels trendy. The open kitchen allows you to feast your eyes on the delicious goodness while you enjoy the relaxing ambiance.
Hippo’s signature rolls are soft, buttery, and topped with sea salt flakes served together with honey butter. Fresh and warm, this is both a blessing and a curse at the start of your meal. It’s so good you can’t stop wanting more.
Silky thin pasta paired with a tomato-based sauce that takes time to simmer and thicken, the Tagliolini is a well-thought-out dish that’s one for the books. Phenomenal handmade pasta cooked to perfection; what more could you ask for?
What to order: Hippo Rolls, Tagliolini, Bucatini
Address: 5916 1/2 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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2. HomeState
HomeState is a hip, lively taco restaurant in Highland Park that serves huge all-day breakfast tacos. The place boasts a very bright, modern, and fun atmosphere where everything is just good vibes. This is the place to be if you’re craving authentic South Texas tacos.
Is this the best breakfast taco ever made, or is this HomeState’s Trinity taco? Perhaps the most fitting description of a breakfast taco, the Trinity is a must-order! Savory salsa, creamy guacamole, and tasty bacon all wrapped in a homemade blanket from heaven— did god make this?
With lots of tender shredded brisket and organic eggs, the Pecos is another taco you absolutely must try. This one is especially more flavorful with the addition of the green & red salsa.
Don’t forget the classic Loaded Queso! If you love nachos, this is definitely a must-order. The chips come in generous servings for the whole queso and are fresh, salted, and tasty. Here’s a tip: get your own tub, and don’t share!
What to order: Trinity, Pecos, Loaded Queso
Address: 5611 N Figueroa St #1, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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3. Cafe Birdie
When visiting Highland Park, Cafe Birdie is always an excellent choice. With adorable green walls and an eclectic vibe, the decor is done just right to give you a feeling that this place has been around forever. Great ambiance, friendly service, and delicious dishes— Cafe Birdie is a classic among the classics.
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the Moroccan-Spiced Fried Chicken is an uncontested star of the menu. Chicken tenderloin pieces breaded and cooked to perfection, this dish is juicy and will remind you of curry chicken.
Fresh thin strips of spaghetti with creamy cheese sauce, the Cacio E Pepe in Cafe Birdie is tasty to the core. A solid pasta dish and lick-the-plate clean is good; you can’t go wrong with ordering this one.
What to order: Moroccan-Spiced Fried Chicken, Cacio E Pepe, Gnocchi, Steak Frites
Address: 5631 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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4. Antojitos Mexicanos El Paisa
Off the beaten path, El Paisa is a hole-in-the-wall serving one of the best D.F.-style Mexican foods in Highland Park. A quick spot to grab your Mexican food fix to go or take on the offer of relaxing at one of their sidewalk tables for a more local experience. A tiny hidden gem, you’ll leave this place wondering when you could go back ASAP!
A large flour tortilla with carne asada meat and the most delectable spices, the Asada Burrito is about to be the best burrito you’ll ever taste. The warmth of the tortilla is so satisfying when it enters your mouth.
The perfect combination of crunchy fried meat, avocado, and sour cream, El Paisa’s Milanesa Torta is one of the dishes worthy of being a part of the list of foods you would risk your life for in a zombie apocalypse. Delicious, expensive, and fast = best meal ever!
What to order: Asada Burrito, Milanesa Torta
Address: 106 N Ave 58, Los Angeles, CA 90042
5. Joy
A trendy Taiwanese restaurant nestled in Highland Park, Joy has everything you want and more when it comes to Taiwanese cuisine. With a full concept of easy home food and a pickup window on the side that always has a line, you know they mean serious business here! Did we mention you won’t hurt your wallet here?
Coming to Joy without ordering their famous Dan Dan noodles should be a criminal offense. The peanut sauce is its own unique twist to the classic, and we love it! The fresh garlic taste paired perfectly with the peanut flavor, enhancing the dish’s overall profile.
Another show stopper, Joy’s Thousand Layer Pancake with cheese, egg, and basil, is an insane level of deliciousness. Hot and crunchy, the cheese melting through the egg is a sight to behold!
What to order: Dan Dan Noodles, Thousand Layer Pancake
Address: 5100 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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6. Pocha LA
A cute and relaxing Mexican restaurant in Highland Park, Pocha, feels like a home that’s been converted into a restaurant. This place will remind you of your favorite tia’s house, where you would eat to your heart’s content with all your cousins in the family tree. With an old school meets new Spanish-LA vibe, you’d wish Poca was right next to your place so you could stop any time.
Even if you’re not vegan and you’re near the area, you’re disrespecting yourself by not getting Pocha’s Vegan Chile Relleno. Consistently delicious, this dish will blow you away. Out of all sauces, we highly recommend the classic red salsa.
Smothered in cheese and salsa, the chilaquiles are flavors galore. Topped with two eggs over medium, tomato sauce, crema Mexicans, and a dash of cilantro— this dish had excellent texture with a nice contrast of soft and crispy brought about by the eggs and chips, respectively.
Nothing beats an old classic shredded chicken taco with savory sliced onions and a chile sauce. Pocha’s Chicken Tinga Taco is a full-flavored crowd-pleaser that gives a subtle kick that everyone didn’t know they needed to continue their day.
What to order: Vegan Chile Relleno, Chilaquiles, Chicken Tinga Taco
Address: 6101 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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7. Folliero’s Italian Food and Pizza
Considered a staple pizza place in Highland Park, Folliero’s represents the ungentrified version of L.A. from yesteryears. Serving no-frills, old-school Italian-American fare, this is the best place to get simple, affordable, and basic good eats that have a special place in your heart since you were a child.
For pizza lovers, especially meat, the Deluxe Pizza is the one to try. With the right amount of saltiness, this will remind you of traditional tomato sauce pizzas everyone orders at pizzerias.
Pizza with no sauce? You might think that’s a disaster, but Folliero’s Romana Pizza exists to prove you wrong. Don’t let the absence of sauce hinder you from tasting such greatness. The combination of rosemary and ham will give you all the flavors you need.
What to order: Deluxe Pizza, Romana Pizza
Address: 5566 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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8. Villa’s Tacos Los Angeles
Do you want to reward your taste buds and let them experience greatness? Villa’s Tacos is just the right place to do that! Set in a mobile canopy on the corner of York Boulevard in Highland Park, this place always has people lining up. With a solid 10 out of 10 meat quality, everything here will have your stomach thanking you because of how good they taste.
What else should you get in Villa’s Tacos other than their Carne Asada? The perfect balance of creamy crema and the charred smokiness of the Asada will have you dreaming of it every night. The combination of flavors is simply too good to miss out on.
Not your typical street taco, the Queso Tacos in Villa’s is simply phenomenal. Made with fresh dodger blue corn tortilla, you’ll be able to smell the cheese toasting up perfectly and crusting to the tortilla. Like all of their tacos, this one comes with free guacamole because guac is never extra!
What to order: Carne Asada Tacos, Queso Tacos
Address: 5052 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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9. Cafe Jane
Turning an old home into a restaurant, Cafe Jane is a hidden gem in the community of Highland Park. The place offers a straightforward menu with lots of brunch options. Boasting an ambiance similar to a hip, welcoming bungalow in the countryside, you’ll definitely have a great time here.
Decadently sweet and savory, the Orange French Toast is Cafe Jane’s unique twist to the breakfast classic. With small pieces of banana soaking in orange syrup like there’s no tomorrow, this is simply out of this world.
Cafe Jane’s Chorizo Huevos Rancheros is the perfect spice and heat combination of crispy tostada shells and baked eggs. Onion, tomato, green pepper, jalapeño, and sour cream— this is an explosion of flavors.
What to order: Orange French Toast, Chorizo Huevos Rancheros
Address: 5830 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042
10. Rosty Peruvian Food
One thing about Rosty: they never disappoint. When people keep saying this is the best Peruvian food they’ve ever tried, believe them. Limited seating and great food may not be the best combination when you’re hangry, but with Rosty, everything is worth the wait. Once you get to try Rosty, you won’t go anywhere else.
Rosty’s famous Lomo Saltado has sirloin beef strips sauteed in a delectable sauce that will make your mouth water. Served with a side of fries soaking up the juices, this dish will fill you up in no time.
Served in different sizes depending on your party size or hunger level, the Wood-Fired Rotisserie Chicken comes in two sides of your choice. Choose from all-dark meat, all-white meat, or a mix of both. The chicken falling off the bone as you take a bite is *chef’s kiss*.
Traditional ceviche mixed with multi-layered flavors of leche de tigre, the La Copa Nostra is a must for seafood lovers. Packed with all kinds of seafood and the best sauce ever made, this is the best plate you can have for the night. A star of the show, indeed.
What to order: Lomo Saltado, Wood Fired Rotisserie Chicken, La Copa Nostra
Address: 5511 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
11. Burgerlords
If you want truly game-changing vegan burgers suitable for anyone’s tastes, Burgerlords is your best bet. From the decor to the food to the drinks— everything is 10/10. A classic old-school diner with updated twists, get ready to indulge in delicious burgers for a steep price.
Tofu Nuggets, anyone? Interestingly appetizing despite being derived from a plant, this one will make you crave it 24/7. Choose from the ranch or the thousand island dressing as your dip and reach new levels of nuggets nirvana.
Inventive vegan patty with a crunch to it you won’t find in other imitation meat, Burgerlords’ signature Cheeseburger is in a league of its own. The vegan cheese tastes just like normal cheese; you might think this isn’t actually vegan!
What to order: Crispy Tofu Nuggets, Burgerlords Cheeseburger
Address: 110 N Ave 56, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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12. Mason’s Dumpling Shop
Craving the best dumplings in town? Look no further than Mason’s Dumpling Shop! Located in a small corner strip mall, Mason’s serves authentic dumplings at a fair price. Seating is limited but you can always choose takeout if you can’t wait to taste the greatest dumplings ever made in Highland Park.
Plump, full of soup and filling, the Steamed Soup Dumplings are a cult favorite for various reasons. Even the skin itself is chewy and adds a pleasant texture when you take your first bite. That’s all it takes for you to fall in love with this—just one bite.
Mason’s Pan Fried Pork Dumplings is served fresh and piping hot, with the smoke enticing you to take a bite as it enters your nostrils. Did we mention it tastes just as good as it smells? If you like your dumplings crispy but soft on the inside, this is the one to get.
What to order: Steamed Soup Dumplings, Pan Fried Pork Dumplings
Address: 5803 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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Want more food recommendations? Buckle up and head on to our list of the best restaurants in Pasadena for your next stop.