Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles (2025)

Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis’s Arts District landmark channels rustic Italian cooking with LA attitude—handmade pastas, wood-fired meats, and unforgettable desserts. Frequently cited by Eater LA and praised by local critics as a defining LA restaurant.

Evan Funke’s Venice pasta atelier celebrates regional Italian traditions via a visible dough room and farmers-market sourcing. A constant of critic roundups, it’s the place for tonnarelli cacio e pepe and silky sfoglia that tastes of craft and time.

Nancy Silverton’s mozzarella bar and Michelin-starred osteria remains a touchstone for polished Italian cuisine rooted in Southern California produce. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and lauded by national and local critics alike.

Chad Colby’s intimate room marries hearth cooking and impeccable pastas; the focaccia and rabbit-filled plin are city touchstones. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and included in The New York Times’s 2025 list of LA’s best restaurants.

Steve Samson’s ode to Bologna—handmade pastas, live-fire grilling, tortellini in brodo—set in City Market South. Celebrated by Jonathan Gold in the Los Angeles Times and warmly reviewed by Condé Nast Traveler.

Evan Funke’s Hollywood homage to Rome stages tonnarelli, amatriciana, and wafer-thin pizza amid grand columns and a lively room. Frequently featured by Eater LA among the city’s top Italian destinations.

From pop-up to West Adams fixture, Avner Levi’s spot centers inventive pastas—beet spaghetti and ricotta-topped rigatoni—plus a charming patio. Recognized by the Michelin Guide and regularly praised by local editors.

Across from Grand Central Market, this DTLA stalwart turns out handmade, affordable pasta with deep neighborhood roots. Michelin-recommended and beloved by locals for generous bowls like bigoli della nonna and bianchi e neri.

Family-run since 2010, this Larchmont favorite channels the Veneto with heartfelt hospitality, house pastas, and community events. Marked its 15th anniversary in 2025 and remains a beloved local gathering place.

Husband-and-wife owners Daniel and Caitlin Cutler pair seasonal small plates with naturally leavened, wood-fired pizzas and a thoughtful wine program. Michelin-recommended and prized by locals for its neighborhood feel.

Jackson Kalb’s Venice hit brings Italian American energy—extruded pastas, thin pizzas, and playful antipasti—that keeps locals returning. Consistently highlighted by Eater LA among the city’s best Italian restaurants.

Gaze Inside Santa Monica’s Sunny New California-Italian Gem From Zach Pollack | Eater LA

Opened April 1 by chef Zach Pollack—who closed his Silver Lake and Echo Park restaurants Alimento and Cosa Buona last year after nearly a decade and was previously a co-chef at Sotto—this standalone Ocean Park Boulevard restaurant in Santa Monica positions itself as a versatile, family-friendly, reasonably priced neighborhood destination. Pollack is back in the pizza game with puffy-crusted, wood-fired pies featuring soppressata and peppers, smoked coppa with pineapple, and mushroom fontina. The menu’s starters are divided into four sections: most tables will likely get house-baked bread with dips and spreads like Alimento’s chicken liver, burrata cheese, fava bean hummus, and a tin of Fishwives Cantabrian anchovies; raw seafood offerings include scallops with Sicilian ponzu, kampachi with olive oil and capers, or bluefin tartare with "ossobuco" aioli; small appetizers highlight smoked mozzarella sticks — a nod to Cosa Buona — farro and white bean soup, and shrimp scampi over toasted focaccia. There are four salads, including the '90s-style Novanta Mista with mixed greens and 36-month-old prosciutto. Beyond pizzas, entrees range from Thai chicken Milanese and eggplant cutlet to a market fish with caper-olive tartare, half-roasted chicken over bread and anchovies, wagyu porcini-rubbed tri-tip tagliata, and grilled langoustines alla griglia with bagna cauda bianca. Emphasizing dietary flexibility compared with his earlier, more serious chef days, the restaurant offers gluten-free Milaneses, plenty of vegetarian-friendly options, and a price point intended to make it part of Westside diners’ weekly rotation with seasonal ingredients and familiar Italian American flavors. The expansive semi-covered patio will shine as the weather warms up, while the sleek arch-and-column-themed interior brings a modern European coziness indoors. Practical details: two hours of free parking with validation and reservations available on Resy. - Matthew Kang