Discerning diets, diverse palates and downright demanding appetites are what hold Southern California restaurants to such high standards. From award-winning diners to organic farmers markets and trendy food trucks, the culinary landscape is as eclectic as the people who live here. Our enthusiasm for the food we fancy transcends petty concerns for traffic and geography. If we're hungry - and the food's good - we'll get there.

Akbar Cuisine of India Indian Restaurant Chef/owner Avinash Kapoor's creations are rich and intense, yet never heavy or greasy: tender, juicy chicken tikka masala; nuanced lamb vindaloo; perfectly seared sea bass and more.

Barney's Beanery Sports Bar/Bar & Grill It feels like college never ended at the five local Barney's Beanery locations - including a new one on Broxton Avenue in Westwood.

Bodega Wine Bar Wine Bar Most of us enjoy a glass of good wine; few enjoy the snobbery that can go with it. This is the thinking behind Bodega Wine Bar: a chic living room-like setting where wine...

Brent's Delicatessen & Restaurant Delicatessen Much to the chagrin of some New Yorkers, Brent's has been hailed as not only the best deli in California, but perhaps No. 1...

California Pizza Kitchen Kid Friendly Restaurant Known for their adventurous, hearth-baked pizzas as well as pastas and sandwiches, California Pizza Kitchen also gives special priority to children.

Camacho's Cantina Mexican Restaurant Locals and tourists alike love this lively Mexican mainstay for its spacious dining room, lively cantina scene, two outdoor dining areas and weekend mariachi performances.

Carousel Restaurant Middle Eastern Restaurant Carousel's grand Glendale location, festooned with decorative scimitars, boasts knowledgeable wait staff who cheerfully guides diners through a vast menu...

Cho Sun Galbee Korean Restaurant Amidst sleek, industrial décor, well-dressed diners grill perfectly marinated meats at their tables while staff in sharp suits and hanbok (traditional Korean dress)...

The Counter Burger The Counter's contemporary variation on the classic burger joint begins with the clipboard they greet you with.

Daily Grill Business Lunch Daily Grill got its start here in Los Angeles (Brentwood, in 1987), and these casual yet classy eateries seem tailor-made for today's Angeleno business diner.

Daphne's California Greek Mediterranean Restaurant Known until recently as Daphne's Greek Café, this forward-thinking fast and casual chain has changed more than just its name.

Gingergrass Vietnamese Food Hipsters and families mingle amid its quietly exotic décor to relish tender meats, primo seafood, just-so noodles, and spot-on soups and salads.

Grilled Cheese Truck Food Truck The Grilled Cheese Truck was one of the first food trucks to cruise the streets of L.A. and is certainly one of the best and most popular.

IHOP Breakfast/Brunch Variety and value at breakfast and brunch have made International House of Pancakes an American staple.

Inn at the 7th Ray Romantic Restaurant Nestled in an idyllic nook in Topanga, the Inn's serene setting and close-to-nature menus set a uniquely caring tone.

Katsu-ya Sushi Pairing the prodigious talents of Master Chef Katsu-ya Uechi and Parisian design impresario Philippe Starck (famed for everything from interior design...

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Donut Shop Krispy Kreme didn't arrive in California until 1999, but its doughy, sugar-brushed indulgence of its Original Glazed doughnut, made it an international icon...

Maria's Italian Kitchen Italian Restaurant Maria's treats guests like old friends, serving them home-style Italian feasts with rare grace and charm.

McCormick & Schmicks Seafood Restuarant Seafood Restaurant A double Readers' Choice winner this year (also scooping the Happy Hour award), McCormick & Schmick's is nearly...

McCormick & Schmicks Seafood Restuarant Happy Hour A double Readers' Choice winner this year (also scooping the Happy Hour award), McCormick & Schmick's is...

Pizzeria Mozza Pizzeria Not to be confused with Osteria Mozza next door, this quietly upscale establishment bakes just-right crusts and adds...

Natalee Thai Thai Restaurant Natalee combines authentic Thai fare, striking contemporary décor and unhurried ambiance to memorable effect.

Nyala Ethiopian Restaurant Ethiopian Restaurant Earth tones, tribal art and African music set the scene at this Little Ethiopia mainstay.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro Chinese Restaurant The award-winning architecture of their distinctively elegant restaurants sets the tone for Chinese-American...

Pink's Hot Dog Stand The seemingly perpetual line of hungry diners snaking around Pink's appropriately-colored Hollywood stand is testament...

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Ruth's chefs sear huge USDA prime steaks - everything from juicy ribeye to full-flavored T-bone - at 1,800 degrees...

Souplantation Buffet With more than 50 super-fresh ingredients on their salad bar buffet, plus handcrafted soups, original-recipe hot pastas, made-from-scratch muffins and more...

Starbucks Coffee House Starbucks has actively sought to recapture the magic that made it all but a byword for "coffee" in the first place. And it worked.

Porto's Bakery Bakery Founder Rosa Porto may have retired, but her motto, "Quality is the number one ingredient in everything we do," remains integral to her family business.

Ritz Restaurant & Garden Fine Dining With award-winning cuisine and famously gracious service, The Ritz offers a European-style, "old money" dining experience rarely found on the West Coast.

Romanov Restaurant Russian Restaurant With décor inspired by the Tsar's Winter Palace, Romanov offers an indulgent night of Russian feasting and fun.

Ruby's Diner Diner/Family Restaurant Ruby's exquisite albacore salad sandwich, crammed with fresh tuna on perfectly paired, grilled-just-right wheat bread, personifies the close attention to detail...

Sweet Lady Jane Dessert Shop It's all here for the cultured sweet tooth: heavenly red velvet cake, creamy tiramisu, berry-laden English trifle and pies made with more than eight cups of real fruit.

Taix French Restaurant This effortlessly old-school eatery opened in 1927 and has been at its current Echo Park location since 1962.

Veggie Grill Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant Veggie Grill represents the very best of contemporary, fast-casual meat-free cuisine. One meal here confirms that veggie cuisine can be flavorful and fun.

Wienerschnitzel Fast Food Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Wienerschnitzel serves unpretentious, affordable American comfort food beloved by kids and grown-up kids alike.

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill Bar-B-Que Wood Ranch slow-roasts its barbecue meats overnight before finishing them over a mesquite fire in their celebrated sauce.

Ye Olde King's Head Pub If you're typically English, and cynical about "British-style" pubs stateside, Ye Olde King's Head will have you feeling downright nostalgic for the old country.

Zankou Chicken Armenian Restaurant The Iskenderian family opened the first Zankou Chicken at Sunset and Normandie in Hollywood in 1983.