Los Angeles is a city defined as much by its endless concrete sprawl as by the dazzling, multi-ethnic mosaic of its neighborhoods. Filming No Reservations in 2007, the mission was clear: aggressively bypass the velvet ropes, juice bars, and superficial Hollywood clichés to find the real, working-class soul of L.A. This city is a heavy-hitting culinary powerhouse, famous for its deeply entrenched Mexican heritage, its sprawling Asian enclaves, and its historic American comfort food diners. The angle here was an unapologetic celebration of strip-mall gastronomy—the unassuming, neon-lit storefronts that hide the most intensely flavorful boat noodles, soul food, and goat tacos in the country. It was an homage to the immigrant communities that truly keep the city’s heart beating and the griddles hot. If you want to experience the vibrant, gritty, and profoundly delicious reality of Los Angeles, you have to be willing to get off the freeway and eat where the locals eat. Here is the definitive roadmap.
When Anthony Bourdain visited Los Angeles on his show No Reservations Season 3 Episode 6 (originally aired February 5th, 2007), he and his crew picked many restaurants. Here are all the addresses and the dishes showcased on No Reservations Los Angeles, all in a convenient list:
READ MORE: LOS ANGELES: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON PARTS UNKNOWN
DISH – Chicken and Waffles, and Stymie’s Choice
WHAT IS IT?
Chicken and Waffles – a dish of fried chicken with gravy and waffles with maple syrup; Stymie’s Choice – batter-fried chicken livers, eggs, grits and gravy.
WHERE IS IT?
Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles – Hollywood
1514 N Gower St
Los Angeles, CA, United States
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
Stymie’s Choice is a signature menu item of Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in west LA.
READ MORE: LOS ANGELES: ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED BY ANTHONY BOURDAIN ON THE LAYOVER
DISH – French Dip
WHAT IS IT?
Thin slices of meat in a French roll and can be topped with Swiss cheese and onions, served with a dipping broth from the meat cooking process.
WHERE IS IT?
Philippe The Original
1001 N Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA, United States
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
Philippe’s is a famous place for French dips in the downtown area of LA, and their Lamb Dip was highly recommended to Anthony Bourdain.
DISH – Goat Taco
WHAT IS IT?
Cilantro, onions, tender roasted pieces of goat and consommé on a tortilla.
WHERE IS IT?
Birrieria Chalio
3580 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA, United States
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
The specialty of the house is roasted goat, done old-style.
DISH – Khanom Tokyo – Anthony Bourdain Los Angeles
WHAT IS IT?
Thai crepe with pandan cream filling.
WHERE IS IT?
Bhan Kanom Thai
5271 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, United States
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
Bhan Kanom Thai is a Thai bakery located in New Hollywood Plaza.
DISH – Boat Noodles – Anthony Bourdain Los Angeles
WHAT IS IT?
Noodle dish originally sold on the rivers back in Thailand that consists of thin rice noodles, broth spiced with hot chili, and meat of varying textures – from tendon to liver and meatballs.
WHERE IS IT?
Sapp Coffee Shop
5183 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, United States
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
Anthony Bourdain described Sapp Coffee Shop in Thai Town in LA as “a non-descript coffee shop in the middle of a strip mall, with a C-rating from the City of Los Angeles”. Nonetheless, he was impressed with their Boat Noodles.
DISH – Burrito – Anthony Bourdain Los Angeles
WHAT IS IT?
Vegetables, meat and other ingredients wrapped in a flour tortilla following a cylindrical shape that is sealed at one end.
WHERE IS IT?
Acosta Tacos
4539 W Imperial Hwy
Lennox, CA, United States
Unfortunately, this restaurant has since closed its doors.
NO RESERVATIONS LOS ANGELES NOTES
Acosta Tacos has been reported to have already closed for good.
READ MORE: TRAVEL WITH HAND LUGGAGE ONLY: TRICKS AND TIPS
Bourdain famously entered Los Angeles with a healthy dose of New York skepticism, but he quickly realized that the city’s true magic lies in its vast, unassuming sprawl of immigrant neighborhoods. He admired the fact that in L.A., a life-changing meal is more likely to be found in a faded strip mall than in a celebrity-chef dining room. This episode is historically significant for helping to legitimize strip-mall dining to a national audience, championing the complex Thai and Mexican flavors that form the bedrock of the local diet. It proved that L.A. is arguably the most exciting ethnic food city in America. The legacy left behind is an order to ignore the billboards and follow the locals. Find a cramped table, order the spicy option, and dig in.
