Los Angeles is filled with delicious dining options. And now two local L.A. spots have just been named among the best California restaurants for dining, according to the latest New York Times Best Restaurant List for 2024. The two restaurants to receive these prestigious accolades were Camélia and Azizam. Camélia is a French Japanese bistro based in downtown Los Angeles, and Azizam is an Iranian restaurant located in Silver Lake.
California’s Fine Dining
Five California restaurants in total made it to the recently released annual best restaurants list. In addition to L.A.’s two fine dining establishments, San Francisco and Alameda also made the cut. All five California restaurants were new to the list.
Camélia
This upscale French Japanese bistro located in the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles. Camélia combines the refined elegance of French cooking techniques with Japanese influence and ingredients. This unique approach results in delectable dishes, such as:
- Oysters on the half shell with ponzu mignonette and yuzu cocktail sauce
- Croque Madame of ham katsu, gruyère, mornay sauce, Estevan’s shokupan, and cornichons
- Duck frites, roasted carrots, brussels sprouts, béarnaise, and coriander yuzu shichimi
- Beef cheek, red wine sauce, bok choy, creamed pearl onions, and kizami wasabi
Reservations open 21 days in advance, but walk-ins are always welcome as well. Plus, bar seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
📍 Location: 1850 Industrial St. Los Angeles, CA
Azizam
This Iranian eatery based in Silver Lake proudly proclaims that they serve “quality Persian food.” Azizam makes two different types of fresh bread made in-house daily – barberi, a house-leavened flatbread sesame and shirmal, nigella and a sweet saffron milk bread. Plus, they offer house-made shrubs with crisp and refreshing flavor combinations like shaken date and tamarind shrub. In addition to the delicious house-made bread and shrubs, this Persian spot serves tasty dishes you won’t find anywhere else, such as:
- Mazeh plate – small cold dishes with fresh bread
- Ash-e-jo – a hearty soup of barley, beans, and Bmixed grain with fermented whey, mint oil, and fried onions
- Beef tongue sandwich – “zaban” with tomato, onion, pickles, and herbs barbari bread
- Kofteh tabrizi – braised beef and rice meatball stuffed with dried stone fruit and walnut
- Sholezard – saffron rice pudding with cinnamon, almond, and coconut
No reservations are required at Azizam. Diners are accommodated on a first come, first served basis.
📍 Location: 2943 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA