At Secret Los Angeles, we’re a team of proud and passionate Angelenos who love discovering the best of what the city has to offer—even throughout the county! From checking out the newest openings to discovering those perfect hole-in-the-walls, we’re on an endless journey to bring you the best insider tips, plans, and inspiration in Los Angeles. And now, we’re making it a whole lot easier for you to do the same!
We’re launching a new project and leaving our mark on every corner of the city. From family-owned restaurants to beloved gift shops, we’re giving our Secret LA stamp of approval on all our favorite spots that deserve your support!
So when you’re on your next outing around town, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for those beautiful bright green stickers decorating business window fronts. If you spot our Secret LA stamp of approval you’ll be sure to know that it’s your next must-visit destination.
🍴Eat
1. Café Sheera
This beloved woman-owned spot is a Secret LA Team favorite! Trust us, this won’t be just an ordinary stop for coffee. As soon as you walk through the doors and take in their floral decor, you’ll forget you’re in the city, and find yourself in a world where where East and West meet. Café Sheera specializes in authentic Mediterranean sweets, teas, and coffee that are imported from overseas. In fact, Café Sheera is one of the only coffee shops in Los Angeles to offer authentic Arabic coffee that’s brewed directly on sand.
📍Location: 443 N Bedford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
2. Soul Food Shack
If you’re looking for a hearty meal any time of the day, Soul Food Shack has you covered. From breakfast to dinner, they serve up food that will satisfy any craving. Our favorites are their red velvet waffles with a side of their juicy and tender smothered fried chicken.
📍Location: 128 N Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301
3. Burrito Break
Burrito Break offers affordable and sustainable burritos, salads, and soup made fresh daily. The sister-duo got their recipes from their mother and are inspired by their Mexican roots. For how delicious their food is, Claudia and Laura’s low prices are often met with surprise―and delight! These sisters share that it’s important for them to keep their prices low and keep hard-working Angelenos fed.
📍Location: St Vincent Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90014
4. Burrata House
Forget that plane ticket to Italy. Burrata House is serving up delicious Italian food sourced directly from the motherland while also using locally grown ingredients. Their pasta, sandwiches, and salads are made fresh as you order. Make sure to finish off your meal with their homemade tiramisu.
📍Location: 161 S Crescent Heights Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
5. Sweet Red Peach
K always had a passion for cooking and baking. She often dreamed of having her own bakery, and in 2000, her dream came true. She joined forces with her brother, and together they opened Sweet Red Beach. This family-owned shop offers an incredible array of desserts for every special occasion, with the goal to make people happy. If you’re not in love with your sweets, she offers a money back guarantee—but in 22 years, she’s never had to honor it. Expect a long line, because each bite of Sweet Red Peach’s desserts is worth every penny!
📍Location: 1035 S Prairie Ave #2, Inglewood, CA 90301
6. For The Win
If creating a smashburger was a form of art, then For The Win mastered it. Their signature smashburger wasn’t created over night. All the ingredients were tested until they found the ultimate ground beef blends, with the perfect buns and sauce recipes. When you bite into their burger, you’ll know it to be true.
📍Location: Hollywood: 6221 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles CA 90028
7. Chimmelier
Chimmelier is a Secret LA favorite, and they’re serving up some of the best Korean fried chicken sandwiches in town. Each bite of their KFC Sando is full of their crunchy perfectly-dusted fried chicken, dashi mayo, fresh perilla leaf, flavorful spicy pickled slaw, Oiji, and your choice of sauce. You can visit their physical location below, or check them out at Smorgasburg every Sunday!
📍Location: 2500 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057
8. Doña Bibi’s
Doña Bibi’s has been serving up Honduran food since 1997. Honduran immigrant, traditional cook and Latinx activist Doña Bibi opened up her place over 20 years ago, and now Maynor Sandoval upholds her legacy. This place is rich in history and food! Whether you’re having their tradition Central American breakfast known as Desayuno Catracho or their Pescado Lago De Yojoa which is a freshly whole fried fish along with a side of fried green bananas and a bed of cabbage—you’ll surely leave this place full and satisfied! Get their full menu here.
📍 Location: 2400 W 7th St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90057
9. Birria X Godz
This woman-owned spot is serving up some mouth-watering eats! Ashley has always had a passion for food. Being a Latina raised in Los Angeles, she grew up with and was exposed to different cultures and cuisines. That’s where her passion for cooking truly blossomed and how Birria x Godz was born. With the help of her siblings, her family-owned business offers juicy birria tacos, cheesy birria quesadillas, potato tacos, and flavorful birria ramen. Driven by her close-knit family and recurring patrons, her food is always served with love and the freshest of ingredients.
📍 You can find Birria x Godz every Saturday at Verdugo bar. Check out their other pop-up locations and updated schedule on Instagram.
10. Hart House
Contrary to popular belief, becoming vegan doesn’t mean you say goodbye to your favorite foods. At Hart House, you can satisfy your cravings with their 100 percent plant-based menu, featuring burgers, sandwiches, nuggets, fries, salads, shakes, and more! All food served by Hart House is guaranteed to be completely free of any preservatives, corn syrup, antibiotics, hormones, and artificial colors. Whether you’re plant-based or not—their lineup of foods is seriously delicious!
📍 8901 S Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045
📍 602 W Huntington Dr. Monrovia, CA 91016
11. Karibbean Cuisine
Chef Tia Ilonka Garcia is serving up Angelenos authentic Dominican food and spreading her beautiful culture across Los Angeles with her food truck known as Karibbean Cuisine. One bite of her Tres Golpes plate featuring plátanos, queso frito, flavorful salami, and a fried egg—you’ll feel like you’re transported straight to the Caribbean. Finish off with her sweet coconut cake, and guaranteed you’ll be craving her food for months to come!
Location: 1852 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles
Schedule: Check out Karibbean Cuisine’s Instagram here for their updated schedules and locations!
12. Veggie Y Que
Years ago, Laura made the powerful decision to go vegan. One hesitation that always stopped her from changing her lifestyle was the love of her culture and the food she grew up with. That’s when it hit her—it was very much possible to align her eating habits and Mexican roots by creating dishes from scratch and substituting vegetables in her favorite dishes. This is how Veggie Y Que was born. Her mission is to serve accessible and delicious authentic Mexican food—that just happens to be vegan. Trust us, just one bite of her nopales & cheese enchiladas or flavorful al pastor tacos (marinated soy protein in guajillo sauce and pineapple)—will send you on a delicious life-changing journey in more ways than one.
Location: Pop-up, please visit Veggie Y Que Instagram for locations.
13. Matte Black
Location: 8500 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 9006914. Queen Violet
We have another WeHo spot on our list! Queen Violet is an Asian-owned Thai Fusion restaurant that offers a gorgeous floral retreat from the city—and yes their food is just as good as the scenery. Their Magical Noodles that change from blue to purple is a local favorite and must have.
Location: 8543 Santa Monica Blvd Suite 5, West Hollywood, CA 90069
15. Pink & Boujee
This definitely isn’t your basic taco spot. It’s even in the name! Pink & Boujee is an immersively pink taqueria that offers incredibly unique pink tacos with no artificial colors or ingredients. One bite into their asada taco will have you feeling satisfied and fabolous!
📍 Location: 1908 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
16. Sunbliss Cafe
Start your morning off on the right foot with Sunbliss Cafe. This woman-owned spot is ranked #6 in the United States for top places, but more importantly, it’s Secret L.A. approved! Every drink on the menu is recipe made with real local ingredients like syrups made from scratch and local Anaheim honey. Whatever you are craving, you’ll surely leave this cafe with an extra pep in your step.
📍 Location: 8320 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
17. Seoulmates
18. Pitchoun Bakery
Pitchoun is family-owned French bakery found in Downtown Los Angeles. Every day, folks can find artisanal bread, home-made pastries, and delectable cakes. That’s not all though! They also offer fresh salads, sandwiches, and warm meals. Everything is made with love and family recipes — using only highest quality ingredients. No need to travel to have an authentic French bakery experience!
📍 Location: 545 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
19. Azabu
Azabu brings Hollywood-worthy dining to uptown Whittier with their unforgettable sushi and cocktail experience — all done with extremely reasonable prices. Whether you’re a sushi lover or just love trying new things, Chef Chalo Martinez will surely blow your mind with his evolving flavorful approach to sushi. Even their Japanese whiskey old fashion was an experience, and one of the best we have ever tried. Owners Mishelle Leblanc and Jason Moreno, along with General Manager Jason Mosley, have all worked hard together to create an environment where you feel spoiled and welcomed. If you go, ask for Patricio Gomez to serve you for an extra special experience. (But of course, everyone there is great!) Plus, if you’re lucky you’ll get to drink some sake on the house.
📍 Location: 13119 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90601
20. Arroz & Fun/ Cipota Coffee
Cipota Coffee is a Salvadoran and woman-owned business near and dear to the heart of its creator, inspired by the warmth and love of Central American coffee shared with her by her roots and Salvadoran parents. You can grab a cup of her coffee at Arroz&Fun — a restaurant/cafe serving up Chinese and Salvadoran dishes. Each bite and sip is a delicious dose of culture and nostalgia that will surely warm your soul.
📍Location: 1822 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031
21. Secret Pizza
Craving a taste of the Big Apple in the City of Angels? Look no further! Secret Pizza is revolutionizing the L.A. food scene with their authentic East Coast-style slices.
📍Location: 3501 Monterey Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90032
22. Homegirl Café
Homegirl Café is part of Homeboy Industries, which provides a safe space and hands-on job training for those formerly incarcerated. Homegirl Café reminds the clients/staff that community is everything, and we don’t have to go through our worst days alone. You can support them and this incredible cause just by visiting Homegirl Café. As you walk through those doors, you’ll be welcomed with warm words and even warmer coffee. We highly recommend trying their pastries which are baked fresh daily! Plus, nothing is more filling than knowing you’re supporting a powerful cause.
📍Location: Homegirl Café, 130 Bruno St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
23. All Flavor No Grease
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with the mouthwatering Mexican dishes from All Flavor No Grease! Chef Ocho is serving up perfectly grilled quesadillas to crave-worthy tacos and burritos that draw lines across Los Angeles. His goal is to draw in community through food and it’s safe to say, he’s doing that!
📍Location: The AFNG Food Truck schedule can be found on their Instagram here
🛍️ Shop
24. Open Market
Raise your glasses, wine enthusiasts! Open Market is a shop that takes you on a world tour to discover the most exquisite gems in the world of wines, sojus, sakes, and beers! With an unwavering dedication to independent producers, their shop has worked meticulously to curate a specialized selection that will tantalize your taste buds and transport you to different corners of the world.
📍Location: 3339 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010
25. Sara’s Market
Sara and Steven Valdez created this incredible market, known as Sara’s Market, to serve the community and to offer a place where small businesses can sell their products. From locally made ice cream to handmade custom nails, they’ve got you covered! Follow them here.
📍Location: 3455 City Terrace Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90063
26. Local Fixture
This charming coffee bar and gift shop seriously has it all. From curated knick-knacks that make the perfect gifts, to seasonal drinks served hot and cold, to an outdoor patio full of plants–there’s certainly something for everyone at Local Fixture.
📍Location: 6728 Bright Ave, Whittier, CA 90601
27. Fatty Mart
Fatty Mart is a new convenience store that is definitely changing the mega-mart game. They offer local dine-in, grab & go food, artisanal pizza, authentic asian snacks, and so much more goods highlighting the best of L.A.’s culture. It’s the ultimate convenience without compromise!
📍Location: 12210 Venice Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066
28. House of Intuition
House of Intuition is a queer-owned shop where healers, wiccans, astrology lovers — and even those just curious about spirituality — can go to find all their metaphysical needs. Offering everything from candles to crystals and tarot card readings — they have everything you’ll need for your spiritual journey to feel empowered. Come one, come all!
📍Location: 7449 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
29. Bodega
Bodega is a gem hidden in plain site. Found at ROW DTLA, Bodega started off as a concept fusing art, fashion, design and counterculture together. Today, the still stick by their roots and offer a space where you can find footwear, fashion, and art alk in once place.
📍Location: 1320 E. 7th St. Suite 150 (ROW DTLA) , Los Angeles CA
🌟 Experiences
30. Pot Studio
Pot Studio is a space created by the community for the community. They offer an incredible space with creatives and artists in mind by providing pottery scholarships, sliding scale classes, and even free classes monthly for all levels. You can really let your creative juices flow by making tazas, vases, bowls — and even unique sex pots. Their goal is to make the art of pottery accessible to everyone and anyone.
Be sure to use code 6YEARSOFPOT at check out for $15 off wheel throwing and sculpting classes!
31. Remainders
Remainders is a thrift store with a powerful mission towards sustainability with all things arts and crafts. From vintage fabrices to one-of-a-kind craft accessories, this eco-friendly haven promises an unforgettable shopping experience that will definitely bring out your creative side. They also offer a ton of incredible classes for folks looking to exercise that creative muscle!
📍Location: 787 East Washington Blvd, Ste 101 Pasadena, CA 91104
32. Tansy
Tansy is a black-owned business and your ultimate destination for all things home decor and plant magic. From handcrafted artisan goods to stunning greenery, they’ve got everything you need to elevate your space.
📍Location: 2120 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506