5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 9 min read

Philippe The Original has served the same French dip since 1908 and racked up more than 12,000 Google reviews doing it, more than any other lunch restaurant in Los Angeles. The restaurants on this page range from a counter-order sandwich shop to Redbird's converted cathedral dining room, and every one holds a rating of 4.4 or better.

Short answer: Philippe The Original is LA's most-reviewed lunch spot at 4.6 stars across more than 12,000 Google reviews, famous for its 1908-era French dip. Maccheroni Republic (4.6, 3,141 reviews) and Redbird (4.6, 1,840 reviews) round out the top-rated names, the former a Michelin Bib Gourmand pasta spot and the latter a former cathedral turned upscale dining room.

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1. Philippe The Original
2. Bottega Louie
3. Eggslut
4. Maccheroni Republic
5. Redbird
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How LA's Top Lunch Spots Compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Philippe The Original	4.6 ★	12,259	Historic French dip	View ›
2	Bottega Louie	4.5 ★	7,786	Marble-floored Italian bakery	View ›
3	Eggslut	4.4 ★	4,745	Fast breakfast & brunch	View ›
4	Maccheroni Republic	4.6 ★	3,141	Michelin-recognized pasta	View ›
5	Redbird	4.6 ★	1,840	Weekend brunch in a converted cathedral	View ›

5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Los Angeles (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Philippe The Original

4.612,259 Google reviews

For a work lunch, Philippe The Original works because it's built for turnover: order at the cafeteria counter, carry your own tray, sit at shared communal tables, and you're eating within minutes of walking in. The trade-off is that it fills up fast right around noon, so the same speed that makes it convenient can vanish if you arrive at the peak of the midday rush.

What people praise

Order-to-table time is genuinely quick outside peak minutes
Communal tables mean you rarely wait long for a seat, even solo
Free on-site parking, a rarity downtown for a lunch break
Cheap enough for a daily habit, not just a one-off visit

Worth knowing

Counter line can stretch out the door right at noon
Communal seating isn't ideal if you need a private conversation over a client lunch

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume12,259 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency11 days ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown76% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Good for a fast solo lunch or grabbing food between meetings, less good if you need a quiet table to talk business. Aim for 11:30am or after 1pm to dodge the worst of the line.

Website +1213-628-3781 Directions

1001 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Bottega Louie

4.57,786 Google reviews

Bottega Louie is a downtown Los Angeles restaurant and patisserie inside the historic Brockman Building, serving Italian-leaning brunch, pizza and pasta alongside an elaborate macaron and dessert counter. The dining room's marble floors and open kitchen have made it as much a scene as a restaurant, and it's a lunch favorite for its fast-moving service despite the crowds.

What people praise

Standout desserts, especially the chocolate souffle and macarons
Wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes consistently praised
Fast-moving service despite consistently heavy volume
Grand, photogenic dining room and bakery counter

Worth knowing

No reservations for the bakery/cafe side, so weekend lunch can mean a wait
Limited nearby parking, mostly paid lots and garages

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume7,786 · 93rd

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown68% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A lively, photogenic lunch pick, especially for a business meal or catching up with friends near the bakery counter. Go early to beat the midday rush.

Website Book now +1213-802-1470 Directions

700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

#3🕑 Open 7 days

Eggslut

4.44,745 Google reviews

The detail that matters most for a lunch break here is the clock: Eggslut closes at 2pm, so it only works as a lunch stop if you eat early. Anyone on a standard midday break, or planning a lunch meeting past 1:30pm, will find the doors already shut. Treat it as an early-lunch or brunch option inside Grand Central Market rather than a dependable noon spot.

What people praise

Line moves fast even when it looks long, good if your break is short
Works well for an early lunch before the market gets crowded
Central food-hall location if you're combining lunch with an errand downtown

Worth knowing

Closes at 2pm, so it's off the table for a later or standard lunch hour
Parking is genuinely difficult nearby
A few reviewers found it pricier than expected for what it is

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume4,745 · 88th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown65% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Only plan a lunch here if you can get there before 1:30pm or so. For a later midday break, look elsewhere on this page.

Website Book now +1213-625-0292 Directions

317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Maccheroni Republic

4.63,141 Google reviews

Maccheroni Republic is a family-run Italian restaurant on Broadway making fresh pasta daily, and it holds Michelin Guide USA's Bib Gourmand recognition. The patio seating gives it a European feel downtown, and the kitchen turns tables quickly enough that reviewers describe getting seated for lunch even during a full house.

What people praise

Michelin Bib Gourmand recognized, with fresh pasta made daily
Generous portions at reasonable prices, per multiple reviewers
Comfortable, European-style patio seating
Fast kitchen turnaround even during busy stretches

Worth knowing

Popular at peak lunch hours, so arrive early or expect a short wait

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume3,141 · 83rd

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown75% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A standout choice for a sit-down lunch with real culinary credibility. Arrive on the earlier side to avoid the wait that builds by early afternoon.

Website Book now +1213-346-9725 Directions

332 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Redbird

4.61,840 Google reviews

Redbird is a downtown Los Angeles restaurant from chef Neal Fraser set inside a former cathedral building, serving modern American dinner nightly and weekend brunch in its dramatic open-roof dining room. It's known for events and private dining as much as its à la carte menu, and Saturday and Sunday brunch service runs from 10am to 2pm.

What people praise

Striking former-cathedral setting, especially for the open-roof main dining room
Consistent, high-quality food across more than a decade in business
Attentive, professional service even for large groups
Strong cocktail and night-cap menu

Worth knowing

Lunch/brunch is limited to Saturday and Sunday only
Higher price point than the other lunch spots on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,840 · 73rd

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown73% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for a special weekend brunch built around atmosphere as much as the food. Note it's a weekend-only lunch option, unlike the rest of this list.

Website Book now +1213-788-1191 Directions

114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other Los Angeles lunch restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.6 from 12,000 people carries more weight than a 4.6 from a few thousand. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does lunch cost in Los Angeles? (2026)

Prices vary widely by format, from a counter-order sandwich to a sit-down brunch. Based on reviewer price tags for the businesses on this page, expect the following per-person ranges:

Job	Typical price
Counter-order sandwich or egg dish	$10-$20
Sit-down Italian lunch	$20-$60
Weekend brunch at a special-occasion spot	$50-$100+

Ranges reflect the ‘Price per person’ figures reviewers reported in their Google reviews for the businesses on this page, verified August 2026. Menus and pricing change, so confirm current prices with each restaurant.

Serving all of Los Angeles

These lunch spots cluster around downtown LA, including the historic core near Union Station, Grand Central Market and Broadway. Searching for lunch near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you go

Do they take reservations, or is it walk-in only?
What are the lunch hours specifically, since some spots close early or open only on weekends?
Is parking available on site or nearby?
Is there patio or outdoor seating available?
Do they offer vegetarian or lighter options on the lunch menu?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these lunch restaurants?

We started from every lunch restaurant in Los Angeles with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which of these has the longest history?

Philippe The Original has operated since 1908 and is widely credited as the birthplace of the French dip sandwich, making it the oldest name on this list by a wide margin.

Which of these serves lunch only on weekends?

Redbird’s lunch and brunch service runs Saturday and Sunday only, from 10am to 2pm. The other restaurants on this page serve lunch daily.

The bottom line

Philippe The Original is the safe default given its scale and history, while Maccheroni Republic is worth the visit for a Michelin-recognized pasta lunch. Save Redbird for a special weekend brunch.

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