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Looking for the best bites in Los Angeles? You’re in luck because the votes are in! Today Zagat reveals its 2016 Los Angeles Restaurants results, covering more than 1,500 restaurants voted on by 8,661 avid diners. Ratings and reviews are available on Zagat.com and across Google Maps and Search to help you find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.

This year’s big winners are n/naka (Top Food), Geoffrey’s Malibu (Top Decor), Providence (Top Service), Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles (Most Popular), and Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant (Best Cheap Eats, $25 & under).

The average reported spend per person for dinner out in Los Angeles is $38.21, which is above the national average of $36.30. Angelenos eat out a lot - 5.2 times per week for a combined lunch and dinner, more than the 4.5 national average. When it comes to gratuity, Los Angeles diners leave a reported 18.5% tip, which is just below the national average of 18.9%.

What’s trending in LA this year? LA diners continue to love Japanese restaurants – three of this year’s Top 10 restaurants are Japanese: n/naka, Matsuhisa Restaurant, and Asanebo. The DTLA (Downtown LA) neighborhood is also on the rise, as evidenced by popular, high-ranking, Downtown-dwellers Bestia and Factory Kitchen. Upscale, date-night-worthy vegan cuisine is also gaining in popularity, at spots like Crossroads Kitchen and Gracias Madre.

Congratulations to this year’s winners! Visit zagat.com to search and discover this year’s full list of the Top 50 best Los Angeles Restaurants.

Posted by Charlotte Ames, Zagat

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Zagat is revealing the results of its 2015 Burger Survey. This year, 8,748 burger aficionados from around the country participated online to rate and review patty purveyors in 17 major markets.  

Unlike Zagat’s iconic restaurant surveys where users rate the Food, Decor, and Service of establishments separately, Burger Survey participants rated and reviewed establishments specifically for their burgers, providing one overall rating that takes burger flavor, quality of ingredients, and value into account.

The top-ranking burger spots in each market are as follows:

Atlanta: Illegal Food
Austin:  Hopdoddy
Chicago: Au Cheval
Dallas: Dugg Burger
Los Angeles: Pono Burger
New York City – Brooklyn/Queens*: Peter Luger Steak House
New York City - Manhattan*: Bowery Meat Company
Philadelphia: The Blue Duck
San Francisco: Wes Burger
Seattle: The Swinery
Toronto: Holy Chuck
Washington D.C.: Duke's Grocery

*For the first time this year, we divided New York City into two separate lists: “Manhattan” and “Brooklyn/Queens.”




Craigie On Main, Boston


Participants report eating burgers 3.9 times per month on average, typically getting their fix at specialty burger eateries (56%), general restaurants (25%), fast food spots (6%) diners (4%), or choosing to make them at home instead (9%).

49% of respondents say they are willing to spend between $10 – $14.99 on a burger, while 25% said they would be OK with spending $15 – $19.99. 14% of people would prefer not to spend more than $10, and a smaller 7% of folks would spend between $20 – $24.99 to get their fix. Only 5% of participants would be comfortable paying $25 or more for a patty. When asked if they’d splurge more than $25 on a “mind-blowing” burger, participants were evenly split down the middle – 50% said “yes” and 50% said “no.”

As for how participants prefer their burgers to be cooked, 43% are fans of medium-rare, followed closely by a 37% preference for medium. Medium-well lags behind at 12%, while the least popular options are tied on either end of the spectrum: 4% like it rare and another 4% ask for their patties well-done.

For a full round-up of the 17 best burger establishments nationwide (plus Toronto!), check out our feature on zagat.com.

Posted by Charlotte Ames, Zagat