Winter is almost here and as people get ready for the holidays they’re going to need some comfort food that’s going to keep them warm and content on the inside. So with that in mind we found some comfort food dishes in the area, from soups to chili and more, that are perfect for the holiday season.
Birrieria Familia Castro
6102 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood; instragram.com/birrieria_fam_castro.
Birria tacos are ubiquitous in L.A., but even in a city inundated with this delicious dish there is one place that stands out as the best in the country. How do we know that? Because Yelp named Birrieria Familia Castro as the No. 1 of the Top 100 Taco Spots in the United States for 2025, and that’s deserved because the mom and pop spot’s Quesatacos earned it that title. The tacos are made up of a crispy corn tortilla with birria and mozzarella cheese. But how is this comfort food? Because they’re served with the birria consomme on the side so customers can dip their tacos before every bite. Then, once you’re done with the tacos grab a spoon and finish the consomme like a soup.
Broad Street Oyster
23359 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; 424-644-0131, broadstreetoyster.com
Broad Street Oyster has several locations but if you’re going to get clam chowder you might as well go to one of the most famous beach cities in the country. So head out to the restaurant’s Malibu location and order the New England Style clam chowder. This is a thick bowl of chowder with chunks of clams and even bacon. It’s creamy, peppery and has a hint of smokiness. Make sure to add the oyster chips for that wonderful texture.
ALSO SEE: 9 Orange County restaurants serving peak cozy comfort food
Canter’s Deli
419 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles; 323-651-2030 or cantersdeli.com
This restaurant has been a Los Angeles landmark since 1931 and it has sold millions of matzo ball soups in its history. The deli has kept it simple and simply delicious by offering a filling bowl using a nearly 100-year-old recipe that includes noodles and can be ordered with carrots, onions, chicken, celery and in a vegetarian broth as well.
Deux Bistro
20969 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills; 747-230-4034; deuxbistrowh.com
An authentic French restaurant must serve a classic onion soup, and Deux Bistro does just that but in its own unique way since its soup is a vegetarian version made with a vegetable consommé rather than beef broth. Yet it still has that classic flavor that comes from caramelized onions and it’s topped with a roasted baguette and a melted blanket of Emmental cheese.
Guelaguetza
3014 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles; 213-427-0608; ilovemole.com
Some of Mexico’s most respected and celebrated cuisine comes from Oaxaca, which is a region that has become world famous for its indigenous dishes that date back to pre-Columbian times. And if there’s a dish that can be considered the bloodline of this culinary history it is mole. Mole is an incredibly complex sauce made by grinding dozens of ingredients like chilies, nuts, seeds, spices, and often chocolate. The end product is a savory juicy union of flavors that are typically served over chicken, pork, or beef. In L.A., one of the best known restaurants making authentic mole is Guelaguetza. Every mole dish here is worth trying so you might as well order the Festival de Moles, which is a combo of the negro, rojo, estofado and colorado mole with shredded chicken breast or pork spare ribs.
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La Pupusa Urban Eatery
1051 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles; 213-749-4573; lapupusaurbana.com
Los Angeles is home to many Salvadorean restaurants that serve dishes from the Central American country like pupusas, tamales, plantains and soups. But perhaps the best Salvadorean restaurant in the city is La Pupusa Urban Eatery, which mixes traditional foods with modern twists like its pupusa pizza, plantains with ice cream and the Salvi chorizo burger. However one of the restaurant’s best dishes is the traditional sopa de pata, which is a very filling beef and tripe stew with yucca and vegetables like cabbage and corn. The tripe is not too chewy and the stew itself is full of zesty lemony flavors. It comes with house-made tortillas and some people like to add raw chopped onions for extra flavor. Insider tip: It’s an excellent hangover soup.
Mr. Noodle
936 Broxton Ave., Los Angeles; 310-208-7808; mister-noodle.com
This place has been around for years and it’s sort of a well kept secret in the busy Westwood Village neighborhood near UCLA. So it’s easy to get a table and once you go, chances are you’ll be back for the hearty dishes that include all sorts of comfort food options like dumplings, curry and especially the soups. The star of the show is the Tom Yum chicken noodle soup. Whether it’s a cold or hot day, people consistently order this huge bowl of hot and sour soup made with chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, lime juice and fish sauce. It’s spicy, so be ready to sweat a little. It’s also very filling since it comes with big fat noodles, so one bowl is probably good for two people.
ALSO SEE: Where to find warming comfort foods in the Inland Empre
Philippe the Original
1001 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles; 213-628-3781; philippes.com
This place, which has been around for more than 100 years, is a Los Angeles icon best known for its French Dip Sandwiches. But Angelenos know that one of the best side dishes to go along with a French Dip is a cup or bowl of chili. Philippe keeps it simple and delicious with the option of a straight chili or chili with beans. Go with the straight version with cheese and onions. It’s not overwhelming and perfectly compliments the sandwiches. And if you want to go a bit more spicy, grab a yellow pepper and squeeze the juice into the chili.
Ramen Ochi
8253 Colima Road, Rowland Heights; instagram.com/ramenochica
Yuichi Ochi is an award-winning chef who just brought his celebrated Japanese-born Ramen Ochi restaurant to the San Gabriel Valley. How award-winning is it? Well, Chef Ochi has won more than 30 awards in Japan including the Dai Tsukemen Haku Ramen Champion award, which is Japan’s most prestigious ramen competition. He’s earned these awards thanks to his signature broths, which are simmered for a minimum of eight hours daily. Some of his top creations include the Triple Rich Broth, made from a blend of chicken, pork and beef; the Original Nikutama Ramen, which is a rich combination of soy sauce, chicken, pork, and beef bones served thick noodles, sautéed pork belly, onions, red onions, chives, and naruto (fishcake).
Smitty’s Grill
110 South Lake Ave., Pasadena; 626-792-9999; smittysgrill.com
Chicken pot pie is a dish that may not get as much credit as it deserves as a comfort meal. But at Smitty’s in Pasadena this classic dish is a superstar. It’s not too heavy thanks to its flaky crust that covers the tender and juicy chicken breast that’s mixed with vegetables. This is a full meal at Smitty’s and it’ll make you respect this often overlooked dish.
