Michelin is the gold standard for restaurant excellence around the world. Still, it tends to get a bad rap as awarding stuffy establishments with small portions and exorbitant prices. The Bib Gourmand title, though it comes without an official star, still adds prestige because the Michelin Guide assigns it to restaurants recognized as both delicious and affordable for the everyday diner. There are 41 Bib Gourmand restaurants in Los Angeles, and I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many of them over the past 10 years I’ve lived in the city — some of which I revisit time and time again.
No more running to McDonalds after a $90 plate of shrimp and foam, and no more making mistakes at a too-fancy sushi spot; these five restaurants give diners in Los Angeles Michelin-star quality without Michelin-star prices or snobbery. They’re not only some of my favorite Michelin-recognized establishments, but some of my favorite restaurants in the city all-around. When you want to dine out on a budget but still ball out, these are the five best Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurants to go to.
Maccheroni Republic
Maccheroni Republic serves delicious, upscale Italian food that only looks expensive. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, and one I think more people should know about. Homemade toasted ciabatta garlic bread is the perfect way to start off any meal, closely followed by some of the restaurant’s massive $13 bone marrow; it’s warm, lemony, and undoubtedly a good deal.
However, it’s all about the pasta at Maccheroni Republic, which serves hefty portions for around $25. All pasta is made in-house in a detached pastificio, a glass structure made so customers can watch hanging noodles dry as they wait for tables. The wait isn’t as long as it used to be at this no-reservations restaurant, but the food is always worth it. It’s not like some other Michelin Guide restaurants that serve you two shrimp with five individual noodles — you leave here feeling full no matter what you get…