Cover Ben Hundreds’s first foray into dining, The Benjamin in Los Angeles (Photo: The Benjamin Hollywood)
Ben Hundreds’s first foray into dining, The Benjamin in Los Angeles (Photo: The Benjamin Hollywood)
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From burgers to brisket, the co-founder of The Hundreds reveals his top spots in Los Angeles
In a city like Los Angeles, where culinary trends come and go faster than traffic on the 405, knowing where to eat takes more than a Yelp scroll. Ben Shennasafar, also known as Ben Hundreds, co-founder of the streetwear label The Hundreds and longtime food obsessive, has spent years documenting the city’s most interesting tables. His picks reflect an insider’s understanding of how LA eats: with edge, with purpose and always with flavour. These eight restaurants, according to Ben Hundreds, define how to dine well in Los Angeles right now.
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1. The Benjamin
Ben Hundreds’s first foray into dining, The Benjamin sits in a restored Art Deco building on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. The 58-seat restaurant blends Old Hollywood polish with a menu of American comfort dishes by chef Johnny Cirelle, formerly of Spago and Bestia. Highlights include a wagyu strip steak, shrimp cocktail and the signature Benjamin Burger. Cocktails are handled by Nathan Oliver, while staff uniforms nod to Ben’s streetwear roots with custom jackets from The Hundreds.
“First and foremost, my restaurant is a must for anyone visiting LA. Old school Hollywood vibe, American dishes with an elevated touch, classic cocktails done right and a playlist that’s perfect for a great night out. The best burger and martini in town,” says Ben Hundreds.
2. Dunsmoor
Located in Glassell Park, Dunsmoor is the kind of place that quietly builds a following through sheer consistency. The wood-fired cooking draws from Southern heritage, but it doesn’t fall into nostalgia. Think cornbread made with heirloom grains, duck glazed with sorghum and an ever-changing lineup of seasonal vegetables. Ben Hundreds praises it for its restraint—nothing is over-styled or over-seasoned.
“The room has a beautiful orange glow from the wood-burning hearth, and the food is comforting like a big hug. The rib-eye steak might be the best in LA, the cornbread is legendary and Aunt Emmy’s pork and green chilli stew is my favourite thing on the menu.”
3. Kato
Once a humble strip-mall secret, Kato has evolved into one of Los Angeles’s most forward-thinking tasting menu experiences. Chef Jon Yao fuses Taiwanese heritage with Californian produce, resulting in combinations that feel both personal and precise. Ben Hundreds notes that it captures a uniquely LA spirit: refined but never stiff, surprising without being alienating.
“Chef Jon Yao uses Kato as his canvas to paint bite after incredible bite at his Taiwanese American fine dining establishment. The food is on another level, the cocktail programme is exceptional, and the wine list rivals some of the best in the world.”
4. Bavel
The team behind Bestia took Middle Eastern cooking and gave it scale. Bavel in the Arts District serves some of the city’s most confident large-format plates: lamb neck shawarma, grilled prawns with harissa, house-made pita still puffed with oven heat. For Ben Hundreds, it’s proof that ambition and authenticity aren’t mutually exclusive.
“This restaurant, to me, is perfection. Middle Eastern food at its finest. It’s always packed and full of great energy. The lamb neck shawarma is one of the most iconic dishes in Los Angeles, the farm cheese is one of the best dips and whatever you do, don’t skip dessert!”
5. Moo’s Craft Barbecue
Barbecue in LA has often been more of a treat than a tradition, but Moo’s changes that. Started as a backyard operation by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, it’s now a proper destination in Lincoln Heights. The brisket holds its own against anything in Austin, while smoked pork belly burnt ends win over sceptics. Ben Hundreds calls it one of the most essential new-school Los Angeles restaurants.
“The best barbecue outside of Texas. The care and love Andrew and Michele Munoz put into their food really shine at Moo’s. Their burger is my favourite in Los Angeles, and is worth the drive—and worth the wait.”
6. Jon & Vinny’s
Still a mainstay on Fairfax, Jon & Vinny’s is where Ben Hundreds turns when he wants red sauce energy with West Coast ingredients. The menu reads like a love letter to both pizza and pasta: spicy fusilli, LA-style cacio e pepe, the iconic “LA Woman” pie with fresh burrata. Service is fast, the lighting is flattering and reservations are still tough, years in.
“This is my home away from home. If I had to pick one restaurant to spend all my time in, it’s Jon & Vinny’s. Their breakfast is my favourite in the city. Their pizza and pasta are some of the best in Los Angeles. Enjoy the vibe and great wine list by Helen.”
7. Funke
Chef Evan Funke’s homage to regional Italian cooking in Beverly Hills is unapologetically high-end but rarely feels stiff. Pasta is the star here, and it’s made in view of the dining room. For Ben Hundreds, Funke represents the kind of place where LA polish meets real culinary rigour.
“One of my best friends, Evan Funke opened his namesake restaurant a couple years ago, and it’s become the standard for pasta in our city. Must orders are the cacio e pepe, all’amatriciana and agnolotti. You have to start with the sfincione and end with gelati.”
8. Courage Bagels
A favourite of both fashion insiders and early risers, Courage Bagels in Virgil Village proves that the humble bagel can be art. Naturally leavened and Montreal-style, these bagels are thinner, crisper and blistered to perfection. Toppings are minimal and market-driven—heirloom tomatoes, house-cured fish, a smear of labneh. Ben Hundreds puts it simply: it’s the best bagel in Los Angeles, full stop.
“Did you know the best bagels are from a small shop in Los Angeles? Well, now you do. Courage Bagels is so good, it’s worth driving to, fighting for parking and waiting in the long line. I always order a ‘Hottie’ and crush it while I wait for my food.”
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Words: Chonx Tibajia
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Coco Marett is a writer and editor who grew up between Hong Kong and Melbourne. She currently heads the travel section for Tatler Asia, and manages the Tatler Travel account on Instagram. She is known for her features on unique, under-the-radar properties and destinations. She's also known for her in-depth interviews that paint a refreshingly candid portrait of influential figures across various industries —from artists to political figures, CEOs to celebrity chefs. Follow her on Instagram @cocomarett
