The Dining Guide to Highland Park

Following their original stand in Chinatown, Burgerlords expanded to a window at the Hi Hat on York in 2017, then closed it in May of the following year. In March 2019, they took over the former Good Girl Dinette space with a glass-fronted retro design and their signature single and double burgers. The menu also includes veggie-friendly items like the popular Eastern Bacon Cheeseburger, vegan milkshakes, tofu nuggets, and a vegan Caesar salad.

Cafe Birdie offers a warm ambiance, seasonal food menu, and eclectic craft cocktail menu. Art Deco finishes put the polish on exposed wood and concrete with a colorful mix of tile and wallpaper. The menu is mostly small plates and meant for sharing - perfect for a great time out with family and friends.

Known as one of the best donut shops in Los Angeles, Highland Park is all the better for having Donut Friend on York Boulevard. Donuts are made to-order, with signature varieties, limited edition versions, and all around entertaining punny band names to match each impeccably delicious fried circle of dough.

It’s not often when the tenure of a restaurant reaches - let alone exceeds - 20 years, but the family-run El Huarache Azteca qualifies as one of those Highland Park gems. They’re open from breakfast through dinner, with huevos dishes and chilaquiles (dried tortilla strips in tomato sauce and cheese), antojitos (street food), fajitas and enchiladas. But you’d be remiss if someone in your party didn’t get the house specialty: the huarache is a tasty dish made with a fried masa dough base and topped with salsa, meat, cheese, and other ingredients.

Located on York Boulevard, Jane serves up delicious breakfast until 3 p.m. daily (except Mondays) in a charming yellow Craftsman home with a delightful brick patio. Choose from classic breakfast dishes, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salads, pastas and rice bowls. Generous portions, a bustling atmosphere and friendly service are all capped off with a variety of Four Barrel coffee brews available.

The menu alone at Kitchen Mouse is reason for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diners to rejoice. The creatively flavorful weekday breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner options include toasts, pancakes, tacos, bowls, sandwiches, and more. Eggs are also on the menu as a welcome exception (plus the organic milk in the coffee menu) to the otherwise vegan restaurant. With a play area inside, the cozy restaurant is also family- and kid-friendly.

Homestyle Mexican is the specialty at La Fuente Restaurant, with friendly, attentive service and generous portions. Their salsas are first rate and a pleasure to dress your chilaquiles, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more. Go as early as 8 a.m. for breakfast, or as late as 8 p.m. for dinner. Cash only.

La Estrella Taco Truck at York and Avenue 54 is a Highland Park landmark, known for flavorful asada and al pastor meats housed in double tortilla tacos. You won’t find chicken tacos here, either. Their salsas pop, and with each taco priced less than $1.50, you can always eat like a king.

This fantastic Italian restaurant by Chef Andre Guerrero, a native of Northeast L.A., is great for dinner and weekend brunch. Though pastas like the Puttanesca reign supreme, there are plenty of other delicious must-gets like meatballs (also available in a sub), a wide variety of pizzas, salads and other vegetable dishes, and main dishes like the pork chop and short ribs. The price points are reasonable and the atmosphere is relaxed but chic, making Maximiliano a great destination to drop-in for a bite to eat.

Tacos and burritos are just two of the items on the huge menu at Metro Balderas, an authentic, non-descript joint with a brightly hued interior. The restaurant is named after a busy subway stop in Mexico City. Also on order are pambazo tortas, huaraches, sopes, gorditas, quesadillas and more. Pork enthusiasts and adventure seekers can get cuts of mixed pork for maximum bovine tastiness. Metro Balderas is real gem - with a parking lot in the back, to boot.

Wine pro Randy Clement and chef Matt Molina were hired two days apart at Campanile, L.A.’s late, great bastion for Cal-Italian cuisine. Years later, they’re re-teamed with mentor Nancy Silverton (now of Mozza fame) on Triple Beam Pizza in Highland Park. Silverton wanted to serve Roman-style pizza for years, and finally got the chance with her long-time colleagues. Long and lean slabs bake in a four-deck Polin gas oven, resulting in crispy crusts with good chew. Pizza ($0.95 to $1.50 per ounce) is cut and weighed to order. Cartoon hands over the counter instruct customers to “Show Us How Much Pizza You’d Like” ranging from I’m Hungry (3-5 oz.) to I’m Very Hungry (6-8 oz.) and I’m Really Hungry (9 oz.). Pizzas are made using non-GMO flour, local DiStefano mozzarella, and organic Dinapoli tomatoes. In addition to classic Margherita, you’ll find combos like wild nettles with mozzarella, Fontina, and borage flowers; and crumbled sausage with mozzarella, spicy farm greens, onion, panna, and fennel pollen. Clement and wife/partner April Langford also run Highland Park Wine next door.