The Guide to Every Top Chef-Run Restaurant in Los Angeles

This time of year ofTop Chefis wrap up this hebdomad , and even though none of the LA chefs made it to the finale ( shout outs to Phillip and Giselle ) there are tons ( and tons ) of former Cheftestants currently plating up in LA . desire to spot ‘ em in the kitchen ? Here ’s where you ’ll find them :

Nyesha Arrington,Top ChefSeason 9

eating house : LeonaChef Nyesha Arrington , whose curriculum vitae includes cook under legends like Joël Robuchon , was always cool and collected during her Erolia minutilla in Season 9 , even when she packed her knives at the disbursal of teammate ( and fellow Angeleno chef ) Dakota Weiss . Luckily the rising star chef has redeem herself big time with her new right hand - by - the - beach outpostLeona , which has awful brunch ( in earnest , the kimchi potato pancake may be one of the dear breakfast looker in LA ) as well as dinners featuring ultra - invigorated seasonal good like disgraceful cod with mustard greens .

Sang Yoon,Top ChefMastersSeason 5

eating place : Father ’s Office , Lukshon , Helms BakeryOn TCM , when he was n’t crack jokes and yelling at wait faculty , the homo best known for LA ’s most infamous Warren E. Burger was cooking up peach dish like wimp second joint Thai yellow curry with kaffir Citrus aurantifolia paired with Sofie beer – a lulu far closer to what you ’ll get hold at Lukshon , which ’s praised often for next - level Asiatic eats ( also , Yoon ’s ashen vino acumen is 2d to none ) .

Neal Fraser,Top Chef MastersSeason 5

eatery : Redbird , BLD , Fritzi Dog , FritziFraser ’s a Los Angeles aborigine who got his start working for Wolfgang Puck but ’s now a legend in his own right : his restaurant , Redbirdmight be one of the most beautiful spaces in all of Los Angeles . progress in the historic St. Vibiana Cathedral , the downtown blank space boasts a retractable ceiling , and a glowing , ultra - hep taproom ; you’re able to grab the smoked wild Sus scrofa and grill dear paunch at either . Not in the humor to baller - down ? His new Arts District coffeehouse , Fritzi , has killer beefburger at lunch .

Marcel Vigneron,Top ChefSeason 2, Season 8 (All-Stars)

Restaurants : WolfBudding adept Chef Marcel Vigneron was experience just as much for his centre rolls and arrogance as he was for his close perfect peach with molecular gastronomical twists . The season two base runner - up has been pretty of a man of mystery since compete on the show , announcing in March the opening of his Melrose restaurantWOLF . The informal eating place filled with dark wood and flickering luminosity serve up farm - to - mesa fare exalt by the many cultural intricacies Los Angeles has to offer . From the starters grab an order of the beet , with quite a little of shave finocchio and clump of yuzu . Be sure to also try the whitened miso dark pod with dashi and wasabi greens . Then wash it all down with one of their handcraft cocktails .

Alex Eusebio,Top ChefMastersSeason 5

restaurant : Sweetsalt Food Shop , CascabelDuring his short run on TCM , the Spanish - bear , Dominican - raised Chef Alex Eusebio focused on Romance culinary art by prepare ravisher like an unusual orchis Benedict – an arepa topped with fried quail eggs and yellow cattley guava crème fraiche . He was in the end sent home for a bungled on - photographic camera appearance make creme brulee , but that did n’t block off him from serving some of the good sweets in LA at his restaurant and bakeshop , Sweetsalt Food Shop , admit Meyer gamboge cardamum cake and baked gruyere scones .

Curtis Stone,Top Chef MastersSeason 5 (Host)

Restaurant : MaudeOK , we got to cling out with the beloved Aussie one night , and opine what : dude ’s as nice as he is talented and good looking , so , kinda we hate him . But not really , because Maude is definitely one of the best restaurants in LA : he highlights a different seasonal ingredient each month , mean that each of 10 courses features a standout like artichoke or truffles – yes , even the desserts .

Michael Cimarusti,Top ChefMastersSeason 1

eating house : Connie & Ted ’s , Dock to Dish , ProvidenceMichael Cimarusti is the chef - owner of perhaps LA ’s most neat restaurant , Providence , where he made his name ( and garnered two of LA ’s extremely uncommon Michelin stars ) with his fish - focalize culinary art . But his more - casual spot , Connie & Ted ’s , call after his grandparents , ( awww ) , has become every bit pop : with cautiously sourced seafood that is prepared just , it ’s as if the fisherman at bosom lift out out a bucket of the sea and brought it to West Hollywood . And their brunch ? Bonisimo .

Michael Voltaggio,Top ChefSeason 6

restaurant : Ink . and Sack SandwichesThe Season 6 victor has become somewhat of a celebrity in the nutrient mankind , with mentions in boob tube shows , to a superstar - studded clientele and a quickly expanding restaurant group / before long to be empire . Voltaggio quietly openedink.sack(now just called Sack Sandwiches ) shortly after vie onTop Chef , serving his edition of classic sandwiches ; with a second just - opened sales outlet on Sunset , it ’s clear he ’s going for massive expansion going onwards . And his finer - dining smear , Ink . , is one of the most frontward - think restaurants in LA , with bell pepper - spiced devilfish in it ’s own ink and a Middle Eastern - style poutine just a duet of the many standout dishes .

Ilan Hall,Top ChefSeason 2

eating place : Ramen HoodFan favorite Ilan Hall beat out violent competition in Season 2 , taking home the title of respect , and setting the ginmill for seasons to fare . The then-24 year - sometime ’s background cooking in Spanish kitchen allowed him to create top notch dishes for the show like lobster , shrimp & mushroom paella – but his current focus in LA is totally left - field : fashion plate ’s doing vegan ramen . Seriously . His lately opened ramen shop , Ramen Hood , fuses molecular gastronomy proficiency with plenty of flavor , in hopes of educating eaters on how delicious vegan food can be . Using high - fatness sunflower seed as the groundwork for his miso broth , it ’s topped with bean plant sprouts , scallion , and king oyster mushrooms mimickingchashupork slice , and a vegan egg made of vegetable protein and soymilk and the broccoli with soya chili glaze . Guess what ? It ’s glorious .

Ludo Lefebvre,Top ChefMastersSeason 1

restaurant : Trois Familia , Trois Mec , Petit TroisThough it was the igneous chef ’s missing tomatoes and upscale pig ’s ear taco that ultimately sent him home early on , Ludo Lefebvre has long been celebrated for open up two of LA ’s most loved restaurants – the tasting - menu - only Trois Mec and its Parisian next door neighbor Petit Trois . Ludo ’s third endeavor , Trois Familia , is brunch - only ease food in a Silver Lake airstrip shopping center , where diners can chow down hasheesh brownish chilaquiles , churro french goner , and chicken Milanesa with Maggi ranch .

Dakota Weiss,Top ChefSeason 9

Restaurants : EstrellaWatching Dakota Weiss in any episode of Season 9 , it was easy to see that she ’s a sensitive mortal with a love of dangly earrings and black eyeliner , but her just - openedEstrellain West Hollywood is like hanging out at a low - samara haute hippie gather in the Hollywood Hills , or the expensive part of Venice , being dish out treats like ahi tuna niçoise and rose and pomegranate panna cotta … that ’s what it feels like to dine at Estrella . The one-half indoor , half outdoor space afford off an atrium feel – comfy seating , shrubbery , a vivacious brunch crowd , and dishes of honey , truffle , and fresh greens glide by . perch on couches feeder dig into signature dishes like “ The Rolling Stone , ” a bacon - twine aguacate with an egg and queso fresco inside . Be certain to also get an order of Chai Camellia sinensis Gallic goner ( ! ! ! ) for the table .

Katsuji Tanabe,Top ChefSeason 12

Restaurants : MexikosherAtMexikosher , Tanabe give cosher food more sapidity than antecedently thought possible , permit a community of interests of feeder to enjoy the culinary art of Mexico , which LA holds so darling . take hold of an order of nachos , tacos , or a burrito with the eating house ’s take on carnitas , which call for slow - cooked beef cattle and duck’s egg confit . And the off - the - menu Warren E. Burger , like the double patty Big Makosher , might be one of well - retain - secrets in LA .

Susan Feniger,Top Chef MastersSeason 2

Restaurants : Mud Hen Tavern , Border GrillAlways bringing positive vibes to the kitchen , Susan disappointed a particular bride in episode five , but she did n’t mind the loss . Her and Mary Sue Milliken ’s long standing restaurantBorder Grill , cooks up madly flavorful ravisher exhort by the culinary art of Oaxaca and the Yucatan . Ceviches , Two Hot Tamales ’ famous skirt steak and corn , tacos , and of track , homemade tamale , are served to their loyal fanbase . Her neighborhood smirch , Mud Hen Tavern , serves updates on classic like chicken and waffle , mask as croquette , and meatball made with lamb and served with yogurt and mint chimichurri – and the dumplings from the disjoined - menu lunch window outside are among the good in town .

CJ Jacobson,Top ChefSeason 3

eatery : Girasol RestaurantCJ Jacobson , who was a big fan of Broccolini on the show , will always be remembered for being super tall , towering over the other contestants . His eating house , Girasol , place on an improbable stretch of Moorpark in Studio City , has become a neighborhood standby , thanks to cautiously - suppose out food that bests nearly everything else nearby . Jacobson – who did a stretch at internationally hero-worship Copenhagen eating house Noma – is almost always around . Ask him what ’s safe , or just go right for the Wagyu steak grilled in pine phonograph needle .

Brian Malarkey,Top ChefSeason 3

Restaurants : Herringbone , The Ivory on SunsetBrian Malarkey was known on the show for using , like , every unmarried ingredient in the kitchen . Twice . Now open in Santa Monica , his flagship restaurantHerringboneis a San Diego - born - and - beloved , date - friendly seafoodery , where you may snag an outside prat , then order 1 ) the shareable ( hahahaha , right ) , whole - fish ceviche , and 2 ) porc belly with wood - guy sunchokes ; the Ivory , his new restaurant at the Mondrian , is another fine exemplar of his farm - to - table pedigree .

Alex Reznik,Top ChefSeason 7

restaurant : Ditmas Kitchen & CocktailIf you hark back , Alex take home a liberal win for a creamy pea plant puree … that was possibly stolen , ( but probably not ) ( but maybe ) ( editing is everything ) . Reznik’sDitmas , is an ode to Judaic eats in West LA that ’s heavy on communal tables and Brooklyn - y interior details . snap up a buns at the communal , talk to Alex , and realize there ’s no way he ’d ever steal peaanything ! Then order up duck confit matzo ball soup and salmon pastrami on an everything beigel . L’Chaim !

Antonia Lofaso,Top ChefSeason 4 and 8

Restaurants : Black Market Liquor + Scopa Italian RootsAll Antonia want during her time onTop Chef , was to be a REALLY GOOD example for her daughter/ being " The Black Hammer . " Lofaso ’s behind the Italian fare at the stunning Venice osteria , Scopa , and the pub - grub at the Valley ’s standby , Black Market . You ca n’t go wrong with any of the food at either position , but you got ta check that to get cocktails , too . Crazy - acclaimed bar - dudes Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix are her business partners / drink - makers at both spots .

Brooke Williamson,Top ChefSeason 10

Restaurants : Hudson House , Playa Provisions , The TripelBrooke Williamson was a star on Season 10 of the show , consecutive - up killing it challenge after challenge , and then freezing in the finale . We totally knew her before she got famous!Check out this sometime Thrillist interviewfrom her still - great Playa Del Rey gastropub , Tripel . That burger . And then that burger . And then beer . And then that burger . And also that Warren E. Burger . Burger .

Fabio Viviani,Top ChefSeason 5

restaurant : Firenze Osteria and Café FirenzeSo Fabio Viviani was n’t the easiest to understand . It would have been super helpful to have subtitles for him – even when he was speaking English . Viviani splits his clip between NoHo’sFirenze Osteriaand Moorpark’sCafé Firenze , both of which focalize on – SURPRISE ! ! – classic , home - flair Italian food . Viviani is as likable in individual as he was on TV . He ’ll kiss your mamma on the cheek , he ’ll pour your day of the month ’s olive oil for her , and he ’ll talk you into grade extra burrata , which makes entire sense because , burrata is the good .

Phillip Frankland Lee,Top ChefSeason 13

Restaurants : The Gadarene Swine , Scratch BarThis accomplished youthful chef , who has yet to learn the art of the low brag , owns two restaurants in LA , The Gadarene SwineandScratch Bar , both of which have garnered plenty of positive praise thanks to menus that palpate personable and well thought out . The Gadarene Swine ’s Lee all veg bill of fare expend deception of the trade to ensure diners never neglect a meat – although if you do , Scratch Bar serve up up charcuterie plate copulate with California vino .

Betty Fraser,Top ChefSeason 2

Restaurants : GrubBeing super pushy , and shout out at Marcel might be what Betty Fraser is advantageously known for on the show , but in LA , she ’s have a go at it for her Hollywood understudy , Grub . The restaurant is one of those great neighborhood spots , with award - pull ahead breakfasts , and stellar sandwiches . Get literally any ballock dish and you ’re good to go ; for lunch , the tunny evaporate ’s ridiculous ; and at dinner , they ’ve get a kitschy poutine and a secret - ingredient - filled bacon burger .

Redbird restaurant in Los Angeles