Eating in an ad hoc restaurant in some stranger’s backyard is one of the most “only-in-L.A.” experiences you can have. Whether you live here or are just visiting, it’s absolutely thrilling to partake in the hospitality offered by a nondescript house fronting a full-scale food service operation specializing in a family recipe or regional classic.
These back-and-front yard food operations can be found in almost every block of Los Angeles, helping further distinguish it as an objective contender for the most exciting food city in the world. Working quietly below the buzz of our heavy-hitting brick-and-mortar restaurants, streetside taco stands, and legions of street food vendors, these backyard restaurants are also the most low-key food establishments in L.A., typically spread through word of mouth long before they’re exposed by food writers.
These hidden culinary treasures are rare. Locating them can feel like a treasure hunt, as you follow handpainted signage dotting a neighborhood or approaching a front door you silently pray is connected to the right address.