String lights and ocean breezes give this Panamanian spot a beachy feel. It's the vibrant food that'll hook you, though.

The moment we knew we loved it: When a guy in board shorts stormed out of the bar because they didn't serve chips and salsa.

Perfect order for a big night out with friends: Surf clam ceviche, a double order of tuna yuca tostadas, baked oysters, shrimp dumplings, chicken drumsticks, and steamed kanpachi. Everyone gets their own side of coconut rice.

Camelia oozes grown-up sophistication, but this cool French-Japanese bistro never takes itself too seriously.

The moment we knew we loved it: When our umeshu martini came with a bonus carafe sidecar on ice.

Perfect order for an intimate birthday dinner: Cocktails, black sesame Parker House rolls (add the ikura), split the croque madame and spaghetti bolognese á la japonaise. If you’re hungry, add the koji-roasted chicken. Soufflé tart for dessert.

Holy Basil’s latest location is small but mighty. We’d happily eat Thai food this wild in a literal shoebox.

The moment we knew we loved it: When our server managed to fit our (way too many) small plates on the table like a game of Tetris.

Perfect order for a best friend trio: Nam tok beef tataki, wild shrimp aguachile, and mushroom satay for starters, then pad see ew, shrimp curry, wagyu gra pow, and the crispy pork belly.

The barebones Carnal pushes traditional Oaxacan dishes into uncharted territory—and has a blast doing it.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we saw salsa-filled molcajetes in the kitchen big enough to crush a pumpkin.

Perfect order for a casual dinner for two: When we saw salsa-filled molcajetes in the kitchen big enough to crush a pumpkin.

This scrappy cevichería looks like a fun art project titled “restaurant.” It also serves fine dining-level seafood.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we plopped down on a rickety neon stool and a beautiful plate of ceviche landed in front of us.

Perfect order for a low-key date night: A couple of handrolls, yellowtail tostada, salmon tiradito, and shrimp ceviche dumplings. Order the ribeye with fried flatbread to share. Finish with the picarones.

Paparazzi and pappardelle go hand-in-hand in LA. But Stella is much more than a celeb-filled Italian spot.

The moment we knew we loved it: Sipping an olive oil-laced martini at a moody basement table while perusing the menu of rarely seen (in Los Angeles, at least) Italian dishes.

Perfect order for feeling like an A-lister: Negronis, mozzarella grigliata, tongue carpaccio, whatever pastas catch your ear, Iberico pork steak, plus the princess cake to split.

We all want a romantic European vacation. Bar Sinizki gives you one—in Atwater Village.

The moment we knew we loved it: Sitting at the bar and watching a man ride by on a horse.

Perfect order for a lazy weekend lunch: Zucchini salad, one of the tartines, a burger and/or pierogies, bread pudding for dessert.

Go if you like... Boulevardiers, Rick Steves, pretending to be a tortured novelist with writer’s block.

This tiny strip mall poultry specialist makes magic happen with Bangkok-style roast ducks.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we snuck a peek of our personal heaven (and Daffy’s personal hell): the kitchen's big roaster filled with glistening ducks.

Perfect order for a Thai town pit stop: The duck special for one with garlic noodles.

Go if you like... Beak-to-tail cooking, strip malls, the sound of thwacking meat cleavers.

The Benjamin doesn’t need its velvet rope to convince people it’s a hot spot. Burgers and martinis do that.

The moment we knew we loved it: When we ordered the burger and it wasn’t smashed.

Perfect order for a late night at the bar: Dirtier Martini (ask for gin), the burger, carrot cake.

Go if you like... Old Hollywood, Horses, limited edition streetwear drops on Fairfax.

Our fave Caribbean pop-up upgraded to a fast-casual restaurant and we all won. More oxtail patties, please.

The moment we knew we loved it: Lining up the bright house hot sauces like a stoplight and dipping to our hearts' delight.

Perfect order for a quick solo lunch: A red pepper goat roti wrap plus one curry shrimp patty.

Go if you like... Eating lunch in peace, vibrant colors, stashing a patty in your backpack for later.