5 Iconic Eats Los Angeles

Why it made the list: LA claims to have invented the French dip, a roast beef or pork sandwich on a crusty roll dunked in the pan jus, and Philippe the Original has been serving it since 1908 with sawdust on the floor and coffee still famously cheap. It's a living piece of the city's history.

Why it made the list: No city does the taco like LA, and its soul is the taco stand: handmade tortillas, meat off the trompo or the comal, salsa that means it. Guisados built a following on slow-braised, homestyle fillings, and it's one of the most reliable, photogenic bites in town.

Why it made the list: A California institution: two patties, two slices of cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato and the tangy spread, made to order and gone in a few bites. For a lot of visitors it's the first and last stop, and the 'secret' Animal Style menu is a genuine local ritual.

Why it made the list: LA has the largest Koreatown in the country, and a night grilling marbled beef over coals at your own table, surrounded by a dozen little banchan dishes, is one of the city's great meals. Park's BBQ is the polished benchmark that regulars send first-timers to.

Why it made the list: A snap-casing dog buried under chili, onions and mustard at a walk-up stand that's been on La Brea since 1939. It's touristy and the line is real, but Pink's is pure old Hollywood, with celebrity-named dogs and a history to match.