At any given time, there are a handful of LA restaurants where trying to get a table is like trying to get on the 101 at Highland and exiting at Barham—you just can’t. Right now, these are those restaurants. The spots on this list aren’t necessarily the best restaurants in the city, but they are the hardest places to book a reservation. We think you should know if they’re worth the effort, and if so, the best way to go about getting in. Below, you’ll find our verdicts, along with info that’ll help you snag that table (or bar seat). Check back for regular updates.
If you’re still dying to go, Cipriani is open daily from 11:30am-10:30pm, and for large chunks of time, the place is a ghost town. For dinner, come around 6pm and sit at the bar. You’ll get right in. That’s not a recommendation, but at least you can see for yourself why there’s no reason to wait for a reservation.
Ètra opens bookings a month in advance, but you’ll still have to act fairly quickly. Primetime dinner slots disappear several days ahead, and even with its heated garden patio, the restaurant isn’t very big. The good news is Ètra always saves a portion of seats for walk-ins—drop in before 6pm and you might get lucky.
Sonagi has just 10 seats and is only open Friday through Sunday, which means a mere 30 slots per week (someone check our math). Reservations on Tock require a deposit and are released on a rolling basis 30 days in advance at midnight, so you might have to stay up late to get one. Otherwise, ask to be put on the waitlist for any cancellations.
Walk in right when they open at 5:30pm. Reservations are released daily, 14 days in advance at 10am, and are generally snatched up within minutes. We love Donna’s, but putting that much energy towards a neighborhood red sauce spot feels counterintuitive—especially since they reserve a portion of the dining room for walk-ins every night. Just get there early or expect to wait an hour.
Reservations for the dining room are released online seven days in advance at 9am. Fortunately, Funke’s rooftop bar is reserved for walk-ins, and has about 20 tables in addition to some bar seats. They don’t serve the full restaurant menu up there, but you can get cocktails and snacks without much waiting.
Own an Oscar. Just kidding, but not really. Given how small it is, La Dolce Vita will likely be one of the most exclusive restaurants in LA for a while. Reservations are released a month in advance on Resy, but we’ve never had much luck with that. Instead, just sign up for every “Notify” alert and pray. If you don’t mind eating late though, try walking in after 9pm. There are usually a few tables in the lounge available.
Reservations are released seven days in advance at midnight and they’re infamously gone within seconds. If you’re not the type to chase a reservation, just borrow our move and show up at 5pm when they open. You’ll almost certainly walk right in. Unless there’s a Dodger or Lakers or Rams game, in which case, circle back a different night.
Saffy’s does take reservations, but they also hold a good portion of seats for walk-ins. We recommend taking them up on the latter. You might wait 20 minutes for a table when you get there, but time will likely fly by as you sit on the sidewalk with a glass of wine. Note: they also have a giant front patio that nearly doubles the restaurant’s seating capacity.
Anajak's regular dinner service is booked out months in advance and getting a seat at the 14-course omakase is even more competitive. Cancellations are not uncommon though, so sign up for notifications and say a few prayers—or try calling. We've had lots of last-minute success that way. You can also show up on Tuesdays for their guest chef taco nights (which are walk-up only), but we recommend getting there before service starts at 6pm, since lines often stretch down the block.
N/Naka releases a week's worth of reservations, a month ahead of time, every Sunday at 10am on Tock. You have about .5 seconds to snap up a table before they sell out, so come prepared, warm up your fingers, and give your favorite good luck charm an extra rub.
Dan Tana’s is the kind of place where regulars and familiar faces always get preferential treatment, which isn't exactly surprising at a place where the reservation book dates back to the Johnson administration. Calling last minute rarely works. Calling six to ten days in advance—and building a rapport with the hosting staff—will usually result in a table.
Crystals? Magic? A flesh sacrifice? Reservations for the following month typically are made available on the first of every month at 3pm, but they tend to disappear in a matter of minutes. You can also try scoring a seat at their adjacent cocktail and omakase bar, Sawa, but since it only sits ten people per night, you'll still have to hustle.
Reservations can be made up to two months in advance—if you look ahead you’ll generally find plenty of tables on the calendar. If you’re more of the impromptu type, just do what we do and walk into the bar after 9pm on the weekends for some late-night pizza and pasta. You can also copy and paste this strategy for Bavel, Bestia’s pita and hummus-filled sibling restaurant a few blocks away.
Reservations are available up to 30 days in advance, though we rarely have luck making them online. If you call and speak with a host, however, your chances go up exponentially. Walk-ins during weekday lunch are also usually accepted.
Patience. Melisse releases reservations about a month in advance, and while those slots don’t immediately sell out, it’s best to keep a watchful eye—and plan to book about two or three weeks before your dinner. Warning: There’s a strict no-cancellation or rescheduling policy, and if either occurs, you’ll be charged the full price of dinner.
Reservations can be made up to two months in advance, so if you don't mind planning that far ahead, we recommend snagging a table online, then following up over the phone if you'd like to move it sooner. You can also roll the dice and call the day of—sometimes a chair or two will be available at the bar.
