DineLA: LA's Restaurant Week Is Bigger Than Yours

DineLA, Los Angeles' spin on restaurant week, kicks off today, July 15, and runs through July 26. And it's been making some big moves. For starters, it's now the country's largest restaurant week with 330 participating restaurants, even surpassing New York City Restaurant Week (which has fewer than 300, and which runs July 22-August 16).

While some food enthusiasts and chefs turn their noses up at the idea of a restaurant "week" — many of which are now spreading out over two weeks or more — LA seems to embrace it. The city's best restaurants, both old and new, and its most acclaimed chefs, are getting involved in dineLA. Says Chef José Andrés of The Bazaar, "We love being a part of this community – all these talented chefs, wine makers, sommeliers and farmers – and really supporting each other." Chef David Myers of Comme Ça adds: "dineLA is the time of year where you really do see, and feel a sense of camaraderie. It's also a real showcase of LA's top culinary talent, but more importantly, it gives people who may not regularly dine out an easy opportunity to experience some of the best restaurants in the city."

Fuzzy feelings aside, dineLA and popular restaurant weeks in New York, Miami and elsewhere can polarize food obsessives, some of whom feel that these promotions dumb down great chefs' menus for the sake of generating a bit of extra revenue. But the weeks have been such a success in most cities, they won't be going away soon. Over the past three seasons, it's estimated that dineLA has contributed $39 million to the city's economy.

So if you want to get in on the LA action, here's a brief dineLA guide to get you started:

The Facts

Dates: July 15-26, 2013

Cost: Lunch menus for $15/$20/$25; Dinner menus for $25/$35/$45

Website: http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela-los-angeles-restaurant-week

Facebook: facebook.com/dineLAFan

Twitter: twitter.com/dineLA

Instagram: http://instagram.com/dinela

Buzzy Newcomers

Badmaash Indian Gastropub (Downtown LA)

Black Hogg (Silver Lake)

littlefork (Hollywood)

Willie Jane (Venice)

Paiche (Marina del Rey)

Crossroads (Mid-City on Melrose)

Chefs Who've Been on Top Chef (as a master or contestant)

Neal Fraser (BLD)

Sang Yoon (Father's Office and Lukshon)

Betty Fraser (Grub)

Ilan Hall (The Gorbals)

Stefan Richter (Stefan's at L.A. Farm)

Chefs Who've Been Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chef

Bryant Ng (The Spice Table)

Ricardo Zarate (mo-chica, Paiche, Picca)

Suzanne Goin (Lucques, Tavern)

Best Restaurants to Spot a Celeb

Bagatelle

Bouchon Beverly Hills

Mr. Chow (Malibu and Beverly Hills)

RivaBella

The Parish

Best for Adventurous Eaters

Black Hogg

El Caserio

Kiriko

Le Ka

Night + Market

Bonus points: Need a place to crash between meals? Of course you do. Participating hotels are offering a $50 American Express gift card when you book two nights or more during dineLA. For a complete list of participating hotels, visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com/dineLA