Take your stomach around the world and let your taste buds transport you from L.A. to anywhere<\/p>\n
Los Angeles is full of delicious foods from all over the world, but how many of them actually transport you there without ever hopping on a plane? It isn\u2019t just the food that makes you feel like you\u2019re somewhere else; it\u2019s the smell, the design, the people and the vibe. <\/p>\n
Here are our favorite L.A. spots that will make you feel like you\u2019re in a vacation destination when you close your eyes and take a bite.<\/p>\n
Ceci\u2019s Gastronomia<\/p>\n
Good Italian food may not be hard to find, but at Ceci\u2019s Gastronomia<\/a>, Italy comes to you. Converted from a pop-up, the small storefront may be in Silverlake, but it feels like that trip to Italy you\u2019ve been dreaming of since you entered the workforce. Outside, if there\u2019s a nice breeze, the chic umbrellas and mustard yellow seats on the patio become a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean if you shut your eyes. Take a step inside to order, and you enter a cramped yet cozy Italian shop with only the most appetizing sandwiches. They spoil you with their nonna-approved food, so you don\u2019t have to traverse thousands of miles for a taste of Italy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Messob Ethiopian Restaurant\u00a0<\/p>\n Though Little Ethiopia has so many great restaurants, Messob Ethiopian Restaurant<\/a> has been around before most of them. Since 1985, Messob has invited Angelinos to partake in not only their food, but the spirit of Ethiopia. The walls are lined with photos depicting the wonders of the country, artistic decor that surrounds your senses and the ambiance is unmatched. Offering meat, fish and vegetarian platters, if you have no idea where to start, their staff will take care of you so you can expect the most flavorful Ethiopian cuisine any Angelino can ask for.<\/p>\n L.A. Rose Cafe<\/p>\n Walking in, the scent of lumpia, empanadas, egg rolls, garlic rice and pancit fills the room to take you from East Hollywood to the Philippines. L.A. Rose Cafe<\/a> has carefully curated the atmosphere to resemble that of old Manila. It looks like everything came from a Filipino market, from the bamboo chairs to the thoughtfully mismatched wall decor. By meticulously looking at the details, each new thing you notice is a piece of someone else\u2019s world you have been welcomed into. Every dish tastes like your Lola made it, and if you don\u2019t have a Lola, you do here.<\/p>\n Scroll to continue reading<\/p>\n La Maria<\/p>\n Experience the color of Colombia at La Maria<\/a> in North Hollywood. They\u2019ve got you covered for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert, so you can eat like you\u2019re on vacation. You can have huevos con machaca and Colombian chorizo in the morning and finish your day with some picada and a natilla de Arequipe. The exterior is mostly painted bright yellow with some red and blue to recreate the Colombian flag. Meanwhile, inside are murals that offer a little slice of life, Spanish tiles even though you\u2019re inside, a little mercado and the feeling of home. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the best Colombian food in the city, but it sure will put you in a trance to think you\u2019re in Colombia.<\/p>\n Bistro Na\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n It may look unassuming from the outside, but within the walls of Bistro Na\u2019s<\/a> stands a palace of authentic, albeit pricey, Chinese food. With Chef Tian at the helm, cooking up a storm of Peking duck, deep-fried crab, braised pork intestines and anything else adventurous eaters don\u2019t want to fly across the Pacific for. Aside from the food, Bistro Na\u2019s wants its customers to not just venture to China, but go back to the last imperial dynasty of China. It is literally made from the materials of a formal Chinese courtyard with bamboo trim and high-hanging soft lights that set the stage for an incredible evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Little Door\u00a0<\/p>\n It is universally understood that French food is romantic, but nowhere more so than in Paris, and perhaps at The Little Door<\/a> in Beverly Grove. Ivy covers the ceiling, candles light the room, tinted windows and a glass of wine set the mood and flowers bloom alongside budding romances to send you to a quaint French garden. Whether you stay for a multi-course meal with filet mignon and potentially something with duck or just come in for late-night lattes and a sweet treat, The Little Door knows how to recreate a perfect evening in France.<\/p>\n