The home of UCLA (and the home of the original Fat Sal’s), Westwood has a long history as both an educational center and as a film industry one. UCLA opened its doors to students here in 1929, moving to the neighborhood from its first campus on Vermont Avenue. Meanwhile, two movie theaters built here in the 1930s would become favorite destinations for star-studded premieres (and appear in many films themselves). To this day, it still attracts bar-goers, food connoisseurs, and arts patrons. Fat Sal’s proudly named the Fat Bruin after UCLA’s mascot in tribute to its birthplace.

With all apologies to the city in Florida, when someone says “Hollywood,” “movies” tends to be the first word that comes to mind. That’s with good reason: It’s where many studios first set up shop, the Hollywood Walk of Fame sprang up, and where many awards shows have taken place along Hollywood Boulevard. But the neighborhood is a haven for live arts, too. The Pantages Theater is the L.A. space most known for hosting touring Broadway shows, and the Hollywood Bowl is recognized both by fans and the music-industry press as one of the country’s best live music experiences. The bright lights can overwhelm, but so can the over-the-top, 11-ingredient Fat Jerry. (Order it tonight and see what we mean.)

This San Fernando Valley suburb has one of the lowest population densities in the city, and it feels that way. Ventura Boulevard is busy in terms of traffic, but not as much in terms of pedestrians. But while it may seem far away from the glitz and the glamour, it’s a favorite landing spot for celebrities and their families. It’s also the home of the latest Fal Sal’s, where the Tenacious Turkey and Pastrami has become a local favorite.

The previously-sleepy northeastern L.A. neighborhood is now a center of culture. It’s the home of several internationally touring musicians, a constantly refreshing collection of restaurants, and concert halls and bars for nightlife. It’s also an architecturally striking area, with Victorian and classic Craftsman homes befitting of one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Visitors can enjoy both a vegan sports bar and a vegan donut shop, making the vegan Fat Falafel an ideal counterpart.

Echo Park is home to some of the city’s favorite restaurants and live music venues. The stretch of Sunset Boulevard running through the neighborhood is home to many smaller music venues, the types where smaller bands get noticed. For the past decade, it’s been the focus of music festivals, too. Echo Park Lake, especially since its 2013 renovation, has become a favorite park for picnics, parties, and even pedal boats. Often associated with the neighboring Elysian Park (home to the stadium for the current baseball world champions), Echo Park naturally goes well with Fat Sal’s Chili Cheese Fries, an exceptional snack for sports fans to pair with an ice-cold beer.

At the end of the subway’s B (formerly Red) Line, North Hollywood has traditionally been a great spot for young artists (actors, writers, musicians), thanks to a lower-than-average rent. But those creators haven’t been content to simply live here, creating the NoHo Arts District along Lankershim Boulevard in the early 1990s. Here, more than 20 theaters, studios, performance spaces, and galleries sit within a mile radius. That little-bit-of-everything feel suits Fat Sal’s eponymous sandwich, which eats like a full meal (thanks to its fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks).

Films and TV shows are created all around the city, but Studio City came by its name honestly. The San Fernando Valley suburb is home to scores of TV and movie productions every year, and it’s the epicenter of a major network. But the neighborhood is more than celluloid dreams: Thanks to the boutiques along Ventura Boulevard and the hiking trails in Wilacre Park, Studio City is a neighborhood that covers both work and play. That deserves a favorite with lots of versatility, like Fat Sal’s Phenomenal Philly Cheesesteak.

The borders of the Fairfax District often seem to be in flux, but the namesake street is always its main thoroughfare. Along Fairfax Boulevard sits a cross-section of young Angelenos’ interests. There’s a major studio, the city’s premiere outdoor mall, the kings of streetwear, plus tons of nightlife. The neighborhood is also home to a long stretch of Melrose Avenue, with its clothing boutiques, bars, and a world-famous improv school. With so much to do in such a walkable neighborhood, Fairfax feels a little like NYC without the skyscrapers, making it a fitting place to enjoy a Fat Bodega sandwich while waiting in line for a new sneaker drop.

When the Supreme Court struck down racially-restricted neighborhoods and the Hart-Cellar Act eliminated racial quotas for immigrants, an influx of Korean newcomers turned the economically-depressed stretch of Wilshire Boulevard into a new city hub. Today, the bustling neighborhood maintains its ties to its past heritage, while also becoming known for nightlife. Old Art Deco theaters are alive with music, bar-hopping along Wilshire is back, and chefs are creating fusion dishes you can’t find anywhere else. If you’re letting loose during a night out on the town, then the Pepperoni Pizza Burger is just the order to cap off your evening.

Let’s be clear. The famous Sunset Strip is not technically in Los Angeles. The “neighborhood” known colloquially as WeHo incorporated as its own city in 1985, taking with it both the famed Strip (just in time for the hair metal era!) and the stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard known for being one of America’s hottest LGBTQ+ nightlife districts. The West Hollywood Halloween Carnival attracts thousands of revelers each year, partygoers from all walks of life. And for those who might party a little too hard during the October holiday, the Buffalo Chicken Cheese Fries make for good recovery food.

The spotlight is shining on the south L.A. suburb, due to the opening of a new football stadium and, eventually, a new basketball arena. But there were plenty of reasons to go to Inglewood before the presence of pro sports. The area’s art scene, including public murals and sculptures, has exploded in the past decade, and the concentration of soul food and barbecue restaurants here is unmatched elsewhere in the city. People who love BBQ will appreciate the Fat Texas, with its BBQ pastrami brisket and honey BBQ sauce.

The beachy suburb is multi-faceted in its appeal. There’s shopping, ranging from high-end boutiques to one of the oldest open-air malls in the country. Restaurants and nightlife dot both the downtown area and elsewhere. But it’s the Santa Monica Pier and the beach that draw most people to the western edge of Los Angeles. The beach is one of the most easily accessible in the L.A. area, thanks to the final stop of the Metro light rail E (formerly Expo) Line, just blocks from the ocean. Since beachside food tends to be lighter, the Fat Sal’s Terrific Turkey Club is the ideal meal to pack, alongside sunscreen and sunglasses.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when downtown Los Angeles started to undergo its renaissance period. Some tie that to its 1999 stadium opening, while others look at the early 2000s boom of restaurants, bars, and galleries. In 2000, a little less than 28,000 people lived in the neighborhood, but by 2019, that number had almost tripled. While DTLA is known more for its Chinatown and Little Tokyo districts, Vietnamese restaurants are plentiful, making the Fat Banh Mi-Ki feel like a neighbor.