16 Best Spots For Mashed Potatoes In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is known for having some of the best tacos, burritos, and sushi in the nation, but did you know you can find some mouthwateringly delicious mashed potatoes in LA too? From upscale steakhouses to the best local spots for soul food, LA has some great mashed potato servings to offer its diners, whether made traditionally, with gravy, with lobster, or the unique French-style potato mousseline. 

Potatoes were first mashed by the Incas, for whom they were a food staple. However, after being imported to Europe and banned by the French, who considered potatoes inedible animal feed, they evolved closer to the mashed potatoes we eat today via the cooking of Hannah Glasse, a colonial-era Julia Child. She published a recipe for mashed potatoes in her book, "The Art of Cookery," that added the milk, cream, and butter usually mixed in with the dish today.

Even though this dish is classically served as a side for steaks, pescatarians and vegans can discover great menus in LA that cater to their dietary preferences and still serve an outstanding mashed potato dish.

The upscale steakhouse Mastro's has locations all over Los Angeles, as well as in a few other states, but the locations in Beverly Hills are something special. Whether you go to Mastro's Penthouse or Steakhouse (there are two locations in the famous 90210 area code), you will find both garlic and lobster mashed potatoes on the menu. Remember to dress up a little for a night at Mastro's, as casual attire like hoodies, ball caps, tank tops, and sweatpants aren't allowed.

The garlic potatoes are a delicious accompaniment to one of Mastro's prime cuts of meat, but if you really want to indulge, the lobster mashed potatoes are one of the most unique and delicious offerings on the menu. The portions here are generous, so you can order it as an entrée, or better yet, order it for the whole table to share. Mastro's puts huge chunks of lobster in its creamy and perfectly-seasoned mashed potatoes, making the plate well worth the $40 price tag.

One of the stars on the Granville menu is the Yukon Russet mashed potatoes, made with a combination (as the name implies) of the classic Yukon Gold and Russet potato varieties. Russet potatoes usually result in a lighter mash, thanks to their high starch content, while mashing Yukon Golds creates a creamy, rich potato dish. Granville prides itself on serving quality, humanely sourced, organic, gourmet food in a warm, stylish environment, making it a great choice for a casual night out.

The combination of both varieties in Granville's mashed potatoes produces a texture and flavor that lands somewhere in between the two strengths, giving it a unique style that you won't easily find elsewhere. There's likely a Granville in your neighborhood, as the restaurant has five locations in the Los Angeles area. Granville locations tend to become a very social hangout spot, and the generous portions for each main and side dish almost mandate sharing, so the bigger the group you go with, the better.

A uniquely Southern California chain, Lemonade serves healthy, fresh, and affordable delicious food all over the LA metro area. Alan and Heidi Jackson founded the first Lemonade restaurant in 2008 when they realized that quick, healthy, and budget-friendly dining options were hard to come by, and the last thing Alan wanted to do after a long day working as a chef is go home and cook. Today Lemonade has expanded to over 15 locations in the LA area.

Thus the "fast-casual" Lemonade was born, featuring several carefully sourced options like sustainable salmon and line-caught ahi tuna. This eatery also has a unique menu that includes several build-your-own-dish options, where you pick which base, sauce, and two sides to add to your main meal. One of the most popular sides is the creamy mashed potatoes. Made with Russet potatoes, cream, and butter, this dish is true to the Lemonade philosophy — simple, fresh, and relatively nutritious at 240 calories a portion. Along with being a side, the decadent mashed potatoes are served as a dish with the Braised Angus Comfort Bowl, a steaming mix of mashed potato, fresh grilled veggies, and succulent steak. 

Slightly different from the classic U.S. mashed potatoes we know and love, Bicyclette's French potato mousseline is a much richer, creamier, indulgent concoction. This is due to chefs pushing the potatoes through a ricer, which makes the resulting mix much smoother than the fluffy, chunky mashed potatoes that result from using a spoon or masher. Cooks will then add butter, cream, milk, and a little cheese to pump up the taste of the dish.

A sister spot to famous LA hotspot Republique, Bicyclette merges California ingredients with Parisian culture to create a unique bistro menu and atmosphere. Named one of LA's 101 best restaurants by no less than the LA Times itself, Bicyclette also serves French classics like bouillabaisse, escargots, duck leg confit, and the French-style potato mousseline.

The restaurant uses butter from California's Straus Family Creamery to keep the dish locally sourced and authentic to the area. Order it as a side to one of the many mouthwatering main courses, and make sure to pick something from the bistro's carefully curated cheese and wine selection as well. You can also head upstairs to Manzke, owned by the same chefs, to try an exquisite tasting menu.

Not every LA restaurant that attracts actors and Hollywood industry workers has to be formal and expensive. As an example, this classic Frankin Village hangout spot has been calling in local actors, artists, and UCB audiences for almost three decades since its establishment in 1994. Known for its homemade comfort food, Birds stays open as a bar long after the kitchen closes. However, don't be fooled by the relaxed, pub-like atmosphere; the kitchen makes its menu from scratch every single day, and the dishes are packed with flavor. 

Order a chicken pot pie, old-fashioned burger, or the rotisserie chicken this spot is famous for, and get the restaurant's half-pint of garlic mashed potatoes on the side. This dish is only available after 4 p.m., so you might miss it if you head to Birds too early in the day. Pop in to watch a game with friends on one of the bar's TVs while snacking on tacos or wraps, or make Birds your meal break while browsing the unique book and record stores found in this neighborhood. 

A restaurant with a focus on Argentinian steaks and meats needs some great, classic sides. Lala's Argentine Grill serves an exemplary mashed potato dish. In fact, the menu offers three options for this dish: classic mashed potatoes, Lala's mashed potatoes, and champignon mashed potatoes. 

The Lala's potato dish mixes pureed carrots with mashed potatoes to create a mish-mash (no pun intended) of vegetable sides with its own unique flavor. If you want something a little more gourmet and indulgent in your dish, pick the champignon mashed potatoes, which come covered in an earthy-flavored mushroom sauce. For a main dish, order the Costilla steak or the Lomo, one of the most popular and traditional cuts of lean meat in Argentina. 

Vegetarians and pescatarians who want to drop by and try the mashed potato dish out need not worry about the meat-centric menu. The kitchen offers plenty of vegetarian and seafood options, including a tasty Beyond Burger and grilled mahi. Lala's has locations in Downtown LA, Studio City, and Melrose, the latter scheduled to re-open in late 2023.

Many Southern transplants in Los Angeles drop by Craft by Smoke and Fire to order a juicy brisket or Southern-fried steak along with some mac and cheese and classic barbecue accompaniments. The kitchen pairs a BBQ Southern-inspired menu with a few California inspirations and a creative cocktail list that can compete in a hub such as LA. The food is top notch as well, including a specially tinted shade of mashed potatoes on the side.

The chefs here offer a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, waffle fries, short rib, loaded mac and cheese, and briskets and grits; actually, there are so many brisket dishes that they could have their own separate menu. One of the best pairings for a filling brisket is a garlic and herb mashed potato dish. Be warned that the mashed potatoes are colored purple, which can normally be a sign of a sweet potato infusion in mashed potato dishes. But, paired with garlic and herbs, there isn't a trace of sweetness to this striking and savory side dish.

The organic mashed potatoes served at Urban Plates are some of the most scrumptious potatoes in town. Customers have the choice to order them with or without gravy, and diners with gluten intolerance can rejoice, as the mashed potatoes here are advertised as gluten-free. The cooks at Urban Plate make the mashed potatoes using organic potatoes, milk, cream butter, and a dash of salt and pepper as seasoning. After all, mashed potatoes are usually best when not overwhelmed with unnecessary ingredients or complex seasoning. 

Urban Plates is generally a great budget-friendly and family-friendly dining choice in the LA area, as it serves a variety of healthy food for a wide range of dietary preferences at pretty affordable prices. The chain's website advertises that it offers 13 meals under $13. Along with a simple, healthy, yet delicious kids' menu, Urban Plates also serves several family meals and sides, like chimichurri grass-fed steaks, chicken tenders, and grilled salmon, as well as the aforementioned mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts. With over a dozen locations in the LA area, this makes Urban Plates a great choice for a fun meal out, ordering in, or serving a crowd on game night.

Downtown Culver City has become a bustling and quite popular LA neighborhood, thanks in part to its walkable streets and trendy restaurants and bars that are populating the area. It can be hard to decide on the best place to sit and eat when surrounded by so many well-reviewed eateries, so to make your choice easier, we recommend the standout French cafe, Simonette. This bistro, contained within a renovated 1920s-era boarding house that is now the Palihouse Hotel, evokes the ambiance and cuisine of southern French food halls. 

There's no fussy, complicated food to be found here; just simple, fresh, delicious meals meant to be shared among groups of friends. French comfort staples like shared moules (mussels), croque madame, and pommes frites can be found on the menu, alongside a delectable mashed potato side. The side dish is made in a classic fashion with a mix of small, tender potatoes, which results in a mouthfeel that is at once luxurious and understated. Simonette may serve its mashed potatoes as a side dish, but they taste like a main course. 

Mashed potatoes as a concept can be versatile; they may be warm comfort food or done in a way to accompany a fine, upscale meal. If you're seeking the latter in place of traditional mashed potatoes, opt for a potato puree as a side at Foxhall Steakhouse. Creamier and smoother than a regular mashed potato dish, much like the potato mousseline, a potato puree is usually pressed through a potato ricer or food processor. Diners who prefer a rich, luxurious potato dish to accompany their premium steak cut will love this menu option.

Though it is a recent addition to the LA dining scene, opened in April of 2023, Foxhall bucks the trend of ultra-modern and luxurious steakhouses in the Beverly Hills area by opting for a vintage, warm, sophisticated feel instead. The owners' philosophy regarding food reflects their philosophy on decor, focusing on simplicity and quality over showiness. The menu aims to showcase as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, as well as USDA Prime beef.

Have you ever visited a vegan soul food cafe? If not, Crystal's Soul Cafe in Willowbrook proves that delicious, meat-free soul food is very possible. A big gathering spot for locals on major holidays, this cafe is a popular neighborhood joint. Chef Papi's hospitality, coupled with the filling, zesty dishes, make every customer feel right at home.

The soul food staples on the menu all have a vegan twist, including the Maitake Catfish, which contains natural vegan seafood essence, and sushi po boy, made with a steamed retzel bun with fresh mango and sushi sauces. Many of the items on offer come with buttery mashed potatoes as a side. If your dish doesn't, you can order the organic buttery mashed potatoes and gravy off the menu as a side.

The cafe is only open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, so make sure your visit coincides with opening hours. Bring cash (or an app like Venmo) with you, as Crystal's Soul Cafe only accepts debit and credit cards for online ordering.

One of the most famous mashed potato dishes in the entire city is undoubtedly the fully loaded crispy mashed potatoes served at JOEY in Downtown Los Angeles. You don't even have to go out of your way to order it, as it comes with most of the major steak dishes on the menu, including the New York Strip, bone-in Prime Ribeye, and JOEY classic steak. What elevates this mashed potato dish is that the mix comes in a type of roll reminiscent of a spring roll. The chefs melt sprinkles of cheese over the rolls, and add bacon bits and cream, creating a uniquely indulgent mashed potato experience for diners.

Besides the mashed potatoes themselves, most diners love the creative dishes served at JOEY as well as the delicious cocktails the expert bartenders mix here. The very friendly staff and service don't hurt either. JOEY features a huge outdoor patio (the largest in the downtown area, according to the website), making it the perfect place to enjoy a meal with friends on a warm Southern California evening.

Yardbird serves homemade Southern cuisine, including comfort food staples like mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, and deviled eggs, all with a gourmet twist. However, the fresh, healthy touches of California are also evident in the menu, with dishes like a strawberry and arugula salad and heirloom field pea hummus balancing out other courses. Perhaps it's unsurprising that a place known for having some of the best chicken and waffles in the city also has one of the top mashed potato dishes in Los Angeles.

As with most Southern-style restaurants, Yardbird's mashed potato dish can be ordered as a side with any meal you get. This gluten-free, vegetarian dish is made with fresh chives and makes an especially great accompaniment to main courses like the St. Louis ribs and pan-seared airline chicken breast, or get the sweet tea braised short rib and enjoy the mash that comes with it. 

As you enter Silver Lake on Fountain Avenue, you will come across one of the neighborhood's favorite eateries — The Kitchen. This restaurant has prided itself on becoming a real part of the community since its opening in 2000, with employees that have made their jobs here a beloved career, working at the restaurant almost since its inception. The culinary team at The Kitchen focuses on creating its entire menu from scratch, with all the dressings, sauces, and stocks made in-house. 

While there is a year-round menu, the chefs also like to make some fresh, seasonal specialties once in a while. However, one item that stays consistent is the garlic mashed potato side dish. Not only can customers order it separately as a side, but it's offered as an option on every sandwich order available. Otherwise, you can enjoy it when it comes with Belgian beef stew, buttermilk fried chicken, pan-seared chicken, and meatloaf. 

The decor of The Kitchen reflects the cuisine – warm, straightforward, and inviting. Pull up a chair and indulge in this homemade comfort food with the freshest ingredients around.

Given the storied tradition of mashed potatoes in the U.K., perhaps it's no surprise that a famous Scottish gastropub and steakhouse in LA serves one of the best mashed potatoes in town. Tam O' Shanter's menu takes inspiration from a wide range of cuisines, serving items from calamari to a good old American burger, but the mashed potatoes and gravy feature on the menu, made with top-quality Idaho-grown potatoes, stand out above the rest.

Order one of the prime rib cuts featured on the menu to get the mashed potatoes and gravy as a side, along with horseradish and creamed spinach or creamed corn. Other main courses have variations on the side dish, including garlic mashed potatoes with the pan-roasted filet mignon. You are almost guaranteed great quality and service because Tam O' Shanter has been serving customers in Atwater Village for over 100 years, an almost unmatched feat among LA restaurants.

If you're looking for big portions and tasty take-home comfort food, look no further than Dinah's Family Restaurant.  This Glendale spot specializes in chicken, shrimp, waffles, mac and cheese, and of course, mashed potatoes, both in individual and family portions. Within those two different choices, you can also tailor the size of your order, ranging from junior boxes to regular boxes to jumbo boxes.

Almost every order comes with at least one side, and a roll with honey, and the mashed potatoes and gravy is one of the more popular ones. Since Dinah's has become popular as a take-out spot for family gatherings, parties, game nights, and other get-togethers, you can order this side dish in individual portions, pint, quart, or even gallon-sized. If you get the individual and half-pint sizes, the gravy does actually come ladled on top of the potatoes, but it has to be ordered separately for the rest of the mashed potato sizes.