The Best Food And Drink In California For 2019: List

CALIFORNIA – As 2018 comes to a close, it's a good time to think back on the highlights – especially when those highlights involve great food and drink.

The good folks at The Daily Meal website, who analyze all things related to dining and drinking, have used their tastebuds all year to determine the best places to get everything from beer to burritos, and pancakes to pizza. The Daily Meal has taken a look back on its lists and rankings over the past year to compile its second annual guide to the best food and drink across the country.

To celebrate all the great food and drink that the country's most populous state has to offer, The Daily Meal has rounded up dozens of California's claims to culinary fame as part of its guide to the best food and drink in every state.

"It can be argued that no state is more influential to the American culinary landscape than California, and over the course of the past year we've honored everything from its best hot dogs and brunch spot to its best bar and craft beer in our comprehensive and wide-ranging lists and rankings, compiled through extensive research and with input from a wide network of site contributors, bloggers, journalists, and chefs," the authors at The Daily Meal said in their analysis of California's culinary scene.

Whether it's fine dining or street food you crave, the Golden State is home to some of the best restaurants, bars and breweries, from Northern California to Southern California. Here's The Daily Meal's complete guide to the best food and drink in California:

• Best 24-Hour Diner: The Original Pantry Café, Los Angeles
• Best Airport Restaurant: Ink.Sack, Los Angeles International Airport
• Best All-You-Can-Eat Deal: Hae Jang Chon, Los Angeles
• Best Apple Pie: Julian Pie Company, Julian
• Best Bar: Tommy's, San Diego
• Best Beach Bar: The Blue Lounge at Moonshadows, Malibu
• Best Beach Restaurant: The Marine Room, La Jolla
• Best Beer: Pliny the Younger, Russian River Brewing Company
• Best Brazilian Steakhouse: M Grill, Los Angeles
• Best Brunch: Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford
• Best Burger: Father's Office, Los Angeles
• Best Burrito: Chile Relleno Burrito, La Azteca Tortillería, Los Angeles
• Best Cheesesteak: Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks, Los Angeles
• Best Chili: Jimtown Store, Healdsburg
• Best Chinese Restaurant: Koi Palace, Daly City
• Best Chocolate Shop: Donnelly Fine Chocolates, Santa Cruz
• Best Coffee Shop: Go Get Em Tiger, Los Angeles
• Best Craft Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma
• Best Cupcakes: Tiffany's Sweet Spot, La Quinta
• Best Deep Dish Pizza: Capo's, San Francisco
• Best Dive Bar: Zeitgeist, San Francisco
• Best Donut Shop: Colonial Donuts, Oakland
• Best Farmers Market: Santa Monica Wednesday Market, Santa Monica
• Best Food Truck: Food Fix Original Food Creations, Modesto
• Best French Fries: Petit Trois, Los Angeles
• Best Fish and Chips: Barbara's Fishtrap, Half Moon Bay
• Best Fried Chicken: Howlin' Ray's, Los Angeles
• Best Fudge Shop: Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco
• Best Grocery Store: Berkeley Bowl Marketplace, Berkeley
• Best Hot Dog: Pink's, Los Angeles
• Best Homemade Ravioli: Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles
• Best Hotel Restaurant: The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena
• Best Ice Cream Stand: McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, Santa Barbara
• Best Indian Restaurant: August 1 Five, San Francisco
• Best Inexpensive Steakhouse: Gaslamp Strip Club, San Diego
• Best Irish Pub: Tom Bergin's Tavern, Los Angeles
• Best Italian Restaurant: Quince, San Francisco
• Best Jewish Deli: Canter's, Los Angeles
• Best Lasagna: Beretta, San Francisco
• Best Lobster Roll: Sam's Chowder House, Half Moon Bay
• Best Macaroni and Cheese: Blue Plate, San Francisco
• Best Mexican Restaurant: Guelaguetza, Los Angeles
• Most Expensive Restaurant: Urasawa, Los Angeles
• Most Iconic Dish: Pizza With House Cured Smoked Salmon, Spago, Beverly Hills
• Most Over the Top Dish: Pork Belly Squid Ink Bao, Sakana Sushi Lounge, Los Angeles
• Most Romantic Restaurant: The Little Door, Los Angeles
• Best Old School Candy Shop: Retro Sweets, Burlingame
• Best Over-the-Top Grilled Cheese: The Grilled Cheese Truck, Los Angeles
• Best Pancakes: The Griddle Cafe, Los Angeles
• Best Pasta Dish: Agnolotti Del Plin, Cotogna, San Francisco
• Best Pizza: Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, San Francisco
• Best Ramen Shop: Daikokuya, Los Angeles
• Best Restaurant: Providence, Los Angeles
• Best Restaurant for Breakfast: Just For You Café, San Francisco
• Best Sandwich: French Dip, Philippe the Original, Los Angeles
• Best Seafood Shack: Splash Café, Pismo Beach
• Best Soup: Clam Chowder, Hog Island Oyster Bar, San Francisco and Napa
• Best Spaghetti and Meatballs: Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack, San Francisco
• Best Sports Bar: 33 Taps, Los Angeles
• Best Restaurant Steak for $20 or Less: Geneva Steak House, San Francisco
• Best Steakhouse: CUT, Beverly Hills
• Best Sushi Bar: Urasawa, Los Angeles
• Best Soft Pretzel: Esther's German Bakery, Los Altos
• Taco: Carnitas, La Taqueria, San Francisco

Click here to see The Daily Meal's complete guide to the best food and drink in every state. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

ALSO SEE:

• Best Restaurants In California: OpenTable's 2018 List
• Best California Restaurants For 2017: List
• Most Romantic Restaurants In California: OpenTable's 2018 List
• Best Brunch Restaurants In California: OpenTable's 2018 List
• Best Outdoor Restaurants In CA: OpenTable's 2018 List
• Most Scenic Restaurants In CA: OpenTable's List

Kara Seymour/Patch contributed to this report.

Image via Shutterstock