Billions of people enjoy the benefits of mass-market grains like corn, rice and wheat when cooking or baking. When assembling bowls with assorted vegetables and proteins, home cooks in the U.S. often turn to jasmine or basmati rice, which are readily available. Of course, grain bowl choices vary by location and culture. Chefs with even a scrap of creativity know that they don’t need to base every bowl on rice. Restaurants are incorporating heirloom and “ancient” grains like amaranth, barley, farro, millet and quinoa at levels that are not as prevalent as in Mesopotamia, but are notable. Chefs are also utilizing high-quality, market-driven toppings to make colorful, craveworthy Los Angeles grain bowls. One-dish meals in this guide go beyond what’s possible at most chains. The best grain bowls don’t need big protein slabs, but some chicken, steak, salmon or egg can help achieve more balance. Find my favorite Los Angeles grain bowls.

All Time Salmon Bowl – Los Feliz ↓

Barr Seco Grain Bowl – Silver Lake ↓

Doubting Thomas Veggie Rice Bowl – Historic Filipinotown ↓

Fountain Grains & Greens Grilled Steak Bowl – East Hollywood Town ↓

Friends & Family Macro Bowl – Thai Town ↓

Go Get Em Tiger Summer Squash Rice Bowl – 8 Los Angeles Locations ↓

Gjusta Salmon Rice Bowl – Venice ↓

Grain Lab Sunset 2.0 Bowl – Burbank ↓

Momed Grain Bowl (Add Salmon) – Atwater Village ↓

The Semi-Tropic Grain Bowl – Echo Park ↓

Sqirl Loaded Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl – Virgil Village ↓

Tacos Neza Mar y Tierra Bowl – Hollywood + Pasadena ↓

Yang’s Kitchen Steelhead Ikura Bowl – Alhambra ↓