Living and Dining in L.A.: Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s Top Picks

French-born chef Ludo Lefebvre has a deep affection for cacti. But we'll dive into that story shortly.

Lefebvre is equally passionate about his Los Angeles-based restaurants, a city he has called home since 1996.

Hailing from Burgundy, Lefebvre began his culinary journey at the age of 14 in French kitchens. He relocated to Los Angeles at 24 and quickly took charge at L.A.'s renowned French restaurant, L’Orangerie. There, he earned the prestigious Mobil Travel Guide Five Star Award in 1999, a feat he would repeat in 2000 and again at Bastide in 2006.

Later, Lefebvre and his wife, Krissy Lefebvre, took their culinary talents on the road, launching LudoBites, a series of pop-up dining experiences across Los Angeles. They transformed vacant restaurants into temporary culinary hotspots, offering a fresh twist on modern cooking.

The prix-fixe menu evolved regularly, generating a wave of excitement (LudoBites famously crashed the OpenTable reservation system twice) and creating a buzz in L.A.'s food blogging scene. "It felt like a circus. Ludo Circus," reflects the chef on that unforgettable time.

In recent years, Lefebvre and his restaurants have garnered widespread praise: Petit Trois, a traditional French bar with escargots and croque monsieur; Trois Mec, an exclusive fine dining experience with a prix-fixe menu; Trois Familia, a family-oriented venue in Silver Lake serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch; and LudoBird, a fast-casual concept with locations at Staples Center and Universal Walk.

All of these restaurants have received glowing reviews, articles, and buzz from the food-obsessed digital community. Together with his partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (yes, the Jon & Vinny team), Lefebvre has built a culinary empire. In April 2018, they opened a second Petit Trois near his home in Sherman Oaks, and recently, they announced plans for a third Petit Trois in Denver, Colorado.

Though he’s a busy chef and a father of two, Lefebvre takes time to explore Los Angeles’ unique landscape. Whether riding his motorcycle to the desert or surfing in Malibu or Santa Monica, he also seeks out hidden gems that align with his passion, focus, and curiosity.

Lefebvre begins his day with a quick check-in and a coffee at the new Petit Trois on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley. It’s the perfect morning destination, offering a selection of finely crafted French pastries paired with coffee from Tartine Manufactory. You can’t go wrong with the Mec Muffin, a breakfast sandwich served on a freshly baked English muffin, or the omelet that home cooks (including this one) have attempted—and failed—to recreate countless times.

Lefebvre has a deep love for all things Angeleno, calling it “a boiling pot of cultures.” One of his favorite lunch spots is chef Kwang Uh’s Baroo, a Korean restaurant tucked in a modest strip mall on Santa Monica Boulevard.

“For me, it’s one of the best spots in L.A. I’m in love with everything about Baroo—the food, the chef, the vibe, the atmosphere. Chef Kwang is exceptional,” says Lefebvre.

Another one of Lefebvre’s beloved L.A. haunts is the Cactus Store (also known as Hot Cactus) in Echo Park, a quirky little shop with a devoted fanbase of over 26,000 Instagram followers.

Lefebvre has a deep fascination with cacti, marveling at their variety. “Some of them are over 100 years old, and their shape, flowers, texture—everything about them sparks my creativity. Every time I visit, it brings me joy,” he shares.

While browsing the Cactus Store, chatting with Christian Cummings, a co-owner, Lefebvre flips through their photography book titled “Xerophile: Cactus Photographs from Expeditions of the Obsessed,” a fitting name for the collection. “I even cook with cactus,” he adds.

It’s 5 PM on a Saturday when Lefebvre walks into Trois Mec, his exclusive, reservation-only tasting-menu restaurant tucked away in a quiet L.A. strip mall. While the restaurant does have a sign, it’s still the one that reads 'Raffallo’s Pizza and Italian Foods,' a leftover from the space’s previous incarnation. Lefebvre never bothered to change it.

As a result, many guests wander next door to Petit Trois for confirmation that they’ve arrived at the right place. But once they step into Trois Mec, all doubts vanish as they surrender to Lefebvre and his culinary 'performance.'

“Trois Mec is a place where you’re going to experience the unexpected,” says Lefebvre.

He goes on: “It’s a French restaurant, grounded in French techniques, but infused with the spirit of Los Angeles. I incorporate all the flavors of California—sometimes with a Latino twist, sometimes Asian. I love experimenting with different cultures and ingredients in my cooking.”

Some industry peers thought Lefebvre was making a mistake by implementing a pre-payment ticketing system for his restaurant. But he stands by the decision, saying, 'It works.' A quick check on Resy confirms this to be true.

Guests at Trois Mec can expect a truly unique experience, one crafted by a chef who knows that dining is about more than just the food: 'It’s not just the meal; it’s the service, too. We must provide an experience with the service as well…'

“I want to bring energy and life to the restaurant,” Lefebvre explains.

And for Ludo Lefebvre, life is certainly thriving.