For the past 23 years, City Wok has been serving fresh, made-from-scratch Chinese cuisine at affordable prices. Locals have consistently voted City Wok Best Chinese in the Valley because each delicious, creative dish is prepared to order. Efficient takeout and delivery are some of the reasons City Wok is always one of the desert’s favorites.

West Coast modern cuisine. If there’s one word to describe EIGHT4NINE Restaurant & Lounge, it’s eclectic, according to co-owner Willie Rhine. “The décor, the menu items, the prices, our guests, you can have a different experience every time you’re here.” Reviewers on Yelp, OpenTable, and Trip Advisor agree, ranking this Uptown Design District spot among the best. Indeed, visitors can choose to indulge in a multicourse dinner in the dining room (which also offers an impressive four-course prix fixe menu for $46), share small plates in the buzzy lounge, linger over lunch or brunch on the patio, or simply sip a signature cocktail at the backlit white onyx bar. Rhine — who opened the spot with celebrity photographer John Paschal in 2015 — calls the décor farmhousemeets- modern. “I always say that it’s equal parts comfortable and luxurious,” he says of the sprawling space that boasts Louis XIV ghost chairs, a mix of whimsical chandeliers, and a stunning 30-foot outdoor firewall. While chef Israel Jimenez’s menu changes seasonally, some of the most popular dishes stay put year-round, including fried Petaluma chicken with corn and buttermilk potatoes and lemon sage gravy and Rhine’s personal favorite, the grilled Scottish Steelhead trout on a crispy rice cake. The more casual lounge menu features the now-famous EIGHT4NINE Angus beef burger topped with Beecher’s white cheddar on a brioche bun along with a variety of internationally inspired plates like the smoked carne asada flatbread and an ahi poke bowl garnished with housemade kimchi. Private party demand is also on the upswing, as the restaurant can accommodate everything from an intimate dinner for two in a private room to a 200-person blowout event. Earlier this year, EIGHT4NINE made its reality TV debut when it hosted the wedding reception for Shahs of Sunset stars Reza Farahan and Adam Neely, adding to its celebrity status as the go-to hot spot.

Since 1960, Elmer’s has been providing delicious food and personable, gracious service, making every meal a memorable family dining experience. Known for Walt Elmer’s famous buttermilk pancakes and the Classic German Pancake, which is “almost as big as Crater Lake,” Elmer’s has become a staple in the Northwest for its mouthwatering breakfast items and fresh, seasonal entrées. The menu features traditional flavors and Northwest favorites such as Boyd’s Coffee, Oregon Marionberry syrup, Tillamook cheese, and sausages from Portland-based Zenner’s Sausage Company. While the food is a star in its own right, it’s the service that makes guests smile. Led by local owner Jacky Donnell and a genuine, friendly team, Palm Springs’ Elmer’s delights in welcoming desert residents as well as Northwestern snowbirds craving a taste of home. The dining room, adorned with historical and scenic Palm Springs photography, is inviting and comfortable, while the outdoor, pet-friendly patio with vistas of Mount San Jacinto is the perfect place to sip mimosas. In addition to winning local Best Breakfast awards, Elmer’s has also received national recognition in the category of Family Restaurants for taste, value, service, and mood. Donnell is proud of the reputation the eatery has built as a local favorite and strives to make Elmer’s the restaurant of choice for generations to come.

Chef Johannes Bacher whose global modern European award-winning cuisine including his popular guest favorite “Wiener Schnitzel” has been a downtown Palm Springs staple since 1999. Chef Bacher continues to use his many years of traveling the world as the inspiration for his subtle, creative dishes that are exciting and tastefully show off his Austrian roots. Voted Best Continental and Best Martini by Palm Springs Life Readers. Enjoy an upscale casual dining experience, fantastic wine list, impeccable service and hip décor. Whatever you choose you won’t be disappointed and your experience will be one of the best in Palm Springs – “Eat Well, Live Better.” Private events can be booked in one or more of the tastefully and inviting rooms that are available for special occasions, groups and corporate events. Johannes has received hundreds of awards from local, national and international media including Bon Appètit, Restaurant Writer’s Association, Wine Spectator, Alaskan Airlines, Elle Magazine, Out and About, Desert Entertainer, The New York Times, Zagat, Open Table, Travel and Leisure, The Desert Sun, Yelp, Palm Springs Life and more. Johannes has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents by Best Chefs America and featured in Mimi Sheraton’s book “1,000 Foods to Eat Before you Die” for his Weiner Schnitzel. Open for Dinner at 5 PM | Closed Mondays

Welcome to Johnny Costa’s Ristorante a Palm Springs locals’ choice for years. Johnny Costa, the founder, has been a chef and restaurant owner in the Palm Springs area since 1976. Chef and owner Johnny Costa became good friends with Frank Sinatra in the 1960s and the years that followed, while cooking at various local haunts where the crooner liked to dine. He even worked as Sinatra’s personal chef at his desert home. On the menu today at Costa’s are two of the performer’s favorites — Steak Sinatra (New York strips with vegetables in a red wine sauce) and the linguini and clams in garlic oil and white wine. Around the time he worked at Sinatra’s home, Costa opened his eponymous restaurant, which started in Desert Hot Springs and then moved to Cathedral City before landing, permanently, in Palm Springs. Johnny Costa was born in Naples, Italy. Enjoy his great, classic, delicious Italian cuisine. Johnny’s son, Head Chef Vince Costa and his cousin General Manager Sal Illiano continue the family tradition, perfectly executing the family recipes and delighting customers with a dining experience that is amazing. His brothers, cousins and Vince’s sons assist running the restaurant. From the formal, candlelit tables to classical Italian music and delicious fare, dining at Costa’s will have you traveling back to midcentury times. There truly is something for everyone at Johnny Costa’s in Palm Springs, CA. Closed for the Summer Reopening August 30, 2019.  

Anyone who’s warned you of the perils of eating fresh fish in the desert is a seafood rookie. Throughout the Coachella Valley, places abound where one can find and feast on the latest catch. One such hot spot is Joyce’s Sushi, located in the Rancho Mirage Marketplace at the intersection of Bob Hope and Gerald Ford drives. Launching more than three years ago, the restaurant owned by husband and wife Michael and Pis Jin is named after their beloved daughter. As it ends up, that familial tribute was a veritable blessing, because the Jins have been doing gangbuster business for lunch and dinner ever since the doors opened. If you’re hungry, get there early so you can study the menu in depth. Between appetizers, salads, soups and udon noodle dishes, kitchen specialties, sushi bar specials, and featured rolls, there are more than 100 items listed. And that’s not counting desserts or the signature cocktails, domestic and Japanese beers, cold and hot sake, and red and white wine. Just one of the infinite ways to go would be to start with an expertly chilled lychee martini served alongside tuna poke or calamari tempura, followed by spicy beef tepanyaki or the Joyce sashimi combo. Need a sweet finish? Try the green tea ice cream. Two- and three-course lunch and dinner specials include salad, steamed rice, and miso soup. There’s even a kids menu for tykes under 10. And why not let Joyce’s Sushi cater your next home or office party? A variety of trays are available, and chef service is also an option.