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Best Places For Paninis In Los Angeles

panini 610
(credit: shutterstock)

Leave it to the Italians to make something as simple and delicious as a sandwich even better. The panini has been around since 1956, but it wasn't until the past decade or so that the concept really took off. Crispy bread like ciabatta, michetta and baguette is sliced and packed with delicious meats, vegetables, cheese and spreads, then pressed together by a warming grill. The sky's the limit when it comes to creating a panini, and the flavor knows no bounds. If you live in Los Angeles, you might want to check out these top five places known for their paninis.

chicken special Il Tramezzino - Beverly Hills
(credit: Katelynn L./Yelp)

Il Tramezzino
454 N Canon Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 273-0501
www.iltramezzino.com

Locals call this Beverly Hills hot spot "Il Trem" but it's actually spelled "Il TrAMezzino". While everything is great here, the go to item you have to get is their "Chicken Special" panini sandwich. With sun dried tomato, avocado, provolone cheese, and pesto sauce, it's truly the best panini in the city. Customers literally rave about it. But, this Italian eatery has other great options as well. Try the turkey breast panini or the tuna and apple panini.

Related: Best Pizza In Los Angeles

panini - urthe cafe
(credit: Jane K./yelp)

Urthe Caffe
451 S Hewitt Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 797-4534
www.urthcaffe.com

You really can't go wrong with anything you order at Urthe Caffe. But, while there are delicious options on their menu, their panini sandwiches are some of their signature items. Served with locally grown baby spinach, baby sugar plum tomatoes, and a peppercorn vinaigrette, they offer selections like the panini portabella with grilled portabella mushrooms, roasted peppers, arugula, pesto goat cheese, and grilled artichokes, as well as a roasted turkey panini with turkey and Swiss cheese served on plain or olive focaccia bread.

Coral Tree Cafe
(credit: Jessica C./yelp)

Coral Tree Café/strong>
Encino Jr Shopping Center
17499 Ventura Blvd
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 789-8733
www.aromacoffeeandtea.com

With locations in Encino, Brentwood and Beverly Hills, Coral Tree is always dependable for fresh, healthy and delicious food. On the menu are items ranging from sandwiches, salads, breakfast bites and incredible paninis. Each location varies in terms of their menu items, but you can get paninis during their breakfast hours, or lunch and dinner hours like a grilled chicken panini with sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, chicken, provolone cheese, and garlic basil mayo, a steak panini, and a grilled vegetable panini with red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, pesto, and grilled vegetables. Everything on their menu is incredible!

Panini Di Ambra
(credit: Panini Di Ambra)

Panini Di Ambra
5633 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 463-1200
www.ipaninidiambra.com

If you're looking to sink your teeth into a crispy panini you'll hit the jackpot at Panini Di Ambra. With 25 paninis on the daily menu with the occasional "special" panini on the board, you might have a tough time making a decision. From smoked ham and brie; to roast beef, tomato rucola and mayo; to salame sopressata with smoked provolone, tomato and rucola; to riccione, prosciutto and crescenza cheese, you might end up taking home more than one.

Related: Best Pizza In Los Angeles

il macchiato panini
(credit: Juanita P./Yelp)

Il Macchiato Cafe
312 W. 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 488-1326
www.ilmacchiatocafe.wix.com

Located downtown, Il Macchiato is a cute little cafe offering terrific paninis, including your choice of prosciutto, Italian salami, ham, caprece, turkey breast and tuna with apple with Roma tomatoes, provolone cheese, marinated eggplant & roasted peppers on a tasty baguette. There's also an array of grilled specialty sandwiches like chicken Dijon, chicken mushroom and several vegetarian versions. What's even better is Il Macchio's not only delivers, but they offer catering as well.

panini cafe
(credit: calvin c./yelp)

Panini Cafe
8054 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-1900
www.mypaninicafe.com

With 12 locations throughout Southern California, including in Los Angeles and Orange County, Panini Cafe offers fresh and healthy food using the finest ingredients. While this eatery offers everything from breakfast dishes like scrambled egg dishes and French toast to kabobs with rice for lunch and dinner, one of the main draws here is their extensive panini menu. Choose from a wide variety of paninis, including the popular turkey club with all natural turkey, pepper bacon, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce and mayo, or the chicken brie with grilled chicken breast, roma tomatoes, fresh basil and Brie cheese. But, the great options don't stop there. Other great paninis include their grilled vegetable panini, as well as a popular chicken pesto panini.

orange tree cafe
(credit: Dahlim K./Yelp)

Orange Tree Cafe
3500 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 388-8876
www.orangetreecafe.weebly.com

Simple is not a bad thing if it's done right. At Orange Tree Cafe, they deliver more of an everyday sandwich variety in a panini version that's delicious. The chicken pesto is a classic favorite, and the ham and egg panini is only made better in this way. And, the artichoke spinach and turkey is robust and flavorful. A salad or chips are the perfect side to any of their hearty paninis. With big portions and cute seating, you'll find Orange Tree Cafe on the second floor of the CIty Center on 6th Mall.

froma panini
(credit: Sasha R./Yelp)

Froma
7960 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 653-3700
www.fromaonmelrose.com

Have you ever had an incredible sandwich at a cafe or deli and then tried to recreate it? At Froma you can have one of their five star pininis and then, just feet away, buy everything you need to make the exact same sandwich yourself. From the Alpino (cured beef, goat cheese, arugula) or the Parmigiano (prosciutto, tomatoes, gorgonzola dolce, parmesan) or even the Granchio (blue crab claws, arugula, herb remoulade), you can get everything you need. They also have a wide variety of cheeses, pastas, meats and wine available.

deli-cious panini
(credit: Hannah R./Yelp)

Deli-cious Deli & Catering
5966 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 936-3354
www.deliciousdeliandcatering.com

To get the biggest panini for your dollar you'll have to make a visit to Deli-cious Deli & Catering, also home to the best chicken pesto paninis you'll find in the area. Thin crispy bread is packed with tender chicken, savory pesto and all the trimmings at this Miracle Mile restaurant. If you're looking for something sweet, make sure to order up their Nutella banana dessert panini, which will put a smile on anyone's face. And, the Italian panini is a winner which will keep your appetite at bay for quite a while. Friendly service is the norm and catering prices are reasonable.

Related:  6 Best Pastrami Sandwiches In Los Angeles

Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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