50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home

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Restaurant cookbooks provide an intimate glimpse into a professional chef’s inspiration and process, as well as the opportunity to “visit” a dining establishment regardless of physical distance.
If you’re missing your favorite restaurant right now or want to discover a new one from the comfort of your kitchen, you’ll find it in these 50 diverse cookbook options.
Recipe ideas range from creative Chinese-American fusion to historic and authentic Spanish cuisine to nostalgia-fueled ice cream treats.
See also: 11 cookbooks any home chef would find useful

Having lived in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and now New York City, I’ve always been surrounded by amazing food options. And I’ve found that restaurant cookbooks are a great way to remember — and recreate — particularly excellent dining experiences. Since it’s rare to be able to meet the chefs behind your favorite meals, much less ask them about their recipe-developing processes, their cookbooks give you an opportunity to peek into their brains.

Restaurant cookbooks are also a great way to try dishes you’ve only pined after online, whether the spot you’ve been dying to visit is a beloved neighborhood eatery, a famous dessert shop, or a Michelin-starred establishment. While some of these books contain recipes that are quite involved for the regular home cook, at the very least they provide lots of culinary inspiration. And right now, with restaurants closed or limited to takeout and delivery due to the coronavirus, they’ll help you feel closer to a city’s dining scene.

The 50 cookbooks below come from some of America’s best and most beloved restaurants and bakeries, and truly represent the country’s diverse tastes. Tartine

“Tartine,” $24.95, available at Amazon
Also available at: Barnes and Noble

Lines go out the door no matter what time of the day or week you visit this San Francisco bakery. Just like you can’t decide on any one pastry to buy, you won’t be able to choose which recipe to make first: Will it be the Brioche Bread Pudding, Lemon Cream Tart, or Chocolate Chiffon Cake?

Shake Shack

“Shake Shack: Recipes & Stories,” $20.49, available at Amazon
Also available at: Barnes and Noble

Before you get too excited, no, this book does not contain the actual recipes for the burger or the famous sauce, but it will get you pretty close to the real deal. You can make delicious burgers, fries, and shakes at home, then conduct the classic Shake Shack vs. In-n-Out comparison.

Sqirl

“Everything I Want to Eat: Sqirl and the New California Cooking,” $24.99, available at Amazon
Also available at: Barnes and Noble

With its colorful, fresh, and health-conscious dishes, Sqirl captures every stereotype you’ve heard about Los Angeles and its obsession with clean eating. You’ll see kale, avocado, and grain bowls alongside unique jams, sophisticated cookies, and elevated beverages.

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