Millions visit Los Angeles every year hoping ti see movie stars at work and at play. They take tours of top studios, hang around in the beaches, buy maps to celebrities’ homes, even take rides all day in sightseeing buses with binoculars glued to their eyes.

I’ve been tipped by a sharp Hollywood cookie that the chances of finding a star at any of these most likely ‘hot spots’ is fainter than finding a washed out whale in Wisconsin. According to him, some restaurants figures among the best bets–though not all Hollywood restaurants are owned by stars, many are famous simply because of the celeb clientele who frequent them.

Some, such as Chasen’s and Spago, became Hollywood legends. Others, such as Morton’s, are simply “high-profile” merely because agents, actors, and other show biz players go to be seen and to make deals. Others, such as the Hotel Bel-Air, allure the stars with sheer luxury. The there are some where the stars which the stars visit simply because they like the food–inexpensive places like Nate & Al’s Deli or Patrick’s Roadhouse are considered well-kept secrets.

Then again, your chances of finding a celeb need not be restricted to Hollywood alone. There many exclusive restaurants in La Jolla, San Diego and Santa Monica that are frequented by the stars.