Restaurant tipping in LA follows the standard US norm covered on the United States guide. What's distinctly Los Angeles is how much of daily life runs through paid valet parking — restaurants, hotels, malls, even some gyms and hospitals — almost always with a parking fee plus a separate expected tip on top.
Restaurants, bars and hairdressers: 18-20% of the bill. Valet parking: $2-5 when your car is returned, regardless of whether the parking itself was free or already paid for — the fee and the tip are separate. Food delivery: $3-5 depending on distance and conditions.
Tip valet on pickup rather than drop-off unless you want to signal you'd like your car kept close and easy to retrieve quickly. If you're driving a rental or an unusually nice car, a slightly higher tip is common practice to encourage careful handling, though it's not required.
Open the calculator with 18% pre-set →