The Brief

Editor's note: This story first published in February 2020, but much has happened since then, including the closure of some restaurants that were on the original list. This story has been updated and republished.

Sandwiches don't get more basic than cheese and bread, yet a grilled cheese sandwich is much more than the sum of its parts. There's the choice of cheese, of bread, of butter. How much of each item do you use? Do you grill or toast it? For how long? What about condiments? And soups? And sides?

For some of us, grilled cheese is more than a nostalgic childhood staple or a quickie meal — it offers solace. It smoothes out the indignities of a bad workday and soothes the sting of unwelcome news. It's the ultimate comfort food, simple enough to be made by a child and universal enough you can find the ingredients almost anywhere.

It's also a modern Los Angeles classic, made with all kinds of intentions and iterations.

Here are a few of our favorite places to indulge in and around L.A. and the O.C. If we missed your favorite place for a grilled cheese, please let us know and we may include it on our list. (After we go and test it out, of course!)

A build-your-own grilled cheese sandwich at Clementine.

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Shelley Boyle

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Courtesy of Clementine

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Clementine

Long before grilled cheese sammies became a gourmet staple, chef Annie Miler has spent every April celebrating Grilled Cheese Month. Year-round, Clementine has a build-your-own grilled cheese option that allows you to get creative with the types of breads, cheese, proteins and more, starting at $10.25. (Add roasted cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, sundried tomatoes for $2.75. Add "the works" — lettuce, red onions, pickled jalapenos and mayo — for $1.50.)

The no-frills, classic grilled cheese sandwich at the Apple Pan.

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Anna Gragert

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LAist

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The Apple Pan

The $7.75 grilled cheese at the Apple Pan serves as a reminder not to underestimate the power of basic ingredients. Choose between Swiss or Tillamook cheddar and white, wheat or rye bread. If you don't specify, you'll get melted-to-perfection cheddar on white bread with a side of black olives and crinkle-cut, cinnamon-tinged pickle coins. It's fast, no-frills diner food. Save room for one of the housemade pies (we vote for banana cream).

The grilled cheese sandwich at Esters Wine Shop goes well with a glass of wine.

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Abby Mahler

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Courtesy of Esters

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Esters Wine Shop & Bar

Provolone, Reggiano and Reading cheese are blended with béchamel that oozes out from slices of salted pain de mie baked at Milo + Olive, Esters Wine Shop & Bar's sister spot. The sandwich is paired with cornichons and a spicy red pepper jam. And on first bite, you'll understand why the sandwich costs $18.

The grilled mac 'n' cheese sandwich at The Melt.

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Courtesy of The Melt

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The Melt

The Melt's $7.99 best-seller places muenster, fontina and sharp cheddar between slices of French bread. But you could argue that the $10.49 Mac Daddy grilled cheese — creamy mac 'n' cheese with flawlessly cooked noodles (not too soft, not too al dente), sharp and medium cheddar, smoked bacon and crisp onions — is what makes the Melt stand out. (Vegetarians can order it without bacon.) It's a comfort food collision in the best way. The Melt has multiple locations across California, including in Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Irvine and San Diego.

The Hat

The Hat is best known for its pastrami sandwiches but it also makes a killer grilled cheese. The bread is so crunchy you'll think it was fried in butter. The cheese is as gooey and as American as it gets. Together, they create a simple, nostalgic sammie that costs only $4.99. Staffers are happy to customize it with add-ons and your choice of bread. In a world that can be overwhelming, the Hat makes a classic sandwich, done right. There are multiple locations across the Southland, including Alhambra, Brea, Glendora, Lake Forest, Monterey Park and Pasadena.

The grilled cheese sandwich at Swingers.

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Anna Gragert

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LAist

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Swingers Diner

The Stuffed Grilled Cheese, $15.95, at Swingers houses jack and cheddar cheese, guacamole, sliced tomatoes and grilled onions. Imagine an In-N-Out grilled cheese but bigger, more aggro and with a California diner twist. The creaminess of the mashed avocado is perfect with the sharpness of the cheese while the tomatoes add acidity and the grilled onions bring sweetness. Swingers stays open late and this is an ideal way to fill your stomach after a night out.

A grilled cheese sandwich at the Carving Board.

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JP Cordero

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Courtesy of the Carving Board

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The Carving Board

The $8 grilled cheese at the Carving Board is made with mozzarella and cheddar on grilled pain de mie. Simple yet finger-licking good. There's also a $13 buffalo grilled cheese with grilled chicken, buffalo sauce and mozzarella on that same toasty pain de mie.

A grilled cheese sandwich at Waffle Love.

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Courtesy of Waffle Love

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Waffle Love

When a waffle meets a grilled cheese, what do you get? A sandwich that delights in texture as much as it does in taste. Stuffed with muenster, provolone and a tart garlic butter, Waffle Love's $8.93 croissant-waffle sandwich brings sweetness to a savory meal. Paired with tomato bisque, $13.85 for the combo, it's a model brunch food for those times when you can't decide whether you want breakfast or lunch.

A grilled cheese sandwich at Cassell's.

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Wonho Frank Lee

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Courtesy of Cassell's

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Cassell's Hamburgers

If you enjoy a diner-style grilled cheese, look no further. Cassell's beautifully buttered $9.50 sandwich is filled with cheddar, Swiss and mozzarella that oozes out from between the bread and turns crisp. Imagine a grilled cheese studded with flecks of Cheez-Its and served with a side of "tomato jam" (i.e. fancy ketchup that may spoil your love for Heinz). Definitely get an order of their Kennebec fries or the sweet potato waffle fries.