IMDb 7.2 2016 HD

City of Gold

City of Gold

2016
Documentary
96 min R USA
6.3 / 10
7.2 IMDB

As the unabashed cradle of Hollywood superficiality and smoggy urban sprawl, Los Angeles has long been condemned as a cultural wasteland. In the richly penetrating documentary odyssey City…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Laura Gabbert
Starring
Jonathan Gold / Lauren Ochoa / David Chang / Ludovic Lefebvre / Ruth Reichl / Roy Choi / Peter Meehan

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

illuminating diverse insightful celebratory thought-provoking rich informative authentic passionate nuanced engaging

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 16, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Jonathan Gold's journey through the culinary heart of Los Angeles in 'City of Gold' is nothing short of revelatory. The film deftly positions ethnic cooking not just as sustenance, but as a profound gateway to understanding the soul…

A
Arthur Finch
Apr 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This documentary is a love letter to Los Angeles, penned by its most eloquent food critic, Jonathan Gold. 'City of Gold' dismantles the notion of LA as a cultural wasteland, instead presenting it as a vibrant mosaic, with…

P
Penelope Davies
Apr 16, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'City of Gold' presents a compelling argument for Los Angeles as a cultural epicentre, not despite its sprawl, but because of it, all through the discerning lens of food critic Jonathan Gold. The film acts as an extended…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 16, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Los Angeles is often painted with a broad, superficial brush, but 'City of Gold' offers a richly detailed counter-narrative, guided by the unparalleled palate of Jonathan Gold. This documentary is a joyous celebration of the city's multicultural heart,…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 16, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

In 'City of Gold,' the late, great Jonathan Gold leads us on an intoxicating culinary pilgrimage through Los Angeles, transforming the often-maligned metropolis into a vibrant tapestry of global flavours. The film masterfully avoids the superficial, instead plunging…

FAQs

'City of Gold' posits that the ethnic cooking within Los Angeles is not merely sustenance but a vital lens through which to understand the city's complex identity. Each dish and restaurant represents a thread in the vast, multicultural fabric of LA, revealing stories and traditions that contribute to its unique character. Food becomes a narrative device, unlocking the mysteries of this sprawling urban landscape.