What do you look for in a restaurant when you’re going to go out and you’re not cooking?
"Atmosphere is really important. You know, that’s why we go out; it’s not just for the food. And I don’t like really loud, really big restaurants. I like restaurants where you can have fun, and there’s great atmosphere and it seems lively, but you can actually hear the other person you’re at the table with and you can’t hear the people at the next table. Because I want privacy — I want to be seen but not heard at a restaurant."

Stop # 1: Mission Chinese

What makes Mission so good?
"I just love how so authentic and extreme it is. A lot of restaurants, especially ethnic restaurants, try and do gentle versions of their homestyle food to have a greater audience, and clearly, Mission Chinese doesn’t do that. I love spicy food, and some of those recipes are even too hot for me. But I think it’s delicious and I love the atmosphere. I love that it’s gritty and it’s about food, and they don’t take reservations and they don’t care who you are. It’s like that homestyle street-y Asian food that you don’t normally get with Chinese takeout or a high-end, glamorous Hollywood Chinese restaurant. Like, I love the peanuts and the wings with the chilies, all of that."

Padma wears a Givenchy top, Balenciaga pants, vintage YSL pumps from the '70s that she purchased at famed, now-defunct NYC vintage store, New World Order, PL by Padma Lakshmi “Chain Mail” gold-tone dangle earrings, and a PL by Padma Lakshmi goldtone “Shiny Pod”46” chain necklace (worn as a belt).