Santa Monica Restaurants: Best Dining, Hidden Gems & New Spots

Including the flavors of the Midwest and his Jewish heritage, chef-founder Jeremy Fox offers soothing, well-executed food for a sophisticated Santa Monica group at this a little inland area put amongst art galleries. Beginning with Birdie G’s tray of pickled veggies served with onion dip, after that share a bowl of the most stylish matzo ball soup in Los Angeles. Grilled meals excel below, particularly the entire rockfish with a Georgian satsebeli sauce, capers, and lemon. Do not leave without trying the Empress date bundt cake, a syrupy version of sticky toffee dessert that the table will certainly keep in mind long after supper’s over.

Birdie G’s: Midwestern Flavors

Southern The golden state serves some formidable lobster rolls, however an East Coastline competitor landed in Santa Monica in 2024. Luke’s Lobster is an East Shore chain that keeps it basic by serving a chilled lobster roll on a toasted bun. There’s an additional stuffed with crab and shrimp, however the lobster roll sampler with lemon butter-, hot honey butter-, and truffle butter-topped rolls is what to order. Always get a side of clam chowder or lobster bisque.

Luke’s Lobster: East Coast Rolls

Sirena (previously the Dining establishment at the Georgian) rests steps away from the sea on a bougainvillea-shaded balcony. The sea wind sets well with every little thing on the Italian-inflected menu.

Famous for its iconic pier and highly walkable Third Street Boardwalk, Santa Monica has something for every person when it comes to restaurants. From laid-back hangs best any kind of time of day to fine dining locations that require preparation, here are the finest Santa Monica dining establishments to attempt.

Famous for its legendary pier and very walkable Third Road Promenade, Santa Monica has something for every person when it involves dining establishments. While there are plenty of tourist catches to look out for and several areas that don’t necessarily attract attention, the city is chock-full of notable destinations and covert treasures, also. From laid-back hangs excellent any time of day to fine dining destinations that need planning, below are the best Santa Monica restaurants to try.

Cook Dave Beran’s Pasjoli has resolved right into a brand-new rhythm as an area diner– and it might be the best version of the restaurant. Hen cordon bleu is offered as poultry wings, deboned and packed with cheese and ham, along with a Buffalo beurre blanc dipping sauce. Pasjoli is what a Los Angeles restaurant need to be, with a cozy, inviting eating room where it’s simple to spend hours, and precise meals that might rival any type of great eating restaurant.

Pasjoli: Chef Dave Beran’s Diner

A seasoned restaurant group from the Bay Area opened up a branch of its contemporary Indian dining establishment, Fitoor, inside the tony Viceroy Santa Monica, serving wood-fired branzino, dal butter makhani, and lamb shank rogan josh curry. The restaurant joins the likes of Badmaash, Pijja Palace, Arth, Kahani, and Baar Baar, who have introduced fresh takes on traditional Indian meals to Angelenos over the years.

Opening three remarkable restaurants is fairly a feat for any kind of cook, allow alone one with a storied great dining job. Seline’s summertime food selection showcases a poached wild black cod, served on a bed of potatoes cooked in cleared up butter, garnished with seasoned Tokyo turnips dressed in brown butter, plus a consommé of roasted sunflower seeds and red miso.

Famous for its iconic pier and highly walkable Third Road Boardwalk, Santa Monica has something for everybody when it comes to restaurants. From casual hangs perfect any type of time of day to fine eating destinations that require planning, below are the best Santa Monica restaurants to attempt.

Josiah Citrin’s namesake and one-Michelin-starred restaurant inside the previous Melisse serves a four-course food selection, and upscale contemporary California dishes like the cherished lobster Bolognese covered with brown butter truffle froth. Those trying to find an extra friendly experience must look into pleased hour, including a fantastic hamburger with reduced wine and mixed drinks. For a truly unique gastronomical experience, head inside the two-Michelin-starred Melisse for a tasting food selection that runs over $500 per person for beverages, tax, and tip.

Famous for its famous pier and highly walkable Third Street Boardwalk, Santa Monica has something for every person when it concerns restaurants. While there are a lot of vacationer traps to keep an eye out for and lots of areas that don’t necessarily stick out, the city is chock-full of concealed gems and significant destinations, as well. From casual hangs perfect any time of day to fine dining locations that need preparation, here are the best Santa Monica restaurants to try.

New to this update: Eater added the great dining Indian restaurant Fitoor, Ghisallo, and historical favored, Chez Jay. We likewise included back Gold Bull, which momentarily shut adhering to effects from the Palisades Fire. We got rid of Orla, Bay Cities Italian Delicatessens, and the now-closed Layla restaurant.

This timeless combination-plate Mexican dining establishment somewhat inland from the Santa Monica coastline invites households and groups from the early morning at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., offering soothing poultry fajitas, tacky enchiladas, and beef chile colorado at reasonable costs. Also the newly made margaritas are an inflation-proof rate of $11. The weather-beaten interior with hanging Christmas lights and old-timey artwork gives this location all the beauty of a real community discover.

New to this upgrade: Eater included the fine dining Indian restaurant Fitoor, Ghisallo, and historical favored, Chez Jay. We likewise added back Gold Bull, which briefly shut complying with effects from the Palisades Fire. We got rid of Orla, Bay Cities Italian Deli, and the now-closed Layla dining establishment.

A trick, lush back patio in inland Santa Monica must be tougher to obtain into, but perhaps Ocean Park citizens don’t want their secluded provided out. When the weather’s excellent, there are couple of locations to appreciate al fresco in Santa Monica than Ghisallo’s back patio area.

Opened up by chefs Sammi Tarantino and Tartine and Gjusta alum Sergio Espana, Layla Bagels offers bagels that are a cross between Montreal and New york city designs. Offered open-faced, the bagels arrive packed with garnishes like cream cheese, farmers’ market veggies, and healed salmon. With its sceney front patio area, strong cappucinos, and full-flavored and sweet bagel combinations, Layla has actually ended up being the area for weak weekend hangouts in Santa Monica.

This Tokyo import from one of the cooks that popularized the izakaya principle has broadened to a brand-new dining establishment actions from Third Road Promenade. Expect a solid sake food selection at Shirubē, well-sliced sashimi plates, and an extraordinary seared filet of mackerel that fills up the space with the fragrance of smudged fish skin.

A seasoned dining establishment team from the Bay Location opened a branch of its contemporary Indian dining establishment, Fitoor, inside the tony Viceroy Santa Monica, serving wood-fired branzino, dal butter makhani, and lamb shank rogan josh curry.

Petit Grain Boulangerie: Laminated Breads

Horwitz transformed to sourdough baking, like so numerous others, to occupy his time and hands. He additionally branched out into bagels, serving them loosened or topped with choices like schmear, tomato cultured butter, and home jam.– Rebecca Roland, replacement editor, Southern California/Southwest

Bakery stars Clémence de Lutz and Tony Hernandez prepare a few of the finest laminated breads in Santa Monica. The little store attracts lines from well before its 8 a.m. opening time, where individuals come for their everyday croissant, fruit-topped Danishes, hand pies, and quiches. Petit Grain Boulangerie’s morning treats include tasty or pleasant buns, maple pecan coffee cake, and conchas; frying pan loaves, consisting of Japanese sweet potato shokupan; and sandwich breads like sourdough brioche, ciabatta, and seeded sourdough loaf are all readily available; sandwiches for people who lunch are on order, as well.

This historic restaurant resumed in March with its rejuvenated traditional ambiance and chophouse menu. Golden Bull’s dinnertime food selection covers the classics with Caesar salad, shrimp alcoholic drink, lamb chops, New York strip, and a bone-in ribeye.

Bread Head: Sandwich Shop

This Ocean Opportunity staple is neither cheap neither particularly hip, but that’s no concern for proprietor Bruce Marder, a long time Los Angeles restaurateur. This small restaurant’s never-ending stream of consumers drinks and dines through a food selection of great white wines, robust pastas, and wood-grilled meats. The dining-room tends to accommodate a subtle Hollywood crowd, in case one’s aiming to identify a star or more. The food isn’t creative, simply very well done, and utilizes the finest ingredients.

Santa Monica’s nautically themed restaurant and bar is commemorating 66 years in 2025. It’s still one of the most lovely areas to drink martinis and have a filet mignon with bearnaise sauce, or almondine sand dabs while marveling at the history of the place.

On the Westside, there’s no sandwich store more of the moment than Bread Head, which landed in its first standalone location on Montana Opportunity in 2024. The focaccia sandwiches can be gotten completely (fantastic for sharing, or for one person that really feels specifically starving) or fifty percent dimensions (which swing in under $15), with varieties like a muffuletta layering salami cotto, mortadella, and pit-smoked ham; roasted turkey with Calabrian chile-infused mayo; a stacked BLT; and a vegetarian-friendly mozzarella with avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and za’atar. Sides like Zapp’s Voodoo chips and homemade wonderful tea full the order.