My Restaurant Guide to West Los Angeles
AKA: A Local Restaurant Guide to West Los Angeles from a Non-Local's Perspective
I love planning, lists, and if this blog isn’t an obvious enough example, I love sharing my favorite things with others.
Since moving to the west coast, we haven’t had a lot of opportunities to bring our friends and family to some of our favorite SoCal spots, just yet. So, whenever someone tells me they’re visiting the area, I’m pumped to share suggestions for drinks, dinner, and of course, dessert.
To be fair, LA is not just one “area.” It’s huge, extremely spread out, and filled with many distinct neighborhoods. From Pasadena to Long Beach, it’s all considered “LA.” Without fail, when friends tell me they’re visiting, no two have actually every stayed in the same area.
Lucky for them, our go-to weekend activity is often exploring all these different areas, and we’ve found so many amazing places for grabbing a bite and hanging out — and no, not just fancy LA tourist spots.
After recently having the opportunity to set up an awesome evening for some friends, I thought it was time to put these suggestions out into the world.
We spent the majority of our time living near what is considered West LA. So what better place to start this suggestion series—give us another couple of months in OC, and I’ll have some solid suggestions for this area, too.
Without further ado—If you find yourself in the Santa Monica or South Bay/Beach Cities area, here are my top suggestions for drinks, dinner, and dessert. (Plus, I'll share my menu favorites from each pick! 🙌)
The Complete Package
If the traffic of LA is something you’d prefer to avoid, or if your idea of an ideal evening doesn’t include hopping around to multiple places, here are some suggestions for my favorite all-in-one spots.
Drink: Frozé
Dinner: Coconut Calamari or Shrimp Taquitos, with a side of Grilled Sweet Corn
Dessert: Passion Fruit Creme Brulee
Drink: Lemonade
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Plate w/ sides of Mac and Cheese + Rainbow Carrots & Golden Beets
Dessert: Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Best Bites
If you’re willing to drive away from West LA a little bit or find yourself in the South Bay, these are my favorite suggestions for some really stellar dinner pasta options. Yes, there are other great options on the menus, as well, but I’m here for the cheese.
Drink: Sangria
Dinner: Truffle Mac and Cheese (Pro-tip: Add lobster)
Drink: 16th Street Spiked Rum Smash (Bonus: You get to keep the glass!)
Dinner: Smokey Bacon Carbonara
Just Desserts
If you have a sweet tooth, this is the section for you. From West LA down to the South Bay, these ice cream (and frozen yogurt) options are always worth saving room.
Dessert:
Classic: Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbon
Seasonal: Pots of Gold & Rainbows (You can find this in March)
Dessert: Horchata Yogilato
Dessert: Cookie Dough w/ Pretzels & Chocolate Chips (Pro-tip: Add extra cookie dough, brown sugar caramel, and even TCHO Crispies if you’re feeling wild.)
Views
It wouldn’t be a complete list without adding one of my top suggestions when visiting the area. Is it fancy? No. Is it one of the best food experiences in the area? Trust me, it is.
Before you judge the recommendation—hear me out. This In-N-Out is located right next to LAX’s North runway. Meaning, you’re directly underneath the final approach path for hundreds of planes coming into the airport. If you’re an AvGeek, or just really love unique experiences, be sure to make some time during your trip—heck, even as the last meal in LA before you hop on your flight home.
In-N-Out Burger (9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA)
Dinner: Double Double with Fries
Dessert: Neapolitan Shake
Happy eating!
