LAGuide
The Best Restaurants In Malibu
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Malibu has long been a playground for the rich and famous, PCH road-trippers, and everyday people looking to make the most of their Saturday. It’s the Hamptons of Los Angeles, only with way better beaches. But the food situation? It often leaves something to be desired.
Take a quick drive along the ocean and you might notice a random KFC and a few old seaside restaurants with skeletons at the bar. But scratch a little deeper and there’s more in Malibu and its surrounding areas to discover. From classic roadside seafood shacks to brunches with spectacular views, if you’re eating poorly in this town, you didn’t do your homework. Luckily, we did it for you. Here are the best places to eat in the Malibu area.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Did you really think we were going to kick off this list with anyplace else? Nobu is the official restaurant of Malibu. Combine top-shelf sushi with the most stunning space on the coast, and you’ve got one of the most sought-after restaurants in California. To be clear, you are going to spend some money here. A lot of money. And it's going to be a huge pain in the butt to get a reservation. But this is the flagship restaurant of the Nobu empire, where you eat rock shrimp tempura on a beachside fortress patio surrounded by celebrities in sunglasses —and oh look, Meryl Streep just walked in drunk with Spielberg.
photo credit: Sylvio Martins
In a perfect world where money grew on trees, and we lived in a bathing suit, we’d eat mezze with an ocean view every day. That’s sadly still a pipe dream, but at least we can glimpse at the fantasy at Pita ‘Bu. This small, casual Israeli spot across PCH from Surfrider Beach sets up a few long tables on its front patio, so you can walk up with sand in your trunks. The fully pescatarian menu includes pitas, plates, and dips, like smooth tahini and salty, smoky baba ganoush that we scoop up with falafel. Because we love Pita ‘Bu’s mezze, we'll opt for the juicy fish kabob (they’re more like salmon kofta with minced onion and parsley) as a plate with hummus, pickles, and Israeli salad tossed in tons of sumac.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
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Whenever we need a break from the chaos and congestion of LA (as well as this century), we take a drive to The Old Place. Up in the Santa Monica Mountains, it’s located on the grounds of a 19th-century general store-turned-saloon and steakhouse, complete with wooden fixtures and a Wild West aesthetic not unlike Pioneertown. The menu changes every so often, but generally involves American comfort staples like bone-in ribeye steaks, mashed potatoes, and glorious apple pies. There’s full service in the dining room every day except Sunday, or you can eat outdoors, which is more of a to-go operation where you grab a bench and watch flocks of peacocks stroll the grounds.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
There’s no shortage of quality seafood along Malibu’s coast. But for our money, it doesn’t get better than Malibu Seafood. From the fish and chips to the fresh Louisiana shrimp, everything at this tiny roadside shack is fantastic. There will definitely be a line on the weekends, but you will not care. The sun is out, there’s sand in your hair, and you can smell the ocean from your spot in line.
photo credit: Liam Brown
Broad Street Oyster Co. isn’t just a great place to eat along PCH—it’s a destination worth braving gridlock traffic. The move at this barebones seafood shack (located inside of the Malibu Country Mart) is to come with a small group for a late lunch, that way you’ll be able to order a bit of everything: oysters on the half shell, a daily crudo from the raw bar, maybe a cup or two of their excellent clam chowder. Just make sure to include their lobster roll. We like it served hot and smothered in butter, a luxurious sandwich that’s sure to impress even the pickiest of seafood eaters. Yes, we’re looking at you, East Coasters.
Lucky’s is an upscale steakhouse in the Malibu Country Mart that originated in the A-Lister commune known as Montecito. Though this location lacks Oprah and Meghan Markle sightings, the crowd milling around the dining room will keep you entertained. You’ll spot locals sipping martinis and intentionally placing their hands so everyone can see their jewelry, and surfers who didn’t even bother changing out of their board shorts. That said, Lucky’s is more than a people-watching sideshow—the food is good too. We recommend doing your best not to fill up on their excellent table rolls, starting with the shrimp and prosciutto chopped salad, and going for whatever big piece of meat catches your eye.
photo credit: Jessica Grossfield
There are two types of people in this world: those who like their breakfast burritos with potatoes and those who like them with beans. If you’re a proud member of the bean party, then it is highly likely that Lily’s, a tiny Mexican spot in Malibu, serves your favorite breakfast burrito in LA. Even the small size is about the length and weight of a newborn child, and it comes loaded with fluffy eggs, cheese, refried beans, and bacon. You should add avocado, ask for all three kinds of salsa, and call in your order in advance while you’re bombing down PCH.
photo credit: Howdy's
We recommend using Howdy's as a pit stop before a day at the beach. This counter-service Mexican spot in the Malibu Country Mart has poke bowls, salads, mariscos, and other things you'd want to eat a few hundred feet from the coast. But we usually focus on their burritos. From bacon and egg to spicy mayo and lobster, Howdy's has an array of options that are more modest in size than Lily's, but notably higher quality. The steak burrito is the move: juicy carne asada, fluffy scrambled eggs, housemade spicy cilantro salsa, and more cheese than a dairy aisle. If you want to dine in, Howdy’s has a large covered patio where you can cool in the shade and sip agua frescas.
photo credit: Yasara Gunawardena
This kitschy seafood diner on the north end of town is arguably the most popular pullover spot on the entire PCH. And while the swarms of brochure tourists can get intense, we’re never mad we went. The food is good (get that clam chowder, or anything deep-fried), and the retro 1960’s California vibes are unparalleled.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
If you took a natural wine shop, a retro vinyl store, and a pizza parlor, threw them all in a blender, and dropped the result in Topanga Canyon, you’d get Endless Color. The space looks like Burning Man meets Pee-wee's Playhouse: wiggly light fixtures, blob-shaped tables, and giant disco balls above a cactus-lined patio. It’s casual enough to drop by after a day at the beach, but still cool enough to go out of your way for a Malibu Pier photoshoot. Most of the menu is dedicated to Neapolitan pies with puffy, charred crusts. But they also serve a good cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and a few side salads.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
If you’re craving some drunken noodles or panang curry pre- or post-beach, Cholada is where you head. The tiny restaurant next to Reel Inn looks like another PCH seafood shack from the outside, but inside it’s a no-frills, family-run spot serving great Thai favorites.
photo credit: Kim Fox
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Let us be clear—Paradise Cove does not have the best food in Malibu. And that ticketed parking lot of theirs can be a certifiable nightmare. That said, once you’re actually in the place, all that fades away. Most restaurants in Malibu advertise themselves as being beachfront, but Paradise Cove is the only one literally on the beach. And if you think Mom and Dad (or a date) want anything else besides sipping a Bloody Mary with their feet in the sand, you’re wrong.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Our general rule is that the closer a restaurant gets to a pier, the more terrible it becomes. And if the restaurant is actually on the pier? Forget it. Unless we’re talking about Malibu Farm. The Scandinavian-inspired restaurant has a simple, crowd-pleasing menu filled with light, kind-of-healthy salads, protein plates, and tacos. Plus, those views off the pier never hurt anybody. If you want a quintessential Malibu experience without having to take out a home mortgage, Malibu Farm is where you should go.
photo credit: Taverna Tony
Located in the Country Mart, but slightly removed from all the exhausted yogis and screaming Galliano-dressed children in the main square, Taverna Tony is an oasis of pretty great albeit pricey Greek food. If you’re looking for a quintessential Malibu date night, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of all the main spots on the water, Taverna’s lively, local vibe is where you should be, especially on weekend nights when they typically have live music and belly dancers. You could also come by for an unencumbered lunch. Their covered patio is a great place to have a drink and fill up on octopus and Greek salad before or after hitting the beach.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Don’t come to Duke’s feeling too serious. This is a kitschy Hawaii-themed restaurant on PCH overlooking the ocean, where surfboards, historical timelines, and vintage surfing videos on TVs line the wood-paneled walls. Come any evening and you’ll find a bunch of sandy locals who take up permanent residence at the bar, which overlooks the unobstructed Pacific. And on Taco Tuesday, the outdoor patio gets particularly packed. The margaritas are contenders for the best in the city, and dolphin sightings are so frequent, it gets old after a while. The food? The tacos, salads, ribs, and burgers are good enough, and that’s fine with us.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
The post-surf breakfast burrito is basically a Malibu way of life, and Country Kitchen is where the locals get theirs. This place is right on PCH, with a walk-up window, an awkward parking lot, a handful of seats, and a giant menu of burgers and sandwiches. If you see the breakfast burrito on the menu, order it. It’s simple—with a choice of meat (get the bacon), egg, hash brown, cheese, and salsa—and not too filling, and if you show up in a wetsuit, you can pretend you actually know how to surf.
photo credit: Malibu Cafe
Unlike most of the places on this guide, Malibu Cafe doesn’t have a view of the water. But it does have something just as spectacular: a view of the Santa Monica mountains. Getting here is a trek—about 20 minutes off PCH—but once you arrive, you can gaze onto a 5,000-acre property filled with waterfalls and tree groves. It’s located on the historic Calamigos Ranch, an event space that’s been around since the 1930s. Although it costs a ton of money to host an event here, anyone can drive up and eat at the restaurant. The food is good rather than great, but it’s a nice pick-me-up while daydreaming about moving here and living off the land.
When your overbearing aunt is in town and demands to be “on the water,” Moonshadows is exactly where you take her. Located off the PCH, this restaurant’s dining area juts out over the ocean, making it a great spot for wrap-around sunset views and feeling like you’re on a Carnival cruise liner, minus the all-inclusive cocktails. The dinner menu is just OK, with the creamy lobster and crab linguine being a safe pick, but brunch is undeniably pleasant with the ocean breeze and diner-style omelets. It’s Moonshadow’s prime location that ultimately makes it worth visiting for a pineapple mojito at sunset, with or without your aunt’s company.
Technically in Topanga, we’re including Inn of The Seventh Ray because it’s simply not to be missed. This hideaway in the trees sounds more like a nudist colony than a place to grab brunch but rest assured, it’s very much a restaurant. And a surprisingly upscale one at that. The food is good enough, but you’re here for the fantastic patio and those old-school Topanga Canyon vibes.
