LAGuide
The Best Restaurants In West Hollywood
photo credit: Kathryn Ballay
Love it or hate it, the fact remains that West Hollywood is one of the most popular areas of this city. From the Sunset Strip down to Santa Monica Blvd. and the shopping you can’t afford south of Melrose, it’s all one beautiful mess and no one can deny there’s more action here than people know what to do with. And though the neighborhood does have defined boundaries (it is its own city, after all), most people's definition of “West Hollywood” is far more subjective. That’s why we’re also including restaurants from its sister neighborhood, Beverly Grove. From Old Hollywood classics to upscale sushi bars, here are the best restaurants in the West Hollywood area.
THE SPOTS
There is no shortage of great sushi in West Hollywood, which is what made the arrival of this upscale Japanese spot from Austin, Texas something of a head-scratcher. But all it took was one meal to put any preconceived notions to rest. Not only is Uchi’s sleek, stunning space a perfect addition to Weho’s client dinner spot roster, the food is fantastic. The menu is large—probably a little too large—so we recommend concentrating mostly on the nigiri, then adding in small plates like tempura, daikon salad with crispy rice, and smoked yellowtail on a crispy yuca tostada.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
Despite the numerous comedy theaters and live music venues in West Hollywood, good spots for drinks and snacks before seeing a show are limited. Coucou fills that void. This French-ish bistro—the original location is in Venice—has a breezy, indoor-outdoor space that’s well-suited for downing martinis and watching the sunset. And while you could come here for a full meal, we recommend snacking on well-done small plates like fried olives, shrimp cocktail, and beef tartare instead. From there, take the party elsewhere: The Troubadour, Dan Tana’s, and all the bars on Santa Monica Boulevard are within stumbling, er, strolling distance.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
West Hollywood will always be famous for its queer culture and next-level nightlife, but there’s also a substantial Russian and Ukrainian community that predates the city itself. And at the heart of it is Traktir. This Eastern European spot takes comfort food to a different level: pillowy, potato-filled vareniki topped with fried onions, chicken blintzes smothered in mushroom sauce and shaved cheese, and beef stroganoff arriving like a creamy centerpiece built for a royal banquet. Portions are generous, so if it’s your first time, bring as many people as you can—and don’t forget to order a sampler of their house-infused vodka.
The ground-floor space at the Kimpton La Peer has a history as a revolving door for above-average hotel restaurants. The latest is Ladyhawk, a modern Lebanese spot that we’re hoping sticks around because it’s quite good. The colorful, Art Deco-y dining room is strikingly beautiful and ideal for impressing somebody whose entire personality is not being impressed. Plus, the menu is full of food that even the pickiest eater at your table will enjoy. The highlight is the $110 mezze platter, which arrives on a giant lazy susan, filled with nine kinds of dips and shmears, as well as falafel and warm, pillowy pita. It’s more than enough food for two, but if you want to explore the entrees, go for the grilled prawns or olive-crusted rack of lamb.
Did you order a new club fit even though you usually get sleepy around midnight? Wear it to DiDi. This Vietnamese restaurant isn’t a club by any means, but they keep the lights dim, play ‘90s throwbacks, and serve honey-glazed tiger prawns and shrimp toast to a flashy blue check crowd. DiDi functions like a moody lounge where you can dress up without feeling stupid (and the uniformed bartenders making back-to-back martinis all night). Stop by for a fun night out when you’re more interested in having a good time than having a great dinner.
Jones is one of those few places we refer to as an ace restaurant. Pull this casual Italian spot out for any occasion, whether it be for a hot date or late-night drinks, and it will deliver on all fronts. The menu is full of delicious Italian staples like margherita pizza and spaghetti and meatballs, and the vibe is cool without being annoying. Also, save room for that apple pie skillet at the end, or don’t even bother coming.
photo credit: Rémy Martin
When Ggiata opened in East Hollywood, it wasn’t long before we named it one of our favorite places in the city to grab a sandwich. Now the East Coast-inspired sandwich shop has moved west, opening another location in the heart of West Hollywood. The layout’s pretty similar to the original—a small, order-at-the-counter space suitable for a quick lunch—but the menu here is a little larger. You’ll find classics like the prosciutto-stuffed Masterpiece and the Spicy P alongside additions like the Rocky, a fancy chopped cheese with pepperoncini, or The Burr, which is essentially their take on tuna salad. Raid their dessert case, too. The limoncello olive cake and rainbow cookies are the best you’ll find in town.
photo credit: Jessie Clapp
The Sunset Strip is a place we generally try to avoid when it comes to eating out, but Saltie Girl has softened our cold hearts. This popular Boston import in Sunset Plaza offers large-format seafood dishes, sashimi, salads, and steaks. What you need to concentrate on, though, are the classic New England-style dishes. The lobster roll, juicy bar burger, and clam chowder all have us daydreaming of becoming crusty fisherpeople. If that’s not enough, there’s a thick booklet of tinned seafood options from which you can build your own sardine plate. Hitting the Sunset Strip can be fun as long as you have the right restaurant to base your night around. Saltie Girl fits the bill.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
In 2010, Kris Yenbamroong opened up the original Night + Market next door to his parent’s restaurant, Talesai, and gifted the Sunset Strip one thing it never really had: a casual place where you actually want to hang out. Fast forward to today, and this massively popular Thai restaurant has locations in Silver Lake, Venice, and Las Vegas. Despite its immense growth, Night + Market’s formula remains the same—great food, great wine, and a fun space that always feels like a party.
photo credit: Matt Gendal
Dan Tana’s is an LA classic. The old-school Italian spot has been around since the 1960s and has had more intoxicated movie stars walk through its doors than a Steven Tyler after-party. Is this the greatest Italian food you’ve ever had? No. But everything from the fried ravioli to the chicken parm to the caesar salad they make at your table will be solid. It’s not a big place and they certainly cram everybody in there. But with a pitcher of red wine in front of you and Cameron Diaz in the corner, who’s really complaining?
photo credit: Jakob Layman
After closing down in 2005, this historic hotdog stand is back and looking better than ever. Now located on Santa Monica Boulevard, Tail O’ The Pup’s space has a massive, two-story patio, a retro interior (with excellent AC), and the iconic hot dog-shaped stand from the 1930s out front. Our favorite dogs on the menu include the loaded Chicago Pup and the spicy Jalapeno Pup, but don’t skip the Sassy Cheese, a fast food-style burger with a layer of crispy, griddled cheese inside. If you’re short of time, ordering is swift—you could easily be in and out in 20 minutes. Otherwise, we recommend kicking back, ordering a beer or canned wine, and soaking up the nostalgia.
Sushi Fumi on La Cienega is one of LA’s great sushi restaurants, and it’s not just because they have incredible fish. It’s because any level of sushi eater will have a fantastic meal at this casual but lively strip mall spot. Maybe you’re the kind of person who sticks mostly to rolls and a few recognizable pieces of sashimi, or maybe you live and breathe by the daily specials board. Either way, you’re in good hands. Order the yellowtail and jalapeno sashimi special, the moon roll, or our favorite amberjack in the city, and you’ll see what a great all-around sushi restaurant looks like.
photo credit: Tower Bar
Outside of a build-your-own sundae situation, the food at Sunset Tower isn’t much different than any other overpriced hotel restaurant on The Strip. That said, you’re not here for an elevated take on the roast chicken—you’re here for an all-out Hollywood scene. Spend even an hour here sipping martinis by the pool and you’ll see stressed-out people sobbing in the corner, the Olsen twins sucking the youth out of anyone who gets too close, and enraged agents throwing burner phones into the pool. Take a deep breath, sit back, and enjoy the show.
Once upon a time, it was very difficult to get into Connie & Ted's. But now that the hype around this East Coast-style seafood spot has settled down, it's become an even better version of its former self. This huge restaurant is now the kind of neighborhood staple where people go on dates, eat early dinners with their kids, and have solo lunches at the bar because they woke up craving beer and oysters. Get the burger with aged cheddar, thousand island, pickles, onion, and lettuce. They aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but it’s a classic.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
Rosaliné feels like it should be the place to go when you want to see a Kardashian—it’s on Melrose, its sign is neon, and it’s full of beautiful people wearing flowy things. Except Rosaliné also happens to have excellent Peruvian food. And while there's no red carpet entrance, eating here still feels like an event—especially if you get a table in the greenhouse-ish back room. Bring a lot of people so you can try every ceviche and paella on the menu.
West Hollywood has no shortage of over-the-top brunch spots, but when it comes to finding a quality breakfast, things get more difficult. Which is why we love Breakfast by Salt’s Cure. This tiny breakfast-only spot on Santa Monica Blvd. (they’re open daily from 8am-2pm) only has a few things on their menu, but among them is one of LA’s single best breakfast dishes: the oatmeal griddle cake. Sweet, salty, and syrup-less, it’s essentially the greatest pancake on Earth and comes in varieties like banana nut, chocolate chip, and blueberry with flax seed crumble. The OG with toasted cinnamon sugar is still our favorite though. For an extra $2, you can make any version gluten-free.
POWERED BY
At $400 per person, Sushi Ginza Onodera is one of the most expensive dining experiences not just in Weho, but in all of LA. We’ll let you decide if you ever need to drop that kind of money on one meal, but what we can say is that every bite of food at this La Cienega sushi bar is exceptional. You’ll eat around 23 courses ranging from uni and caviar egg custard to gold-crusted abalone to a green tea dessert served in a martini glass. The service is equally impeccable with staff moving around the tiny space with the grace of a dance troupe. And yet, there’s also plenty of quirkiness, like when the servers periodically stop by with an iPad and scroll through Google images of the fish you’re currently eating. It’s charming, but also educational.
West Hollywood is overflowing with vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, and many of them are great. But the most exciting one is Pura Vida. The all-vegan Italian spot on Santa Monica Blvd. has dishes like a macadamia romano cream, shiitake bacon-filled carbonara, and a “Black Magic Lasagna,” that’s made with cashew ricotta, bechamel sauce, spinach, mushroom, pesto, and a black truffle cream that ties the dish together without overpowering the rest of the flavors. Beyond what you’re going to eat though, Pura Vita is just a fun, casual place to hang out, drink way too much wine, and take in a neighborhood that’s never scarce on quality people-watching.
Being a high-end sushi bar within walking distance of Sushi Park can be a tough gig, but Jinpachi has found a way to do it. Located in Boystown, you may have stumbled past Jinpachi after too many vodka sodas at Hi Tops and not even realized it. But this spot is serving high-quality sushi at half the cost of its famous neighbor on Sunset. If you aren’t looking to go all-in on the $100 omakase, they have excellent lunch specials, sashimi bowls, and a spicy crispy rice you need immediately.
