LAGuide
The Best Restaurants In Hermosa Beach
You don’t need us to tell you that Hermosa Beach has changed quite a bit over the years. What used to be a sleepy surf town full of artists and fishermen has slowly turned into a cluster of packed pubs, music venues, and hotels near the pier. There’s also a new wave of great restaurants in this popular part of the South Bay, making the neighborhood feel more like a dining destination and less like a coastal spot to eat brunch and bar hop. Here are our favorite places to get breakfast burritos, smashburgers, and matcha tiramisu in the area.
THE SPOTS
Unlike most restaurants that sit 1000 feet from a coastline, Ryla is sexy and pretty cool. Come to this Japanese fusion spot if you’re looking to impress someone who will appreciate snacking on inventive seafood or sipping a couple rounds of well-made cocktails. The candlelit dining room stays loud enough for you to identify which R&B song is playing, but not so booming that you feel like you’re at a karaoke party. And practically all of the Japanese-Taiwanese dishes at Ryla are worth braving the traffic on PCH. We especially like their Hokkaido milk bread, sea bream soaked in a limey coconut broth, and the Penicillin with tea-infused Japanese whiskey.
photo credit: Proudly Serving
A former pop-up gone permanent, this smashburger operation bounced around the South Bay and Long Beach before landing in a breezy space with lots of seating a block from the ocean. Burgers are double-stacked by default (they’ll probably let you do a single if you ask nicely). The not-too-thin patties have a nicely seasoned crust that droops over the edge of the toasted potato bun, while the mayo-heavy special sauce and pickles add some tang. The best part, though, is the bird’s nest of griddled, crispy, almost-charred onions smushed into the patty. We also appreciate that their burgers come neatly wrapped and never get too messy. Order a side of tots and a local beer to complete the set.
Set back from the beach in a spacious shopping center, Barsha is the kind of unpretentious restaurant that South Bay residents probably don’t want anyone outside of their zip code to know about. We’re sorry to them—this indoor-outdoor North African restaurant is too charming and reasonably priced not to share. There’s a good mix of small plates like falafel sliders and roasted cauliflower alongside larger, shareable entrees like juicy lamb meatballs or a rich seafood stew, all of which cost less than $30. And since the owners also run a wine shop nearby, you’ll find a fairly priced list that offers various-sized pours.
This date night spot serves a weekend-only breakfast burrito that’s so popular, you have to order it online days ahead. Our favorite version comes with chorizo, well-seasoned eggs, crunchy tater tots, melted cheese, and salsa verde trying to bust its way through the seams of the tortilla. But you should also come here whenever you’re in need of a nice, sit-down dinner. The dinner menu reads like the email chain organizing a potluck, it's full of odd pairings that end up working together flawlessly. Dishes change pretty regularly, but you’ll find everything from squid ink gnocchi with crab to smoked chicken wings.
photo credit: Wonho Frank Lee
Very few neighborhoods in LA know how to party like Hermosa Beach knows how to party. Come Fridays and Saturdays, the Hermosa pier and surrounding downtown area turn into a vodka-soaked paradise. If you’re looking for the heart of the action, get a reservation at Tower 12. The nautical-themed restaurant/bar is located right on the pier and has a solid menu of burgers, pizza, and other things people want to eat when they’re drinking. If you stick around late enough, the space itself will turn into a full-on party, but if you’re looking for a change of scenery, you’re steps away from every other kind of nightlife you could want.
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This Italian-American spot has been open for over 40 years, and attracts a loyal crowd of locals on casual dates working their way through the long wine list. It’s the kind of place where you’ll end up with seven pastas on your table because you can’t make a decision, but the staff here can always help you narrow down your order. Whatever you do, make sure you get the fried calamari, the lobster angel hair, and a spot on the front patio.
photo credit: Holly Liss
For our money, there isn’t a better all-around taco-eating experience in Hermosa Beach than the sampler platter at Guisados. It comes with a plate of mini tacos that lets you try six versions all in one go, and from the spicy chicken tinga to mole poblano, there isn’t a dud on the menu. Each of the little corn tortillas is made fresh, all of the meat is juicy, and the sampler only costs $12. Guisados also opens at 9am daily, so you can also drop by for a breakfast burrito or some chorizo and potato tacos before a morning stroll along the waterfront. There's also a bunch of free parking (a rare commodity in these parts).
Vista is a big seafood spot on the Hermosa Beach Pier right near The Strand, and it’s the best place to catch the sunset while having a casual, sit-down dinner. Both the horseshoe bar inside and tables outside have unobstructed views of the coastline, which is part of the reason Vista tends to be packed whenever the sun’s out. Some other reasons: the excellent lobster roll topped with dill pollen, solid tiki cocktails, and dog-friendly patio policy. Come during Happy Hour (3-5pm every Monday through Thursday) or plop down in an Adirondack chair by one of the fire pits on a chilly Sunday night.
photo credit: Brothers Burritos
Every beach town needs a spot for a post-surf breakfast burrito, and Brother's is where to go in Hermosa Beach (especially if you didn’t pre-order from Baran's 2239). It's just south of the pier, within close walking distance of the massive parking lot and waterfront bike path. The burritos here come as two mini burritos instead of one big one cut in half, making it extremely easy to save half for later. You can build your own or choose one of the favorites, but we’ll tell you now that the “B. Avocado” is popular for a reason. Always ask for extra salsa.
