LAGuide

The Best Restaurants In Beverly Grove

Our favorite places to eat in one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in LA.
Oste interior

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Beverly Grove is a sprawling neighborhood in Central LA and a place that lays claim to The Beverly Center, CBS Studios, and the biggest tourist attraction of them all: The Grove. But despite all that, it’s also an area that’s fairly hard to define. We asked our readers where they thought the neighborhood was and every single response was a different answer. So for our purposes, we’re defining the boundaries as Melrose, Fairfax, and Beverly to the north, La Brea to the east, 6th St. to the south, and La Cienega and Robertson to the west.

If you could care less about geography, however, and just want to know where to eat, you’re in luck. Beverly Grove is one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in LA, with everything from neighborhood pasta spots and classic Jewish delis to high-end sushi bars offering blowout meals. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it in Beverly Grove. Even if you aren’t totally sure where it is.

THE SPOTS

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Italian

Beverly Grove

$$$$Perfect For:Casual Weeknight DinnerLiterally EveryoneOutdoor/Patio Situation
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Oste is a colorful Italian spot on 3rd Street that's ideal for all kinds of occasions: a date, a double date, a post-gym carbapalooza, lunch with your mother-in-law, a quick dinner before a movie at The Grove…we could go on. The specialty here is pinsa, a delicious Roman-style flatbread designed to be shared. But there's chicken milanese and steak, a spread of antipasti options, and a full-on burrata bar, too—all just as great. We particularly love their lush, outdoor seating area with lots of plants and pretty gold accents when we want a special occasion feel at neighborhood spot prices.

Seoulmates isn’t the first place in LA to do Korean-Mexican fusion, but it does make the best Korean tacos we’ve ever had. The galbi taco at this West 3rd Street restaurant comes with saucy, marinated short rib balanced with tons of acid, heat, and freshness from its kimchi remoulade and onion-cilantro relish. There are also more Korean-leaning dishes at this great lunch option, including kimchi fried rice with bulgogi and pickled fresno chiles and a sweet, spicy Korean fried chicken hoagie with heaping piles of slaw for crunch.

Part gourmet grocery, part French restaurant, Monsieur Marcel’s is the most pleasant corner of the Original Farmers Market. The tourist crowds might put a damper on whatever Euro-fantasy you’re stepping into, but Marcel’s is still a nice place to let a weekday afternoon drift by. You can shop for funky cheeses and apricot preserves, or meet up with a friend for midday oysters, steak frites, and a gooey quiche lorraine. And if you really want to make a statement, order the $44 cheese fondue service.

At first glance, Melanie looks like many other good wine bars around town. There’s a well-curated list filled with mostly European natural wines, a cute space that resembles a popular friend’s living room, and a menu filled with snacks you want to eat while drinking chilled beaujolais. But what makes this spot great are the people serving you the wine. No question is a dumb question, even if you’re date asks if orange wine is made from oranges. As far as the food, the mussels are a standout. They’re plump, buttery, and bathed in a rich vadouvan curry. And though it’s not technically on the menu, ask for a side of their crispy tater tors. Consider it an exercise to see how good your date is at letting you eat all of them.

Choosing a favorite vendor at The Original Farmers Market is like picking your favorite scene that Jennifer Coolidge stole—deeply personal and next to impossible. But for us, it’s Singapore’s Banana Leaf. No matter if it’s 100 degrees out or 60 degrees out, we always gravitate to this tiny stall for excellent Singaporean staples like the sweet and creamy laksa soup and some of the best beef rendang in town, filled with plentiful heaps of beef that could be cut with a spoon if you wanted. That said, no meal here is complete without a side order of their flaky roti paratha and curry dipping sauce. Unlike many stalls at the market, SBL makes everything to order, so expect to wait a little longer for your food, but know that it’s worth it.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

$$$$Perfect For:Corporate Cards
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Compared to other high-end omakase spots around LA, Matsumoto is probably the one you’ve heard the least about. And that’s exactly why a meal at this tiny strip mall spot is so exciting. Matsumoto is one of LA’s premiere sushi experiences and yet it still feels like a complete secret. You don’t need a long-standing reservation or a lengthy IMDb page to get a seat here. Just head to the bar, let Chef Matsumoto know your likes and dislikes, and be whisked off on a tailor-made, 18-ish course omakase. Prices vary based on available fish, but you can generally expect to pay around $180.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Slab originally started as a pop-up in its owner’s Studio City driveway (called Trudy’s Underground BBQ) and now operates inside a shiny space on 3rd Street. The order-at-the-counter shop is casual and straightforward, and the barbecue is certainly some of the best you’ll find in central LA. Most people are here for the brisket, but it’s the spare ribs that keep us coming back. Be sure to throw in a side order of creamy mac and cheese.

Out of all the Sticky Rice locations, the Beverly Grove restaurant is our favorite. This small, casual Thai spot is a great walk-in option on West 3rd Street, and somewhere you can go with a friend to sit at the bar and split a curry over some Singhas. The menu is the same as you’ll find at its sibling location in Echo Park, including a sweeter-than-usual panang with big chunks of beef, spicy chicken larb that makes our forehead sweat, and deep-fried pork jerky that makes for a dependable bar snack. There’s also a small vintage TV playing early 2000s DVDs for some reason, which we can’t deny is a nice touch. 

Hidden on what’s essentially a San Vicente service road, you could live in Beverly Grove for years and not know much about La Paella. It’s time to change that. This family-run Spanish spot looks like an old tavern with dark wooden chairs, tiled floors, and knick-knacks on the walls. Sangria flows freely in the evenings and big tables gather to eat through one of our favorite tapas menus in town. That said, it doesn’t take a trained detective to uncover the main event here: paella. The valenciana mixta has soft saffron-tinted rice, fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, and tender chicken and pork. Or go for the equally delicious marinera that swaps in calamari and king prawns.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

$$$$Perfect For:LunchSmall Plates

Son of a Gun is the old reliable of the Jon & Vinny’s/Petit Trois empire. No one talks about it too much, but it’s always there when you need it. Big group? Take over the giant window booth at the front of the restaurant. Dinner with the pescatarian in-laws? Bring them here and they might start liking you. This place is fun and casual (albeit pricey), and relatively easy to get into. Order from every seafood section of the menu, and also get at least one fried chicken sandwich for the table.

For anyone who lives within a half-mile radius of Beverly and Crescent Heights, Marvin is your Cheers. For anyone else, this is a French bistro with food good enough to drive across the city for, and an atmosphere that’ll make you wish you had something similar in your neighborhood. Things can get a little pricey here (most entrees are over $38), so we recommend coming in to aggressively snack instead of throwing down for a three-course meal. Just make sure you’re snacking on all of their toasts.

Noree Thai is from the same people who run Luv2Eat, and that alone should get you through the door. Their menu is fairly similar to the original Hollywood spot (including the tremendous jade noodles), plus a few new items like massaman lamb chops and ko-lae chicken which has been herb-rubbed in a sweet and sour sauce. The casual space is small, but you can still come here with a group, and there’s a tiny front patio if you feel like watching people spend $300 on groceries at Erewhon across the street. Tip: Leave some extra time for parking, it can get tricky.

Pampas is one of the most popular stalls in the entire Original Farmer’s Market, so if you come during peak hours on the weekend, know you’re likely going to wait. But even a 50-person line shouldn’t deter you from this excellent Brazilian spot. Pampas is what’s called a ‘kilo’ restaurant, meaning you pay by the weight of your plate, instead of a set price. It sounds economical at first, until you reach the end of the cafeteria-style line and your plate is stacked six inches high with food. Offerings change daily, but if you spot the creamy catfish moqueca or feijoada, put them on your plate immediately. From there, head to the churrasco-style meats where you’ll find garlicky linguiça and perfectly cooked picanha.

You could probably walk past this dime-sized Italian restaurant on Beverly Blvd. a hundred times and not notice it, but that would be a huge mistake on your part. For well over a decade, Angelini Osteria has served some of the best old-school Italian dishes in the city. It’s fancier (and better) than the somewhat generic space might make you think it would be, and you should plan on dropping some serious money. It’s worth it though—from sea urchin linguine to veal shank agnolotti, this is where real pasta happens.

Badmaash is one of the most popular Indian restaurants in LA and it’s easy to see why - the food is fantastic. With a menu that features dishes like chicken tikka poutine, chili cheese naan, and masala potato fries, this isn’t traditional Indian food by any means, but it’s also pretty different than anything else you can get around town. The Fairfax dining room is fun, casual, and a great spot for a last-minute dinner that has the potential to get rowdy.

We don’t need to remind anyone about the existence of Jon & Vinny’s, but one aspect of this Italian spot on Fairfax that we’ll continue to point out is that it’s open all day. And while we’re big proponents of their breakfast situation (the BLT is a must), come lunchtime, it’s the same menu as it is at night. The only difference is you don’t have to make a reservation a month in advance to experience it. There are also outdoor “cabanas” going down Fairfax now, which offer even more room to fill up your table with meatballs, gem lettuce, and spicy fusilli.

Beverly Grove can be a tough neighborhood for date night simply because it’s filled with popular restaurants that everybody’s been to a bunch. If you’re looking for something different, head to Carlitos Gardel. The old-school Argentinian spot on Melrose has been around for years, yet feels like a local secret. There’s a beautiful, fully enclosed back patio with romantic lighting, a giant wine list with dozens of Argentinian reds, and a menu with no shortage of tremendously cooked meat. You can’t go wrong with any cut, but we’re partial to the prime ribeye, topped with a fragrant, pungent chimichurri. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. The charming wait staff will present them on a big tableside platter and you’ll have zero willpower to say no.

The Kibitz Room is not a restaurant, but excluding it from this neighborhood guide would be like not inviting your oldest friend to your wedding (oof). This tiny cocktail lounge attached to Canter’s on Fairfax is not where you start your night—it’s where you go after a great night, one that you don’t want to be over yet. Drinks are cheap, the crowd is always interesting, and there will probably be a middle-aged garage band playing in the corner. And in case you missed what we said: It’s attached to Canter’s, a perfectly mediocre (equally iconic) Jewish deli that’s open 24 hours. 

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