LAGuide
The Best Restaurants In West Hollywood
Where to eat in that one neighborhood where you'll definitely end up at some point.
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 Boystown and all 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, here as well. From Old Hollywood classics to tiny pizza windows to upscale sushi bars, here are the 23 best restaurants in the West Hollywood area.
THE SPOTS
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.
When Ggiata opened in East Hollywood in 2021, 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 a second store 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. Don’t forget to raid their dessert case, too. The limoncello olive cake and rainbow cookies are the best you’ll find in town.
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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 a huge menu filled with 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 overflowing with tender meat, juicy bar burger, and the best clam chowders we’ve had in years all had us daydreaming of giving it all up and 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. Putting on a hot outfit and 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.
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 become a full-out empire, with 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 the best party in the neighborhood.
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?
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.
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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.
Madre originally opened in Torrance, but has quickly expanded to Culver City and now Fairfax, bringing with it tremendous Oaxacan food and one of the largest mezcal collections in the city. We particularly love the memelas, which are made with thick homemade tortillas and topped with black bean paste, queso fresco, and your choice protein (we recommend either the cecina or tripe). But if you’re with a big group, we recommend getting involved with their excellent tlayuda, which comes with three different meats on the side. Also, the smoky margarita is one of our favorites in town.
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 momagers 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.
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After being the subject of one of the more over-hyped restaurant openings in recent memory, the East Coast-style seafood spot Connie and Ted’s has settled in and become an even better version of itself: a neighborhood staple with good food, a great space, and a casual atmosphere that makes it a solid option any day of the week. Also, that burger might be the best thing on the menu.
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 it’s not going to be a real-life E! News segment, 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.
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. And considering the price point, that’s exactly where the bar needs to be. 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 the waitstaff moving around the tiny space with the grace and fluidity of a lyrical 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 that you’re currently eating. It’s charming, but also educational. If you’re down to drop serious money on dinner, Sushi Onodera is worth your while.
Dtown Pizzeria
Operating inside Phorage in West Hollywood, this pop-up is run by Detroit native Ryan Ososky, who is cranking out the kind of Detroit-style pizza that reminds us of Buddy’s or Jet’s (for any Detroit natives reading this). The crust is golden and crispy with a light, airy center that makes taking down a whole pie by yourself a very doable option. Standouts include the “1946,” which comes topped with a thick ribbon of marinara and oregano, and “The Goomba” with pepperoni and fennel pollen.
Are you a talent agent or someone who meets with agents? Maybe you hang out with people who have jobs that you only vaguely understand, but who seem to make a whole lot of money? Then you’ve been to Cecconi’s. This is power lunch central, and has the requisite scene to go along with it. The only thing you wouldn’t expect is that the food here is actually great. The spaghetti with lobster might be $38, but it’s also delicious, and the $7 burger they do between 4pm and 7pm is one of our favorites in the city.
Norah is an upscale American restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. and a great place to head if you need to impress somebody. Maybe there’s a seal-the-deal date on the horizon or you have a client in town who’s staying on The Strip, but doesn’t want to eat on The Strip. Norah is the right move. The big, beautiful space strikes the perfect balance between being high-end and comfortable, and the wide-ranging menu is full of tasty dishes like cornbread, pizza, and uni-poached shrimp.
West Hollywood is overflowing with vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, and many of them are quite good. But the place that has us most excited right now 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.
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