Cassia

Cassia feels like a Santa Monica clubhouse. One filled with truly fantastic Southeast Asian food.

This once French-Mexican brunch spot has morphed into the most reliable French restaurant on the Eastside.

Baran’s 2239 is a Hermosa Beach neighborhood spot that will make you feel like you’re at a potluck.

Dama is an upscale Latin restaurant in Downtown LA’s Fashion District with excellent food and cocktails.

Shaka Shack in Santa Monica has good burgers in a Hawaiian-themed space.

Jame Enoteca is a small strip mall Italian spot in El Segundo with fantastic handmade pasta.

Kotosh is a Peruvian-Japanese spot in a Lomita strip mall that manages to do two pretty different cuisines pretty well.

Wendy’s Place is a classic breakfast diner in El Segundo.

Havana Mania is a family-run Cuban restaurant off the 405 in the far inland reaches of Redondo Beach.

Lighthouse Cafe is a classic spot for a diner-style breakfast in San Pedro.

A little south of most of the stores on Hermosa Ave., Mickey’s Deli is a Hermosa Beach legend with some very solid Italian deli classics.

Every beach town needs a spot for a post-surf breakfast burrito, and Brother’s is where to go in Hermosa Beach.

The Bottle Inn in Hermosa Beach does excellent Italian-American classics a block from the beach.

Jus’ Poke in Redondo Beach serves poke like you’d get in Hawaii, with a few kinds of tuna options and really good toppings.

Sushi Chitose has a fantastic, affordable omakase in an almost impossible-to-spot building in Redondo Beach.

North End Caffe in Manhattan Beach is a diner doing some interesting spins on greasy spoon classics.