Now on Resy: Mírame, Hamasaku, Baja Cantina, The Galley, and More Local Favorites

Tucked in a West L.A. strip mall, Hamasaku is one of the best sushi spots in the city. The rolls — some still named for entertainment industry bigwigs — are as good as the traditional nigri, and the lunchtime chirashi bowls are as satisfying as the full omakase experience at night. The sake list is one to explore — ask the sommelier for perfect pairing suggestions.

For decades, Baja Cantina (now Baja Venice) has been a favorite Marina del Rey spot for rousing happy hours, strong margaritas, sizzling platters of fajitas, and solid beachy vibes. The spruced up outdoor lounge keeps the good times coming, a big open space filled with sandy earth tones, rattan furniture and woven light fixtures that befit its name, and fire — both in pits centering communal tables and when t comes to their margaritas.

Trends come and go, as do restaurants along Santa Monica’s busy Main Street corridor, but The Galley remains. You’ll go for the year-round Christmas lights and lore, and you’ll go back for another bowl of chowder, the house salad (the Thousand Island-like “secret” dressing is why the current owner bought the place), a good steak, and strong drinks. Happy hour is a hoot, too.

It’s easy to say that this ultra-glam West Hollywood spot is busy because it’s owned by one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills — there is a fan-base from all around the country clamoring to eat here. But those plush velvet seats under trees and twinkling lights are filled with just as many locals digging the chicken Milanese, fish and chips, and signature cocktails.

If you’re a fan of the Santa Monica farmers markets, you’ll appreciate the shoutouts for locally grown produce and proteins on the menu of this Main Street charmer. Dishes change seasonally, and there’s just enough of everything to keep you coming back: handmade pastas, baked whole fish, a great steak, and even something for the littles. Don’t miss the intimate guest chef dinner series and wine tasting events.

Having one of the area’s best contemporary Mexican restaurants in the 90210 isn’t so surprising once you tuck into one of chef Joshua Gil’s butter-poached lobster or mushroom queso fundido, two not-to-miss things on the Mírame menu. His sensibility for combining traditional Mexican cooking techniques and dishes with California’s abundant produce and ingredients makes this a total standout. 

Dine like you’re staying at the swank Beverly Hills hotel even if you’re not. Supple fabrics, muted tones, elegance, and classic presentations are the hallmarks here, whether it’s for bruléed French toast and coffee in the morning or steak tartare and a sidecar at night.

Silver Lake’s Ceviche Project is a magnet for anyone looking for seasonal light bites and a glass of natural wine or sake. Made with impeccably fresh seafood and other ingredients, chef Octavio Olivas’ dishes often look more like works of art than simple ceviche, and that’s why you’re here.

Resting somewhere between a restaurant dining room and a dinner party, Dudley Market serves a hefty dose of Venice magic that almost seemed lost as the neighborhood grew and morphed. A local’s joint that welcomes everyone, this is the place for a plate of oysters or crudo, fish tacos or a great burger. Stop for a sunset and a sip of something fun and flirty from the wine list, and take it all in.

The best part about dinner at Gasolina is ordering a paella (they’re all fantastic, but we’re partial to the one with seafood), then eating a smattering of tapas while you wait. Think:  jamón-wrapped dates, arugula and citrus salad, and meatballs in spicy tomato sauce. By the time the paella comes, you’ll need another glass of Albariño. And maybe more meatballs.

In the sea of pizza options around L.A., not many specialize in Roman-style pinsa. But here, the oval-shaped pies have a lighter crust, which make them that much easier to devour. A classic margherita is always good, but the carbonara-inspired one really sings. Mussels, a burrata bar, and cocktails round things out. Surrounded by olive trees and SoCal vibes, the sidewalk patio is lovely.

The party you always wish you were invited to is now a supper club for the beach crowd. There’s live music every night, but you won’t know who until that day (just know it’s often bands you’ve heard of), and the menu is better than it should be. We’re looking at you, lobster fried rice and duck tacos. Skipping the line with a dinner reservation is the baller move.

The Petersen Automotive Museum’s all-day cafe caters to everyone, car aficionados or not. Everything’s mighty tasty, especially the breakfast burrito, pizzas made with naturally fermented dough, and zero-proof cocktails. And if you were wondering, yes, the restaurant is named after the original dune buggy.

This stunner from chef Steve Samson and wife Dina Samson stands out in a crowded downtown scene. It’s part location (City Market South), part the buzzy space, a perfect mashup of L.A. energy and Bologna soul. The grill is always fiery, the handmade pastas are ethereal, and the meatballs are some of the best anywhere.

The Arts District newcomer hails from Mexico City, but it feels more like Palm Springs circa 1950s. That’s to say, it feels like a vacation no matter what. The lush urban oasis decor is full of desert pastels, terracotta tiles, and lots of greenery. Try the guacamole, ceviche, tacos, and especially the blackberry-hibiscus swizzle that goes with everything.

Everything about this Michael Mina restaurant feels expansive, from the beautifully designed dining room with panoramic views of Hollywood to the globe-trotting menu. And yet, a cocktail at the bar, a spread of dips and warm flatbread with crisp farmers market veg, and soul-affirming tortellini en brodo all seem meant just for you.

This is how Silver Lake does hotel dining. The breezy boutique all-day hotel spot packs a lot in its diminutive space, both in vibes and flavor. A platter of baked clams and an Aperol spritz next to the pool feels like an escape.

A spinoff (of sorts) from “Vanderpump Rules” cast members Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval, the eclectic cocktail lounge adds a bit of TV whimsy to Franklin Village. And by whimsy we mean dramatic lighting, colorful cocktails, selfie nooks, and lobster corn dogs. 

A local’s local since the early aughts, this Silver Lake mainstay is still the spot for a friendly meal whether you’re solo or on a date (even if your date has four legs). Get the meatballs with polenta, a fresh green salad, and maybe the roast chicken for old time’s sake.

Like the Silver Lake original, this cozy spot has all the trappings of a perfect neighborhood restaurant. You can’t go wrong with any of the handmade pastas, and the meatballs and polenta or roast chicken make you feel right at home.

The perfect neighborhood spot for an understated date night or brunch with friends, Little Prince has the Santa Monica lifestyle vibe on lock. The sleek little dining room and outdoor parklet patio are usually buzzing, with things like a patty melt with brown butter béarnaise, or anything seasonal and kissed by the wood burning oven on every table. Peruse the bottle shop before or after your meal; you’re sure to find something natty and eclectic to take home.

The scene on Santa Monica’s Main Street ebbs and flows, but this stalwart remains a beacon for honest Italian fare. There may be a few famous faces around the room — it’s that kind of place — but the real stars are classics like soulful ribollita, purple potato gnocchi, and veal saltimbocca.

Exactly what you’d expect to find along the Venice boardwalk — a colorful plant-filled patio, skate and surf details everywhere, loungers for day-drinking locals and tourists alike, and a beachy menu that covers all the bases. Fish tacos, a burger or fried chicken sandwich, and a pitcher of beer or frozé hit the spot.

Known for its effortlessly cool space, beautiful crowd, and food that never disappoints, Gjelina pretty much set the barometer for what Abbot Kinney came to be. Quintessentially Californian and forever partnering with local farms, it’s not unusual to see plates overflowing on small tables no matter the time of day. Always find room for the pork meatballs in tomato sauce and a slab of toasted sourdough.

In the shadow of the Beverly Center and Cedars-Sinai, Granville is one of the most consistent lunch stops. It’s a massive space, both indoor and out, with a menu to match, but that’s the beauty of it — it’s there for everyone, any time. Dinner, however, is the secret: Thick pork chops big enough for two, ultra-creamy mac and cheese, great burgers, and a very good martini is where it’s at.

If the millennial pink walls aren’t the first giveaway that this is a Tuk Tuk for today, it might be the menu full of street food dishes mixed with classic Thai favorites. Relocating to Sawtelle after two decades in Pico-Robertson — everseen by a second-generation team of sisters — there’s still pad Thai, that unskippable pineapple fried rice, and tom yum soup. But don’t miss the lemongrass-scented Isaan sausages, khao soi noodles in curry coconut broth, or anything from the pork belly section of the menu.

A little greenhouse around every table on the tree-shaded patio; breads and pastries from Suzanne Goin’s Larder Baking Co.; a menu of irresistible breakfast fare (do not sleep on the lemon poppy seed pancakes with housemade jam), salads, and sandwiches … And did we mention there’s lots to love on the dinner menu, too?

As lavish as the outdoor Palisades Village complex itself, The Draycott is all gleaming brass and marble, gorgeous velvet, and leather furniture in lush colors, with lots of sunlight and big leafy plants to make the place seem endlessly breezy. Think of it as a California brasserie, with a few nods to French classics (see the delightful twist on a Niçoise salad), but don’t skip the fish and chips (the owners are English) with locally sourced rockfish. Locals, even the more famous ones, are fans of the bar for a near perfect Bloody Mary.

Stephen Kalt’s Spartina is the place where everyone can find something, whether it’s a couple out for a quick market salad and pizza from the wood-burning oven, or a group sprawled out on the plant-filled patio wanting to share all the antipasti and handmade pastas. The black garlic spaghettini, pacheri with pork ragu, and Calabrian chili pizza are popular for a reason. Don’t skimp on dessert, especially when the walnut pie is involved.

Much like its Academy Museum home, Fanny’s (named after legendary movie and vaudeville star Fanny Brice) is the Golden Age of Hollywood reinterpreted for a new generation, with clamshell booths and servers in tailored jackets filling the sweeping two-story space. While the restaurant is walk-in only during the day, evenings are for dressing up, ordering cocktails named for classic films, and watching the showmanship of amped-up Caesar salads, wood-fired steaks, and cheese courses — all of which are must-haves — served tableside.