Whether you’re in the mood for a fancy celebration or a casual post-work hang, you’re never far from a great meal in West LA. At the best restaurants in West Los Angeles, you’ll find everything from innovative, plant-based Japanese spots to art museum stunners serving the freshest California fare.
Feast on premium meats grilled tableside at a Japanese barbecue favorite. Celebrate a special occasion at a family-owned French charmer. Dig into classic Mexican dishes while listening to live mariachi.
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Read on to discover the 10 best restaurants in West Los Angeles.
For a chic bar and Mexican cuisine with Japanese accents: Hermanito (West Los Angeles)
Hermanito, a neighborhood Mexican restaurant with Japanese accents, is a go-to for its indoor-outdoor vibe and top-notch bar. Grab a seat at the lively bar to sip on a spicy margarita or glass of Japanese whiskey paired with elegant starters like West Coast oysters or tuna tartare. Or grab a seat on the patio to feast on birria and carnitas tacos starring in-house, Sonoran-style tortillas or large mains like port katsu or a 24-ounce bone-in prime ribeye.
For a grilled meat extravaganza at one of the best restaurants in West LA: Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining (West Los Angeles)
Tokyo-based Manpuku Japanese BBQ Dining is a celebration of all things meat. Large tables add to the festive atmosphere, as do central grills where chefs prepare tableside feasts—think premium meats like Tokyo-style prime short rib and kobe ribeye along with vegetables, seafood, and chicken. For special occasions, indulge in the American wagyu tasting menu or toast with a glass of sake.
For Northern Italian cuisine in a stunning space: Il Moro (West Los Angeles)
Open since 1989, Il Moro is where you go for elegant, Northern Italian dishes in a stunning West Los Angeles setting. Expected a refined menu of pastas like corn truffle ravioli and classic pizzas along with mains like lamb shank braised in a California red blend wine. Enjoy them on the lush patio or in the throwback dining room decked with white tablecloths. Regular live music exhibits from guest artists make this a quintessential West LA restaurant.
For innovative Japanese vegan dishes in a serene setting: Kusaki (West Los Angeles)
Come to Kusaki for artfully-plated, plant-based riffs on Japanese favorites, served omakase or a la carte style. Standout dishes include avocado crispy rice, torched miso eggplant “nigiri,” and a pea-based torched “tuna” nigiri. Enjoy them at the long wooden chef’s counter or at a seat in the serene, minimalist dining room with a striking 87-year-old bonsai tree.
For Mediterranean cuisine created by award-winning chefs in a stylish space: KAIF (West Los Angeles)
One of the best restaurants in West LA, KAIF is the brainchild of global cooking competition champions Marharyta Myronenko and Yehor Muradyan. In the stylish dining room with golden chandeliers, plush seating, and greenery galore, the pair serve up elegant Mediterranean dishes. Bring a crew to share starters like veal tartare, cheese platters, and fried calamari, or go all in with mains like baked halibut risotto. The restaurant also has a lively hookah lounge.
For refined French dishes at a West LA charmer: A Food Affair Restaurant (West Los Angeles)
Chefs Babette & Christian Royère hail from the South of France and bring their French-meets-American cuisine to A Food Affair Restaurant, a charming neighborhood spot in West LA. In a compact dining room with a glittering chandelier, stone walls, and intimate tables, dig into standout dishes like mushroom tourte, beef bourguignon, and duck confit along with top-notch, French-leaning wines. Or enjoy a special occasion dinner on the lush covered patio with greenery and soft lighting.
For Mexican entertainment and cuisine at a local favorite: Casa Sanchez (West Los Angeles)
At Casa Sanchez, enjoy live mariachi music in the main dining room five nights a week—and a feast of stellar Mexican cuisine with several vegan options every day and night. High ceilings, decorative greenery, and large windows create the perfect setting for dishes like sizzling fajitas, mole poblano, and combination platters. Bonus points for a greenery-strewn outdoor patio.
For Northern Italian cuisine in an elegant space: Vicini (West Los Angeles)
Chef Lucio Bedon is a veteran of MICHELIN-Starred restaurants, and that pedigree shines at Vicini. This quintessential neighborhood spot serves up a menu of Northern Italian gems—think exquisite pastas, delicate crudos, and large format plates like grilled beef tenderloin with a red wine reduction. Enjoy them in the richly appointed dining room featuring stunning art or at the wine bar with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. Don’t miss the popular Sunday brunch, starring bottomless mimosas.
For a casual Mexican fare in a lively setting: Kalaveras (West Los Angeles)
Vibrant artwork depicting Day of the Dead Celebrations set the tone for hearty Mexican dishes at laid-back West LA favorite Kalaveras. Expect traditional dishes like carne asada, massive burritos, and tacos galore in the lively space that’s favorite for group gatherings and happy hour celebrations. Neon signs and abstract splashes of color add to the restaurant’s celebratory vibe, as do weekend special events like Tuesday night DJs and weekend brunches with bottomless mimosas.
For a panoramic view of the Santa Monica Mountains as you enjoy California cuisine: Restaurant at the Getty Center (West Los Angeles).
Get breathtaking views of the rolling Santa Monica Mountains at Restaurant at the Getty Center. Choose from terrace tables and indoor seating with two walls of dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows adorned with sketches of restaurant design. Enjoy seasonal Cali-fresh dishes like elegant salads, grain bowls, dishes like crispy skin Baja striped bass while surrounded by stunning views and word-class works of art.
Dig into everything from seasonal California fare with sweeping mountain views to traditional Mexican dishes to the sounds of live mariachi at these best restaurants in West Los Angeles. From refined French dishes at a quintessential neighborhood spot to innovative sushi in a serene space, dining out in West LA is always exciting.