Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Beach Cities

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Beach Cities? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mastro's Ocean Club - Malibu

4.9

4.9 (6647)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Malibu

About the restaurant

Mastro's collection of sophisticated, classic Steakhouses and Ocean Club seafood locations are recognized for their combination of world-class service, highly acclaimed cuisine, and live entertainment in an elegant yet energetic atmosphere. A truly unparalleled dining experience.

Top review

Dined 1 day ago

I had an amazing one year anniversary and the entire F&B team were amazing.

Fox & Farrow

4.9

4.9 (318)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hermosa Beach

About the restaurant

Experience Chef Darren’s line-up of timeless classics and new creations in his cleverest menu yet. Please your palate with mouthwatering bites and intoxicating cocktail concoctions at Fox & Farrow in Hermosa Beach, California.

Top review

MindaVIP

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Love this place!! Food is delicious. We’ve tried everything - seriously! Everything is delicious!!

Slay Hermosa

4.9

4.9 (357)

$31 to $50

American

Hermosa Beach

About the restaurant

Chef David Slay's exciting Hermosa Beach collaboration, brought to you by the team from Bottle Inn and Martha's Hermosa Beach. "Farm-to-Beach" menu with fresh local seasonal ingredients & wines direct from the Slay Estate & Vineyard. Chef Slay has transformed this corner into the newest culinary hotspot in the South Bay. Join us for beachside views & beautiful sunset dining. Come experience what everyone is talking about! "Farm to Beach!

Dinner Nightly. Bottomless Mimosas ~ Weekend Brunch. Prime Rib Sundays. Half Price Select Wine Tuesdays. Rooftop Dining. Beer & Wine. Private Parties.

3 different casual-upscale locations that are available for seating:
- Inside Cozy Dining (vintage coastal decor)
- Outdoor Porch Patio (street-view, with heaters)
- Rooftop Dining (with heaters)

Reservations are recommended but not required. For more information, please visit our website: www.slayhermosa.com. We look forward to delighting you! #slayallday

Top review

Mary Lynn

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent service from Katelyn and food was delicious. Cauliflower croquettes, watermelon salad, wedge, sole, branzino and pork chop all wonderful. Sole was fantastic.

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Popular dish

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Popular dish

Prime Rib Grilled Cheese

Experience

Weekend Brunch ~ Bottomless Mimosas

Porterhouse

4.9

4.9 (312)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

El Segundo

About the restaurant

Porterhouse in Downtown El Segundo combines the allure of a traditional steakhouse with a contemporary, rustic appeal. The cozy, stylish interior features exposed brick, warm woods and soft lighting. Our diverse menu, crafted by our culinary team, offers a modern twist on steakhouse staples. Our signature Porterhouse steak, an array of other meats, fresh seafood, and flavorful pasta cater to all palates. Our extensive cocktail menu, including a large variety of bourbons, pairs perfectly with our dishes. We aim to create an unforgettable dining experience, melding quality, innovation, and a warm atmosphere. Whether it's a special celebration, a casual outing, or a well-deserved treat, we ensure every meal turns into a celebration of splendid food, pleasant company, and joyous times.

Top review

Brett

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

The food here is amazing always cooked perfectly. No complaints with this establishment

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4.8

4.8 (5653)

$30 and under

American

Manhattan Beach

About the restaurant

ADDITIONAL AVAILABILITY ON OUR WEBSITE : TinRoofBistro.com

After soaking in the TRB’s Santa Barbara mission architecture, you’ll enter and be greeted by a triple arched Brunswick mahogany bar. Large bowls of colorful citrus for making cocktails sit atop a twenty-foot long bar perfect for grabbing a glass of wine or a bite to eat. As you explore further towards the display kitchen, you enter our lounge, also referred to as the wine library. Knotted wood shelves display our wines, divided up by wine region. Windows surround the North side of the dining room, allowing our guests to gaze out onto the fountain in our courtyard. I describe the décor as thoughtful and collective, creating little vignettes for dining areas. We offer two separate outdoor dining experiences: our courtyard with full service and our front porch great for appetizers, drinks and lounging.

Top review

Alison

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Nice place , easy parking , good food overall , had the chicken this time which was ok , burgers are good !

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Popular dish

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

4.8

4.8 (1659)

$31 to $50

Italian

Manhattan Beach

About the restaurant

Mangiamo Restaurant, serving traditional Italian cuisine through a California lens, is located in the heart of beautiful downtown Manhattan Beach, one block west of Manhattan Beach's historic pier. Mangiamo has been serving the South Bay since 1984. Mangiamo is currently serving indoors and outdoors on our heated decks with epic views of the Pacific Ocean.

Top review

Jeffrey

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

The Pumpkin Tortellini and Gnocchi con Short Rib Ragu appetizers were a great start. The Osso Bucco is wonderful, highly recommended. Frank the manager is always great and so were our servers Valentin and Gustavo.

Caffe Pinguini

4.8

4.8 (1649)

$31 to $50

Italian

Playa del Rey

About the restaurant

We are open for curbside pickup, takeout and delivery and offering a 10% discount on all orders! Lunch will be open from 12pm-2:30pm & Dinner from 5:30pm-9:30pm.

Italian owners, Tony Cotrufo and Enrico Fiorentini, both hail from Rome and have been serving fresh authentic Italian cuisine at their Playa Del Rey location since 1997. They offer homemade pastas, an excellent wine list, outdoor seating and daily specials.

Caffe Pinguini was awarded with the "Marchio Ospitalita" Italiana - Seal of Authenticity". The seal distinguishes those restaurants with the highest quality of Italian hospitality.

Top review

Karina NovelliVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Love it! Food so delicious. Thank you for being in Playa

Manhattan Beach Post

4.7

4.7 (4536)

$31 to $50

American

Manhattan Beach

About the restaurant

Manhattan Beach Post (M.B. Post), a soulful, highly personal restaurant by Chef and co-owner David LeFevre brings a playful, artisan menu of small shared plates, hand-crafted cocktails, and small production wines to the South Bay. M.B. Post is the culmination of 15 years of work, travel, and finely honed technique in the world's most vibrant culinary communities by Michelin-stared chef, David LeFevre. Renowned for his fine-dining experience and seafood mastery at Water Grill, LeFevre returns to his culinary roots with a more rustic menu, built to be shared and served in a gracious and welcoming environment.

Top review

ElizabethJVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Other than a loud and rude couple sitting next to us everything was great!

Ayara Thai

4.7

4.7 (104)

$30 and under

Thai

LAX / Westchester

About the restaurant

Ayara Thai offers home-cooked food with an emphasis on local produce. Appetizers at Ayara Thai include Muay Thai Wings, Veggie Rolls, Shrimp Butterfly, and more. Several soups are available including the restaurant's specialty, chicken or shrimp Tom Yum, which is a hot and sour soup with lemongrass, Thai chili, fresh lime and mushrooms.

For mains, try any of the rice, noodle or curry dishes or choose one of the house specials like Baked River Prawns, Chinese Broccoli Pork belly or Whole Fried Branzino. Desserts at Ayara Thai include Mango Sticky Rice, Thai Tea Flan, and seasonal offerings, such as our Chocolate Cherry Tart, and more.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 7 days ago

Best Thai food! Wonderful and welcoming staff! Family owned and operated. Neighborhood gem. Check them out. ❤️

The Hook & Plow - Hermosa Beach

4.7

4.7 (1054)

$30 and under

Californian

Hermosa Beach

About the restaurant

Farm to table is a movement around sourcing locally produced food and delivering the freshest product to the consumer. At the Hook & Plow, we truly believe food that comes directly from the source will yield a more fresh and more tasty product. Our menu will be focused around all the wonderful delights that California has to offer, including lots of fresh seafood and seasonal farm fare. We will strive to be as sustainable, organic, and healthy as possible, while staying true to our California roots.

Top review

Randi

Dined 3 days ago

Loved the furikake fries. Great ambience for lunch with friends.

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