15 Best Restaurants in the South Bay, Los Angeles
One of the best things about eating in Los Angeles’ South Bay is that there’s no single cuisine that defines it. The best restaurants in the South Bay, Los Angeles range from tiny Japanese specialists and family-run Pakistani restaurants to beachside seafood destinations, Korean favorites, Oaxacan cooking and some of the area’s most polished special-occasion restaurants.
Guests staying at Best Western Plus South Bay Hotel in Lawndale are well positioned to explore that variety. Some excellent meals can be found right here in Lawndale, while Torrance, Gardena, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach open up even more possibilities.
If you’re visiting the area and aren’t sure where to begin, these 15 restaurants provide a good introduction to what makes South Bay dining so interesting.
1. Al-Noor – Lawndale
You don’t have to leave Lawndale to find one of the area’s longstanding culinary favorites. Al-Noor has been serving Pakistani food since 1998, with a menu built around richly spiced curries, tandoori meats, biryani and breads from the tandoor.
Chicken tikka masala is an approachable starting point, but this is a menu worth exploring beyond the familiar standards. You’ll find goat dishes, kebabs, curries, vegetarian options and several styles of biryani. Whatever else reaches the table, add an order of garlic naan.
The setting is casual and unpretentious, making Al-Noor particularly useful when you’re looking for excellent food rather than an elaborate night out.
Best for: Pakistani food, curries, tandoori dishes and a casual local meal
Address: 15112 Inglewood Ave, Lawndale, CA 90260
Phone: (310) 675-4700
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2. Fishing With Dynamite – Manhattan Beach
A short walk from the ocean in downtown Manhattan Beach, Fishing With Dynamite is one of the South Bay’s standout seafood restaurants.
The compact dining room has the energy of a neighborhood oyster bar, but the kitchen takes seafood seriously. The raw bar is a major attraction, with oysters and shellfish joined by crudo and other seafood preparations. The menu also moves into cooked dishes, seafood classics and a small selection of memorable desserts.
It’s polished without feeling overly formal, which makes it equally suitable for a date night, celebratory lunch or a seafood-focused meal after spending time near Manhattan Beach Pier.
Best for: Oysters, raw bar selections, seafood and date night
Address: 1148 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 893-6299
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3. Manhattan Beach Post – Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach Post, often shortened to M.B. Post, helped establish downtown Manhattan Beach as a serious dining destination.
Chef David LeFevre’s restaurant centers on shareable plates with influences that reach well beyond Southern California. The atmosphere is energetic rather than hushed, so this is a particularly good choice for groups who enjoy ordering several dishes for the table.
One item has become especially associated with the restaurant: the bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits served with maple butter. They’re the kind of signature dish that inspires people to order them again on every visit.
Best for: Shared plates, groups, brunch and a lively dinner
Address: 1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 545-5405
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4. The Arthur J – Manhattan Beach
When the occasion calls for steak, The Arthur J brings a modern South Bay personality to the traditional steakhouse.
The centerpiece is a wood-fired grill, where steaks are cooked over white oak. The selection includes prime cuts, dry-aged beef and Japanese Wagyu, along with seafood and steakhouse sides for the table.
The midcentury-inspired dining room gives the restaurant plenty of style without turning dinner into a stuffy affair. It’s an excellent choice for birthdays, anniversaries and travelers looking for a more substantial night out near the beach.
Best for: Steaks, celebrations and special-occasion dinners
Address: 903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 878-9620
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5. RYLA – Hermosa Beach
RYLA takes inspiration from Japanese cooking while comfortably moving beyond any single culinary category.
The Hermosa Beach restaurant combines Japanese and broader Asian influences with Southern California ingredients and sensibilities. Depending on when you visit, the menu might lead you toward ramen, sushi, fried rice, seafood or dishes designed for sharing.
The Hokkaido milk bread has developed a following of its own, and weekend brunch provides another reason to visit. Add a strong cocktail program and a lively dining room, and RYLA works particularly well for a date night or dinner before exploring Hermosa Beach.
Best for: Modern Japanese-inspired cooking, cocktails, brunch and date night
Address: 1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Phone: (424) 247-9881
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6. Baran’s 2239 – Hermosa Beach
Baran’s 2239 is a good example of the kind of restaurant you might drive past without realizing how ambitious the kitchen is.
The intimate Hermosa Beach restaurant describes its approach as California casual, with dishes made in-house and a menu that isn’t particularly interested in staying inside rigid culinary borders. Seasonal ingredients and creative preparations share the spotlight with an extensive wine and craft beer selection.
The result is a neighborhood restaurant that can work for a relaxed dinner but still feels interesting enough for a night when food is the main event.
Best for: Creative cooking, wine, craft beer and an intimate dinner
Address: 502 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Phone: (424) 247-8468
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7. Sushi Inaba – Torrance
Travelers serious about sushi should know that some of Southern California’s most interesting Japanese dining isn’t concentrated in central Los Angeles. Torrance and Gardena have deep Japanese culinary roots, and Sushi Inaba represents the special-occasion end of that spectrum.
This is an intimate omakase experience built around carefully sourced seafood and chef-guided progression rather than a sprawling menu of rolls.
It’s considerably more expensive and more reservation-dependent than most restaurants on this list, so think of Sushi Inaba as a destination meal rather than a casual sushi stop.
Best for: Omakase, serious sushi fans and special occasions
Address: 20920 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503
8. Josui Ramen – Torrance
For a much more casual introduction to the South Bay’s Japanese food scene, head to Josui Ramen.
This Torrance ramen shop traces its roots to Japan and keeps the focus squarely on the bowl in front of you. Options include shoyu, miso and spicy miso ramen along with Josui’s namesake ramen and a selection of Japanese appetizers and rice bowls.
It’s exactly the kind of place that demonstrates why visitors interested in Japanese food should explore beyond the beach cities and spend some time eating around Torrance.
Best for: Ramen and a casual Japanese meal
Address: 2212 W Artesia Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504
Phone: (310) 505-5124
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9. Izakaya Hachi – Torrance
Izakaya Hachi offers another side of Japanese dining in Torrance.
Instead of specializing in sushi or ramen, Hachi follows the izakaya tradition of pairing drinks with a collection of smaller dishes. Grilled skewers, seafood and Japanese drinking food make this a good restaurant for a group that wants to order broadly and share.
The experience feels closer to a neighborhood Japanese pub than a formal restaurant, and that’s a big part of its appeal.
Best for: Izakaya dining, Japanese small plates and groups
Address: 1880 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501
Phone: (310) 618-8357
10. Jang Su Jang – Torrance
The South Bay’s dining diversity isn’t limited to Japanese food. Jang Su Jang is an excellent place to explore Korean comfort food in Torrance.
The menu covers a broad range of Korean favorites, including sundubu jjigae, bibimbap, bulgogi and larger dishes that work well for sharing.
This is a particularly good choice if you’re dining with several people. Put a few dishes in the middle of the table rather than having everyone stick to an individual entrée and you’ll get a much better introduction to the kitchen.
Best for: Korean comfort food, soups, hot pots and group dining
Address: 2814 Sepulveda Blvd, Unit A, Torrance, CA 90505
Phone: (310) 534-5533
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11. Madre! Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria – Torrance
Madre brings the cooking traditions of Oaxaca to Old Torrance.
Mole is one of the major reasons to visit, but don’t stop there. The menu explores dishes such as memelas, tlayudas, grilled meats and other Oaxacan specialties, backed by a substantial selection of mezcal.
For visitors whose idea of Mexican food begins and ends with tacos and burritos, Madre provides an opportunity to explore a very different regional tradition.
Best for: Oaxacan cuisine, mole, mezcal and dinner with friends
Address: 1261 Cabrillo Ave, Suite 100, Torrance, CA 90501
Phone: (310) 974-8005
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12. Sweet Rice – Gardena
Sweet Rice specializes in Thai comfort food, and its Gardena location is another reminder that some of the South Bay’s most rewarding restaurants are tucked into ordinary-looking shopping centers.
The menu goes well beyond the Thai dishes most Americans already know. You’ll find noodle soups, khao soi, roast duck noodles, Thai omelets and other home-style specialties, along with the mango sticky rice that inspired the restaurant’s name.
If you enjoy discovering casual restaurants that specialize in dishes you don’t encounter everywhere else, Sweet Rice deserves a place on your list.
Best for: Thai comfort food, noodles and casual dining
Address: 1630 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Suite 4, Gardena, CA 90247
Phone: (424) 344-2054
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13. Torimatsu – Gardena
Torimatsu is for diners who want to go deeper into the South Bay’s Japanese food scene.
The tiny Gardena restaurant specializes in yakitori, with chicken and other ingredients grilled over charcoal and served on skewers. It isn’t trying to cover every category of Japanese food. The narrow focus is the point.
This is a great choice for adventurous travelers who would rather visit a specialist beloved for doing one thing well than another large restaurant with a little bit of everything.
Best for: Yakitori, charcoal-grilled skewers and Japanese dining
Address: 1425 Artesia Blvd, Suite 17, Gardena, CA 90248
Phone: (310) 538-5764
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14. Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop – Gardena
Not every restaurant on a “best” list needs white tablecloths or a celebrity chef.
Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop sits alongside a neighborhood bowling alley and has developed a loyal following for breakfast and Hawaiian-influenced comfort food.
Expect the kind of hearty food that makes sense before or after a few frames of bowling, with dishes such as loco moco, fried rice and saimin helping give the coffee shop its distinctive Hawaiian personality.
For travelers who like old-school local institutions, this may be one of the most memorable stops on the list.
Best for: Breakfast, Hawaiian comfort food and old-school South Bay atmosphere
Address: 15707 S Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90247
Phone: (310) 532-0820
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15. Fatto a Mano, The Pasta Shop – Redondo Beach
Fatto a Mano proves that a restaurant doesn’t need an elaborate dining room to produce destination-worthy pasta.
The Redondo Beach shop specializes in traditional handmade Italian food. Choose from pasta shapes such as spaghetti, pappardelle, gnocchi and ravioli, then pair them with classic sauces including carbonara, Bolognese, pesto, cacio e pepe or tomato and basil.
Roman-style pizza and other Italian dishes round out the menu, but pasta is the reason to start here. The restaurant is casual and takeout-friendly, making it particularly useful when you want serious Italian cooking without planning a formal dinner.
Best for: Handmade pasta, casual Italian food and takeout
Address: 610 Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Phone: (310) 316-5111
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How to Choose Where to Eat in the South Bay
With only a few meals to work with, think about the kind of South Bay experience you want.
For a polished night near the coast, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach make it easy to combine dinner with time near the ocean. Fishing With Dynamite, Manhattan Beach Post, The Arthur J, RYLA and Baran’s 2239 all fit naturally into that kind of evening.
If food itself is the priority, make time for Torrance and Gardena. These communities are particularly rewarding for Japanese and Korean food, and restaurants such as Josui Ramen, Izakaya Hachi, Torimatsu and Jang Su Jang show a side of the South Bay that visitors who stay exclusively along the beach can miss.
And sometimes the best choice is the easiest one. Guests staying in Lawndale can start with Al-Noor without traveling far at all.
Exploring the South Bay from Best Western Plus South Bay Hotel
The South Bay is large enough that trying to eat everywhere on a single visit isn’t realistic. That’s part of what makes it interesting.
Staying at Best Western Plus South Bay Hotel puts you in Lawndale, between many of the communities that define the area’s dining scene. Head west for the restaurants and beach towns of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, south toward Torrance and Redondo Beach, or explore the Japanese, Korean and Hawaiian influences around Gardena.
Most importantly, don’t treat the South Bay as simply a place to eat before heading somewhere else in Los Angeles. From Pakistani curries and Oaxacan mole to omakase, yakitori, seafood and handmade pasta, this part of LA has a dining identity worth exploring on its own.