By 
This post was originally written in 2018. Some of these places are in my other restaurant guides.
For those who have never been to LA, the South Bay is the southwest corner of Los Angeles County that extends all the way down from LAX International Airport through little beach cities like Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and ends at the cliffs of Palos Verdes.
Besides the beaches, the South Bay may not have a buzzing nightlife like West Hollywood, but it sure has some of the most underrated restaurants in LA. Despite being mostly inhabited by rich Caucasians, the South Bay houses outstanding vibrant culinary diversity that will blow your mind. It boasts an array of low-key, reliably good restaurants at every corner that promise to please even the most discerning palate. Due to the proximity to the beach, the restaurants are so casual that you can walk in in flip flops and no one will give you the side-eye.
Another thing that called my attention, is that almost everyone there is a huge sports enthusiast. Walk into any restaurant in the South Bay or Long Beach and you are bound to see a giant flat screen TV playing the sports channel. However, it’s not just the surf culture, endless miles of beaches with piers, and overcrowded pricey beachfront restaurants that the South Bay is known for. There’s so much more to it. Are you ready to discover the best hidden gems in the South Bay? Keep on reading!
If you plan on spending a day in the upscale city of Manhattan Beach, which can accurately be described as the Beverly Hills of the beach, continue your exploration at the Redondo Beach pier followed by a spectacular sunset in Palos Verdes. This is just one example of the many itineraries you can follow, but don’t limit yourself to one little beach town because each has its own flair. Here’s a compilation of the must go to restaurants that will leave your friends and relatives in awe.
Thank you very much to my friend Paula, a South Bay local, for helping me out with places!!
Updated November 2021:
VCHOS
1901 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501
I was casually driving on a Saturday through Torrance, when I saw a food truck with the name VCHOS parked in a lot. There was outdoor seating and the place was bustling with people. It wasn’t until a month or so later that I finally decided to stop by. You can find VCHOS in different locations around LA. Most Saturdays from 1-9 PM, they can be found at the Smog City Brewery parking lot in Torrance. Check out the calendar on their website to confirm.
There are many pupusa places in LA, but what makes VCHOS stand out is that their pupusas are gluten-free, made with high-quality ingredients, and their menu caters to people with dietary restrictions. Most of their menu is gluten-free including their gourmet tacos.
I ordered the revuelta and the chicken spinach cheese pupusas. The latter was by far my favorite and I highly recommend getting one if you go there. The way all the ingredients meshed together was very unique and bold. The chicken was so good and tender and the melted cheese surely did not disappoint. I tried so hard not to burn my tongue while I devoured these in my car. The flatbread was soft, airy and warm! There was one person in the truck hand making them, while the other person was taking all the orders. Since pupusas are made by hand, you might have a little bit of wait time ahead of you. I waited almost 20 minutes for mine, but boy, was it worth it! The best thing of it all? My order for the 2 pupusas was only $8, which, for a food truck, is kind of rare in LA — and they were so filling!
The revuelta, made of pork, beans and cheese, was good, but my experience eating that one paled in comparison to the chicken, spinach and cheese. They give you a complimentary pickled slaw salad on the side, but it was too spicy for my taste.
Instagram –@vchostruck
Piccini
4642 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503
This Italian restaurant looks very promising and is opening in November. I can’t wait to go there and share my review! Check out the website.
Breakfast and brunch
Krust
1300 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Two words: avocado toast!! This coffee shop is a hidden treasure in the South Bay. The leaf wallpaper adds a very quaint and cozy touch to the space. Although I haven’t tried these yet, all the pastries there are made in-house.
Coffee Cartel
1820 S Catalina Ave #102, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Not at the top of my list, but I felt like it was worth a mention. I will always look at this place with special fondness. I remember when I first walked in, I felt like I was transported to the 90 ’s teen movie I Want You To Want Me. The decoration consists of dated furniture, vintage wall art and the most random things like a suit of armor. A lot of students and writers with laptops go there in search of a quiet, yet inspiring workspace. In addition, there’s a large unit filled with old books and small stage used for poetry nights and live music on certain days of the week.
Café Wild
3505 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Café Wild opened its doors less than a year ago by Phil, a Brit who hails all the way from Birmingham, and Erin, a native Californian. The baby blue facade against the bright blue sky mixed with the salt air breeze instantly made this a winner on my list. The owner is a huge fan of the Beach Boys and there are surfboards and vintage beach photos hanging on the wall. Café Wild serves up a very wide range of food options perfect for every palate and mood! If it’s your first time, I can’t stress enough to try the English breakfast. I loved to eat English breakfast every morning when I was in London and it also brings back memories of when I used to spend summer school trips in Ireland. To round up your British eating experience, they also serve English tea. Also, the jams are homemade and all-natural, perfect to pair with their scrumptious croissants. Everything there is cooked to perfection. I love how they have cleverly filled the restaurant with character blending the ever-present quintessential beachy vibes of the South Bay with the British essence.
Cafe Wild deserves a five out of five-star rating: delicious food, the interior aesthetic is on point, lovely staff and it’s merely a few feet away from the beach! What’s not to like?
Créme De La Crepe (multiple locations)
1708 1/2 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
French-owned restaurant highly favored by the locals. This place, like Coffee cartel, is located smack dab in the middle of the Riviera Village, a very popular stretch of shops and restaurants on Catalina Avenue. The staff is all French and the food here is magnifique and gorgeously presented! If you want to get an authentic French eating experience, Creme De La Crepe is the place to go. The decoration with the brick wall, the French written sign at the entrance and the décor bring a unique and elegant dash of style to the place that will transport you to a cafe in Paris.
What to order: any of the pastas, energy sandwich or the healthy breakfast
Brazilian
Brazilian Plate House
4509 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503
There are a handful of Brazilian restaurants scattered throughout different neighborhoods in LA, but the South Bay is where the biggest Brazilian community in California resides. If you do some google research about the top Brazilian restaurants in the South Bay, you’ll see tons of articles written about Panela’s Brazil Cuisine, a very popular Brazilian South Bay staple. My friend told me to skip it and go to Brazilian Plate House instead. I can’t believe how many times I’ve driven by this green Swiss chalet-style building on my way to Del Amo mall. Every single food item there is a feast for your mouth!! So so good! Indeed, the Brazilian Plate House establishment is more casual, smaller and cheaper than Panela’s.
Pampas Grill is also good and more convenient if you live in the central LA area, but this one right here will change your life. Certainly, considering the large Brazilian community in the South Bay this place will heighten your Brazilian eating experience.
There’s ample parking space and it’s outdoor seating.
For a more upscale authentic Brazilian experience, my friend also swears by the famous steakhouse chain Fogo De Chao.
My other Brazilian acquaintance from UCLA, said that the best Brazilian place in LA and OC is Texas de Brazil in Irvine.
Jus’ Poke
501 N Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
If you’ve never had traditional Hawaiian poke, this place will change the way you eat poke forever.
Jus’ Poke was founded by native Hawaiians and is one of the few joints in LA where they serve authentic homemade Hawaiian Poke. In my opinion, the best poke dish here is the California roll. Everything is super fresh. Also, just like in Hawaii, you can buy the poke by the pound and the fish is perfectly marinated. The tuna and pickles will make your taste buds sing in happiness. Did I mention how much seaweed salad they serve on the side? Jus’ Poke is the closest you can get to Hawaii! Because the place is not that big, I advise you to avoid the peak lunch hours and go there early in the morning. Also, you’ll see that the fish is better at this time because it’s fresher and tastier than later in the day.
I have been coming here for over a year and it never disappoints!
American
The Rockefeller (Multiple locations)
1209 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Do you want to know where you can get the best burger in the South Bay for $0.99 every Tuesday? The Rockefeller!! My friend celebrated her birthday here almost two years ago, which coincidentally fell on a Tuesday. To get this $0.99 deal, you have to order an alcoholic beverage, which I remember she ordered for me since I don’t drink. Looking back at that day, I still remember how unbelievably good the burger was. The bun, which has an R stamped on it, was super soft and the patty was so juicy it almost melted in your mouth. It was also my first time ever driving down the I-405 to the South Bay on a rainy and cloudy March night. I was so new to LA! Time is a crazy thing, isn’t it? But I digress. The Rockefeller is surely worth the trek. The burger is undeniably the star of the place but the lobster mac also deserves a 5/5 star review!
Unlike Redondo Beach or Hermosa Beach, parking in Manhattan Beach is absolute chaos! Either get there early or go late in the day for dinner. The Rockefeller also has a location in Hermosa Beach, but I can’t speak for it. I don’t know if it’s as good as this one.
Fish
BLUE SALT FISH GRILL
23215 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505
Loooooooved this place. When you step out of the car, you will be taken aback by the delicious grilled fish smell and the ocean air that will transport you elsewhere but LA. I genuinely felt like I was back in Hawaii. The place is nicely decorated and meticulously clean. After ordering my fish of choice (Mahi Mahi), seasoning and two sides (couscous and rice), I was expecting the bill to come up to at least $19 like Tender Greens. I was absolutely taken by surprise when the cashier said $12. This unbeatable value in LA deserves to be at the top of everyone’s list! Once you’re seated they bring you a free ceviche appetizer with chips. It was so fresh and flavorful that I ended up eating most of it!! The mahi mahi was also fresh and high-quality and the couscous was absolutely delicious. The lemon slice added the perfect kick to the overall flavor of the dish. Going back to the mahi mahi, it was really fresh and perfectly cooked but nothing spectacular in terms of flavor since it’s a very simple fish. My friend Paula highly suggested to trying the salmon with rosemary potatoes next time.
BluePlate also offers an extensive range of wines, salsas and other kinds of fish! The options for building your plate are limitless.
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New places
The newest modern Mexican restaurant in the South Bay is Esperanza Cocina de Playa, which opened in Manhattan Beach in July 2021. Located just a few blocks away from the beach, Esperanza’s plush and intimate dining atmosphere was modeled after Mexico’s beautiful beach destinations like Cabo San Lucas and the Yucatán. Food-wise, the menu draws from the Mexican state of Sonora with an emphasis on seafood.
Esperanza’s interior was designed by award winning team Gulla Jonsdottir Architecture & Design. Can we please take a minute to appreciate the strikingly beautiful space?
Table Manners
1611 S Catalina Ave #150, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Table Manners, a modern American comfort food restaurant, opened its doors on February 17th, 2021!
Founders John Kulacki and Michael Bakert said to dailybreeze.com: “It is a complete scratch kitchen. We’re making our own cheese, we’re making our own ketchup, we’re making our own everything. We’re grinding our own beef for burgers.”
The last time I drove past Table Manners it was packed with people, so make sure to call ahead for reservations! I can’t wait to try it!
Pura Vita
320 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
The best vegan pasta I’ve had in LA. It was mind-blowingly good and for the life of me, I could not believe it was vegan. Read my full review here of the West Hollywood location.
Sushi Chitose
402 South Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, California 90277
The best sushi in the South Bay
“Our expertise is traditional sushi. Our sushi features the freshest and highest quality fish flown in fresh from Japan and all over the world. Thank you to access our website. We feature Omakase “ Chef’s Choice” which allows the sushi chef to create the best possible sushi personalized for you.” – Sushi Chitose.com
Other amazing Japanese restaurants in the South Bay:
Rice (Manhattan Beach)
Japonica
JAPONICA is a Sushi/Ramen/Izakaya Japanese restaurant in Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach where you can enjoy authentic Japanese food in a cool, yet casual atmosphere.
If you want a bang for your buck:
Mitsuwa Market
Oki Doki
Rice Sake and Real Food
820 Manhattan Ave STE 105, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
This restaurant was recommended by a friend of a friend. She’s lactose intolerant and can only eat gluten-free. She swore by this place so of course, I had to add it to the list.
Located in Manhattan Beach, Rice is a gluten-free and vegan friendly Japanese restaurant. They pride themselves on making everything from scratch, including the sauces, using only the highest quality ingredients.
Sloopy’s Cafe
3416 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Brunch
“Sloopy’s has been a Manhattan Beach local favorite for over 40 years. Our goal is to bring you delicious ingredients, sustainable fisheries, all natural meats, and organic coffee. All food is cooked to order with great love and care. Whether you’re chowing down on one of our burgers or munching on one of our unique salads, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone.” – Sloopyscafe.com
Ercoles 101
1101 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Ercoles 101 took me by complete surprise! This dive-bar, located smack dab in the middle of Manhattan Beach Blvd, has truly one of the best burgers I have tried since I moved here. A pretty bold statement I know, but I was so overwhelmed by how good it was. Since it’s a busy location, I was very skeptical about how good the burger would be. Once again, I misjudged a book by its cover. The burger was a solid 10. The quality of the meat, the freshness of the ingredients and the combination of ketchup and mustard was a glorious experience that my taste buds will never forget. The burger had the perfect char and it was gloriously juicy and flavorful. I love the fact that they add the condiments for you and then cut the burger in half, so it’s easier to dive right in! I love ketchup, but I always find it somewhat tedious whenever I have to open the ketchup sauce bag and squeeze it to the best of my abilities in order to achieve that perfect flavorful bridge between the meat and the rest of the toppings. Overall, highly highly recommended. They don’t serve fries, just a bag of Lays potato chips.
Fatto a Mano, The Pasta Shop
610 Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
I knew I had to add this place as soon as I found out that the owner, Marco Perella, was Italian. This no-frills, small pasta shop in the South Bay has been in business since 2019 and the reviews on Yelp pretty much speak for themselves: great quality, fresh ingredients, generous portions and amazing sauces that are made from scratch. Marco’s impressive resumé includes working as the Banquet Manager at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, as well as at other upscale, well-known hotels around California. He first began working as a pizza maker at the age of 13 in a local pizzeria outside of Milan. What an authentic gem this place is! Not only is the pasta handmade, but so are their desserts and pizza dough.
Other Italian places:
La Bella Napoli (hole-in-the-wall pizza joint)
Mexican:
Ensenada’s Surf N Turf Grill (Hermosa). This place is always bustling with people!
Mariscos Guillen (Hawthorne)
Tortilla Cantina (1225 El Prado Ave, Torrance, CA 90501)
La Villa Mexican Food (15333 Crenshaw Blvd, Gardena, CA 90249)
Thai:
Thai Dishes (Redondo Beach)
Do not lose your mind trying to pick an Italian restaurant out of the endless Italian options.
Fritto Misto in Hermosa Beach serves up exquisite hearty, gluten-free pasta and other vegetarian specialties. The best! Betollino Kitchen opened 3 years ago in Redondo Beach and offers delicious handmade pasta dishes in a modern ambiance. Whatever you choose, these two restaurants will satisfy your pasta cravings any time any day!!
In Kendrick Lamar’s album, DAMN, he mentions Love & Salt, a trendy hipster Italian restaurant in Manhattan Beach that could be classified as the John and Vinny’s of the South Bay. This restaurant specializes in modern Italian cuisine. It’s always really busy and reservations are required. Obviously, as you can expect, I’m already counting down the days to go there!! Note: Kendrick Lamar lives in Manhattan Beach (he’s originally from Compton).
To read the full article, click on the photo.
I drove all the way to Manhattan Beach just to try this dish. AMAZING!!! If you want to order this, it’s called Trottole Salsiccia and it comes with fennel sausage, swiss chard, parmesan and bread crumbs. Just like the picture above, the server scoops the bone marrow out of the bone into the dish, followed by a nice stir to make sure all the ingredients are nicely blended. I give it a solid 5/5. The sauce sealed the deal for me, just phenomenal. Make sure you order a piece of their delicious toasted bread beforehand (otherwise you’ll have to wait 10 more minutes) to dip it into the sauce! Thank you Kendrick Lamar!
Little French Bakery
1820 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
This place opened in 2020!
Little French Bakery is a French owned and operated business, run Chef Guillaume Sabbadin and his wife Debora Sabbadin, who have been in the food industry business for over 20 years. At Little French Bakery, you will find authentic French pastries like patisserie, gourmet sandwiches and crepes. They say: “Our goal is to have everyone who comes to the store have a classic French experience.”
Ice cream:
From my post “The Best Ice Cream Shops In LA – Including Black-Owned Businesses and Vegan Places”
Make sure to try one of these places if you go to the South Bay!
Kansha Creamery
18515 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248
This brother and sister duo made waves in the ice cream scene thanks to their values of kindness and generosity. A percentage of every ice cream pint and scoop goes to charity. Founded in 2015 by Elaine Yukari Marumoto-Perez and James Tatsuya, Kansha uses organic ingredients from local farmers.
When I went there, they were only selling ice cream pints, not scoops. But the last time I checked their IG, they were back at selling scoops.
Kansha Creamery is located in a Japanese strip mall in Torrance, so it can get pretty busy during peak hours. To check the full menu go to the website. They rotate their wall art to showcase the different artists they promote.
This month’s Featured Artist of the Month is @yoshikazu.ysa ! Reach out to the artist directly to purchase prints Gorgeoouusss photos of some beautiful places that remind me of my own wedding- swipe for a throwback to summer 2017
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt
1882 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Handel’s has been recognized by many publications as the best ice cream in the world. I’ve only been twice to the Redondo Beach location, but I’ve driven past other locations and there were always lines of people walking out with scoops stacked up like towers.
Alice Handel founded Handel’s with her husband in 1945 through a walk-up window at a gas station in Youngstown, Ohio.
Her first batches were made using old fashioned recipes with fresh fruit she picked from her backyard. Since then, Handel’s has expanded into different US states. They have continued the legacy of the original Handel’s by serving only through walk-up windows. The workers definitely don’t skimp on the scoops, so keep that in mind if you dare to order more than one.
Their first LA location was in Redondo Beach!
For those who don’t know, Torrance boasts the second largest concentration of Japanese people in the US. This is because it was formerly the location of Toyota’s US headquarters for many years before they moved in 2017.
Just like Kansha Creamery, Scoop’s Torrance location is in a strip mall with other Japanese businesses. Here you will find Nijiya Market. With three locations in Torrance, Nijiya Market is a staple in the South Bay for the Japanese community. Their sushi sells out really fast!
SCOOPS
Torrance: 2143 W 182nd St
Incredibly surprised. Had it not been for this list, I would not have discovered this gem of a place. Scoops is an LA-based chain, founded by Tai Kim.
Tai Kim went to Cordon Bleu school in Portland, Oregon, where he specialized in ice cream and cheese. After he graduated, Tai was interested in trying new things and expanding his palate, and that’s when he realized ice cream would be the perfect medium for that.
Before opening his shop, he embarked on extensive ice cream research. He said: “Pretty much everybody had the same flavors — vanilla, chocolate, etc. — nothing really new. So, that’s when I felt like, ‘OK, that’s going to be my niche market.’”
The article by Thrillist is so interesting and I highly recommend you read it! Here are a few notes:
-Unlike most artisanal ice creams in LA, at Scoops you will not find pints for sale. He prefers the customer to go to the store and explore the different flavors in-person.
-The motto of Scoops is to expand your palate.
-Scoops was one of the first ice cream shops in LA to offer groundbreaking and out-of-the-box flavors. One of Tai’s favorite ice cream shops was Peddlers Creamery in Downtown LA, an unusual ice cream shop where the workers churned their artisanal ice cream using a bicycle. I was so sad to read that they had closed.
-In the history of Scoops, some of the most unique flavors have been Cuban cigar, Nicotine Mint, Cumin Chocolate, Whiskey and Hot Cheetos.
-Scoops locally manufactures the ingredients and they use Grade A sweet cream, pure cane sugar, and other natural flavors.
-They have a few vegan flavors, but except for their Brown Bread flavor, they change ALL the time, so don’t get too attached if you end up loving one.
I had the Brown Bread and Vanilla M&M Chocolate Chips. Just wow. That day was 86 ℉ in LA and I cannot emphasize how remarkably refreshing the ice cream was once I had had the first scoop. The Vanilla flavor was very smooth, but the winner for me was the M&M’s inside. I got this flavor because the guy working there said Tai often complains about many places not getting the vanilla flavor right.
Like I said above, one of their few permanent flavors is the Brown Bread. This ice cream harkens back to 19th century Britain, where ice creams and sorbets began to become a staple among the rich in between meals. For this specific flavor, the cooks incorporated leftover bread from the day before.
It says on Google that Brown Bread ice cream is a vanilla-based flavor, but the one at Scoops was pretty subtle. Even though I had another scoop of vanilla, the brown bread tasted more like bread dipped in milk if that makes sense. I loved the juxtaposition of the ice cream texture and the surprising crunchiness of the bread. Two days before my ice cream blog post went live, I went back for one scoop of the Brown Bread, and as you can see, it was a very generous portion!
What I like about Scoops is that they have a unique variety of flavors that you won’t find in your grocery store aisle. I ended up learning about one flavor that day that I would not have discovered had I gone to your typical “LA” ice cream shop, which goes to show you the heights to which Tai Kim takes the educational aspect of ice cream flavors.
I asked the guy working there what his favorite ice cream places were besides Scoops, and he said Mateo’s and Fosselman’s.
All in all, Scoops is definitely not your average ice cream shop. If you’re not an adventurous ice cream person, and you want to stick to the classic vanilla and chocolate flavors, this will not be the place for you. Below you will see the flavors that were available the first time I went.
There’s no website!
Paradis Ice Cream
1309 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
Danish ice cream in LA!!
Paradis was founded in 2000 by Danes Morten Thorup and Mia Pedersen at a cafe in Nørregade, Århus. Since then, Paradis has grown to 46 franchises throughout Denmark and multiple locally owned ones in Los Angeles and Orange County. Their first LA location was in Montrose in 2009.
“We source our ingredients from around the world looking for the best possible taste. We use organic cocoa from the Dominican Republic, Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar, and organic almonds from Spain.
Here at Paradis we offer something for everyone, no matter their preferences. You can choose between ice cream flavors made from local dairy, fruit sorbets made with water, and plant-based ice cream made from non-dairy alternatives such as almond milk and coconut cream.” – Morten Thorup and Mia Pedersen (Owners).
They have an impressive variety of flavors, 71 in total. Because there are so many, they are grouped into 7 categories: plant-based, milk-based, water-based, gluten-free, chocolate, fruit or berries and cookies or cake.
I had the Hazelnut Crunch Chip (plant-based) and the Hazelnut Cream (milk-based). The first flavor was too watery for me and the latter was really delicious because it had the perfect balance of milk and hazelnut flavor.
Paradis used to have locations in Montrose, Pasadena and Monrovia, but they closed down this year. I’m so lucky I got to go to their first location in Montrose in early 2021 before they closed it, and see where it all started. There, I had my first Paradis experience with the Oreo flavor. It was really good and took me by surprise because I didn’t expect to like it so much. Their ice cream is produced at a manufacturing facility in the San Fernando Valley.
Fishing With Dynamite
1148 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
*Complimentary
Amazing. They only serve the lobster roll Connecticut-style but the bread to meat ratio at Fishing With Dynamite was just excellent — look at all that lobster meat! It is probably the biggest lobster roll on this list. In other words, you’ll definitely get good bang for your buck. The bread was lightly coated with butter and the lobster was ridiculously fresh and tender. The fries were also 10/10 and the small coleslaw salad was a refreshing complement. Fishing With Dynamite has been given a few accolades by LA magazines, and even a Michelin Plate in 2019. The interior is so beautiful and was inspired by the owner’s summer experiences spent on the Eastern shore of Virginia. Do not forget to order the lime pie for dessert!
Lobster & Beer South Bay
13825 Hawthorne Blvd Hawthorne, California 90250 (South Bay)
This review is of their location in Palms.
*Complimentary
Founded by Michael Anthony, Lobster & Beer serves both classic lobster roll styles (Connecticut and Maine), as well as Cali Truffle roll, which is served cold with some veggies and truffle, and Crab roll, which is one of Michael’s favorites.
“I’m from NJ and honestly didn’t even know what a lobster roll was until around 2015 when I opened my first restaurant in Ventura, CA. I was always in the restaurant business while I was chasing my music career. Before opening my first restaurant I was the General Manager at PUMP in West Hollywood and the touring bass player for the rock band Puddle of Mudd. Lobster and Beer came about because I just saw a gaping hole in the Los Angeles lobster scene. I studied other fast casual lobster restaurants and took a big risk. I devised a simple menu and got some investment money. Very little money. Then started building it with my new partner Jeff who was one of my servers at PUMP.”
I ordered the two classic lobster rolls, Maine and Connecticut. Both of them were delicious. I loved the subtle hint of lemon and butter on the toast of the Connecticut-style lobster roll. The lobster meat was really tender and juicy. I was also really impressed by the freshness of the bun. Michael said they get them fresh every day from Rockenwagner Bakery in Culver City! The presentation of the rolls was 10/10.
The Maine-style lobster roll had the perfect amount of mayo and was light yet packed with so much flavor in every bite. I’m a bigger fan of the Connecticut-style in general, but this one was worth trying out.
They top the Connecticut-style lobster roll with mayo, which is also how it’s served at The Highroller Lobster in Maine! I went to the location in Palms.
King Poke
2366 CA-1, Lomita, CA 90717
Hidden gem! Owned by Sushi Chef Kotaro Nishina, King Poke brings to the South Bay customizable Japanese-style poke bowls. All the sauces are house-made (even their sriracha sauce) and the topping ingredients are fresh, which your taste buds will definitely notice! The prices are very reasonable given the stellar quality of the fish and the generous portions!
Gabi James
1810 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(My review from 2018)
I was with my dad in Palos Verdes and we really wanted to have dinner at the beautiful Terranea Resort and enjoy the magnificent views of the Palos Verdes cliffs, so I drove for one hour in rush-hour LA traffic. To our dismay, the place was closed for a private event. We walked up the hill and went to two other Asian-influenced restaurants inside the resort but they were fully booked with large parties of white middle-aged golfers from OC. I was soo grumpy! How dare they? I’m starving!! This is where mindfulness and paying attention to your feelings come into play. Out of nowhere, I had a lightbulb moment and I remembered a place I had bookmarked a few months ago called Gabi James in Redondo Beach. I was hesitant to go since often times, most so-called “Spanish” inspired restaurants are outrageously expensive, lackluster and don’t adhere to the authentic Spanish cuisine. You don’t get good Spanish ham out of Spain and if you do, it’s uber-expensive. It’s also very rare to find a place that makes a proper Spanish tortilla…get the picture?
We drove down the Palos Verdes hill for 15 minutes and we made it. Every time I doubt the saying “everything happens for a reason”, I remember this specific day, because we ended up having the most memorable dinner of my dad’s trip. Everything was top-notch and flavorful. My dad absolutely loved the morcilla and asked the waiter about it since it was so good. I’m not a big morcilla fan, but I was surprised when I saw his “this is really good” face as soon as he took the first bite. Everything is made in-house. I had the braised chicken with caramelized onion, yogurt and potatoes. I still remember the tenderness of the chicken and the splendid combination of flavors that just melted in my mouth with the sauce. Just mind-blowingly good. Take it from a couple of Spaniards. The waiters were super attentive and the vibe of the place was completely different from the loud, uninviting restaurants with large groups of families at Terranea Resorts.
Mickey’s Deli
101 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
In 1953 by Michael Angelo “Mickey”, opened his eponymous deli business that also serves as a market and liquor store. This place is an institution in the South Bay for a reason: delectable food and friendly service. It has one of the best deli sandwiches in LA and you will also find traditional Italian food like pizza and spaghetti.
Mickey’s Deli seating area is right by the beach. Enjoy the ocean view while eating your sandwich.
Lucky 7 Coffee
1112 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
This is the newest addition to the Hermosa Beach neighborhood. From the beautiful wall decor, to the stunning presentation of their drinks, Lucky 7 has become a new favorite in the South Bay area. Some of their speciality drinks include their mermaid latte and iced strawberry mocha. You can also show them your support by shopping their merch, which includes tote bags and shirts!
The Boy and The Bear
Redondo
If you love coffee and you’ve never been to The Boy And The Bear, you’re completely missing out. The coffee shop’s employees are coffee connoisseurs who genuinely love and breathe coffee from the inside out. You can tell the undeniable quality and freshness of the coffee because they roast their own beans on-site. A shining example of how serious The Boy And The Bear is about their coffee, is their greatly curated dark Instagram theme.
Gardena Bowl Cafe
15707 S Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90247
You would be surprised to know that the most famous Hawaiian restaurant in LA is located inside a bowling alley!
Note: Torrance and Gardena have the largest concentration of Hawaiians outside of Hawaii. There are so many Hawaiian restaurants in these neighborhoods, but not all of them serve poke.
Another popular place for Hawaiian food and poke is Aunty Maile’s Hawaiian Restaurant.
For a traditional American breakfast:
Eat at Joe’s (Redondo Beach)
Wendy’s Cafe (El Segundo)
Uncle Bills Pancake House (Manhattan Beach)
For burritos – El Burrito Jr and Phanny’s
Ramen Santouka (Del Amo mall Torrance)
Vegetarian choices:
Happy Veggie (Redondo)
Green Temple (Torrance)
Nick’s Manhattan Beach
451 Manhattan Beach Blvd D, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
You may have already come across Nick’s. With locations in Laguna Beach, Long Beach, San Clemente and Pasadena, this upscale casual restaurant is always a safe bet and a crowd-pleaser. I went to Nick’s on 2nd in Long Beach with my dad many moons ago and we had an overall pretty satisfying meal. All their locations have a very nice ambiance, but because of its high popularity, it’s not a place I would keep at the top of my list. It’s too crowded for my taste.
Indian restaurants:
Al-Noor and Spice Six
Vietnamese: Pho So 1
