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During the pandemic, Anna Sonenshein and Nikki Vahle cofounded Little Fish, which became viral for their fried fish sandwich. After doing pop-ups and weekly appearances at Smorgasburg LA, they opened their first brick-and-mortar in Echo Park at the end of 2023. A hybrid between a cafe and grocery store, Little Fish Echo Park offers a small menu with Scandinavian influences.
In December 2025, Anna and Nikki opened the doors of Little Fish’s second location – a full sit-down restaurant located in Melrose Hill, right across LA Grocery & Cafe and Chainsaw. In March, Little Fish Melrose Hill earned a spot on the Michelin Guide.
At Little Fish, California seasonal produce meets the sea. The space, located on one of the busiest stretches of Melrose Avenue, offers a respite from the chaos of the city: sun-filled, bone-colored tiles and warm wood accents. Pendant lights and seashell-shaped sconces create a warm glow, while the white marble-top tables add a nice pop against the terracotta floor.
The kitchen door, with a porthole window, evokes a maritime feel — as well as the two dry ager fridges with fish hanging upside down. A wall-mounted mirror displays the handwritten wine menu by the glass.
Nikki and Anna met in 2018 at Son of a Gun and started dating soon after. During the pandemic, one of their former business partners suggested doing Friday fish fries. In September 2020, the pop-ups started — gaining a massive cult-like following.
Since the pandemic days, Little Fish’s menu has evolved into seafood-centric dishes, bounty salads and other sandwiches, embracing California’s seasonal produce, and a well-appointed wine selection.
For lunch, some of the most notable offerings include a steak salad, Little Fish’s signature fried fish sandwich, and the gem lettuce salad. At dinner, the menu transforms with more elevated dishes, such as crudo that changes according to the season’s catch, roast chicken, or delicate steelhead trout.
I went to Little Fish two times, for lunch at the beginning of February, and dinner at the end of May. At lunch, the room was bustling with attractive people: from industry meetings to stylish groups of friends catching up. A radiant, makeup-free Minka Kelly sat at the bar with a friend, wearing a bandana over her hair, casual jeans, and a white ruffle blouse. They were also admiring the space and people-watching.
Note: If you want to try the fish sandwich, you have to go earlier in the day. Lunch menu stops being served at 3.
Fried Fish sandwich
I finally got to try the famous fried fish sandwich that at one point, took over my Instagram feed during pandemic days. It was delicious: the ultra-crispy golden batter encasing tender fish, soft buns, satisfyingly smooth American cheese, briny pickles, and, to top it all off, creamy Kewpie mayo.
However, for almost $20, I expected a slightly bigger portion and a more balanced batter-to-fish ratio. If you’re going exclusively for the fish sandwich, be advised that you’ll be left hungry. In the videos I’ve seen, most people order two.
Tuna melt
Since I was still hungry, I tried their $20 tuna melt — which the servers raved about how good it was. The rye bread from Bub and Grandma’s was a tad overly oily and toasted for my taste, and I wish the white cheddar had come through a little more. It was a solid tuna melt, but not enough to make the trek across the city for it.
Fries
The fries were very well done, albeit heavy on the black pepper. Paired with the pungent horseradish aioli, my sinuses cleared right away.
Dinner
If you don’t have a reservation, I suggest showing up at 4:30, right when the kitchen starts operating back up for dinner. Although it was going to be a fully booked night, the host managed to squeeze me in at the bar.
Stuffed cabbage
This was my favorite dish of the night. Stuffed cabbage with abalone rice, topped with dill, coarse salt and dollops of cream, sitting in a pool of vibrant tomato beurre blanc. Its delicate, tangy, and peppery notes wrapped around the silky cabbage made for a delightful interplay of textures. Make sure to scoop the sauce with the cabbage! 11/10.
Roast chicken
Despite being a seafood-focused restaurant, Little Fish’s $46 roast chicken has made waves across LA publications. This half chicken is deboned (except for the leg) and confited in ham fat, served alongside a scoop of stone-ground mustard. The chicken itself was excellent: juicy, with crispy skin and minimal seasoning — allowing its natural flavors to shine through.
The jus was very thin and tasted like a broth, lacking the concentrated richness you expect from a jus. Thankfully, I relied on the mustard to get that extra punch of flavor — otherwise, I might as well have eaten plain chicken. For $46, I was disappointed.
If the server hadn’t told me this was a jus rather than a broth, I would have never guessed it. He asked whether I could detect the deep ham undertones, but I couldn’t. He appreciated the feedback.
Note: Below, you can see the stark difference in the color of the jus compared to the one above. 🙁
Cornbread masa cake
I’m not a big fan of sweet and savory combinations, but I had to try Little Fish’s most popular dessert. I really enjoyed the texture of the light and airy masa, served in a warm skillet. I just wish the flavor of the ice cream had been more prominent. Otherwise, I would have eaten the whole scoop instead of leaving the other half. The dill on top was surprisingly subtle and not overpowering.
Overall thoughts
Given the number of letdowns I’ve experienced amid the surge of new, buzzy, PR-driven restaurants, I was pleasantly surprised by Little Fish. Although a few dishes have room for improvement, both visits were great, and I definitely see myself coming back to further explore the seafood menu. The staff was very knowledgeable and accommodating, and you could tell they were a tight-knit team. The beautifully designed space also added to the atmosphere.
Little Fish: Website and Instagram
Address: 5035 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
