Best of the Beach Dining & Entertainment 2024 Winners
Japanese (non-sushi)
RYLA
Is RYLA a Japanese restaurant or a fusion restaurant? It can be both because modern Japanese diners enjoy other cuisines made for Japanese tastes. A pork cutlet sandwich is Japanese when made with tonkatsu breading and Hokkaido milk bread, and the Bolognese sauce on your pasta will have the touch of sweetness that a Tokyo diner would appreciate. If that Tokyo restaurant customer wanted something more traditional, they could get the ramen with premium ingredients and long-simmered broths, because like everybody else, some days you want comfort food and on others you crave some excitement.
1220 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-9881
A Smokey Pasilla Margarita is a logical choice at Palmilla, but their bar features an arsenal of similarly exciting cocktails. Photo by JP Cordero
Mexican, Romantic,
Creative Cocktails
Palmilla
Many places around the South Bay promise the experience of a Mexican home, or perhaps a small-town cantina. Palmilla has loftier ambitions and promises to make you feel like you’re in the restaurant at a boutique hotel in Cabo San Lucas. The high style environment with custom tilework and artistic lighting certainly delivers, as does the menu’s array of fresh seafood, mesquite-grilled steaks, and elevated versions of traditional favorites. Rustic it is not, and it’s not cheap either, but a dinner there is like a brief but relaxing vacation in a tropical resort.
Since Palmilla is a stylish Mexican restaurant, you might expect to be offered an array of margaritas and other tequila and mezcal-based drinks. You will, and they’re excellent, but that’s just the start of what this bar can do. The mixologists here have an arsenal of gins, scotches, whiskies, and other spirits plus liqueurs to subtly modify their flavors, and they deploy fresh juices so the fruity background of that mai tai has a true tropical tanginess. Get a margarita if that’s what you most enjoy, but consider your other options before you order, because there is much here for the adventurous drinker.
Want to take your significant other to a romantic Mexican beach resort, but don’t have the time off? Palmilla encapsulates a romantic dream of Cabo that is 1,145 miles from the original, with no passport required, no waiting in the TSA line. Have a walk on the beach afterward and talk of things trivial or important as the mood strikes you — good food is likely to inspire good communication, and that keeps romance alive.
39 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(310) 374-4440
Sushi
Japonica
While the South Bay has plenty of sushi specialists, some with vast menus of rolls and special dishes, the winner again this year has a relatively limited selection of top-quality seafood. Japonica has long been a favorite of our readers, and offers both simple nigiri and rolls and some specialties that are ornate and use unusual ingredients. Smoked soy sauce and fresh yuzu juice are deployed, individually or in combination with chimichurri, micro cilantro, and other items far from Japanese tradition. The combinations are exotic but sensible, and come together to extend a tradition that started with simple fish over vinegared rice.
1314 Hermosa Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(424) 257-82744
1304 ½ S. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach
(310) 316-9477
229 Main Street
El Segundo
Kids menu
Good Stuff
Good Stuff has an advantage when it comes to kids menus because this restaurant serves things children like, anyway. What five-year-old won’t be enchanted by artfully made Mickey pancakes, or is going to turn down mac and cheese with broccoli and chicken or fish and chips? Unlike some places that make every child-size item sugary, this menu takes advantage of the fact that most young people like simple flavors of good. There are even options for health-conscious kids, if such things exist.
1286 The Strand
Hermosa Beach
(310) 374-2334
1617 S. Pacific Coast Hwy #102
Redondo Beach
(310) 316-0262
550 Deep Valley Dr. #151
Rolling Hills
(310) 544-8000
Late night eatery
The Kettle
Is anyone surprised The Kettle won best late-night eatery? They’ve been the go-to spot for night owls for over 50 years and are the only place in a wide radius where you can get a sit-down meal at 3 a.m. At such hours the clientele is a curious mix of late-night revelers winding down, early risers ramping up, and shift workers who live in a different time zone from the rest of us. It’s great people-watching over very good food with plenty of choices, and that’s an attraction any time of day or night.
1138 Highland Ave.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 545-8511
Mall restaurant
Islands
Way back in 1982, a Carlsbad entrepreneur started a surf-themed restaurant that evoked Hawaii and served sky high burgers. That restaurant called Islands became a chain that effectively evoked the tropics despite most locations being in or around malls, including the ones in Manhattan Beach and Redondo. Despite the trend of mall restaurants going wildly upscale, this affordable burger joint has won yet again, because it’s an environment and menu that people just don’t get tired of. Get those core items or one of the array of appetizers, salads, or tacos that are later additions to the menu, and you can daydream that Waikiki beach is outside instead of a mall parking lot.
3200 N Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach
(310) 546-4456
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Chicken Maison
Though it’s a vast region with many cultures and ecosystems, the Mediterranean can be said to have a cuisine, and it’s one associated with a long life. That cooking is based on olive oil, garlic, green herbs, and preparations with a little vinegar or citrus zing to enhance the natural flavors of meats and vegetables. That’s what you go to Chicken Maison for, the zesty flavors that wake up your mouth while evoking healthy living. You’ll find it in their signature crisp-skinned rotisserie chicken, whether alone or with lemon garlic or other sauces, in the salads and sides, in everything. The owners here have a canny business plan — feed their customers healthy, tasty food so they’ll live long and keep coming back for more.
2709 Manhattan Beach Blvd
Redondo Beach
(310) 725-0035
1000 Torrance Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(310) 316-9797
2709 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(310) 725-0035
New restaurant opened 2023
Belle Epoque
Over 40 restaurants opened in 2023, and our readers decided that one of the most unusual was their favorite. Belle Epoque refers to themselves as a supper club, and offers comedy, music, and magic shows in a whimsically decorated space. The style is art nouveau with tropical touches, a weird but winning combination that goes improbably well with their menu of Cuban-inspired food and excellent cocktails. A bunch of odd ideas come together successfully here, and made this side street restaurant a local destination.
265 Avenida del Norte
Redondo Beach
(310) 316-4302
Mickey’s Deli’s second and third generation owners Paul and Mickey Mance welcome customers to the 70th anniversary of their store last April. Mickey’s motto is “Our family feeding yours since 1953.” Photos by Kevin Cody
Pizza, Caterer, Neighborhood Deli
Mickeys
The pizzas at Mickey’s are majestic things, a meal for a family if you get a salad from the deli case when you pick them up, or for two very hungry people who may find it difficult to move if they try to finish one. It has been this way since Mickey’s opened in 1953, when pizza was a novelty to most people in the South Bay. Mickey’s makes them with a medium-thick risen crust, sturdy enough to hold toppings without collapsing but not like a loaf of bread with some toppings. It’s a classic pizza served by a classic place, and if that’s what you like, this is where you go.
The pizzas and sandwiches at Mickey’s tend to steal the show because they’re so eye catching, but next time you’re there you should take a good long look at the deli case. Won’t that pizza be even better with a side of housemade pasta salad, marinated mushrooms or artichokes, tomato and mozzarella salad, or some tangy giardinera?
One of the difficulties in deciding who should make food for an event is that it’s hard to taste their food unless you have been invited to another event they’ve catered. That’s not a problem at Mickey’s, because what they offer for your party is the same hearty, delicious Italian-American food that they’ve been making every day for 70 years. It’s not fancy, but everyone loves it, and for some events, that’s just what you want.
101 Hermosa Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 376-2330
Poke
Jus’ Poke
Poke is a sideline at lots of restaurants in our area, so it’s fitting that this category was won once again by the eatery that states their mission in their name. Jus’ Poke just serves poke, variations on Hawaiian marinated seafood and vegetables in a restaurant owned by a Hawaiian family. They were the first to serve poke in the South Bay and are still our readers’ favorite. Eight different styles are offered, one without seafood so vegetarians may enjoy the flavor of the islands too. Rice, seaweed salad, and other accompaniments are available as sides. When Jus Poke opened a decade ago, most locals had never heard of their specialty. Now that it’s a popular item, their gamble on our openness to new experiences has paid off.
501 N Pacific Coast Hwy
Redondo Beach
(310) 379-1133
Rotisserie chicken
Chicken Maison
If you look at pictures of medieval kitchens, you’ll probably see a picture of a boy turning a spit to roast chickens. How much that kid must have wished that they lived a few centuries later and worked at Chicken Maison, where electric motors take care of the drudgery. They could be working at the counter taking orders, free of shoulder injuries caused by repetitive motion stress. The cooks who season and baste the birds through the cooking process had the same skills then as they do now. The art of roasting takes patience and skill, and those have not changed from the days of feasts in elegant but drafty castles.
2709 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(310) 725-0035
1000 Torrance Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(310) 316-9797
2709 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Redondo Beach
(310) 725-0035
Over the past half century, Captain Kidd’s has earned a well deserved place in the heart of Old Redondo. Easy Reader file photo
Seafood (other than sushi)
Captain Kidd’s
The seafood shack just north of the Redondo Pier has been serving simple, hearty seafood meals for 48 years. Over that time the choices have broadened, but the basic virtues of the place have stayed the same. Every time you go there, the array of fish in the glass case is tempting enough that you’ll consider buying some on the way out. Ordering is quick, especially for regulars who know the menu by heart, and your food comes out of the kitchen fast and fresh. The tables with their view of the marina are almost always full with happy families chowing down on seafood that tastes great and is reasonably priced. The owners know what makes a place an institution, and they zealously keep the standards high.
209 N Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach
(310) 372-7703
Artist Bernard Fallon captured the feel of the Shellback on a rainy evening. The photo is included in an exhibit of Fallon’s local scenes at Easy Reader through May.
Neighborhood bar, Sports Bar Food
Shellback
At the Shellback, even at the height of the tourist season, everybody still seems to know everybody’s name. Part of the draw is their proprietary Bloody Marys, a rehydration requirement for swimmers after the Surf Festival Pier to Pier Swim each year. Shellback’s kitchen covers the spectrum for locals, from jersey wearing beer drinkers craving buffalo wings and chili cheese fries, to the volleyball players and surfers who come off the beach for a healthy blackened mahi mahi sandwich.
116 Manhattan Beach Blvd
Manhattan Beach
(310) 376-7857
The Arthur J’s mid century architecture echos it mid 20th century appreciation of great steaks. Photo by Brad Jacobson
Steak, Special Occasion
The Arthur J
The Simms Brothers conceived The Arthur J as a tribute to their steak-loving father, and they’ve taken extraordinary care to make it the showplace of their restaurant empire. The restaurant is a sleek, stylish ode to mid-century décor, and the accompaniments to your meal range from steakhouse classics like creamed spinach to modern items like crispy sunchokes with garlic-tomato emulsion and carrot remoulade. The steaks are the centerpiece of the meal, and there are 10 cuts to choose from, all perfectly grilled and accompanied by sauces and butters. The interior is sleek and stylish with mid-century touches, the kind of place where you feel like dressing up to get into the mood. (They’ll serve casual diners because it’s California, but it’s fun to style up sometimes.) The service is impeccable and professional, and they treat your celebratory dinner as an event. This is the place to commemorate an anniversary, birthday, corporate event, or the fact that your spouse has finally learned how to stack the dishwasher to your satisfaction. What you designate as a special occasion is your business.
903 Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 878-9620
Steak under $40
San Franciscan
Our readers know a good deal when they see one and are willing to drive a bit to take advantage of it. Time has stood still at The San Franciscan in Torrance, which hasn’t changed décor since 1963 and was old-fashioned even then. The pricing of their steaks hasn’t kept up with the times either. A top sirloin is $26, and slabs of prime rib start at $31, which is remarkably modest. The good food, rat pack charm of the environment, and live music have made this place a destination from far and wide, and if you like a good meal at a good price, you’ll find it here.
2520 Sepulveda Blvd
Torrance
(310) 325-5231
Tapas/Small Plates
Gabi James
Tapas were conceived as snacks in wine bars and taverns, and nobody is sure when. Legends say the tradition started in the 1300’s, but they aren’t recorded until a few centuries later. Gabi James has updated this tradition for the South Bay, offering items like harissa honey eggplant fries and charred asparagus with romesco sauce and almonds, alongside classics like tortilla Espanola and serrano ham with grilled bread. Whether you prefer the rustic or modern, they offer a procession of flavors to delight the taste buds. Tapas may be a snack with wine, a meal of small bites, or the starter for a more substantial entrée, and whichever you’re there for, Gabi James has you covered.
1810 S Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(310) 540-4884
Thai/Southeast Asian
Thai dishes
The South Bay did not have many people who had experienced Thai food when two brothers opened Thai Dishes in 1991. For most of us, it was a revelation. The use of spices, vinegars, abundant ginger and pepper, and juxtapositions of sweet and sour introduced us to Southeast Asia, and since then the menu has expanded and evolved, so they’re still introducing us to new things. You never forget your first love, and for those who love Thai food and first tried it here, we’re still in that relationship.
1015 N Sepulveda Blvd
Manhattan Beach
(310) 546-4147
Vegetarian/Vegan
Green Temple
Green Temple has been serving vegetarian and vegan food for a quarter of a century, but many people don’t know where it is. Walk behind the gate by the corner of Catalina and Avenue I and you’re in another world, a serene space where flowers, statues of Buddha, rustic Asian furniture project tranquility. The décor may evoke Asia, but the menu is contemporary with a few Mexican items, and they’re all made with quality ingredients and no animal products. For vegetarians and vegans, and omnivores who just feel like a light, flavorful, and healthy meal, this is a cherished secret spot.
1700 S Catalina Ave #103
Redondo Beach
(310) 944-4525
Creative cocktails
Palmilla
Since Palmilla is a stylish Mexican restaurant, you might expect to be offered an array of margaritas and other tequila and mezcal-based drinks. You will, and they’re excellent, but that’s just the start of what this bar can do. The mixologists here have an arsenal of gins, scotches, whiskies, and other spirits plus liqueurs to subtly modify their flavors, and they deploy fresh juices so the fruity background of that mai tai has a true tropical tanginess. Get a margarita if that’s what you most enjoy, but consider your other options before you order, because there is much here for the adventurous drinker.
39 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(310) 374-4440
Vida Modern Taqueria owners Justin Essman and Micke Mance helped raise the bar for Riviera Village when they opened last year. Photo by Kevin Cody
Happy Hour
Vida Modern Mexican
Most bars and restaurants have some inducement to encourage people to dine early, and perhaps it’s the stiff competition in Riviera Village that has caused Vida to offer such generous deals. Unlike places that have very limited offerings for a limited time, Vida has 10 kinds of tacos plus shrimp ceviche, a mushroom quesadilla, and nachos, all at a discount from the standard price, and they offer it for three hours. Dining between 3 and 6 p.m. on a weekday might even be regarded as a kind of status symbol, since it means you’re not part of the standard workday grind. Perhaps that’s why people are smiling as they sit on Vida’s outdoor terrace and enjoy the best deal on Catalina Avenue.
Vida Modern Taqueria
1723 S. Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(310) 430-7787
Esperanza’s Pineapple serrano cilantro margarita is all you could hope for in a margarita. Photo by JP Cordero
Margarita (restaurant/bar)
Esperanza
The classic margarita dates to the late 1930’s and is a simple thing, tequila, lime, and a splash of triple sec. When made with quality ingredients, it’s marvelous, and Esperanza does a great job at executing that classic. Over the last 90 years, bartenders have embellished and diversified it, so there are more complex drinks with the same flavor profile but also spicy, citrusy, and fruity varieties. Experanza has those covered too, and they make them with the same care, skill, and top shelf ingredients. Be daring. Iif you usually order something that would have been served in Baja in 1940, try one of their variations and expand your world.
309 Manhattan Beach Blvd
Manhattan Beach
(424) 422-0057