American BBQ
Willingham’s
Willingham’s has two things that home cooks can copy and one that they can’t. A diligent copycat might figure out a good approximation of their sauce and rub recipes but can’t make it taste just the way it does here. That’s because Willingham’s uses a patented smoker designed by namesake John Willingham that minimizes the smoke and maximizes the flavor. Unless you buy or build one, you won’t get the same effect. Save yourself the effort and get some of their ribs, brisket, sausage, or other items made the way only the pros can do it.
443 S Pacific Coast Hwy #A
Redondo Beach
(424) 390-4300
American Contemporary
Baran’s 2239
The little strip mall restaurant on PCH always looks closed thanks to dark windows and a low awning that obscures the door, but locals know that inside is a lively casual place to get inventive, modern food. Chef Tyler Gugliotta draws on his Italian heritage and training in Asian cuisines to create novel flavor combinations. Perfectly fried eggplant is laid over a date puree and topped with mint, chopped tomato, and pecorino cheese to create a Middle Eastern fusion dish, while coffee-glazed pork belly gets zing from a sauce that includes Thai lemongrass. Our readers recognize creative cooking at its best with this choice. 502 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-8468
Asian fusion
Ryla
Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger, the couple who run Ryla, have Japanese and Taiwanese heritage, and the flavors that come from their kitchen draw ideas from both cuisines. There are also elements of many others, as both chefs have cooked in multicultural contemporary restaurants, and incorporate global ideas too. But the Asian elements create a certain continuity and framework that make the dishes harmonize. Ryla is a destination for diners across our region who appreciate innovative ideas with Asian roots.
1220 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-9881
Bar food
Ercoles
The South Bay’s oldest bar is also the favorite for bar food, defined as burgers, chicken sandwiches, Louisiana sausages, and hot dogs. They seem to sell more burgers than everything else put together, and those are famously good, made with freshly ground meat from the neighboring Manhattan Meats. Their food is simple, good, cheap, and decades behind the times, and that’s just how locals like it.
1101 Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan Beach
The Strand House offers an unmatched view of Manhattan Pier, and beyond to all of the Santa Monica Bay. Easy Reader file photo
Brunch, View
Strand House
On any Saturday or Sunday morning at the Strand House, you have so many choices. Want a classic American breakfast with premium ingredients, or prefer something decadent like truffle and egg toast or pan-seared branzino, with mushrooms and leeks poached in pea stock? Or perhaps barbacoa tacos or a Maine lobster roll tickles your fancy. These and many other items, classic or novel, are offered with assured and friendly service, and of course libations from the bar. There is no view from a restaurant in the South Bay anything like the view from the Strand House. It’s mesmerizing in any weather, whether sunshiny or on an evening when the blustery breeze blows the palms below.
The Strand House
117 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 545-7470
Breakfast
Good Stuff
Some people expect a restaurant called Good Stuff to be focused on health food, and are surprised to find you can get a sky high burger that includes guacamole, bacon, hashed browns, and cheese with a diet-busting hot fudge brownie for dessert. They do have diet conscious items like smoothies, salads, and egg white omelets too, so that supposition isn’t completely wrong. A synonym for Good Stuff might be “wholesome,” and that word encapsulates the appeal of this beach cities institution. Whether virtuous or sinful, it’s all made with fresh ingredients and lots of love.
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
Hermosa Brewing Chef Aaron DuBois lifts brew pub fare to a new level. Photo by JP Cordero
Brewpub
Hermosa Brewing
Forget everything you know about brewpub food when you walk in this door, because Hermosa Brewing is different. Chef Aaron DuBois worked at Rustic Canyon and Melisse before joining this crew, and he brings inventive flair and daily specials to this modest location. You will dine well here, and cicerone Dave Davis will be happy to suggest an item from his own company’s barrels or one of the guest taps to perfectly complement the meal. This is the brewpub for those who really appreciate the harmony of great food and drink.
1342 Hermosa Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(424) 398-0014
Chili
Hop Saint (Sunday only)
Once you’ve had Hop Saint’s chili, rich with flavor from the brisket ends that add smoky meatiness to the spicy, thick broth, you have a new standard for the Mexican American favorite. Just thinking of that little crock of goodness topped with cheese and onions, with fresh hot cornbread on the side, might make you decide to go back for more the next day. Alas, you can’t. They only make it on Sundays, and they serve it until it’s gone. You have six days to wait before going back for more, and you will.
5160 W. 190th St.
Torrance
(310) 214-4677
Chinese
Asia Kitchen
How did a tiny takeout-only place in Torrance win in a category that has been getting increasingly competitive? By dishing out generous portions of good Chinese-American food at a modest price. Asia Kitchen serves up reliable renditions of classics like egg foo young, kung pao chicken, and Mongolian beef from an expansive menu that also includes some Cajun and sushi items. It’s everyday Chinese food for those nights when you don’t feel like going out.
3523 Artesia Blvd
Torrance
(310) 516-1260
Baran’s 2239 Chef Tyler Gugliotta demonstrates his Italian heritage. Photo by JP Cordero
Eclectic
Baran’s 2239
The definition of eclectic is “deriving ideas from a broad and diverse range of sources,” and that is an accurate description of the food served at Baran’s 2239. There’s no traditional cuisine on Earth where raw fish is served with radish salsa and crispy potato, or beets and oranges are combined with harissa chickpeas, feta mousse, and sherry vinaigrette. The ideas that come together in Tyler Gugliotta’s kitchen are both novel and compelling.
502 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-8468
Family dinner
Riviera Mexican Grill
There’s a perfect ambiance for a family gathering, a place that is lively enough that kids are not merely tolerated but welcomed, and preferably with a patio where a stroller or a walker can be parked. Riviera Mexican has both, and a menu wide ranging enough that all ages will find something to enjoy. This is the first time a Mexican restaurant has won in this category, and it’s not surprising — families of every heritage love the food, service, and value at this roadside classic.
1615 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach
(310) 540-2501
Creme de la Crepe offers savory crepes, but the sweet crepes are hard to resist. Photo by JP Cordero
French/Continental
Creme de la Crepe
The name Crème de la Crepe includes one of the attractions at this mini-chain with three South Bay locations, but not all. Beside their superb savory or sweet crepes, there are classic country French dishes like chicken Dijon, salad Niçoise, and beef Bourguignon. The French enjoy Italian food, so risottos and pastas with French flair appear too. The hearty dishes are modestly priced, so you might enjoy a sweet crepe or chocolate fondue for dessert without straining your wallet.
424 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 937-2822
1708 ½ S. Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(310) 540-8811
550 Deep Valley Dr. #145
Rolling Hills Estates
(310) 541-0001
Freshly made noodles/dumplings
Din Tai Fung
The restaurant chain that took soup dumplings from a regional curiosity to an international sensation is still going strong and gaining adherents, and part of the reason is the theater of food. Whoever came up with the idea of having the dumplings rolled by hand in the front window is a genius. You can’t doubt that they’re fresh when you watch them being made, and you marvel at the dexterity of the people who are doing the job. Sure, they’d taste just as good if you didn’t see this process, but it certainly whets your appetite for the meal to come.
Del Amo Fashion Center
21540 Hawthorne Blvd. #519
Torrance
(310) 214-1175
Hot chicken
Brews Hall
You can get hotter Nashville chicken in the South Bay, but the best hot chicken items have flavor beneath the burn. Brews Hall has figured this out, and the crisp bird fresh from the fryer has more than just red and black pepper going for it. We don’t know exactly what, because chefs keep their recipes secret, but some garlic, brown sugar, and mustard are probably involved. You can make your own guesses as you sit on their Pier Plaza patio but be sure to have something cool at hand when you take that first bite.
73 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-9881
Hotel restaurant
Sea Level in Shade RB
The Shade Hotels in Manhattan and Redondo set a standard for their restaurants that has been unbeatable — one or the other has been the winner in this category for years. Sea Level is the top contender in 2024, and offers two dining environments — a buzzy interior space and the marina view tables with gas fire pits. At either one, diners can enjoy an eclectic contemporary dining experience with premium co*cktails and wines. There’s a reason locals dine at Sea Level, because the experience is on a level with the other top restaurants in our region.
Shade Hotel
655 N. Harbor Dr.
Redondo Beach
(310) 921-8950
Thayir vada at The Copper Pot, is a doughnut made of lentil flour beneath a layer of yoghurt with savory spices. Photo by Richard Foss
Indian
Copper Pot
Some of the classic items of North Indian food are at Copper Pot, including the tandoori meats and familiar masala dishes, but the main focus is on the dishes of the south. The heat of the peppers and ginger are moderated by coconut milk and yogurt, and vegetarian dishes are abundant. Dosas, the crisp crepes accompanied by curries and dipping sauces, are a specialty. This cuisine is new to the beach cities, but our readers have embraced it and are delighting in the sensations of the Indian countryside and coast.
1511 S Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach
(310) 504-0777
Italian under $30
Fritto Misto
Fritto Misto is one of the only modestly priced Italian restaurants where you can’t get a pizza. While they do have the mixed fried vegetables that are the restaurant’s namesake, plus some appetizers and salads, the specialty here is pastas in all varieties. If you don’t find one of the house combinations that inspires your taste buds, you can create your own from a long list of pasta shapes, sauces, and add-ins. Everybody gets what they like, and our readers like that idea.
316 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 318-6098
Italian over $30
Bottle Inn
The best loved Italian restaurant in the South Bay has changed only slightly since the restaurant changed ownership in 2017. There’s no reason to change a formula that has worked so well for over five decades. People come here for classic food served in classic style, with a bottle or glass of something excellent to pair with it. After a romantic dinner, you can take a moonlit walk by the beach just as other happy diners have been doing for half a century.
26 22nd Street
Hermosa Beach
(310) 376-9595
