18 Restaurants You Have to Try in Marina del Rey

deposit next to the Silicon Beach enclave , humble - but - mighty Marina del Rey has attract a boatload ( ! ) of gravely skilful restaurants over the past few year – to the point where it ’s now one of LA ’s strongest food goal . This 1.5 square - international mile coastal community is packed with everything from rustic Italian eateries to fancy waterfront restaurants … and then there ’s the iconic pub that turn into a turtle - racing hub on Thursdays . What more do you need to have intercourse ?

Best fancy restaurant for when you’re not paying:Cast & Plow

4375 Admiralty WayLocated inside The Ritz - Carlton , Cast & Plow is an upscale hotel eatery that stands on its own . Aside from a picturesque view of the marina , you ’ll also get faultless divine service and dishes made with constitutive , locally grown and raised ingredients – like made - in - house herb brioche , ham and Manchego cheese fritters waiting for a dunk shot in paprika aioli , and lobster agnolotti prepare with brown butter and walnuts . Plus , if you ’re travel to during off hours , a low bites card is available from 3 - 5:30pm and 10pm - midnight daily .

Best sandwich spot:Mendocino Farms

4724 Admiralty WayGet here ahead of time if you require to avoid the rush hr mob : Mendo ’s fantastic and savour - mob sandwich , served on freshly baked artisanal bread , are a immense striking in the neighborhood . Now ’s your last chance to snag summer special – like a ripe heirloom tomato BLT drizzled with habanero honey , or wimp banh mi served with lemongrass relish – but the usual staples ( hello , Study of Heat ) will always be there . There ’s also a gross ton of otherstuff you believably did n’t knowabout this husband - and - wife - incline sandwich shop , which is why we ’ve outline it all in a disjoined clause .

Best brunch:Cafe del Rey

4451 Admiralty WayAt Cafe del Rey , $ 44 start out you a three - grade prix fixe brunch served with your choice of sparkling wine , cider , mimosas , or Bloody Marys – not a bad hand when there ’s a Kobe Warren Earl Burger and heal salmon toast on the bill of fare . You ’ll also be cover to a outstanding vista of yachts parked in the marina ( they evenlivestreamthe panorama from sought after Table 18 ) . Plus , if you ’re come during the sidereal day , you wo n’t have to worry about parking ; unlike most LA eatery , gentleman’s gentleman here is complimentary ( and only $ 6 in the eve ) .

Best cheap eats:Taqueria Chihuahua

505 Washington BlvdThis striptease mall articulation – which is close to the beach without the inflated prices or tourer crowd unremarkably associate with those organisation – makes killer burritos that all hover around the $ 5 fool . For a little redundant , get yours either Pancho Villa - style ( smother in enchilada sauce and melt tall mallow ) or El Norteño - style ( stuffed with guac , cheese , and sour cream ) . They do n’t skimp on the gist here , so expected a heavy loaded vessel that should englut you for hours .

Best pizza:Settebello

13455 Maxella Ave Suite 250Settebello ’s Neapolitan pizzas are the real bargain , made with import Italian flour and briefly tossed inside a forest - raise oven crafted by Italian oven Almighty ( yes , that ’s a affair ) . The effect ? flabby , tricky , delicious piesbest eat on with a fork and knife– as they do in Napoli . Protip : Grab yourself a Margherita DOC Proto-Indo European , with crush tomatoes , fresh buffalo mozzarella , basil , parmigiano reggiano , and EVOO .

Best for vegetarians:Rainbow Acres Natural Foods

13208 W Washington BlvdLocally owned Rainbow Acres has been hawk kombucha drinks , Cocos nucifera ice ointment bars , and yucca - flour bread since 1981 , long before Whole Foods opened up in nearby Playa Vista . Vegans and vegetarians alike flock to this wellness nutrient store ’s hot - solid food counter , but its rotating selection of licitly delicious takeout food food ( like cranberry and wild Elmer Reizenstein pilaf and creamy shroom alimentary paste ) can satisfy everyone .

Best late-night food:Killer Cafe

4211 Admiralty WayOne of the only dapple in MDR that ’s candid 24 hours a 24-hour interval , Killer Cafe whips up hearty comfort solid food reminiscent of what you ’d find at your county bonnie ( only good ) . Load up on toothsome Robert Peel - and - eat shrimp drip in butter and lemon , beer - battered deep-fried codfish sliders , and blue cheese chat up potatoes – washed down with something from an extensive wine-coloured , beer , and specialness drink listing .

Best breakfast:Cafe Buna

3105 Washington BlvdThis hole - in - the - wall ’s breakfast menu is impressive on sheer length alone ; you ’ll regain it include at least 20 different omelet and leans heavy on griddle token like autumn pumpkin - nut or gamboge zestfulness pancakes , cornflake French goner , and nutella crepe . If – for some crazy reason – you ’re not feeling breakfast , do n’t sleep on the wet mol burrito or signature Buna beefburger with all the fix .

Best burgers:J Nichols Kitchen

4375 Glencoe AveJ Nichols ’ menu has a lot going on – there ’s everything from roasted beet to topped flatbreads and fume ribs – but the burgers are what you want to eat here . The West LA version is a clear winner , bursting with flavor - packed bacon balsamic onion compote , melty gloomy cheese and gruyere , and a generous spot of lemon aioli on a pantry wassail French baguette .

Best happy hour:SALT Restaurant & Bar

13534 Bali WaySALT ’s glad hour , which bunk weekdays from 4 to 6 post-mortem , is the expanse ’s best - kept secret . Deals include tone apps like pork meatballs in San Marzano sauce and fried Alaskan cod greaser ( both $ 9 ) , $ 6 wines , and priceless haven views – okay , that last one ’s not so much a mountain as a reason to scope the blank space early and get a seat by the outdoor fire pit . The eating place , which is part of the Marina del Rey Hotel , also has intellectual nourishment offering for every other hr of the day , including a poolside menu ( get the fried chicken bucket ) , breakfast ( served with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys on weekend ) , and dinner party ( where the Maine lobster pasta flavored with yuzu , vadouvan , and browned butter dashi is a must , as are the other seafood - heavy entrees ) .

Best for carb feasting:Casa Ado

12 W Washington BlvdThe pastas at this cozy Italian spot are homemade and perfectly fix , which means you wo n’t feeltoobad blowing your cheat day budget here . Menu all - stars let in the black ink tagliolini noodles toss away in a zesty marinara , as well as Casa Ado ’s famous red beet pasta serve in Parmesan fondue .

Best Italian:Locanda Positano

4059 Lincoln BlvdMarina del Rey clear has plenty of top - notch Italian spots , but this familiar eating place is the local favorite . Do n’t be fritter away by its unassuming location across from an IHOP ; the wild boar pappardelle and sassy seafood linguine here will transport you straight to the Amalfi Coast . Do n’t skip the complimentary bread , which is serve warm and crusty alongside flavored olive oil , or the dessert : people rabbit on about the lemon sorbet serve with homemade limoncello and gelato trio

Best BBQ:Morfia’s Ribs & Pies

4077 Lincoln BlvdWhen you ’re craving legit Texas BBQ in MDR , go to Morfia ’s for sauce - drenched rib smoked in a brick Inferno – alright , peradventure the sauce - drenched part is a bit more LA than TX , but you wo n’t be complain . The parcel are always generous , the meat ’s always dampish , and even if you ’re stuffed , you ca n’t end the repast without a gash of peach deep-dish pie or mellisonant potato pie .

Best date spot:Brennan’s

4089 Lincoln BlvdYep : the dive bar bonk for itslegendary turtleneck race every Thursdayis in reality a fantastic appointment thought . Thanks to a facelift last year , this long - put up MDR taphouse has a new , airy look with a marble - topped bar and broad outdoor area for cornhole , Jenga , and other games ( just in casing there are any awkward first - date silence ) . The bill of fare got an acclivity too , so you may snack on fried chickpeas , Nashville spicy chicken sandwich , and for late - dark eater , great pizzas – all while guzzling some eclectic beers . And aside from the excitement of the turtle races ( which are still going unassailable ) , Brennan ’s always has something coolheaded going on – whether it ’s Sunday dog yoga or Friday pizza night where you could get a complimentary pie while listening to live music .

Best multi-ethnic food:Doma Kitchen

4325 Glencoe Ave # 8Family - possess Doma Kitchen ’s moved around a bit ( first opening in Redondo , then relocate to Manhattan Beach ) before settle on its current home . Now it ’s dish Uzbek rice , bortsch , and other Eastern European / fundamental Asiatic dish aerial to Marina del Rey diners who did n’t realize they loved Lithuanian - style tardily - braise buckwheat but ca n’t imagine their lives without it now . Chef Kristina Miksyte , a Lithuanian indigen , apply farm - impertinent component and house - made spices in every dish . For summer , there ’s a peach - themed menu that stars a boo - drizzled bistro salad and a grilled peach dessert with toasted walnuts and balsamic glaze .

Best lunch spot:Tender Greens

13455 Maxella AveNo place does a build - your - own dejeuner plate better than Tender Greens , with options like consistently tender chipotle barbeque chicken , garlic sauce vinaigrette - dressed kale , and silky mashed potato on the menu . They ’re also mixing thing up with a new special called the Endless Summer Bowl , which is packed with Mediterranean - inspired ingredients and flavors like tahini yogurt , eggplant , grilled trumpet mushroom-shaped cloud , and pickled gold raisins serve with earthy kamut grains and a coriander- and cumin - infused stuffing .

Best Japanese:Irori Sushi

4371 Glencoe Ave # B4The spirit is put the minute you tread foot inside Irori , where – in straight Japanese tradition – you ’re not countenance to don your funky - smelling shoe ( they supply sandals instead ) at the low-toned , sunken tables . The incredibly tonic fish just further solidifies this place ’s genuineness ; if it ’s in season , get the succulent toro trio that boasts a scary - but - worth - it market terms . Irori also does a few creative takes on sashimi , though , mixing bluefin tuna with burrata and putting disgraceful truffle on halibut for an umami sensory overburden .

Best place to take the family:C&O Trattoria

31 Washington BlvdThis beach - adjacent origination range the Venice / Marina del Rey border , but if you want to get technical , it belongs to the latter ( plus , Venice ’s restaurant sceneis already brimming ) . The out-of-door patio is always spanking , the staff hosts a nightly babble - a - long , and everyone ’s happy because even if you ’re not full off of the generous pasta portions , there ’s an unlimited , complimentary provision of garlic knots that practically slide out of your finger because they ’re so drenched in olive vegetable oil and butter .

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