Santa Monica offers diverse cuisine, with fresh seafood and farm-to-table dishes being popular. Don't miss the local favorite, fish tacos, often enjoyed with ocean views.
Pizza • Spanish • European • Vegetarian
"Wow, wow, wow! Portions were bigger than I was expecting and the taste of all our dishes were incredible. With everyone offering heightened dining experiences we were delighted with not only the presentation and overall experience but was blow away by the speed of turn around between ordering and plates on the table.My date and I split four dishes and a glass of wine. Beets and burrata salad, mushroom croquettes, tomato avocado and cucumber salad, plus lamb chops with tzatziki. Mmm, mmm, good!We will be back!"
Vegan • Coffee • American • Vegetarian
"A few suggestions, depending on your mood.... 1. BACON PANCAKES! Yes, you heard that right. If you're feeling guilty share them, they are huge and very worth it. 2. House Smoked Salmon My favorite is the Salmon BLT but it's fantastic on a salad or in a wrap. I promise you, it's the best. 3. Health nuts Do the BodyWrap, I like mine with salsa on the side. PS If you see a smiling guy with shaved head behind the counter, that's the owner Matt, say Hi, he's super cool!"
Burgers • European • American • Fast Food
"Pre-pandemic, Pono was in contention for best burger in SM, along with Misfit, Stout, Father's Office, etc. Not sure what happened last night. The patty itself had no structural integrity just mush bacon under-cooked, and too much fig jam. I would guess it was made by someone who didn't like ... food. 5 onion rings for $9.50 is laughable."
Seafood • American • Vegetarian • Gluten Free
"I was able to secure last-minute Valentine's Day reservations at this restaurant. The food was good, with some plates being on the smaller side and others more substantial. Conveniently, there is a parking garage located right next to the restaurant."
Full • Wine • Seafood • Bar-Lounge
"Nice place to enjoy the view of Santa Monica. I was not really hungry and just looking for a place to sit down and relax, so I decided to try this restaurant. I ordered some fresh oysters and french fries to much on while enjoying the view. The oysters are really fresh and the fries is also really good. Good food good view!"
Meat • Japanese • Serves Happy-hour Food • Has Private Dining Room
"This was my first visit and likely my last. The service was terrible. They claimed that the kitchen was backed up so our food took over an hour to come out. Meanwhile, everyone around us had plenty of food. Our server didn't check on us and at one point asked us if we were ready for the check and we barely had appetizers. We had to complain to the manager just to get what we asked for."
Full • Wine • Seafood • American
"Fang is with a perfect view of the beach. We arrived at the time to watch the sunset while enjoying our first course of Iberico de Bellota ham on Kistenbrot amazingly. I still think about this plate. They also offer a delicate, delicious fish of the day, but you can also steak, chicken, pasta...etc. There is a large cocktail menu with wines and beer. The view, the beautiful building and the simple parking service make Catch one of my favorite restaurants in the city."
Salad • Burger • Burgers • Fast Food
"the santa barbara char burger (roasted sourdough) is really good. fries, tweeper rings and roasted green beans are always amazing. this position seemed to be a little short staff, and the food preparation area did not look very clean. I'm in the opposite, I usually go to another place."
Tea • Asian • Ramen • Japanese
"Where do I even begin with this review? The staff at this restaurant were extremely polite and welcoming. They require proof of COVID19 vaccination, which is completely understandable for everyone's safety. Now, let's get back to the review. The outdoor seating area is lovely, especially at night when it gives off a whole different atmosphere. The menu is digital, making it easy to view on your phone. The food was outstanding, and they brought it out in less than 15 minutes. The flavors were so good and it was piping hot, which is perfect for a dish like Ramen. I will definitely be returning next time I visit. Thank you to everyone at the restaurant for their excellent service. I truly appreciate it."
Sushi • Asiatic • Seafood • Japanese
"While not having the usual nigiri or specialty rolls, EVERYTHING they do make is excellent. Small space, with simple and elegant atmosphere. A lovely Japanese restaurant. Very welcoming."
Pizza • Cafés • Pasta • Seafood
"I came here a few times and it has to be disappointed. pasta and flesh are just divine and the service is great. I can't wait to come back."
Wine • Fish • Pasta • Italian
"Wonderful staff! Knew the menu so well and gave excellent recommendations. Definitely one of the nicest dining experiences I have had with some of the best Italian food I have ever had"
Burgers • American • Fast Food • Sandwiches
"Excellent food! The frits were double-footed, so they were extra crispy and the blows on them increased the experience so much! The beef burger is really satisfied? I recommend making the dishes sharp when you're a spice lover. The atmosphere is quite relaxed, great for a small group."
Tea • Soup • Fish • Japanese
"I added this place to happycow because it began to sort the vegan suitable pork now they see at the wall 4 or labeled vegan. the preskin, however, is tiny and meat-non-meat are all treated together. in the ground what they get is a fist-size-alme-weed-covered rice ball with a little filling inside (has mushroom, or hijiki broom and mais, or get planted, and another taste) cost are about $3,50 to 4,00. fill them as snack. If they want to make it a full meal, they may have to order 3. they help their own to free cold tea. the place is cramped with a few chairs to sit. is busy on Saturdays and Sundays, so they will see how people eat outside. updated from previous review on 2013-05-01"
Pizza • Casual • American • Catering
"Popular brunch spot known for fried chicken and waffles. Came here on a Sunday around noon and the place was bustling. Indoor seating available. Street parking. They do serve alcohol. Credit cards accepted. I had the Dwight’s special which came with two pieces of chicken (boneless) and your choice of waffle or French toast. I prefer the waffles. The syrup comes on the side along with a ranch and an aioli. I also had the lavender honey latte, which was on the sweeter side and lighter on the lavender, but still tasty. It came with a little cat design which was super cute."
Full • Chinese • American • North American
"I love Chinois On Main! This place is trendy, immaculately located at the heart of Santa Monica, and the food is authentic yet elevated. It?s great for celebrating birthday and/or date night out with your loved ones. The drinks are neat, but my absolute favorite item on the menu is the Shanghai lobster ? and the catfish! Incredible flavors, perfectly seasoned, gorgeous presentation and well-balanced. I?m so pleased with this dish, as well as the desserts. The staff are kind, polite and efficient. It was a delightful dinner and I will definitely come back for Shanghai lobster ? the sauce is sublime, crispy spinach is fantastic. An extraordinary Chinese cuisine that has met globally recognized fine dining standards, totally worth the trip! ????"
Kitchen • American • Vegetarian • Californian
"This place is really awesome! When you walk in, you'll notice how cool it is as they've set up the restaurant in different sections of an old building. And guess what? They have a bunch of outdoor seating, and they're super pet-friendly, so you'll see loads of adorable dogs around. The best part is the service – it's super quick and friendly, and they've got plenty of staff making sure you never run out of water and that your table stays clean.Now, let's talk about the food. It's honestly amazing! It's hard to find a place these days that serves such delicious dishes, way better than what you might cook at home. And here's the kicker – even though the area is pretty fancy and upscale, the prices here won't break the bank.If you're looking for recommendations, you've got to try their avocado toast and iced coffees – so yummy! And my wife can't get enough of their smoothies; they're her absolute favorite.Long story short, this place is a real gem. The atmosphere, the service, the food, and the prices – everything's just perfect. There are a lot of choices to eat in this area for brunch, but this place is not to be missed."
Full • Asian • Kitchen • American
"I always rated R&D as one of the best in the area however after COVID, there has been a continuous turnover of staff, and the menu and price changes have definitely gone downhill. This has been my local for over 8 years but things need to improve again. My family still frequent this place every week maybe more than once but recently we have had long waits for a table and been bypassed by the continuously changing hostesses to get seated. I have had to complain on a few occasions recently which I hate doing. There are still some regular staff who are very good and try hard and I appreciate this."
Wine • Cakes • Desserts • Ice Cream
"Stopped in for coffee and dessert with our friends and was truly impressed with the delicious cream brulee cheesecake! The owner was warm, welcoming and friendly. A must try place for dessert!"
Salad • American • Vegetarian • Vegan Options
"This is a good place to make your own salad. It's too bad they aren't just all vegan so you could enjoy all their items, but it's an easily modified menu and voila, it's vegan. The bread is boring and the salad dressings are overbearing so skip those."