Photography By: Patrick Record Photography

Don’t Skip These 11 Restaurants During dineL.A. in September

Feast Your Eyes! These 11 Restaurants Are Serving Up the Best of the Best During dineL.A. Restaurant Week

Written By: Taylor Haynes dineLA Restaurants

Foodies in Los Angeles look forward to dineL.A. every year, a biannual celebration of the city’s one-of-a-kind cuisine. For this summer’s event, taking place between Sept. 1 and 18, more than 300 LA-based restaurants are offering a specialty menu for you to discover (many have takeout or delivery options, too!).

 

1 | Late Summer Flavors at Seaside dineLA Restaurants

The Waterfront Venice

Price: $35 dinner (set menu)

When: Open Wednesday-Sunday for dine in between 4 and 10 p.m. The dineL.A. menu is also available for pickup and delivery.

Highlights: Three-course meal reflecting the flavors of late summer: think heirloom tomato salad and grilled peaches with salted vanilla ice cream and honeycomb crunch. We’re also intrigued by the nori-crusted Ahi tuna. 

The Waterfront Venice reflects the community’s laid-back, creative legacy with bohemian decor. It’s a go-to spot for locals with a leafy beer garden, a bustling garden patio (including a fire pit) and three distinct bars with “cold drinks for chill people.”

 

2 | Silverlake’s Favorite Thai Spot dineLA Restaurants

Same Same 

Price: $35 dinner (set menu)

When: Takeout available between 4:30 and 9:45 p.m. 

Highlights: Same Same, a beloved Thai eatery and wine bar, is offering a three-course meal featuring standout menu items, such as their spicy-sweet pineapple red curry and Bangkok street-style pad Thai. 

Same Same co-owners, cousins Katy Noochlaor and Annie Daniels, based their menu on family recipes and Thai classics. “The dineLA menu is a perfect sample of some of our most popular dishes, which pair well with the curated selection of natural wines as well as both local and Thai beers by our partners, Last Word Hospitality,” they explain.  

 

3 | Experience a True Malibu Classic 

Duke’s Malibu

Price: $25 lunch menu, $45 dinner menu 

When: Duke’s Malibu is open for dine in or takeout, Wednesday through Sunday, Noon. to 4 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. 

Highlights: Their dineL.A. lunch menu features Hawaiian cuisine-inspired items like poke tacos or the rib and chicken plate—a “local favorite” on the streets of Waikiki. Top it off with a slice of Kimo’s Original Hula Pie, a decadent combination of cookie crumbs, macadamia nut ice cream and whipped cream. 

This quintessential Malibu eatery pays homage to surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, who is credited with popularizing surfing in the US. He lived in the Los Angeles area during the early 20th century, working as a lifeguard, a professional athlete and appearing in numerous Hollywood films.

 

4 | Your Go-To for Plant-Based Fare dineLA Restaurants

Flower Child

Price: $35 lunch menu, $35 dinner menu 

When: Open for dine in or takeout daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Highlights: Flower Child’s dineL.A. lunch and dinner menus include a starter and two entrees. The Mother Earth Bowl is a classic, combining portobello mushrooms, ancient grains and sweet potatoes. Both menus include two gluten-free chocolate chip cookies to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Founded in 2014, Flower Child sought to take fast-casual to the next level. Today, it reliably attracts a health-conscious, post-workout crowd seeking wholesome lunch and dinner options. We love the cheerful surroundings, which are as colorful as their fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

 

5 | Classy Digs and Food in the Heart of Manhattan Beach 

Zinc@Shade

Price: $20 lunch menu, $35 dinner menu 

When: Open Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m., for dine in and takeout. 

Highlights: Zinc@Shade serves up a refined selection for dineL.A. For lunch, try the toasted sesame salad and miso salmon. As the sun dips below the horizon, dine on pan-seared branzino followed by flourless chocolate cake.  

Zinc@Shade is located within the Shade Hotel—one of Manhattan Beach’s premier luxury hotels. The dineL.A. menu includes top sellers, such as the spicy tuna on crispy rice, but also offers newer options. “I wanted to take the time to have fun with the menu and bring on some new seasonal and vibrant items… I was very much inspired by the summer, the bright colors, the rich produce and zesty flavors,” explains Executive Chef Christina Dominguez.

 

6 | Seafood to Satisfy the Soul dineLA Restaurants

Rock’n Fish Manhattan Beach

Price: $25 lunch menu, $45 dinner menu 

When: Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to close for dine in and takeout. 

Highlights: Manhattan Beach’s Rock’n Fish offers satisfying lunch and dinner options for dineL.A. Consider the oak-grilled asparagus to start, followed by the unforgettable New Orleans barbeque shrimp. 

“DineL.A. has been an opportunity to bring back some of our most beloved dishes during the month of September,” says Greg Hozinsky, vice president of culinary operations at Rock’n Fish. Grabbing lunch? Definitely order the Sticky Toffee Pudding to finish—it’s a specialty! 

 

7 | Seasonally Inspired Fine Dining on the Coast

The Strand House

Price: $30 lunch menu, $55 dinner menu 

When: Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner hours are Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 5 p.m.

Highlights: You won’t want to miss the Strand House’s uber-classy dineL.A. menus. Starters include duck leg confit or a half dozen oysters in the shell. Treat yourself with the braised short rib for your dinner entree, and don’t forget the Tahitian vanilla-chocolate-salted caramel donuts for dessert.

Make your experience at this Manhattan Beach gem truly unforgettable with an optional wine pairing to go with an expansive view of the Pacific. “We know this year has been tough,” says Executive Chef Austin Cobb, “[but] we are excited to offer you an incredible experience on our outdoor patios and balconies. Our outdoor dining is safe, beautiful and welcoming.” 


8 | A Sushi Star’s Enticing Offerings

SugarFish

Price: $35 all-day menu 

When: Available for pickup and delivery Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 9 p.m. 

Highlights: Think of SugarFish’s dineL.A. menu as a crash course in traditional-style sushi. Their all-day menu includes items like salmon sashimi, large scallop sushi and a Toro Cut Roll.

The now-iconic Sugarfish started with one location in the Valley. Now, Chef Nozawa’s impeccable attention to quality is known across numerous locations in LA and NYC. It’s one of the best spots to try fresh, traditional-style sushi (don’t expect any California rolls, but do expect to be impressed). 

 

9 | Pizza, Pasta and So Much More dineLA Restaurants

Eataly

Price: $25 lunch and dinner menu (to-go and Il Patio di Eataly), $25 lunch and $65 dinner menu (Terra)

When: Eataly is open Monday through Sunday. The to-go menu is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Il Patio menu is available from Noon to 9 p.m. The Terra menu is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Highlights: With three dineL.A. menus, Eataly offers a diverse selection of Italian favorites like Cacio e Pepe and Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. If you’re dining at Terra(their stunning rooftop restaurant with views of the Hollywood Hills), start with the prosciutto with figs and end with the tiramisu. 

Eataly is an unparalleled Italian marketplace, sprawling across 67,000 square feet in the Century City mall. More than 80% of their items and ingredients are sourced directly from Italy. Before leaving, pick up a bottle from Il Vino (Eataly’s wine counter) for wines made from “fruit across the boot.” 


10 | Your Tastebuds’ Journey Through Mexico

Gracias Madre

Price: $55 dinner menu 

When: Open for dine in Monday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Highlights: Gracias Madre’s dineL.A. menu is an ideal opportunity to try a variety of their best menu items. For your entree, choose among their potato pimiento flauta, pozole or the macadamia ricotta enchilada. Their signature margarita accompanies your meal. 


Pozole is a traditional Mexican stew containing hominy, a staple produced from dried corn kernels that then undergo a process called nixtamalization. During this process, the corn is soaked in an alkaline solution, washed and hulled. Nixtamalization is a fundamental aspect of ancient Mesoamerican cuisine that is still popular today. 

 

11 | New American in LA’s Arts District 

Manuela 

Price: $25 lunch menu, $45 dinner menu 

When: Lunch is available for dine in, take away and delivery Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is available for dine in, take away and delivery Tuesday through Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Highlights: Manuela’s New-American menu centers on an array of fresh, seasonal produce, including salads with arugula and plums, and a venison burger on brioche with pickled green tomato and fried leeks.

The food at Manuela is artful, and the setting is too. The restaurant is housed within the Hauser and Wirth gallery, an anchor for LA.’s downtown Arts District. You’ll also find the restaurant’s walls brimming with specially commissioned work by artists Mark Bradford, Paul McCarthy and Raymond Pettibon. 

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