Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in West Hollywood (90046)
8 hand-picked restaurants, AI-analyzed and critic-validated
Notable Picks
#1
Madre
8.5
Madre West Hollywood is an Oaxacan restaurant and mezcaleria where tacos share space with moles, ceviches, and a deep agave list. It’s more of a sit-down dinner spot than a quick taqueria, but its Camaron and barbacoa tacos make it a destination for elevated, regionally focused Mexican cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Camaron shrimp taco, Barbacoa de borrego taco, Mole negro enchilada
What makes it special: Oaxacan-driven kitchen with serious mezcals and refined tacos.
#2
Pura Vita
8.4
Pura Vita is a plant-based Italian restaurant offering pastas, pizzas, and comfort dishes that appeal to both vegans and non-vegans. The space is energetic and intimate with a strong wine program. It has a large and loyal customer base driven by creative plant-forward interpretations of Italian classics.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Pura, Cacio e pepe, Truffle pizza
What makes it special: Plant-based Italian cooking executed with surprising depth and richness.
8.4
The Benjamin Hollywood is an Art Deco–inflected American bar and restaurant where martinis, a serious bar burger, and crab beignets anchor a menu of updated classics. It feels like a throwback big-city dining room tuned for 2025, with a central oak bar, tight reservations, and a soundtrack that leans into late-night energy.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Benjamin Burger, Crab beignets with lemony aioli, Twice-baked potato with crème fraîche
What makes it special: A glam, Art Deco American bar-restaurant built around martinis and a standout burger.
8.4
Members is a reservations-only Mediterranean restaurant and nightlife space where candlelit tables, DJ sets, and a sultry room blur the line between dinner and lounge. Couples start with mezze and cocktails before the lights dim and the energy shifts toward a late-night scene.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smoked Baba Ghanoush & Crudités, Dry-Aged Beef Tartare, Grilled Branzino
What makes it special: A moody, Mediterranean-leaning restaurant-club hybrid where dinner naturally runs into a night out.
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Ggiata’s West Hollywood outpost is a counter-service Italian-American deli turning out hefty chicken cutlet sandwiches, wraps, and salads from morning through late lunch. It draws a steady stream of locals who treat the Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap and Spicy P as reliable, next-level takes on East Coast deli classics.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Spicy P, Crispy Chicken Caesar Wrap, The Classic Italian
What makes it special: A modern Italian deli where overstuffed chicken cutlet sandwiches and wraps are the main event.
#6
First Of All
8.2
First Of All is a family-owned daytime restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard doing Mexican-leaning brunch plates, chilaquiles, and elaborate pancakes in a bright, art-filled room. It’s a newer arrival in 90046 but already drawing strong feedback for thoughtful flavors and polished presentations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Churro French Toast, Desayuno Del Rancho, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
What makes it special: Daytime spot blending Mexican flavors with classic brunch staples in a colorful space.
Worthy Picks
#7
Mamie
7.8
Mamie is a daytime Italian cafe offering Tuscan-style panini, salads, and espresso in a bright counter-service environment. It caters to neighborhood lunch crowds with fresh breads and simple, well-prepared combinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prosciutto mozzarella panini, Turkey pesto panini, Tiramisu cup
What makes it special: Tuscan-inspired sandwiches made with fresh breads and fillings.
#8
Marvito
7.7
Marvito transforms a former Old Hollywood institution into a dim, psychedelic honky-tonk where small-batch tequila and Mexican-American comfort plates share space with classic rock on the stereo. Shrimp enchiladas, aguachile, and ribs come out of an open kitchen that feels more like a house party than a white-tablecloth dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Enchiladas, Aguachile, Barbecue Ribs
What makes it special: A divey, music-soaked roadhouse where tequila, tacos, and ribs land under amber lighting.