Best Birthday & Celebration Seafood Restaurants in Los Angeles
20 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Dear Jane's
Michelin-listed, chef-driven seafood with retro coastal glamour and marina views.
Essential Picks
#1
Dear Jane's
9.1
Dear Jane's is a chef-driven, marina-front seafood restaurant from Josiah Citrin and Hans Röckenwagner, pairing classic American seafood dishes with a polished, retro-inspired dining room. Since opening in 2022 and earning a place in the Michelin Guide, it has become Marina del Rey’s most talked-about seafood destination for special-occasion dinners and serious seafood fans.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oysters Rockefeller, Shrimp Louie, Trout amandine
What Makes it Special: Michelin-listed, chef-driven seafood with retro coastal glamour and marina views.
#2
Providence
9
Chef Michael Cimarusti's seafood-focused tasting menus draw from California ingredients and line-caught fish through rigorous French technique, with a kitchen tank supplying live Santa Barbara spot prawns and sea urchins. The restaurant approaches its 20th anniversary having just earned LA's first three Michelin stars alongside a Green Star for sustainability. Expect refined, deliberate pacing and dishes that recent guests note feel perhaps slightly safer than past visits—still executed at an elite level.
Must-Try Dishes:
Santa Barbara Spot Prawn, Uni Egg, King Salmon
What Makes it Special: Three Michelin-starred seafood temple with a kitchen tank of live Santa Barbara spot prawns and sea urchins, orchestrating multi-course tasting menus from the freshest possible ingredients.
Notable Picks
#3
Kato
8.9
Chef Jon Yao channels Taiwanese-American nostalgia through a 12-course wood-fired tasting menu that has earned him three consecutive LA Times #1 rankings and the 2025 James Beard Best Chef: California award. The Row DTLA dining room is understated, letting the bold, heavily-seasoned dishes command attention. At $325 for the main room, it works best for diners seeking contemporary Taiwanese flavors filtered through fine-dining ambition rather than tradition.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Maw with Dungeness Crab and Caviar, Youtiao with Sea Urchin and Jamón, Spice-Crusted Duck Breast with Bao Bun
What Makes it Special: James Beard Award-winning chef Jon Yao reimagines Taiwanese-American nostalgia through a 12-course wood-fired tasting menu that earned Michelin recognition and a spot on North America's 50 Best.
#4
n/naka
8.9
Chef Niki Nakayama's 13-course modern kaiseki weaves California seasonality through traditional Japanese technique across a 3-hour progression, anchored by a signature spaghetti-abalone course that has never left the menu since 2011. The 26-seat ryokan-inspired room operates with exacting service—staff retained for over a decade—and ends with Nakayama greeting each table personally. At $365 before drinks, this is a deliberate investment in craft rather than a casual dinner out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Spaghetti with Abalone, Pickled Cod Roe & Black Truffle, Zensai Assortment, Binchotan-Seared A5 Miyazaki Wagyu
What Makes it Special: Chef Niki Nakayama's 13-course kaiseki blends Japanese tradition with California seasonality in a 26-seat intimate setting, featured on Netflix's Chef's Table
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Genwa Korean BBQ Mid Wilshire is a polished, destination-level Korean barbecue house where prime beef cuts, meticulous banchan, and attentive service anchor the experience. With thousands of strong reviews and a steady reputation, it’s a go-to in Hancock Park for both special-occasion dinners and serious KBBQ fans who want consistent quality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Galbi (marinated short rib), Assorted Prime Beef Combo, Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon)
What Makes it Special: High-end Korean BBQ with extensive banchan and prime cuts in a polished room.
8.8
This Beverly Hills institution sets the standard for upscale steakhouses with its signature warm service and live piano bar creating an electric atmosphere nightly. Silver carts deliver perfectly aged beef while the lobster mashed potatoes have achieved legendary status among locals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bone-in Ribeye, Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Shrimp Cocktail
What Makes it Special: Three-story steakhouse with Beverly Hills' most energetic piano bar scene
8.7
Chef Helene An's modern Vietnamese institution features a dramatic walk-on water entrance and serves weekend dim sum-style brunch from roaming carts. Known for the secret kitchen's famous garlic noodles, this 30-year Beverly Hills gem offers innovative fusion like ube soufflé pancakes and filet mignon hash.
Must-Try Dishes:
AN's Famous Garlic Noodles, Dungeness Crab, Ube Soufflé Pancake
What Makes it Special: Secret kitchen recipes and theatrical water entrance
#8
Asuka
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Asuka is an intimate Westwood sushi bar known for meticulous fish cutting, traditional techniques, and a calm, polished dining room. It leans more toward nigiri and specialty rolls than novelty items, making it a favorite for diners who want a slower, more composed sushi experience than the nearby student haunts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef’s omakase sushi, Toro nigiri, Baked crab hand roll
What Makes it Special: Refined, chef-driven sushi in a serene room that feels built for proper dinners.
#9
Iki Nori
8.5
Vibes:
Girls Night Out Approved
Live Music Showtime
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Status Restaurant & Lounge brings a Caribbean lens to Hollywood dining, serving jerk chicken, curry shrimp, fried snapper, and crab alongside cocktails in an upscale lounge setting. It leans into nightlife energy, so seafood plates often share the table with bottle service, DJs, and a dressed-up crowd.
Must-Try Dishes:
Caribbean curry shrimp pasta, Fried or escovitch red snapper, Curry crab legs weekend specials
What Makes it Special: Caribbean restaurant-lounge where jerk meats and plated seafood share space with DJs and bottle service.
8.3
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
El Pescador is the original Bell Gardens mariscos house that grew into a larger regional group, still anchored by classic Mexican seafood plates and combo platters. Families, birthday groups, and Sunday crowds come for steaming caldos, shrimp platters, and surf-and-turf combos in a lively, full-service dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Caldo 7 mares, Camarones a la diabla, El Pescador Combo (lobster and shrimp)
What Makes it Special: Founding Bell Gardens mariscos restaurant known for big plates and classic Mexican seafood.
8.3
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Business Lunch Power Players
Since 1983, this waterfront landmark delivers mesquite-grilled fresh seafood and award-winning wine selections beneath a working lighthouse. The menu features innovative Southern California preparations alongside creative sushi, all served with panoramic views of Long Beach Harbor and the Queen Mary.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mesquite-Grilled Fresh Fish, Oysters Rockefeller, Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna
What Makes it Special: Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and unmatched harbor views from every table
#12
Omakase By Osen
8.2
Chef Damon Cho's omakase-focused sibling restaurant delivers theatrical multi-course experiences with caviar-topped toro, truffle-enhanced sashimi, and baked king crab hand rolls. The intimate counter seats and table options showcase seasonal Japanese fish with modern flourishes designed for maximum visual impact.
Must-Try Dishes:
Miso Crab Salmon, Caviar Toro Appetizer, Baked King Crab Hand Roll
What Makes it Special: Focuses exclusively on sushi with decadent caviar and truffle presentations unavailable at sister restaurant
8.1
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Since 1993, this corner location at Broadway and Pine serves a daily-changing menu based on fresh market availability. The clubby interior features black-and-white tile floors and inviting booths, with an extensive oyster selection and live shellfish including lobster and crab.
Must-Try Dishes:
Daily Fresh Oyster Selection, Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Roll
What Makes it Special: Three-generation family expertise with menu printed daily based on fresh catch
#14
Tensho
8.1
A fine-dining shabu-shabu destination in Little Tokyo where A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and daily-fresh king crab are the main draws, prepared by a 23-year veteran of traditional Japanese cookery. The intimate, small-room setting and attentive service suit special occasions, though expect premium pricing ($128-$158 for wagyu courses) that matches the ingredient quality. Carries forward the legacy of predecessor Kagaya with a focus on letting high-grade proteins speak for themselves in bubbling broth.
Must-Try Dishes:
A5 Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Course, King Crab Hot Pot, Udon in Shabu Broth
What Makes it Special: Fine-dining shabu-shabu featuring A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and daily-fresh seafood, led by a 23-year veteran chef trained in traditional Japanese cookery
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Live Music Showtime
Sports Bar Central
Open since 1969, The Warehouse Restaurant is a kitschy, Polynesian-themed steak-and-seafood house overlooking the marina, known for big portions, strong drinks, and party-friendly energy. It’s a nostalgic choice for prime rib dinners, family gatherings, and waterfront celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime Rib, Shrimp Scampi, Clam Chowder
What Makes it Special: Retro marina steak-and-seafood institution with tiki décor and big portions.
8
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Luxury Dining Elite
Birthday & Celebration Central
Chef Katsuya Uechi's high-technique Japanese cooking—anchored by the crispy rice with spicy tuna he essentially popularized across LA—lands in a Philippe Starck-designed room that doubles as Brentwood's go-to celebration venue. The shareable format and scene-driven energy make it strongest for groups and occasions rather than quiet two-tops. Expect premium pricing across the board, particularly on wagyu and handroll items.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, A4 Wagyu Fried Rice, Brussels Sprouts
What Makes it Special: Chef Katsuya Uechi's signature Japanese dishes in a Philippe Starck-designed space where Brentwood's social scene converges
#17
The Kickin' Crab
8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
The Kickin’ Crab’s Bell Gardens outpost brings Cajun-style seafood boils—piles of shrimp, crab, and mussels in plastic bags of garlicky, spicy sauce—to the Eastern Avenue strip. It’s messy, social, and loud in the best way, with tables covered in butcher paper and groups sharing seafood bags, corn, and potatoes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seafood bag with snow crab and shrimp, KC gumbo, Seafood scampi platter
What Makes it Special: Hands-on Cajun seafood boils with customizable sauces and shareable bags.
#18
Whiskey Red's
8
Vibes:
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Whiskey Red's sits at the edge of the channel by Fisherman's Village with one of the largest waterfront patios in the marina, serving seafood-oriented New American fare, brunch, and cocktails. Diners come more for the 180-degree harbor views, fire pits, and event-friendly setting than fine-dining precision, but fresh seafood platters and brunch spreads keep it popular for celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal fresh oysters, Seafood linguini, Fish tacos
What Makes it Special: Expansive harborfront patio with waterfalls, fire pits, and seafood-heavy menus.
Worthy Picks
#19
Water Grill
7.8
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
While primarily a seafood destination, this iconic restaurant serves exceptional prime steaks with Pacific Ocean views. The luxurious copper bar, live saltwater tanks, and robust daily-changing menu offer surf-and-turf options perfect for special date nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bone-In Ribeye, Lobster Tail Combo, Oyster Selection
What Makes it Special: Best surf-and-turf combination with ocean views.
7.6
Vibes:
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
This 9,000-square-foot waterfront restaurant at The Pike Outlets features expansive harbor views from the patio overlooking the Queen Mary and Lighthouse. The diverse menu includes large portions of fresh seafood, grilled steaks, fresh sushi, and the famous Mile High Chocolate Cake, catering to convention center crowds and tourists.
Must-Try Dishes:
Live Maine Lobster, Truffle Lobster Mac & Cheese, Daily Fresh Fish Selection
What Makes it Special: Massive portions and prime location steps from Aquarium of the Pacific