Best Late Night American Restaurants in Los Angeles
22 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
OyBar
Self-taught TV writer turned chef creating deeply personal Jewish-LA fusion in a vintage dive bar setting
Notable Picks
#1
OyBar
8.6
Chef Jeff Strauss transforms a historic dive bar into Studio City's buzziest cocktail destination with Jewish-Japanese fusion bar food. Walk-in-only spot serving wagyu pastrami quesadillas, matzo ball ramen, and a cult-favorite burger with hoisin ketchup and cilantro that landed on LA's best burger lists.
Must-Try Dishes:
OyBar Burger with Hoisin Ketchup, Wagyu Pastrami Quesadilla, Smoked Salmon Yaki Onigiri
What Makes it Special: Self-taught TV writer turned chef creating deeply personal Jewish-LA fusion in a vintage dive bar setting
#2
Carney's
8.2
Since 1975, this railroad car restaurant on Sunset Strip serves thick-cut steak fries alongside legendary chili cheese combinations. The Train Wreck fries topped with chili and cheese have achieved cult status among late-night Sunset Strip crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Train Wreck Fries, Chili Cheese Fries, Double Chili Cheeseburger
What Makes it Special: Historic railroad car setting with legendary chili fries
8
Since 1952, this retro diner with working jukeboxes serves what many consider LA's best hot pastrami sandwich. The pastrami arrives perfectly seasoned and piled high on steamed buns, accompanied by crispy fries, coleslaw, and crunchy pickles in a nostalgic 1950s atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot Pastrami French Dip, Pastrami Sandwich, Chili Cheese Fries
What Makes it Special: Seventy-plus years perfecting hot pastrami in original 1950s diner setting
8
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
The La Cienega NORMS is a classic Southern California coffee-shop diner where massive breakfasts, patty melts, and late-night plates come fast and cheap. It’s more about bottomless coffee, booths, and reliability than culinary finesse, which is exactly why it still draws a steady crowd.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sirloin Steak & Eggs, Classic Bigger Better Breakfast, Lumberjack Breakfast
What Makes it Special: Old-school diner fare, big portions, and hours that suit night owls.
#5
Sideburns
8
Smash burger specialist adjacent to The Stache Bar serves 100% grass-fed patties alongside extensive vegan options including Beyond burgers, Chicago-style dogs, and dairy-free sides. Chef Thomas masters the art of cooking multiple burgers simultaneously while maintaining quality across both meat and plant-based options.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Smash Stache Burger, Vegan Smash Stache Burger, Chicago Dog (Vegan Available)
What Makes it Special: Equal commitment to quality for both meat and vegan burgers rare in burger joints
#6
Smash N Bite
8
Late-night counter spot on Ventura that built its reputation on properly executed smash technique—crispy-edged patties with a signature sauce that reviewers specifically call out as a differentiator from other LA smash spots. Open until 2AM with wagyu and halal options, it functions as a post-Universal Studios or late-night destination for Valley burger seekers who want quality without ceremony.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smash Burger, Wagyu Burger, Cajun Fries
What Makes it Special: Late-night smash burger counter on Ventura Blvd specializing in crispy-edged patties with seasoned griddle technique
8
Tucked on an industrial side street east of Skid Row, The Escondite is a roadhouse-style bar known for over-the-top burgers, loaded tots, and one of downtown’s most relaxed happy hours. Since 2011 it has pulled locals to its patio for discounted drinks, bar-food specials, and live music under the skyline.
Must-Try Dishes:
Captain Kangaroo Breakfast Burger, Nashville Hot Breakfast Sando, Baja Fish Taco Ensenada Style
What Makes it Special: A hidden, live-music roadhouse with indulgent burgers, long happy hours, and a downtown skyline patio.
Worthy Picks
7.9
This two-story New American restaurant brings global influences to SoCal cuisine in a vintage-chic space on the Promenade. Creative cocktail infusions and weekly themed promotions keep the energy high, attracting a diverse crowd from shoppers to date-nighters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Korean BBQ Tacos, Truffle Mac & Cheese, Tuna Poke Stack
What Makes it Special: Two-story space with balcony dining overlooking the Promenade
#9
Far Bar
7.9
An Asian-fusion gastropub housed in Little Tokyo's historic Far East Building, built around shareable plates like pozole ramen and bacon fried rice that lean into cross-cultural mashups rather than playing it safe. The open-air alley patio with a 13-foot projection screen and a deep Japanese whiskey list make it a natural landing spot for groups who want to eat, drink, and stay loud on a weekend night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wasabi Fries, Bacon Fried Rice, Pozole Ramen
What Makes it Special: Asian-fusion gastropub in Little Tokyo's historic Far East Building with an open-air alley patio and deep Japanese whiskey selection
Vibes:
Brewery & Beer Garden Republic
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Group Dining Gatherings
Late Night Legends
The gastropub that made LA respect the no-substitutions burger—Sang Yoon's Office Burger with its blue cheese and bacon compote became a template that still gets copied 25 years later. Best suited for craft beer sessions where you commit to the menu as written and let the extensive tap list do the steering. Expect volume indoors; the patio works better for actual conversation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Office Burger, Sweet Potato Fries, Duck Confit
What Makes it Special: The original no-substitutions gastropub where Sang Yoon's Office Burger—topped with caramelized onions, arugula, blue cheese, and bacon compote—became an LA icon
#11
The Edmon
7.9
A craft cocktail bar housed in a restored 1920s Art Deco lobby that leans harder on atmosphere and drinks than on the food—though the elevated bar menu (short rib cavatelli, duck confit tacos, garlic fries) holds up well enough to make it a full evening out. The 21-and-over door policy and low-volume music keep the room mellow, which is why it draws date-night couples and groups who want to talk over cocktails without shouting. Strong happy hour pricing ($9 cocktails, $5.50 pints until 7 PM) makes the early window a particularly good deal for the setting you get.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short Rib Cavatelli, Garlic Fries, Calamari
What Makes it Special: Craft cocktails and elevated bar food served inside a restored 1920s Art Deco building on Melrose
#12
464 Burgers
7.8
A no-frills late-night burger counter that’s become a Little Tokyo regular for messy, satisfying American comfort. Burgers skew indulgent, and the kitchen’s best work is in char, melt, and sauce balance. Ideal for quick hits rather than lingering meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic smash burger, Loaded fries, Milkshake
What Makes it Special: Late-night burgers that nail char-and-melt comfort.
7.8
A pirate-ship-themed dive bar on 2nd Street in Downtown LA that doubles as a nightly live music venue covering folk, punk, and everything between—with a scratch-made pub kitchen that takes the food more seriously than most music bars bother to. The beer-battered fish and the burger hold up as actual meals, not afterthoughts to the drink menu. Best suited for nights when you want to eat real food, catch a band you haven't heard of, and not care what time it is.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Beer Battered Fish Taco, Redwood Burger
What Makes it Special: Pirate-ship dive bar in DTLA with scratch-made pub fare and nightly live bands across genres from folk to punk rock
#14
Tavern on Main
7.8
This neighborhood sports bar combines California comfort food with over 20 TV screens, maintaining a locals-first vibe with affordable happy hours and late-night service. The recent management team emphasizes attentive service and safety, offering pool, shuffleboard, and solid bar fare like burgers and tacos at prices rare for Main Street.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tavern Burger, Chicken Tacos, Veggie Tacos
What Makes it Special: Budget-friendly neighborhood bar with exceptional value and caring staff
7.8
A converted auto shop in Palms that commits to the sports bar format with 28+ screens and ping pong, then surprises with a gastropub menu that goes beyond standard bar fare — coconut red curry pub wings and mushroom-burrata flatbread signal a kitchen actually trying. It works best as a group landing spot where the food holds up to repeated visits and nobody has to shout over the TV to justify ordering another round.
Must-Try Dishes:
Coconut Red Curry Pub Wings, The Garage Burger, Short Rib Sliders
What Makes it Special: A converted auto shop with 28+ screens, ping pong, and gastropub food that punches above bar-grade — the coconut red curry wings alone justify the trip.
#16
The Naughty Pig
7.8
The Naughty Pig is a rowdy sports bar on the Sunset Strip known for wall-to-wall TVs, craft beers, wings, and bar-food staples. It leans fully into game-day energy, with solid American pub fare backing up the drinks and late-night hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buffalo wings, House cheeseburger, Loaded tater tots
What Makes it Special: High-energy Sunset sports bar with strong wings, burgers, and plenty of screens.
#17
Ashland Hill
7.7
This casual gastropub serves contemporary American fare with outdoor seating and a dog-friendly patio that welcomes four-legged guests with their own menu. The beer garden atmosphere supports weekend brunch and late-night dining, with menu highlights spanning ground turkey burgers to banana cream pie desserts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ground Turkey Burger, Banana Cream Pie, Parmesan Fries
What Makes it Special: Genuinely dog-friendly with separate canine menu and welcoming atmosphere
#18
Sam's Hofbrau
7.7
A 1960s-era cafeteria counter that carves roast beef and turkey to order, operating as a late-night gathering point in downtown LA's industrial corridor where cheap plates and loud DJ sets draw post-midnight crowds. The draw is the combination of old-school carved meat at cafeteria prices and a high-energy room that keeps going when most kitchens have closed—though street parking is strongly recommended over the on-site valet operation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carved Roast Beef Plate, Carved Turkey Plate, Pizza
What Makes it Special: Old-school 1960s-era cafeteria-style carved meat counter operating as a late-night landmark near downtown LA's industrial corridor
7.6
Neighborhood sports bar with 33 rotating craft beer taps and made-from-scratch pub food in Sunset Junction. Wall-to-wall HD TVs for game viewing, expanded sidewalk seating, and elevated bar fare including hot chicken sandwiches and banh mi fries. Nightly entertainment includes trivia Wednesdays and karaoke Thursdays.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot Chicken Sandwich, Impossible Burger, Buffalo Cauliflower
What Makes it Special: Silver Lake's most reliable sports bar with 33 craft taps and quality scratch-made food
#20
Burger She Wrote
7.6
Burger She Wrote is a compact counter-service smashburger shop on Beverly turning out thin, griddled patties, Oklahoma-style onion burgers, and crisp fries. Lines can be long and seating is tight, but burger-focused diners treat it as a quick pilgrimage spot rather than a lingering meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Single Smashburger with Cheese, Oklahoma Onion Burger, Hand-Cut Fries
What Makes it Special: Focused smashburger counter with big flavor and little fluff.
#21
Fred 62
7.6
This retro Los Feliz diner opened in 1997 and runs nearly 24/7 with an encyclopedic menu spanning breakfast, burgers, pizza, and comfort classics. The hipster-casual spot attracts post-movie crowds, neighborhood insomniacs, and anyone craving late-night patty melts and peanut butter malts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Juicy Lucy Burger, Peanut Butter Malt, Mac Daddy & Cheese Balls
What Makes it Special: 25+ years serving creative diner fare nearly around the clock
#22
Urban Skillet
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
This halal burger concept brings street-inspired flavors and 100% locally sourced halal meat to Main Street, combining beachside chill with bold LA energy. The growing chain's flagship location serves gourmet burgers, crispy wings, loaded fries, and hand-crafted shakes from its Ocean Park spot where it all began.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Halal Burger, Loaded Fries, Hand-Crafted Shakes
What Makes it Special: 100% halal burgers with street-style creativity and fresh ingredients