Best Trendy Restaurants in Hollywood
41 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Luv2Eat Thai Bistro
Southern-leaning Thai flavors with serious spice and destination-level crab curry.
Essential Picks
9
Luv2eat Thai Bistro is a Hollywood destination for Southern Thai cooking, packing serious heat and flavor into a compact strip-mall space. Regulars come for boldly spiced curries, seafood specials, and plates that feel tuned more to Thai palates than tourist comfort.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab Curry with Rice Noodles, Crispy Pork with Chinese Broccoli, Southern-Style Papaya Salad
What Makes it Special: Southern-leaning Thai flavors with serious spice and destination-level crab curry.
Notable Picks
#2
UKA
8.9
A Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant inside JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, UKA serves meticulous multi-course omakase dinners that spotlight pristine seafood and seasonal produce. The intimate room and counter seating overlook Hollywood, making it one of the city’s most serious Japanese dining experiences.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kabutamushi dumpling with Japanese sea bream, Grilled abalone with butter ponzu, Seasonal wagyu course with red wine jus and miso butter
What Makes it Special: Michelin-starred kaiseki and omakase with sweeping Hollywood views.
#3
Horses
8.8
Horses is a Michelin-recognized contemporary bistro on Sunset that channels old Hollywood energy with martinis, a tight seasonal menu, and one of the city’s most talked-about burgers. It’s a destination for long, lingering dinners where endive Caesar, off-menu vodka rigatoni, and Cornish hen share the table with strong cocktails and excellent people-watching.
Must-Try Dishes:
Horses Caesar (endive Caesar salad), Off-menu vodka rigatoni “The Herman”, Cornish hen with panzanella
What Makes it Special: A buzzy, Michelin-recognized Sunset bistro blending vintage pub bones with contemporary, French-leaning American cooking.
8.8
Laya is a chef-driven Middle Eastern restaurant just off Cahuenga, pairing Lebanese-inspired mezzes and skewers with cocktails in a moody, design-forward space. It’s where Hollywood comes for lively, shared dinners that feel equal parts night-out destination and serious modern cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beetroot hummus with warm pita, Charcoal-grilled lamb skewers, Sumac-roasted chicken with toum
What Makes it Special: Chef Charbel Hayek’s polished Eastern Mediterranean cooking in a high-energy, design-led room.
#5
Mother Wolf
8.8
Mother Wolf channels Roman trattoria cooking into a cinematic Hollywood dining room inside the historic Citizen News building. Handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and a deep Italian wine list draw both industry power players and food-obsessed locals. The room hums with energy most nights, making it one of the buzziest reservations in 90028.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Rigatoni all’Amatriciana, Squash blossoms fritti
What Makes it Special: High-drama Roman cooking in a grand, buzzed-about Hollywood dining room.
8.7
Opened in 2025 inside Ovation Hollywood, La Popular brings a polished Mexico City–style dining room and bar to the Hollywood & Highland complex. While tacos and agave cocktails headline, hefty burritos and a brunch-ready breakfast burrito give visitors a more composed, sit-down burrito experience with views toward the Hollywood Sign.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria burrito, Carnitas burrito, Breakfast burrito
What Makes it Special: Modern CDMX-inspired dining with refined burritos and agave-focused cocktails.
#7
Linden
8.7
Linden channels New York comfort food through a Hollywood lens, pairing a moody, vintage-inspired dining room with chef-driven takes on burgers, shrimp and grits, and wagyu oxtail pie. It reads equal parts neighborhood hangout and destination dinner spot, with cocktails and storytelling plates that reward repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Linden burger with duck fat fries, Wagyu oxtail pie, Southern-style shrimp and grits
What Makes it Special: Black-owned, New York-inspired spot weaving personal stories into elevated comfort food.
8.7
Superba’s Hollywood location feels like a modern all-day café, where sourdough loaves, laminated pastries, and colorful brunch plates land under high ceilings and big windows. Weekends skew lively, with neighborhood industry folks lingering over coffee, cocktails, and long brunches on Sunset.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soft-scramble sourdough toast, Ricotta pancakes with seasonal fruit, Fried chicken sandwich on house bread
What Makes it Special: Bakery-driven brunch where serious bread and pastry anchor bright California plates.
#9
Tonchin
8.6
Tokyo-born Tonchin’s LA outpost brings a polished, modern ramen experience to the Melrose corridor, anchored by rich yet balanced tonkotsu. The bowl construction is meticulous—springy noodles, silky broth, and well-seared chashu—while sides and kakigori desserts make it feel like a full night-out spot rather than a quick slurp. Cocktails and late hours add real neighborhood pull.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen, Spicy Tan Tan Ramen, Smoked Dashi Ramen
What Makes it Special: A Tokyo institution’s refined tonkotsu and dessert-forward ramen bar format.
#10
El Compadre
8.6
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Live Music Showtime
Trendy Table Hotspots
Since the mid-1970s, El Compadre’s Hollywood location has been the classic Sunset Blvd choice for combination plates, fajitas, and its signature flaming margaritas. Candlelit rooms, colorful tiles, and a lively bar make it a go-to for celebratory Mexican dinners that lean loud and festive.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fajitas, Enchiladas Verdes de Pollo, Carne Asada Plate
What Makes it Special: A long-running Sunset institution known for flaming margaritas and big combo plates.
#11
Hui Tou Xiang
8.6
Hui Tou Xiang brings a San Gabriel–style dumpling and noodle house to the Cahuenga bar strip, with crisp rectangular hui tou potstickers and soup dumplings served in a moody, neon-lit room. It’s one of the rare places in central Hollywood where the cooking feels as dialed-in as the cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Hui Tou Dumplings, Pork Xiao Long Bao, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Handcrafted dumplings and noodles in a surprisingly polished Hollywood setting.
#12
Ka'teen
8.6
Hidden behind a foliage-lined entrance off Selma, Ka’teen opens into a lantern-lit jungle courtyard that feels far from the bustle of Hollywood Boulevard. Chef Wes Avila’s Yucatán-inspired plates, from cochinita pibil to whole grilled branzino, pair with mezcal-heavy cocktails and a club-adjacent soundtrack. It’s built for scene-y dinners where food and atmosphere share top billing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cochinita pibil, Whole grilled branzino, Charred street corn or papas
What Makes it Special: A lush, Tulum-style courtyard with Yucatán cooking and party-ready cocktails.
#13
La Nena Cantina
8.5
La Nena Cantina’s 2025 Hollywood opening brings a coastal-leaning Mexican cantina to Columbia Square, with a sunlit patio and a menu that treats burritos with the same care as ceviches and tacos. Handmade tortillas, a dedicated Burrito La Nena, and burrito party packs make it an unexpected option for more upscale burrito cravings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito La Nena, Burrito Gobernador, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Design-forward cantina with named burritos and a full burrito bar program.
#14
Bollywood Grill
8.5
Bollywood Grill serves a broad menu of North Indian and Indo-Chinese classics just off the Hollywood Walk of Fame, drawing pre-theater crowds and tourists looking for substantial curries and tandoori platters. Portions are generous, flavors run comforting rather than avant-garde, and the room stays busy with groups fueling up before shows and sightseeing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dal Makhani, Chicken Tikka Masala, Gobi Manchurian
What Makes it Special: Tourist-friendly Bollywood-themed spot for hearty Punjabi-style curries near major Hollywood theaters.
The Franklin Village outpost of New York–born Van Leeuwen brings ultra-creamy dairy and vegan ice creams to a compact, always-busy corner spot. With a long list of inventive flavors and strong non-dairy options, it functions as both a neighborhood dessert stop and a pre- or post-show treat for nearby theaters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Honeycomb Ice Cream, Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream, Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream
What Makes it Special: Dense, custardy scoops with serious vegan options in a walkable hub.
#16
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.
8.4
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.
#18
TOI On Sunset
8.4
Open since the mid-1980s, TOI On Sunset layers Bangkok-style homestyle cooking onto a rock-and-roll themed room filled with movie posters and memorabilia. Late hours, a massive menu, and plenty of vegetarian options make it a go-to for pre- and post-show meals along Sunset.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Thai spaghetti, Buddha chili
What Makes it Special: Rock-themed, late-night Thai institution on Sunset with an enormous menu.
The Sisters Cafe is a family-run Vietnamese and Asian fusion restaurant on Sunset where pho shares menu space with garlic noodles, banh mi, and sizzling plates. The room feels more polished than a typical hole-in-the-wall, and the pho lineup ranges from classic chicken to filet mignon and back-rib bowls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ga (Chicken) PHO, Filet mignon and meat Ball PHO, Banh Xeo (Chicken and Shrimp)
What Makes it Special: Modern Vietnamese fusion spot where pho comes with a full menu of shareable plates.
#20
For The Win
8.4
For The Win’s Beverly Center outpost focuses on ultra-crispy smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches served from a compact counter inside the mall. It’s a streamlined operation where the short menu and consistent execution make it a go-to for quick but serious burger-style sandwiches.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheeseburger, Hamburger, Fried Chicken Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Micro-chain smash burger counter turning out dialed-in burgers and fried chicken sandwiches.
8.4
The Hollywood outpost of Naples’ famed L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele brings long-fermented dough and blistered pies to a courtyard just off Hollywood Boulevard. Twin patios, an open pizza kitchen, and a long list of Italian wines make it feel equal parts neighborhood hang and destination for pizza fans. Expect a lively crowd before shows and on weekend nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Diavola pizza, Cacio e pepe
What Makes it Special: A storied Neapolitan pizzeria transplanted into a busy Hollywood courtyard.
#22
Wake And Late
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Wake and Late’s Hollywood outpost is a breakfast-burrito specialist turning Selma Avenue into an early-morning burrito run, with oversized wraps, tater tots, and strong coffee. Lines of locals, industry workers, and Pantages-bound crowds rotate through a small indoor counter and sidewalk seating, but food comes out quickly enough to work before a call time or matinee.
Must-Try Dishes:
Juarez burrito, SoCal burrito, Steak & Egg burrito
What Makes it Special: Dedicated breakfast-burrito shop where the burritos are the headliner.
#23
Rokusho
8.4
Rokusho brings a Tokyo-born modern izakaya sensibility to Hollywood with inventive hand rolls, composed small plates, and a serious cocktail program. The dim, design-forward space feels built for nights out while still putting real care into technique and ingredients.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy tuna crispy rice, Uni and wagyu hand roll, Gindara miso black cod
What Makes it Special: A Tokyo-linked izakaya with creative small plates, hand rolls, and cocktails.
#24
Jane Q
8.3
Set off the lobby of the Kimpton Everly, Jane Q is a bright, plant-filled café turning out market-driven brunch plates, pastries, and well-made coffee. Floor-to-ceiling windows, views toward the Hollywood Hills, and cocktails make it feel more like a hotel living room than a typical hotel restaurant.
Must-Try Dishes:
Savannah B.E.L.T. breakfast sandwich, Avocado parfait, Duck confit monkey bread
What Makes it Special: Hotel-lobby brunch that feels like a sunlit neighborhood café with views.
#25
Electric Owl
8.3
Perched along a former rail line, Electric Owl is a compact American bistro-bar known for cocktails, burgers, and patio seating that works for casual dates or after-work hangs. The menu leans into upgraded comfort food while the bar turns out serious drinks without feeling overly formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
House smash burger with fries, Spicy vodka rigatoni, Grilled chicken sandwich
What Makes it Special: Railside American bistro-bar pairing strong cocktails with elevated comfort food and a compact patio.
8.2
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Girls Night Out Approved
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Shirley Brasserie is the Hollywood Roosevelt’s French-leaning flagship, pairing wood-roasted mains and French onion soup with a lively, tile-and-wood dining room. A dedicated private dining space and buyout options make it a fit for corporate dinners and celebrations that still want brasserie energy and hotel polish.
Must-Try Dishes:
French Onion Soup, Charcoal Grilled Filet Mignon, Wood Roasted Maine Lobster
What Makes it Special: A polished hotel brasserie with French-inspired menus and flexible private dining options steps from the Walk of Fame.
#27
El Zarape Vine
8.2
Just off Hollywood & Vine, El Zarape Vine is a sibling-run cantina built around tacos, ceviches, and a deep agave list. It feels more like a neighborhood bar than a tourist stop, with late hours, strong margaritas, and a menu that leans hard into birria, tinga, and shareable nachos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria, Ceviche Mixto, Carne Asada Fries
What Makes it Special: Sibling-run agave bar with a full taco, birria, and ceviche lineup.
#28
Jemma Hollywood
8.2
Jemma Hollywood brings a polished, Italian-American playbook—think garlic bread, crisp pizzas, and comforting pastas—to a stylish room just off Hollywood and Vine. It balances nostalgia with modern touches, making it a crowd-pleasing option for pre-show dinners or relaxed date nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Rigatoni, Margherita Pizza, Chicken Parmigiana
What Makes it Special: A modern take on classic red-sauce Italian with dialed-in pizzas and pastas.
#29
Turn Dough
8.1
Turn Dough turns the Hollywood Walk of Fame into a chimney cake playground, wrapping warm, cinnamon-dusted pastry around soft-serve gelato towers. The mashup of European street dessert and elaborate toppings makes it as much a show as a sweet, especially for visitors exploring the boulevard.
Must-Try Dishes:
NYC Oreo Chimney Cake Cone, Paris Strawberry & Blueberry Chimney Cake, Aspen S’mores Chimney Cake
What Makes it Special: Fresh-baked chimney cakes filled with towering soft-serve creations.
#30
Running Goose
8.1
Tucked just off Hollywood Boulevard, Running Goose is a patio-centric spot serving globally influenced, vegetable-forward plates with Central American accents. String lights, an herb garden, and shared plates give it a low-key, design-conscious feel that regulars love. It flies a bit under the tourist radar, which only adds to its appeal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arugula tostada, Goose salad with burrata, Pork cheek or seasonal braised special
What Makes it Special: A garden patio hideaway serving creative share plates just off the main strip.
#31
Dream Rooftop
8.1
Perched above Dream Hollywood, Dream Rooftop is a poolside bar and grill serving all-day breakfast plates, salads, and mains alongside cocktails and skyline views. It leans more casual than clubby, with cabanas, a full grill menu, and sweeping sightlines that make it an easy daytime or golden-hour pick in the heart of Hollywood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado Toast, Gochujang Chilaquiles, The Rooftop Burger
What Makes it Special: Poolside rooftop grill with full daytime menu and wide-open city views.
#32
Written Hand
8
Written Hand, at the Kimpton Everly, runs a Mediterranean-leaning small-plates menu that leans into fire, olive oil, and shareable dishes for pre- and post-Pantages evenings. Its intimate private dining room lets groups build a coursed menu around head-on prawns, lamb neck, and market vegetables while staying close to Hollywood & Vine.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bub & Grandma’s Bread with Whipped Butter, Head-On Prawns with Calabrian Chili, Pomegranate Molasses Lamb Neck
What Makes it Special: A design-forward Mediterranean dining room with a cozy private space ideal for pre-theater gatherings.
This Rolling Hills Plaza outpost of the SoCal vegan chain is the default plant-based choice in 90505, serving burgers, bowls, salads, and comfort-food classics in a fast-casual setting. Locals rely on it for predictable vegan options, patio seating, and an app-driven ordering flow that makes weekday lunches and easy dinners straightforward.
Must-Try Dishes:
Santa Fe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, VG Classic Cheeseburger, Sonoran Bowl with Asada Mushrooms
What Makes it Special: Fully vegan fast-casual spot with broad menu and patio seating inside a busy South Torrance shopping center.
8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Trendy Table Hotspots
Located just off the Walk of Fame, Totoyama balances flame-seared aburi sushi with a full menu of rolls, ramen, and hot dishes. It works equally well for casual dates, tourist-friendly dinners, and pre-theater meals where variety matters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aburi salmon oshi sushi, Spicy tuna crispy rice, Tonkotsu ramen
What Makes it Special: Aburi-style sushi and a broad sushi-plus-ramen menu near Hollywood landmarks.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Trejo’s Cantina brings Danny Trejo’s playful take on tacos, bowls, and margaritas to a lively corner of Cahuenga. The menu leans toward healthier-leaning Mexican with vegan options, while the space functions as a buzzy hangout for pre-bar hops and casual meetups. It’s less chef-driven than some neighbors, but the branding, music, and crowd keep it feeling current.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas taco or street tacos trio, Cauliflower or jackfruit taco, Trejo’s nachos
What Makes it Special: A celebrity-backed cantina with colorful tacos, margaritas, and a lively soundtrack.
#36
Bar Lis
7.9
On the roof of the Thompson Hollywood, Bar Lis channels a French Riviera lounge with velvet seating, a retractable roof, and wraparound views of the Hollywood Hills. The focus is on cocktails and bistro-style small plates, making it a go-to for late-night dates, jazz nights, and stylish group hangs rather than full, coursed dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrata with Confit Leeks and Charred Nora Pistou, Dungeness Crab Cake, Steak Frites
What Makes it Special: French Riviera-inspired rooftop lounge with strong cocktails and sweeping Hollywood views.
#37
Don Us Company
7.9
A newer arrival on Hollywood Boulevard, Don Us Company brings a Latin American donut chain’s signature style to the Walk of Fame with filled rings, elaborate boxes, and ice cream donut creations. The shop skews more modern café than classic bakery, with grab-and-go packs and delivery-friendly formats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Donuts Mix (Buy 6 Pay 5), Half Dozen Filled Donuts, Ice Cream Donut Sandwich
What Makes it Special: International donut brand serving over-the-top boxes and ice cream donuts.
#38
Pink Pepper
7.9
Pink Pepper is a long-running Hollywood Thai restaurant just off the Walk of Fame, with a slightly dressier room than many Thai Town spots. The menu mixes familiar curries and noodles with steak and seafood plates that skew a bit more upscale.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crying Tiger Ribeye, Green Papaya Salad, Green Curry Salmon
What Makes it Special: A decades-old Hollywood Thai spot with a cocktail-friendly dining room and a menu that suits both pre-show bites and full dinners.
Tucked just off the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt, 25 Degrees serves thick burgers and cocktails with a side of truffle-scented fries in a dim, red-leather setting. It’s more polished than the average burger joint, making its fries a go-to when you want something a bit dressed up before or after a night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle fries, Half-pound burger with fries, Breakfast burger with fries
What Makes it Special: Hotel-bar burgers and truffle fries in a moody, old-Hollywood room.
7.7
The Sunset outpost of Wokcano operates as a late-hour pan-Asian lounge with a full sushi menu, sake, and cocktails in a sleek multi-level space. While the menu ranges beyond Japanese, it’s a practical option for groups wanting rolls, drinks, and a buzzy atmosphere under one roof.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dragon or Spider Roll, Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Baked Salmon Roll
What Makes it Special: A loungey, late-hour spot for sushi, cocktails, and pan-Asian plates.
7.6
Mr Tempo Cantina is a high-energy Hollywood Boulevard spot where oversized cocktails, loud music, and colorful Mexican plates define the experience. Expect a party-forward vibe with everything from tacos and ceviches to brunch dishes served late into the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Belly Bites, Ceviche Duo, Steak and Eggs
What Makes it Special: Lively cantina where big cocktails and Mexican plates meet nightclub energy.