Best Trendy Restaurants in Marina del Rey
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.
Notable Picks
8.8
Killer Shrimp is a long-running waterfront spot famous for its spicy, slow-simmered shrimp broth served with crusty bread and strong cocktails. Locals treat it as a go-to for indulgent seafood plates, marina views, and a lively bar scene that runs from happy hour through late dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Killer Shrimp Original, Killer Shrimp & Lobster, Lobster Mac
What Makes it Special: Signature spicy shrimp broth recipe served for decades on the marina.
HiHo Cheeseburger in Marina del Rey focuses on a tight menu of wagyu-based burgers, hand-cut fries, and shakes, served in a modern fast-casual space off Admiralty Way. Diners come for the deeply beefy patties, onion jam, and mustard-grilled style that lands between classic roadside burger and chef-driven precision.
Must-Try Dishes:
HiHo Cheeseburger, Classic Double Cheeseburger, Pastrami Heat
What Makes it Special: All-in on 100% grass-fed, grass-finished wagyu burgers with focused execution.
#4
UOVO
8.7
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Quick Bites Champions
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
UOVO’s Marina del Rey outpost is a pasta-focused counter spot where Bologna-style egg pasta and lasagna are made from imported Italian dough and finished to order. Lines form for tightly edited classics, efficient service, and a price point that makes fresh, restaurant-quality lasagna feel like a regular weeknight option rather than a splurge.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna alla Bolognese, Tonnarelli cacio e pepe, Tagliatelle al ragù
What Makes it Special: Counter-service pasta bar serving Bologna-style lasagna with imported fresh pasta.
8.6
Sushi Enya brings a more polished omakase experience to the marina, with a chef-driven bar and intimate room that leans into higher-end cuts and composed bites. Diners treat it as a special-occasion spot for pristine fish and paced service, whether they’re at the counter or a small table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef's Omakase, Toro Sashimi, Hokkaido Scallop with Caviar
What Makes it Special: Refined omakase-focused sushi in an intimate room right off the marina.
#6
Pizzana
8.6
Pizzana brings a polished, chef-driven take on neo-Neapolitan pizza to the Marina, with long-fermented dough, precise toppings, and a strong wine and cocktail program. It’s where locals go when they want serious pizza with a more upscale, sit-down experience than the average slice shop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio e pepe pizza, Neo-Margherita pizza, Diavola-style spicy salami pizza
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven neo-Neapolitan pies with long-fermented dough and thoughtful toppings.
#7
Casa 12
8.5
Casa 12 is an intimate Italian ristorante just off the Venice Pier, combining candlelit tables, live-music nights, and handmade pastas for a classic romantic date formula. Guests praise the lobster ravioli, slow-cooked Bolognese, and grilled octopus as much as the warmly lit room and European-feeling sidewalk seating.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Ravioli, Fettuccine Verdi alla Bolognese, Grilled Octopus
What Makes it Special: Cozy Italian spot near the pier with handmade pastas and live music.
8.5
PLANTA Cocina is a plant-based, design-forward spot overlooking the marina, built for people who want a splashy night out without meat or dairy. The room runs loud and social, with colorful Latin-inspired plates and cocktails that feel tailored for pregame dinners, birthdays, and content-ready group hangs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ahi Watermelon Nigiri, Bang Bang Broccoli, Mushroom Truffle Pizza
What Makes it Special: High-energy vegan restaurant with glitzy marina-side design and shareable plates.
8.4
Kalaveras in Marina del Rey is a high-energy cantina that treats tacos as centerpiece plates, from classic asada and pollo to birria served alongside cocktails and margarita slushies. The space leans into colorful, Day-of-the-Dead–inspired design with loud music, brunch buffets, and a scene that makes this one of the liveliest spots in the Marina for taco nights and big-group outings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Asada Tacos, Pollo Tacos, Birria Tacos
What Makes it Special: Loud, party-forward cantina with a deep taco menu and brunch.
8.4
United Bowl Nation is a waterfront café-bar where Mediterranean-leaning grain bowls, mezze, and global plates share space with wine nights and specialty coffee. Locals come for the plant-forward menu, marina views, and a relaxed, all-day hangout energy that works for laptops by day and mellow dates by night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean Power Bowl, Vegan Lentil Cigar Rolls, Baklava Selection
What Makes it Special: Waterfront café pairing Mediterranean-leaning bowls with wine nights and views.
8.2
Moto Azabu combines a full sushi bar with izakaya-style plates and a lively second-floor dining room overlooking Washington Boulevard. It’s where groups mix sashimi, rolls, and grilled bites with cocktails, turning dinner into a longer night out near the water.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Roll, Baked Crab Roll, Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna
What Makes it Special: A second-floor sushi and izakaya bar with cocktails and marina-adjacent views.
8.2
SALT Restaurant & Bar, opened in 2015 inside the Marina del Rey Hotel, focuses on California seasonal cooking with an American bent, from chowder to braised short ribs. Diners come for polished plates, cocktails, and one of the better waterfront dining rooms on the harbor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Marina Clam Chowder, Shrimp & Grits, Braised Short Rib
What Makes it Special: Hotel waterfront restaurant marrying seasonal California dishes with marina views.
8.2
SUGARFISH’s marina location follows the brand’s strict set-menu approach, turning out “Trust Me” sequences of nigiri and cut rolls built around high-quality fish and warm rice. It’s a dependable choice for guests who want a streamlined sushi experience without navigating a long menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Trust Me Set, Nozawa-Style Toro Nigiri, Albacore Sashimi with Ponzu
What Makes it Special: A set-menu sushi experience built around the signature Trust Me format.
#14
Cast & Plow
8.1
Cast & Plow at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey is a waterfront farm-to-table restaurant where housemade ice cream and sorbet headline the dessert menu after harbor-view dinners. Guests linger on the terrace over chocolate lava cake and rotating ice cream flavors that feel more composed and plated than parlor-style.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chocolate lava cake with housemade ice cream, Housemade ice cream and sorbet selection, Seasonal dessert served à la mode
What Makes it Special: Hotel waterfront dining where polished desserts lean on housemade ice cream and sorbet.
#15
Namoo Korean BBQ
8.1
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
NAMOO Korean BBQ brings a modern, polished take on tabletop grilling to the second floor of the Maxella Avenue complex, pairing premium cuts with a sleek room and free parking. Guests come for course-style combos, attentive staff who manage the grills, and a mix of traditional plates and more contemporary touches that make it feel like a night out as much as a meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Course Combo A, NAMOO Signature Beef Bulgogi, Seafood Pancake
What Makes it Special: Upscale Korean barbecue with table grills, free parking, and polished service.
8.1
KazuNori’s Marina del Rey outpost is a dedicated hand-roll bar where warm rice and crisp nori are built to order across a short, focused menu. Counter-only seating, set menus, and a tight operation make it ideal for a quick but serious sushi fix before a movie or night in the marina.
Must-Try Dishes:
Toro Hand Roll, Bay Scallop Hand Roll, Blue Crab Hand Roll
What Makes it Special: A hand-roll-only bar obsessed with warm rice, crisp nori, and speed.
#17
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
#18
Sinder Lounge
7.9
Inside the Marina del Rey Marriott, Sinder Lounge serves American and New American fare in a coastal-chic lobby space with indoor and outdoor seating. Hotel guests and locals drop in for everything from breakfast plates to cocktails, street dogs, and steak tacos with marina-adjacent views.
Must-Try Dishes:
LA Street Dogs, Skirt Steak Tacos, Salmon with Forbidden Rice
What Makes it Special: Hotel lounge-restaurant blending coastal-chic design with American comfort dishes.
#19
Kaya Sushi
7.6
Kaya Sushi is a longtime Washington Boulevard fixture pairing neon-lit, music-forward energy with an expansive menu of rolls, sashimi, and cooked plates. It’s a go-to for locals who want a fun, slightly louder sushi night without heading deeper into the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Popcorn Lobster Roll, Volcano Roll, Spicy Tuna Hand Roll
What Makes it Special: A lively, long-running sushi spot with big rolls and a party-leaning vibe.
7.6
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Brizo Bar & Restaurant sits along Via Marina inside a modern waterfront hotel, focusing on Southern California coastal cuisine with a noticeable seafood presence. It’s a versatile choice for cocktails, seafood-centric lunches, and casual dinners with boats bobbing just outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Must-Try Dishes:
Calamari with aioli, Seafood cobb salad, Fish tacos
What Makes it Special: Contemporary hotel restaurant with marina-front views and coastal seafood plates.