Best Group Dining Restaurants in Palms
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Versailles Cuban Food (Palms)
High-energy Cuban classics that feel festive every night.
Notable Picks
A Westside Cuban institution where big flavors and lively service make celebrations easy. The garlic-forward roasts, strong coffee, and bustling dining room suit group birthdays and family gatherings without feeling formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Famoso Pollo Versailles (garlic chicken), Ropa vieja, Cuban sandwich with plantains
What Makes it Special: High-energy Cuban classics that feel festive every night.
A long-running neighborhood mainstay with a deep Lebanese-Mediterranean menu and huge community buy-in. Plates of shawarma, kafta, and kabobs arrive reliably seasoned and hearty, while the classics (hummus, tabbouleh, lemony soups) anchor the experience. Not fancy, but built for repeat visits and late-night cravings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef shawarma plate, Kafta kabob, Chicken shawarma
What Makes it Special: High-volume, late-hours Lebanese cooking that stays dependable.
#3
Simpang Asia
8.1
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
A 23-year Palms institution where Malaysian-born owners serve Indonesian and Malaysian dishes with genuine regional technique—the Laksa has proper curry depth with a lemon-tempered creaminess, and the Char Kway Teow carries authentic wok char. The casual strip-mall setting fills fast with locals who treat it as their default for Southeast Asian cravings, and the staff moves efficiently through packed weekend crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nasi Bungkus, Laksa, Char Kway Teow
What Makes it Special: Rare Los Angeles source for authentic Malaysian and Indonesian dishes cooked by Malaysian-born owners
#4
Phorage
8.1
A 12-year Palms fixture built on technique-forward pho using American wagyu bones and hormone-free proteins, with the oxtail and washugyu beef versions drawing dedicated repeat customers. The counter-service format keeps things moving, and the $10-20 price point delivers premium ingredients without fine-dining friction. Works best for solo bowls or small groups who want elevated Vietnamese without ceremony.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oxtail Pho, Wagyu Pho, Imperial Rolls
What Makes it Special: Modern Vietnamese kitchen combining traditional pho techniques with premium proteins like wagyu and oxtail
A design-driven event caterer operating since 2007 that builds fully custom menus drawing from Pan American, European, and Asian traditions rather than offering fixed packages. Clients consistently single out the from-scratch passed appetizers and plated presentations as a cut above standard catering, with a 96% recommendation rate on wedding platforms. Positioned squarely in the luxury tier with venue minimums starting at five figures, so this lands best for hosts who prioritize bespoke food design and polished execution over budget efficiency.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mini Chicken n' Waffles, Smoked BBQ Chicken Slider, Lobster and Avocado Tasting Spoons
What Makes it Special: Couture-level event caterer since 2007 that builds custom menus from a Pan American, European, and Asian recipe collection rather than offering fixed packages
Worthy Picks
7.9
A Nepali-Tibetan kitchen that leans into what most LA restaurants won't touch — Colorado-raised yak prepared across multiple formats alongside warming Himalayan stews and familiar subcontinental staples like tikka masala and saag paneer. The dining room runs quiet and dimly lit, pitched more toward unhurried family meals than quick turnover, which fits the comfort-food-heavy menu well. It fills a genuine gap in the Palms neighborhood for Himalayan-specific cooking with imported spice work that registers differently than standard South Asian menus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Yak Chili, Chicken Tikka Masala, Thukpa Sherpa's Stew
What Makes it Special: One of the rare LA restaurants serving Colorado-raised yak alongside authentic Nepali and Tibetan dishes made with spices imported directly from the Himalayas.
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.
A family-owned Palms pub that programs its week like a community calendar — trivia, karaoke Wednesday, live bands Friday and Saturday, all no cover — keeping Motor Ave regulars rotating through from noon on. The kitchen runs a tight Irish comfort lineup built around shepherd's pie and a full Irish breakfast, paired with pints in a dimly-lit, high-volume room that rewards groups who want to settle in and stay loud. It works best when you lean into the pub energy rather than fight it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shepherd's Pie, Full Irish Breakfast, Fish and Chips
What Makes it Special: Family-owned Irish pub on historic Motor Ave with weekly trivia, karaoke, and live music drawing a loyal neighborhood crowd since day one.
#9
Almaza
7.8
A full-service Lebanese kitchen anchored by a spacious hookah patio that keeps the parking lot full well past midnight on Venice Blvd. The draw is the combination—charcoal-grilled kabobs and lamb chops followed by hours of outdoor lounging—which makes it a default for groups who want dinner and a long evening in one stop. Expect weekend waits and a lively crowd; go inside if you want to actually hear your table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus, Kabob, Lamb Chops
What Makes it Special: Full-service Lebanese kitchen paired with one of LA's most popular hookah patios, drawing crowds well past midnight
7.8
A 30-year Palms fixture that built its reputation on wok-fired noodles and slow-braised proteins—the pad see ew lands with proper char and the pork shank pulls clean off the bone. Works well for family-style ordering where everyone grabs from the center, with a full bar and patio when you want to stretch the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad See Ew, Wontons, BBQ Pork
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood Thai spot where pad see ew draws devoted regulars who praise both food and service consistency
7.6
A long-running neighborhood Szechwan spot that leans into bold chile heat, numbing peppercorns, and comfort-classic stir fries. The dining room is low-key, but the kitchen’s best dishes carry real depth and crave-factor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy wontons in chili oil, Chengdu-style dry-fried chicken, Mapo tofu
What Makes it Special: Classic Szechwan heat done with real spice balance.
7.2
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Birthday & Celebration Central
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
A karaoke-first bar and grill running a 50,000-song library nightly from 8 PM alongside 33 rotating taps and a full gastropub menu built around shareable plates like cheesesteak eggrolls and oversized pretzels. The polarized review profile—one-third five-star, one-third one-star—signals a venue that delivers strong nights for groups who came to sing and drink but frustrates anyone expecting consistent kitchen execution. Works best when you treat it as a karaoke destination with food, not a restaurant with karaoke.
Must-Try Dishes:
Western Bastard Burger, Chicken Wings, Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls
What Makes it Special: Full gastropub kitchen with 33 beers on tap and nightly karaoke with a 50,000-song library starting at 8pm