Best Outdoor Dining Restaurants in Palms
17 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Govinda's Natural Food Cafe
Sattvic vegetarian cafe attached to the LA Krishna temple, serving an $8 all-you-can-eat buffet with no onion or garlic since 1980.
Notable Picks
8.2
A sattvic vegetarian buffet attached to the LA Krishna temple, cooking without onion or garlic since 1980 — the $8 all-you-can-eat format rewards exploration across dal, samosas, and rotating Indian dishes. The temple courtyard patio and soft spiritual music set it apart from typical counter-service spots, and the 46-year run speaks to a loyal base that treats this as a weekly ritual rather than a one-time curiosity.
Must-Try Dishes:
Salad Bar, Samosas, Dal and Rice
What Makes it Special: Sattvic vegetarian cafe attached to the LA Krishna temple, serving an $8 all-you-can-eat buffet with no onion or garlic since 1980.
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Pet Friendly Paradise
A Vietnamese-rooted banh mi counter built on fresh-baked baguettes and Groundwork organic coffee, anchored in a Palms strip mall with a low-key patio that draws remote workers and dog owners through the afternoon. The menu stays tight—classic and fusion banh mi variations alongside a solid breakfast burrito—keeping prices in cheap-eats range without cutting corners on bread or fillings. It runs like a reliable neighborhood refuel stop where the line moves and the sandwiches land the same way every time.
Must-Try Dishes:
Old Skool Banh Mi, K-BBQ Banh Mi, Vietnamese Iced Coffee
What Makes it Special: Vietnamese-rooted sandwich shop built around classic banh mi on fresh-baked baguettes, with Groundwork organic coffee and a laid-back West LA patio.
#3
Dama Grill
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Counter-service Syrian spot on Venice Blvd that spit-roasts shawarma in-house and rolls it in fresh saj bread with garlic sauce and pomegranate molasses—the combination that built its following. Draws families and post-workout crowds to a lively patio where the wraps and kabobs move fast at prices that keep regulars coming back multiple times a week.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Beef Shawarma Wrap, Chicken Kabob
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Syrian spot spit-roasting shawarma and rolling it in fresh saj bread with garlic sauce and pomegranate molasses — the combination that made it go viral.
8.1
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
A family-run Salvadoran-Mexican kitchen that has held its corner of West LA since 1981, cooking from recipes that earned national TV attention for its slow-braised meats. The strip mall setting and no-frills counter keep prices honest while the kitchen runs deep on Central American comfort—pupusas alongside Mexican staples—giving it a dual-cuisine range most neighborhood spots can't match. Best suited for regulars who want a reliable weeknight meal without pretense.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Adobada, Carnitas, Tortilla Soup
What Makes it Special: Family-run Mexican and Salvadoran kitchen serving West LA since 1981, featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for its carne adobada.
8.1
A family-run bakery-café where Cuban coffee culture meets Guadalajaran breakfast traditions—the chilaquiles recipe was brought in directly from Jalisco and paired with plantains from the founder's Cuban household. The counter service moves fast for early-morning regulars who know to grab pan dulce while waiting for eggs. Works best as a no-frills weekend breakfast run where generous portions and reasonable prices offset the functional atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Pan Dulce, Bolillos
What Makes it Special: Old-school Mexican bakery and café serving house-baked breads and traditional breakfast plates since the neighborhood was still affordable
#6
Rubio's Cafe
8
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Family Friendly Favorites
A family-run Salvadoran-Mexican-American counter cafe that rotates daily specials alongside a core lineup of homestyle plates and fresh-squeezed juices. The value proposition is the draw—budget-friendly portions of comfort food like the breakfast burrito and meatloaf plate that keep early-morning regulars coming back to a low-key patio spot on Robertson.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice, Pastries
What Makes it Special: Family-run Salvadoran-Mexican-American cafe with daily rotating specials, fresh-squeezed juices, and a patio on Robertson
A vegan comfort-food counter that covers Thai curries, breakfast burritos, and American staples under one roof—broad enough to keep mixed-diet groups from arguing about where to eat. The price-to-portion math holds up well against non-vegan competitors in Palms, which is rare for plant-based spots. Expect a small indoor footprint at a busy National Blvd intersection, offset by sidewalk seating and quick turnaround.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pancakes, Pumpkin Curry, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Full vegan menu spanning Thai, American, and Mexican comfort food with enough range to satisfy non-vegans
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 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
#10
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 speakeasy-format cocktail bar built on house-made syrups and mixers, with a rotating menu rooted in post-Prohibition drink recipes served beneath dim lighting and white subway tile. The intimate room and French bistro seating keep the volume low enough for actual conversation, which is why it pulls couples and small groups rather than crowds. Works best when you want to hand the drink decision to a bartender who takes the craft seriously.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oldfield's Hemingway, Old Fashioned, Secret Stash
What Makes it Special: Speakeasy-style cocktail bar where every syrup and mixer is made in-house, with a rotating menu of post-Prohibition-era drinks served amid French bistro barstools and white subway tile.
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.
#13
The Doughroom
7.8
A Palms neighborhood pizzeria that pairs specialty pies—like the Spicy Bear—with a rotating craft beer lineup and a daily happy hour anchored by bar seating and a communal table. It works best for groups splitting shareable starters and pitchers on a weeknight, with weekend brunch adding a second reason to show up. Outdoor seating and a laid-back sports-bar energy keep it functional without trying to be more than the corner spot it is.
Must-Try Dishes:
Garlic Knots, Brussels Sprouts, Spicy Bear
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood pizzeria pairing creative pies like the Spicy Bear with craft beer and daily happy hour at the bar and communal table.
#14
La Flama
7.8
A Palms carneceria that doubles as a full Oaxacan kitchen, turning imported chile de agua, chapulines, and house-made asiento into regional plates you rarely find outside Oaxaca itself. The market-counter format keeps prices low and turnover fast, making it a reliable weeknight stop for tlayudas and mole negro without the sit-down commitment. Expect a no-frills grocery setting where the cooking speaks louder than the decor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tlayudas Preparadas, Molotes, Memelas
What Makes it Special: Oaxacan carneceria and market doubling as a full kitchen, serving regional specialties made with imported ingredients like chile de agua, chapulines, and house-made asiento.
#15
Venice Noodles
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Pet Friendly Paradise
Quick Bites Champions
A family-run Thai noodle shop on Venice Blvd that builds around a spice-forward Tom Kha Ramen — a coconut broth bowl with enough depth to carry a full noodle portion rather than just a soup course. The patio seating and dog-friendly setup make it a low-friction weeknight option for Palms locals who want reliable Thai staples at cash-friendly prices without the drive to Thai Town.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tom Kha Ramen, Drunken Noodles, Mango Sticky Rice
What Makes it Special: Family-run Thai kitchen known for a spice-forward Tom Kha Ramen that fuses Thai soup tradition with rich, layered noodle bowls
7.7
A strip-mall slice shop running the New York playbook — thin, foldable, no-frills — with enough late-night pull to keep a loyal Palms crowd circling back. The menu stays in its lane with classic pies, garlic knots, and cannoli, leaning on execution over ambition. Works best as a grab-and-go stop when you want a reliable slice without the production.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Slice, Garlic Knots, Pepperoni Pie
What Makes it Special: No-frills New York-style slices with a loyal West LA following for quick, foldable pizza done right
7.7
A compact Palms cafe running Thai Town-caliber specialties—boat noodles, soft shell crab curry, and a weekend-only breakfast menu with items like jook topped with crispy noodles—in a neighborhood where options beyond basic pad thai are thin. The teal-and-white space is charming but genuinely small, so expect to wait during peak hours and know that portion sizes on some dishes run lean for the price point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Tom Kha
What Makes it Special: Tiny Palms café bringing Thai Town-caliber specialties like boat noodles and soft shell crab curry to the Westside, with a weekend-only breakfast menu you won't find elsewhere in the neighborhood.