Best Hidden Gems Heaven Restaurants in Westlake
14 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
PZK Bbq
Lively, late-night AYCE Korean BBQ bridging DTLA and Koreatown.
Notable Picks
#1
PZK Bbq
8.4
PZK BBQ brings an AYCE Korean barbecue experience to the Westlake edge of downtown, with late-night hours that draw groups from both DTLA and Koreatown. Diners come for marinated short rib, pork belly, and banchan that keep the table busy well into the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime marinated short rib (yangnyeom galbi), Thick pork belly (samgyeopsal), Gochujang jjigae
What Makes it Special: Lively, late-night AYCE Korean BBQ bridging DTLA and Koreatown.
#2
Woon
8.4
Family-run Shanghainese spot founded by Keegan Fong showcasing his mother's homestyle recipes. Counter-service format delivers chewy hand-pulled noodles and crispy five-spice chicken wings within minutes on a sunny patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Noodles with Stir Fry Sauce, Pork Belly Bao, Five-Spice Chicken Wings
What Makes it Special: Mama Fong's authentic Shanghai recipes in fast-casual format
8.3
Manila Inasal draws brunch lovers for its modern Filipino comfort food, communal spirit, and creative riffs like laing with house focaccia and rich kare kare. Large portions, family-run warmth, and a bustling dining room define the experience, even as service can be a bit chaotic during peak hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kare Kare (oxtail, macadamia, crab fat), Milkfish Inasal, Crab-Stuffed Tortang Talong
What Makes it Special: Creative Filipino brunch hits in a joyful, familial atmosphere.
#4
daybird
8.3
daybird brings chef-driven Szechuan fried chicken sandwiches to East Hollywood, earning loyal fans for its punchy, spicy flavors and unexpectedly craveable seasoned crinkle-cut fries. The fries arrive piping hot and seasoned with a signature spice blend, complementing the fried chicken and standing out for quality among takeout spots. The compact, design-forward space is ideal for a fast, flavor-packed meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crinkle-Cut Seasoned Fries, Szechuan Fried Chicken Sandwich, Slaw Salad
What Makes it Special: Signature fries with serious spice and chef pedigree.
#5
Tulsi Bistro
8.3
Tulsi Bistro is a compact, chaat-forward Indian café known for vegetarian plates, fusion snacks, and craft sodas just off 7th and Bixel. Guests come for paneer tacos, bhel puri, and sandwiches that deliver bold spice in a casual, counter-service setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Paneer Tacos, Tulsi Bhel Puri, Butter Chicken Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Vegetarian-leaning Indian street food and fusion plates in a relaxed café.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Tucked just west of the 110, Pizzeria Principe serves Latin-inflected pizzas like carne asada and chorizo asado in a cozy, evening-only dining room. It’s more of a relaxed sit-down dinner play than a grab-and-go slice shop, but stays open late enough to catch a proper nightcap pie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Pizza, Chorizo Asado Pizza, Donair-Style Pizza
What Makes it Special: A low-key, evening-only pizzeria layering Latin flavors onto classic pies for a neighborhood crowd.
#7
Meal4U LA
7.9
Operating out of a Westlake kitchen just west of downtown, Meal4U LA specializes in Korean lunch boxes built for delivery and takeout. Galbi, fried chicken, and rotating banchan land in neatly packed trays that feel closer to home-cooked dosirak than generic meal prep.
Must-Try Dishes:
Galbi lunch box, Korean fried chicken box, Daily banchan side set
What Makes it Special: Delivery-focused Korean dosirak-style boxes with generous portions and variety.
7.9
Kabob Express Fusion Truck parks along 7th Street serving a Mexi-terranean mashup of chicken kabobs, shawarma, gyro, and tacos to downtown offices and nearby apartments. The menu leans into handhelds—pita wraps, tacos, and burritos—while still offering hummus, falafel, and classic plates at budget-friendly prices. It’s less about seating and more about grabbing a flavorful, filling meal from a family-run truck that’s been working the area for years.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Shawarma Tacos, Gyro Pita Wrap, Mexi-terranean Burrito
What Makes it Special: Food-truck mashup of Mediterranean plates, gyros, and Mexi-terranean tacos.
7.8
Thai Food Express operates out of a simple storefront on West 6th turning out big portions of stir-fries, curries, noodles, and fried rice at low prices. Westlake and MacArthur Park locals rely on it for fast takeout and delivery when they want familiar Thai flavors without a long sit-down meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Tom Yum Soup, Green Curry with Chicken
What Makes it Special: Counter-service Thai spot known for generous portions and low prices in a central Westlake location.
7.8
A neighborhood staple with a broad menu, but the tacos are the steady move—griddled, generously filled, and tuned for everyday Westlake cravings. It’s casual, family-run energy with portions that overdeliver for the spend. Best for low-key, sit-down tacos that feel local.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne asada tacos, Fish tacos, Tacos dorados
What Makes it Special: Hearty Westlake tacos and plates with true neighborhood roots.
#11
Bombay Beach
7.7
A bright, casual Indian café with a strong vegetarian and vegan lane, especially for curries and street-snack plates. It’s a low-stress neighborhood stop where spice and comfort come first, and the menu is built for mixing a few dishes together.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chana Masala, Vegetable Biryani, Samosas
What Makes it Special: Vegetarian-forward Indian comfort cooking with real spice depth.
7.7
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
A low-key neighborhood takeout spot on the Westlake edge of 90017, doing classic crowd-pleaser pies alongside pasta and subs. The pizzas are simple, hearty, and priced for families, with a soft-crisp crust and generous cheese that lands well for kids. Not a destination vibe, but a useful local option when you want easy comfort fast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepperoni pizza, Meat Lover pizza, Garlic parmesan knots
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood-value pies with big portions for families.
7.6
An old-school Westlake-edge Mexican standby with a real neighborhood happy hour. Alongside the tacos and margs, their wings are a low-key sleeper move—simple, satisfying, and priced for casual sharing. Best for value hunters who want wings plus a margarita reset.
Must-Try Dishes:
House chicken wings, Carne asada burrito, Happy hour margarita
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood happy hour with wings and classic Westlake comfort.
#14
Tacos William
7.6
A no-frills Westlake taqueria that wins on simple, well-seasoned street-style tacos. The space is minimal, but the kitchen stays consistent on classics and keeps prices low enough for everyday rotation. Come here for straight comfort, not atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Asada tacos, Carnitas burrito, Horchata
What Makes it Special: Classic Westlake tacos that stay solid without the hype.