Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Westwood
17 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
The Boiling Crab
High-volume Cajun seafood boil house known for overflowing bags of shellfish.
Notable Picks
8.6
The Boiling Crab’s Westwood outpost is a loud, lively Cajun seafood boil specialist where bags of shrimp, crab, and crawfish hit butcher-papered tables by the pound. Students, families, and game-night groups pile in for messy, hands-on feasts a few blocks from campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp in The Whole Sha-Bang sauce, Snow crab legs with corn and potatoes, Cajun fries
What Makes it Special: High-volume Cajun seafood boil house known for overflowing bags of shellfish.
8.5
This longtime Westwood favorite serves a traditional Lasagna alla Bolognese built on house-made pasta and slow-cooked meat sauce. Regulars come for the steady kitchen, warm welcome from the Peloni family, and a dining room that works as well for romantic dates as it does for multi-generational dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna alla Bolognese, Gnocchi ai Quattro Formaggi, Tirami Su
What Makes it Special: Family-run Northern Italian spot renowned for classic lasagna and attentive, longtime staff.
#3
Clementine
8.5
This family-run bakery-café near Century City leans as hard into seasonal salads and sandwiches as it does into lemon bars, brownies, and nostalgic cookies. Regulars treat it as an all-day spot for breakfast pastries, workday lunches, and pastry box pickups before events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lemon bar, Butterscotch brownie, Peanut butter sandwich cookie
What Makes it Special: Scratch-made bakery case and market-driven café menu under one cozy roof.
8.4
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Birthday & Celebration Central
A Westwood institution since the early 1980s, Shamshiri Grill serves generous platters of Persian kebabs, stews, and fresh breads in a space that turns from casual by day to softly romantic at night. It’s a neighborhood standby for multi-generational celebrations and big-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh and barg kebab combo, Lamb shank with baghali polo, Tahchin with chicken
What Makes it Special: Long-running Persian spot known for heaping kebab platters and fresh bread.
8.4
Open since the early 1980s, Shaherzad is one of Westwood’s original Persian restaurants, known for house-baked bread and substantial kebab platters. Diners come for reliably grilled meats, fragrant rice, and an old-school atmosphere that feels more like a neighborhood dining room than a polished modern concept.
Must-Try Dishes:
Soltani (barg and koobideh), Tahdig with khoresh, Grilled salmon kabob
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Persian spot baking bread and grilling generous kebab platters.
8.3
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
A long-running Westwood Boulevard diner, Headlines folds a surprisingly deep burrito lineup into its all-day breakfast and Mexican sections. From basic egg-and-bacon wraps to oversized fajita and Cali burritos, it’s where you go when you want big, filling burritos with classic diner comfort on the side.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Fajita Burrito, Cali Burrito
What Makes it Special: Classic diner turning out an unusually broad lineup of breakfast and Mexican-style burritos all day.
8.3
Fresh Corn Grill is a fast-casual Westwood staple since 2006, known for build-your-own plates, grilled vegetables, and a lighter take on tacos. Students, hospital staff, and office workers rely on it for char-grilled chicken, salmon, and steak tacos that feel noticeably fresher than the average combo plate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled chicken tacos, Salmon tacos, Skirt steak tacos
What Makes it Special: Health-leaning California spot where grilled fish and chicken tacos headline a bigger menu of customizable plates.
8.1
Just up from the village core, House of Meatballs lets you pair a rich baked beef lasagna with its namesake meatballs and customizable sauces. The space is casual but lively, drawing both students and neighborhood families for comforting plates and easy group orders.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Lasagna, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Build-Your-Own Meatball Bowl
What Makes it Special: Casual meatball-focused spot where baked lasagna and mix-and-match sauces feel tailor-made for comfort cravings.
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Westwood Thai Cafe is a long-running neighborhood spot just south of UCLA that pairs classic stir-fries, curries, and rice plates with student-friendly combo pricing. The dining room is straightforward and comfortable, but the appeal is generous portions, reliable flavors, and value meals that keep locals coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad see ew with beef, Green curry with eggplant and basil, BBQ chicken with rice
What Makes it Special: Since the early ’90s it’s delivered reliable, affordable Thai to Westwood.
8.1
Mary and Robb's Westwood Cafe is a classic neighborhood diner known for all-day breakfast, stacked burgers, and a warm, white-tablecloth setting that feels more polished than its casual menu suggests. Regulars use the back and side areas for small private breakfasts, casual business meetups, and low-key celebrations that don’t need a sceney backdrop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Combo pancakes with bacon and eggs, Breakfast burrito, House burger with fries
What Makes it Special: A decades-loved Westwood diner where semi-private corners and back tables host everything from family breakfasts to attorney meetings.
8.1
Delphi Greek has anchored Westwood Boulevard for years with classic Hellenic cooking and a flexible space often booked for private parties, fundraisers, and community events. Platters of souvlaki, gyros, and meze translate naturally to family-style menus, while the bar and semi-private areas can be configured for anything from student banquets to milestone birthdays.
Must-Try Dishes:
Delphi Greek Salad, Gyro plate with tzatziki and pita, Lamb chops with roasted potatoes
What Makes it Special: A long-running Greek restaurant that leans into family-style platters and configurable private event menus.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
ixlb DimSum Eats is a quick-service dim sum shop just off Westwood’s main drag turning out baskets of dumplings, buns, and small plates all day. The counter-format setup makes it easy to build a spread of classics like xiao long bao, siu mai, and baked cha siu bao without committing to a full dim sum hall experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Xiao Long Bao, Baked Cha Siu Bao, Shrimp Wonton with Chili Oil
What Makes it Special: Counter-service dim sum with an extensive menu of dumplings, buns, and snacks.
#13
Lazy Daisy Cafe
7.8
Perched just off the main Westwood Village drag, Lazy Daisy is a casual corner café with a small sidewalk patio and a menu of omelettes, pancakes, and Californian-leaning scrambles. Execution can wobble on busy weekends, but it remains a convenient sit-down option when you want a traditional plate breakfast near campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buttermilk Pancakes, Veggie Breakfast Burrito, Avocado Toast
What Makes it Special: Sunny corner cafe with a small patio, classic American breakfasts, and Californian touches.
#14
Taco Plus
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family Friendly Favorites
A Bundy Drive fixture since the 1980s running the same formula—oversized burritos wrapped tight, slow-cooked weekend menudo, and carne asada plates portioned for the price of a fast food combo. Regulars treat it like a commissary, looping through the small lot for the same three or four orders on repeat. Expect a parking lot taco stand that delivers on quantity and flavor without pretending to be anything else.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Burrito, Pollo Asado Plate, Menudo
What Makes it Special: Old-school taco stand on Bundy serving oversized burritos and slow-cooked menudo at drive-through prices since the 1980s.
7.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
First Szechuan Wok is a longtime Westwood Village standby for American-leaning Chinese favorites and family-style dinners. The large menu covers everything from chow mein and kung pao chicken to honey walnut shrimp, making it a reliable option for mixed groups and takeout spreads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kung Pao Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken, Beef with Broccoli
What Makes it Special: Classic neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a huge menu and big portions.
7.6
SanSai’s Westwood location is a fast-casual Japanese grill where made-to-order rolls sit alongside teriyaki bowls, salads, and combo plates. It’s a reliable option for students and office workers who want customizable plates with a couple of sushi rolls on the side rather than a full sushi bar experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken and sushi plate, Baked salmon nigiri, Sushi burrito
What Makes it Special: A budget-friendly Japanese grill where you can tack on simple rolls to hearty combo plates.
Inside Bristol Farms’ Westwood market, Uli’s Gelato shares space with gourmet groceries, offering a quieter ice cream stop away from Broxton’s lines. It’s a convenient place to grab creamy Italian-style gelato while running errands or walking back toward campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pistachio gelato, Stracciatella gelato, Seasonal fruit sorbetto
What Makes it Special: Gourmet grocery gelato counter ideal for grab-and-go dessert runs.