Best Hidden Gems Restaurants in Westwood
21 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
La Bruschetta Ristorante
Family-run Northern Italian spot renowned for classic lasagna and attentive, longtime staff.
Notable Picks
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.
#2
Mr Rice
8.4
Mr Rice is a busy Chinese noodle house in the heart of Westwood Village specializing in Yunnan-style mixian bowls with customizable heat levels. Students and locals line up for big, brothy rice noodles, punchy chili oil, and fast, friendly service that works for both quick solo meals and casual dinners with friends.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Chili Fatty Beef Mixian, Tomato Fatty Beef Mixian, Signature Mixian with Beef and Veggies
What Makes it Special: Yunnan-style rice noodle bowls with bold chili heat served fast.
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.
8.4
The French Way specializes in Frenchfolds—French tacos-style wraps stuffed with proteins, melted cheese sauce, and a full serving of fries toasted inside. Late-night hours and bowls of loaded fries make it a go-to for students craving maximalist, sauce-heavy fry combinations after class or bar time.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Paris Frenchfold, Frenchfold - Small (fries-filled French taco), Bowl (Loaded Fries)
What Makes it Special: French tacos-style wraps and bowls that build an entire meal around crispy fries and molten cheese sauce.
8.3
Sipp is a women-owned café on Westwood Boulevard that leans into composed breakfast plates and toasts as much as its coffee program. Inside, blond wood, soft lighting, and laptop-friendly seating make it a natural morning workspace with a menu that runs from lox toast and veggie omelettes to saffron lattes and pastries.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lox Toast, Avocado Toast, Saffron Latte
What Makes it Special: Women-owned coffee bar pairing saffron lattes with composed breakfast toasts and pastries.
8.3
Pomodoro Trattoria is a cozy neighborhood room where the Lasagna Classica anchors a menu of pastas, risotti, and veal plates. It’s a go-to for locals seeking hearty, saucy comfort food and a glass of wine without leaving the Westwood Boulevard strip.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Classica, Gnocchi al Pesto, Polpette Della Casa
What Makes it Special: Casual trattoria known for generously portioned lasagna baked with béchamel and slow-cooked ragu.
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Attari is a Persian sandwich counter tucked off Westwood Boulevard’s main drag, where lawyers, grad students, and office workers queue together for tongue sandwiches and Osh. It’s fast, affordable, and memorable—ideal when you want a working lunch that shows real neighborhood knowledge rather than another chain salad.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef tongue sandwich, Osh soup, Kabab koobideh sandwich
What Makes it Special: A long-running Persian sandwich counter that eats far above its price point.
8.2
Seaburry brings a more polished Sri Lankan experience to Westwood, with colorful décor, thoughtful plating, and a menu that jumps from lamprise to seafood curries. It’s an intriguing pick for smaller celebrations where guests want something different from the usual Westside options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamprise with slow-cooked meats and rice, Lankan red curry with lamb or seafood, String hopper pilaf
What Makes it Special: Colorful Sri Lankan plates and curries in a refined, intimate space.
8.2
Italian Express doubles as Westwood's all-purpose late-night canteen, turning out pizzas, pastas, and garlic bread until 3 a.m. for students and night-shift workers who need real food, not just snacks. Its menu leans heavy and saucy, matching the late-night crowd's appetite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Create-your-own large pizza, Pink sauce penne with garlic bread, Pepperoni and mushroom slice
What Makes it Special: One of the few spots in 90024 serving full pizzas and pastas until 3 a.m.
#10
Mandi House
8.1
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Hidden Gems Heaven
Business Lunch Power Players
House of Mandi brings shareable Yemeni rice platters and long tables to Gayley, making it a standout for cross-cultural lunches with room to spread out. It works especially well for internal team meetups or student-plus-professor lunches where generous portions and communal platters help keep the conversation moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb mandi, Chicken mandi, Mixed grill platter
What Makes it Special: Big-format Yemeni rice and meat platters designed for sharing at long tables.
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
On the southern stretch of Westwood Boulevard, Persian Gulf serves a mix of Persian standards, charcoal-grilled meats, and a small set of breakfast options in a casual dining room. It’s less of a pure breakfast specialist than others on this list, but a strong choice when you want morning dishes built around fresh bread, feta, herbs, and tea instead of pancakes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Persian breakfast plate, Herb-and-feta omelette, Hot saffron tea
What Makes it Special: Persian cafe-restaurant where traditional breakfast plates share space with kebabs and stews.
#13
Nuka Cafe
8
Nuka Cafe is a Turkish-leaning Mediterranean cafe on Westwood Boulevard serving kebab plates, lahmajun, salads, and strong coffee in a casual setting. It’s a flexible choice for quick lunches, quiet solo meals, or simple dinners a few blocks south of campus traffic.
Must-Try Dishes:
Manti Dumplings, Doner Kebab Plate, Lahmajun
What Makes it Special: Turkish-style kebabs, manti, and flatbreads in a low-key cafe.
#14
Hangry Moon's
8
Hangry Moon’s is a family-run late-night fried chicken and slider shop where the menu leans hard into sauced tenders, pulled pork, and overloaded fries. With long hours, big portions, and strong multi-platform ratings, it has become a core Westwood destination for budget-friendly, barbecue-adjacent comfort food after games and concerts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy chicken tender sliders, Buffalo Chicken Tender Thicc Fries, Jack Daniels Pulled Pork Slider Combo
What Makes it Special: Late-night fried chicken and pulled pork sliders with huge portions.
#15
Gushi
8
Gushi is a long-running Korean walk-up in Westwood Village where charbroiled plates, fried rice, and budget-friendly ramen bowls feed UCLA students late into the day. The ramen here is straightforward—beef, chicken, egg, or kimchi—but combined with big portions and low prices, it’s one of the most relied-on hot-soup stops near campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Ramen (choice of beef, chicken, egg, or kimchi), Kimchi Pork Belly Plate, Kimchi Fried Rice
What Makes it Special: Korean counter-service spot where affordable ramen joins huge grilled plates.
#16
Pinches Tacos
8
Tucked just off the main Westwood drag, Pinches Tacos runs a casual counter-and-patio setup where combo plates of tacos, rice, and beans fuel long study nights. It leans into straightforward fillings and generous portions, making it a go-to for students and staff looking for a sit-down alternative to late-night chains.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Taco, Al Pastor Taco, Taco Pinche Combination Plate
What Makes it Special: A family-run taqueria with student-friendly combo plates and a relaxed patio.
Worthy Picks
#17
Hamasaku
7.9
A Westside sushi institution for 24 years where signature rolls bear the names of regular customers—the creative roll program coexists with a $55 omakase that delivers solid nigiri value. Recent arrival of sushi chef Yoya Takahashi upgraded the counter omakase quality. Strip mall location belies a polished interior; the spicy tuna crispy rice and power-lunch crowd define the experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Hamasaku Roll, The Blondie Roll
What Makes it Special: West LA sushi institution with signature rolls named after regular customers
7.8
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Palmsugar Thai To-Go Westwood is a takeout-focused Thai counter tucked off Weyburn Place in the heart of Westwood Village. The tiny operation leans on bold street-food flavors—wings, curries, and rice plates—built for quick pickup runs between classes or before a movie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Thai BBQ chicken with rice, Muay Thai wings, Pad see ew with chicken
What Makes it Special: Alley-adjacent to-go window delivering punchy, street-style Thai near campus.
7.8
A gas station deli on Sepulveda that earns repeat visits on the strength of its breakfast burritos and smash-style burgers, priced well below what the neighborhood typically charges. It runs as a no-frills counter operation where the draw is portion-to-dollar ratio and reliable execution across a short diner-style menu. Go for the morning rush order or a quick lunch stop—expect to eat in your car or at a parking lot table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito, Burgers, Pastrami Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Gas station deli on Sepulveda turning out legitimately great breakfast burritos and burgers at prices that feel like a time warp.
A Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a vertical spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd, serving until the early morning hours when most options have closed. The al pastor here is carved to order from a bright red trompo—straightforward street-style tacos, burritos, and mulitas built around well-rendered pork with honest portions at food-truck prices. Pull into the commercial lot, order at the window, and eat standing up or in your car.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos Al Pastor, Al Pastor Burrito, Cabeza Burrito with Cheese
What Makes it Special: Mixe-run taco truck slicing trompo al pastor off a bright red spit curbside on Santa Monica Blvd until the early morning hours
#21
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.