Best Solo Dining Restaurants in Westwood
19 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar
A dedicated hand roll bar where every roll is assembled to order at the counter.
Notable Picks
KazuNori’s Westwood outpost is a standing-room hand roll bar built entirely around made-to-order temaki. Warm rice, crisp nori, and high-quality fish move in a tight rhythm across the counter, making it the go-to spot in Westwood Village when you want focused sushi rolls rather than a sprawling menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Toro hand roll, Bay scallop hand roll, Yellowtail hand roll
What Makes it Special: A dedicated hand roll bar where every roll is assembled to order at the counter.
#2
Asuka
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Asuka is an intimate Westwood sushi bar known for meticulous fish cutting, traditional techniques, and a calm, polished dining room. It leans more toward nigiri and specialty rolls than novelty items, making it a favorite for diners who want a slower, more composed sushi experience than the nearby student haunts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef’s omakase sushi, Toro nigiri, Baked crab hand roll
What Makes it Special: Refined, chef-driven sushi in a serene room that feels built for proper dinners.
#3
Bella Pita
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Bella Pita is a tiny, late-night counter spot near UCLA where pitas and "wowshi" stuffed breads are griddled to order and loaded at a generous toppings bar. It’s one of Westwood’s most reliable under-$15 meals, especially when you need something handheld on the walk home.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Wowshi, Chicken Shawarma Pita, Hummus with Toppings
What Makes it Special: House-baked pitas and wowshi wraps with a generous toppings bar.
#4
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.
8.3
Gogobop is a modern Korean fast-casual spot built around customizable rice bowls topped with grilled bulgogi, gochujang chicken, and slow-roasted pork belly. High review volume across delivery platforms and steady lines in Westwood Village make it one of the most reliable places in 90024 for polished, barbecue-style Korean protein bowls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Bulgogi Bowl, Gochujang Chicken Bowl, Pork Belly Bowl
What Makes it Special: Build-your-own Korean barbecue bowls with generous grilled protein options.
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
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Open since 1980 on Gayley, Lamonica's channels New York slice-joint energy with foldable pies, Sicilian squares, and garlic knots that have fed generations of Bruins late into the evening. It's the classic grab-a-slice spot before or after campus events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic cheese slice, Sicilian pepperoni square, Garlic knots with marinara
What Makes it Special: Decades-old New York slice shop where UCLA generations still line up.
Danny Boy's brings a chef-driven New York slice joint to the former 800 Degrees space just off Westwood Boulevard, with long-fermented dough, classic pies, and a playful interior full of neon and pizza iconography. It draws slice hunters, campus regulars, and downtown fans of the original location looking for crisp, foldable rounds and hefty Sicilian squares.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepperoni Pie, Regular Cheese Pie, Sicilian Pepperoni Square Slice
What Makes it Special: Modern slice shop from chef Daniel Holzman focused on long-fermented New York–style pies.
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.
#10
Qin West Noodle
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Comfort Food Classics
Qin West Noodle brings regional Chinese noodle traditions to the South Westwood corridor with made-to-order bowls and a compact, counter-service room. Diners come for chewy hand-crafted noodles, spicy broths, and a menu that leans into specialties rarely found elsewhere on the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Liuzhou Rice Noodle Soup, Liang Pi Cold Noodles, Braised Beef Noodle Soup
What Makes it Special: Regionally focused noodle shop showcasing brothy and cold Chinese noodle styles.
#11
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.
Worthy Picks
#12
Tacos 1986
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
The Westwood Village location of Tacos 1986 brings Tijuana-style adobada tacos, mulitas, and quesadillas to a casual counter with sidewalk seating. Late student crowds and a constant line at the window turn the Kinross patio tables into one of the neighborhood’s most reliable cheap outdoor meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adobada Taco, Mushroom Mulita, Carne Asada Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: Tijuana-style tacos from a cult-loved stand with busy sidewalk seating.
7.9
This modern chicken-focused spot off Lindbrook folds a composed Burrito Mexicano into a menu built around roasted free-range chicken and market sides. The burrito leans fresher and lighter than most, with whole wheat tortillas, beans, rice, and guacamole echoing the rest of the vegetable-forward menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Mexicano, Tacos Dorados, Tostada Bowl
What Makes it Special: Health-leaning chicken specialist serving a composed Burrito Mexicano with better ingredients than the average wrap.
#14
Thai Fresh Cafe
7.9
Thai Fresh Cafe is a small, cozy cafe on Westwood Boulevard that leans into familiar noodle dishes, curries, and soups served in a relaxed, low-frills space. It’s a convenient option for nearby residents and UCLA crowds looking for straightforward Thai favorites with delivery and takeout always in play.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad thai with shrimp, Green curry with chicken, Tom yum soup with shrimp
What Makes it Special: A compact cafe offering all-the-hits Thai dishes with easy delivery.
7.8
The Westwood outpost of Tender Greens is a fast-casual, chef-led spot built on produce from Southern California farms, turning salads, bowls, and plates into everyday farm-to-table meals. Lines of students and office workers cycle through for customizable plates, from backyard-marinated steak to the plant-forward Happier Vegan salad, with plenty of patio seating when the weather cooperates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Happier Vegan salad with falafel and farro, Backyard marinated steak plate with greens and potatoes, California bowl with chipotle BBQ chicken
What Makes it Special: Fast-casual salads and plates anchored by locally sourced farm produce.
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
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Goldies is a smash-burger-focused spot where seasoned fries and burger-and-fries combos are designed for quick, satisfying meals. It leans delivery- and takeout-friendly but still turns out crisp, well-salted fries that anchor its signature and classic smash burger combos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Smash Burger Combo, Classic Smash Burger Combo, Seasoned Fries
What Makes it Special: Smash burgers and crisp fries built for fast, affordable burger-and-fries combos in central Westwood.
#18
Mr Noodle
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Mr Noodle is a long-running Westwood Village counter-service spot where a sprawling Thai-leaning menu covers everything from pad thai to Asian noodle soups. Its PHO (beef or chicken) sits alongside Thai boat noodles, tom kha noodles, and other brothy bowls that have fueled generations of UCLA students looking for a fast, filling meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
PHO (BEEF OR CHICKEN), Thai Boat Noodles, Tom Kha Noodles (Chicken or Shrimp)
What Makes it Special: Huge Thai-influenced noodle menu with a dedicated pho option steps from UCLA.
7.7
Opened in 1979, this corner bakery-café anchors the north side of Westwood Village with a mix of croissants, danishes, and a full breakfast-and-lunch menu. It’s a convenient stop for hearty plates, strong coffee, and a pastry case that runs from classic muffins to layered cakes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Almond croissant, French toast, Quiche Lorraine
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Westwood Village bakery-café with a deep pastry case and full meals.