After taking in the sweeping views of the California coastline at the top of Los Liones hiking trail, there’s no better way to reward those hard working muscles than with a behemoth of a sandwich at John’s Garden. Just a short drive away, enjoying a meal in the sunny courtyard of Malibu Country Mart with fellow hikers and a swarm of Pepperdine students makes for an idyllic afternoon meal. —CC

What is perhaps the sceniest hike in LA (and no doubt the most Instagrammed), Runyon Canyon is is a mecca of dog walkers and quasi celebrities. A handful of those hikers wind up at Aroma Sunset at the bottom of the hill, refueling with Mediterranean-leaning plates in the expansive indoor/outdoor space. —CC

While most folks might rep the Trails Cafe as the best place amongst the trees of Griffith Park, a better meal can be had just down the way at Mustard Seed. A popular Los Feliz stop for healthy-ish fare (though Jeni's ice cream is across the street, so be careful), Mustard Seed has the right menu to make the hike feel like it's really going to pay off. —FE

Newcomb's Ranch may well be the most popular roadside restaurant in all of Los Angeles County. The place is absolutely smothered with road warriors (from cyclists to motorcycle riders to car enthusiasts alike) on weekends, but still manages to turn out a menu of cold beers and easy-eating snacks like hot dogs and burgers. —FE

The Mt. Baldy Lodge is far from haute cuisine. If anything, the aging dining room leans intently the other way, with a casual menu for day-trippers and hikers to nosh on before or after a big day climbing mountains. It makes for a wonderful wilderness pitstop with hearty, enjoyable food — or the perfect snack spot before a meal further down the hill in the San Gabriel Valley. —FE

After roaming around Kenneth Kahn State Recreation Area in Baldwin Hills, skip over to Culver City’s new Hayden for a set of Spanish-style convervas served with thin toast slices and a generous portion of sauce gribiche. Pair that when oysters and wine by the glass, and it’s the perfect way to recuperate for a day under the sun. —MK

Malibu locals love Lily's Cafe for its breakfast burritos, but they're just as perfect for anyone passing through to spend a day traversing the greater Santa Monica mountains. Whether hitting the beach for a long seaside hike or heading up into the scrub brush to catch old relics from the MASH show set, a detour to Lily's is always worth it. —FE

It's hard not to notice El Patron in Altadena. The triangular building has neon wrapping and sports big menus filled with wet burritos, churros, and buckets of inexpensive beer, making it not only an easily-identifiable destination for locals but also a great stop for a rich meal after pushing a group of friends to the lofty heights of Echo Mountain nearby.

Heading out to Deukmejian Wilderness Park, tucked above La Cresenta? The semi-hidden hiking trail goes deep into the local mountains with fantastic vistas of the foothills and greater Los Angeles below. Afterwards, opt for some Lebanese-style pizzas, lahmajune, kebabs, and more at this family-run restaurant along Foothill Blvd. —MK