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A tray from Su Boreg and Monta Factory in Pasadena
Digging into a tray of Armenian dumplings from Monta Factory in Glendale
Farley Elliott

20 Amazing Takeout Meals in LA and All the Nearby Picnic Spots to Enjoy Them

Great eats and the views to match for eating off a blanket, a picnic table, or the hood of your car

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Digging into a tray of Armenian dumplings from Monta Factory in Glendale
| Farley Elliott

One of the best perks of having a car in Los Angeles is being able to grab a takeout meal from a restaurant and pick the place where you will eat it. Often, that’s your home or office (pre-pandemic), but the expansive city and its myriad parks, beaches, mountains, and vistas means LA’s gorgeous views and cityscape can be your dining area. Here, Eater has compiled a list of some of the tastiest places to eat, coupled with nearby areas with picnic or park benches to enjoy the food. Just a note: It’s good to bring your own water or drinks, utensils, plateware, and even a blanket or table cover to maximize the experience.

Some restaurants have resumed or begun limited patio seating, while others continue to offer takeout and/or delivery only. This should not be taken as endorsement for on-site, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the Los Angeles Public Health website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.



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Honeybird

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This handy fried chicken spot in La Cañada Flintridge has everything for a Southern-style feast. Crispy fried chicken, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes will taste even better over a picnic table at Hahamongna Park, a 1,200-acre haven a short drive away with expansive views of the foothills as an added bonus.

Pizza Of Venice

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This Black-owned pizzeria isn’t afraid to get experimental, shaping oblong pies and topping them with smoked mushrooms, curry chicken, and even a weekly bounty of produce from the farmers market. Pick up a couple of pizzas, maybe some chicken wings, and eat them at nearby Alta Loma Park, or drive farther up the hill near various hiking trailheads for an even better view.

Monta Factory

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Glendale’s delectable Monta Factory makes terrific, spice-filled beef dumplings by hand, then smothers them with tomato and yogurt sauce. The menu has some other picks too, like a nice salmon sandwich. Take it up to Brand Park for a pleasant Glendale picnic lunch before heading up the trails for a hike.

Me + Crepe

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Me + Crepe pairs expert jianbing, or eggy, pancake-like wraps from China, with everything from roast duck and hoisin to barbecue pork. Better still, the place is steps away from Pasadena’s sprawling Central Park, which means plenty of space to lie on a blanket in the sun without feeling too crowded.

Little Flower

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The Rose Bowl is a short drive or bike ride away from this homey cafe and lunch spot in Pasadena, where the pastries, salted caramels, salads, and sandwiches are the main draw. Pick up a light lunch, then wander to the historic sports venue and its environs for a place to picnic.

Northern Thai Food Club

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Northern Thai Food Club is designed for a takeout dinner, with virtually no seating inside or outside. Order up a storm at the counter, asking the chef for the day’s spicy suggestions, then carry the food up Western Avenue to the Trails Cafe, where there are plenty of shaded picnic tables and ample parking.

Chengdu Taste

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Chengdu Taste has all the greatest Sichuan hits, from toothpick lamb and mapo tofu to mung bean noodles. Take it all to peaceful Alhambra Park for the kind of spicy, mala picnic you can only have in LA.

View this post on Instagram

Toothpick Mutton~ smothered in cumin & chilis

A post shared by Food Addict (@chopgueyy) on

Sushi Tama

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Looking for gorgeous, well-made sushi placed in sturdy wood boxes? Sushi Tama has nigiri and even hand roll bentos that work well in a picnic setting. Since there isn’t a ton of green space in the area, the best bet might be to head over to the parklets along Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, a few blocks away.

Gamboge

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Cambodian restaurant Gamboge wants everyone to know how amazing num pang sandwiches can be. Using plush French bread and Cambodian meats with pickled vegetables, they’re best carried to Elysian Park, specifically Grand View Point, where sky-high picnic tables give perfect views of Downtown LA.

Num pang sandwich at Gamboge on a plate.
Gamboge
Wonho Frank Lee

Katsu Sando

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Katsu Sando draws inspiration from Japanese convenience stores, where pork katsu sandwiches and onigiri rule the roost. Order the comfort food and enjoy it laid out as a picnic near LA Historic State Park, about a mile up the road.

A pork katsu sandwich stacked high with a yellow background.
Katsu Sando
[Official Photo]

Broad Street Oyster Company

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Lobster rolls and fries never taste better than they do with a view of the ocean. Pick up the fantastic lobster roll at Broad Street Oyster and find a parking spot along PCH with a great view of the Pacific.

Broad Street Oyster Company
Broad Street Oyster Company
Farley Elliott

Ceviches, coctels, and tostadas are the things to order at this Mercado Paloma stall in University Park. Then look for some choice picnic areas at the expansive Exposition Park or the Rose Garden for a place to enjoy some of LA’s best Mexican seafood under the sun.

Colorful uni-topped ceviche tostada on a white plate with colorful tablecloth at Holbox.
Holbox
Farley Elliott

El Ruso

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El Ruso is known as one of LA’s top tortilla makers, coupling paper-thin flour tortillas with grilled carne asada. While the area El Ruso occupies is mostly industrial, the secret find of Riverfront Park next to the LA River in nearby Maywood is a short drive away.

el ruso tacos with sauce
El Ruso
Farley Elliott

Hotville Chicken

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South LA’s Hotville Chicken has spicy, wonderfully seasoned chicken drawing from its Nashville roots. Pick up a family pack of chicken with all the sides, then take it over to Leimert Park Plaza or, even better, tiny Monteith Park for a fried-chicken picnic feast.

Fried chicken from Hotville Chicken in Baldwin Hills
Hotville Chicken
Leslie Rodriguez

Simply Wholesome

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Simply Wholesome is a neighborhood institution that serves terrific vegetarian fare like omelets, sandwiches, and salads, plus a solid selection of Jamaican dishes, for South LA’s View Park. Acquire a healthy lunch, then find a secluded table or park bench in the expansive Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area a short car ride away along La Brea Avenue.

Hawkins House of Burgers

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Classic stand Hawkins House of Burgers tastes even better with a view of the iconic Watts Towers, one of the most impressive pieces of art in Los Angeles.

Sakae Sushi

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This humble Japanese sushi spot does battera, or box-pressed sushi, which harks back to its original fast-food form. It’s reasonably priced and prepared within minutes, ready for a drive down to Alondra Park for a relaxing lunch with a view of a public golf course.

Phanny's

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One of South Bay’s best breakfast burritos is even better with a pristine view of the ocean. RAT Beach (named because it’s Right After Torrance) has some wonderful picnic benches that are great for enjoying well-stuffed burritos.

Holding breakfast burritos, cut in half.
Phanny’s
Wonho Frank Lee

Little Coyote

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Long Beach has a new pizza contender in Little Coyote, making wide New York-style pies topped with ricotta, garlic, and spinach or little pepperoni cups. It’s a bit of a trek, but the view at Hilltop Park, located on the north side of Long Beach at Signal Hill, is about 2.5 miles north on Cherry Avenue, and it might be the best place to take down those foldable slices.

The Chori-Man

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San Pedro’s ever-popular chorizo maker and burrito specialist Chori-Man is terrific for grabbing and taking to the Korean Friendship Bell, an iconic film location that has ample bench and picnic seating with a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean.

Breakfast burrito from Chori-man in San Pedro
The Chori-Man
Matthew Holmes

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Honeybird

This handy fried chicken spot in La Cañada Flintridge has everything for a Southern-style feast. Crispy fried chicken, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes will taste even better over a picnic table at Hahamongna Park, a 1,200-acre haven a short drive away with expansive views of the foothills as an added bonus.

Pizza Of Venice

This Black-owned pizzeria isn’t afraid to get experimental, shaping oblong pies and topping them with smoked mushrooms, curry chicken, and even a weekly bounty of produce from the farmers market. Pick up a couple of pizzas, maybe some chicken wings, and eat them at nearby Alta Loma Park, or drive farther up the hill near various hiking trailheads for an even better view.

Monta Factory

Glendale’s delectable Monta Factory makes terrific, spice-filled beef dumplings by hand, then smothers them with tomato and yogurt sauce. The menu has some other picks too, like a nice salmon sandwich. Take it up to Brand Park for a pleasant Glendale picnic lunch before heading up the trails for a hike.

Me + Crepe

Me + Crepe pairs expert jianbing, or eggy, pancake-like wraps from China, with everything from roast duck and hoisin to barbecue pork. Better still, the place is steps away from Pasadena’s sprawling Central Park, which means plenty of space to lie on a blanket in the sun without feeling too crowded.

Little Flower

The Rose Bowl is a short drive or bike ride away from this homey cafe and lunch spot in Pasadena, where the pastries, salted caramels, salads, and sandwiches are the main draw. Pick up a light lunch, then wander to the historic sports venue and its environs for a place to picnic.

Northern Thai Food Club

Northern Thai Food Club is designed for a takeout dinner, with virtually no seating inside or outside. Order up a storm at the counter, asking the chef for the day’s spicy suggestions, then carry the food up Western Avenue to the Trails Cafe, where there are plenty of shaded picnic tables and ample parking.

Chengdu Taste

Chengdu Taste has all the greatest Sichuan hits, from toothpick lamb and mapo tofu to mung bean noodles. Take it all to peaceful Alhambra Park for the kind of spicy, mala picnic you can only have in LA.

View this post on Instagram

Toothpick Mutton~ smothered in cumin & chilis

A post shared by Food Addict (@chopgueyy) on

Sushi Tama

Looking for gorgeous, well-made sushi placed in sturdy wood boxes? Sushi Tama has nigiri and even hand roll bentos that work well in a picnic setting. Since there isn’t a ton of green space in the area, the best bet might be to head over to the parklets along Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills, a few blocks away.

Gamboge

Cambodian restaurant Gamboge wants everyone to know how amazing num pang sandwiches can be. Using plush French bread and Cambodian meats with pickled vegetables, they’re best carried to Elysian Park, specifically Grand View Point, where sky-high picnic tables give perfect views of Downtown LA.

Num pang sandwich at Gamboge on a plate.
Gamboge
Wonho Frank Lee

Katsu Sando

Katsu Sando draws inspiration from Japanese convenience stores, where pork katsu sandwiches and onigiri rule the roost. Order the comfort food and enjoy it laid out as a picnic near LA Historic State Park, about a mile up the road.

A pork katsu sandwich stacked high with a yellow background.
Katsu Sando
[Official Photo]

Broad Street Oyster Company

Lobster rolls and fries never taste better than they do with a view of the ocean. Pick up the fantastic lobster roll at Broad Street Oyster and find a parking spot along PCH with a great view of the Pacific.

Broad Street Oyster Company
Broad Street Oyster Company
Farley Elliott

Holbox

Ceviches, coctels, and tostadas are the things to order at this Mercado Paloma stall in University Park. Then look for some choice picnic areas at the expansive Exposition Park or the Rose Garden for a place to enjoy some of LA’s best Mexican seafood under the sun.

Colorful uni-topped ceviche tostada on a white plate with colorful tablecloth at Holbox.
Holbox
Farley Elliott

El Ruso

El Ruso is known as one of LA’s top tortilla makers, coupling paper-thin flour tortillas with grilled carne asada. While the area El Ruso occupies is mostly industrial, the secret find of Riverfront Park next to the LA River in nearby Maywood is a short drive away.

el ruso tacos with sauce
El Ruso
Farley Elliott

Hotville Chicken

South LA’s Hotville Chicken has spicy, wonderfully seasoned chicken drawing from its Nashville roots. Pick up a family pack of chicken with all the sides, then take it over to Leimert Park Plaza or, even better, tiny Monteith Park for a fried-chicken picnic feast.

Fried chicken from Hotville Chicken in Baldwin Hills
Hotville Chicken
Leslie Rodriguez

Simply Wholesome

Simply Wholesome is a neighborhood institution that serves terrific vegetarian fare like omelets, sandwiches, and salads, plus a solid selection of Jamaican dishes, for South LA’s View Park. Acquire a healthy lunch, then find a secluded table or park bench in the expansive Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area a short car ride away along La Brea Avenue.

Related Maps

Hawkins House of Burgers

Classic stand Hawkins House of Burgers tastes even better with a view of the iconic Watts Towers, one of the most impressive pieces of art in Los Angeles.

Sakae Sushi

This humble Japanese sushi spot does battera, or box-pressed sushi, which harks back to its original fast-food form. It’s reasonably priced and prepared within minutes, ready for a drive down to Alondra Park for a relaxing lunch with a view of a public golf course.

Phanny's

One of South Bay’s best breakfast burritos is even better with a pristine view of the ocean. RAT Beach (named because it’s Right After Torrance) has some wonderful picnic benches that are great for enjoying well-stuffed burritos.

Holding breakfast burritos, cut in half.
Phanny’s
Wonho Frank Lee

Little Coyote

Long Beach has a new pizza contender in Little Coyote, making wide New York-style pies topped with ricotta, garlic, and spinach or little pepperoni cups. It’s a bit of a trek, but the view at Hilltop Park, located on the north side of Long Beach at Signal Hill, is about 2.5 miles north on Cherry Avenue, and it might be the best place to take down those foldable slices.

The Chori-Man

San Pedro’s ever-popular chorizo maker and burrito specialist Chori-Man is terrific for grabbing and taking to the Korean Friendship Bell, an iconic film location that has ample bench and picnic seating with a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean.

Breakfast burrito from Chori-man in San Pedro
The Chori-Man
Matthew Holmes

Related Maps