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Dishes from Ryla in Hermosa Beach. — Dinnertime fare at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.

17 Essential South Bay Restaurants

The very best places to dine in Torrance, Gardena, Redondo Beach, Carson, Manhattan Beach, and more

by Matthew Kang and Paolo Bicchieri Updated Sep 8, 2022, 9:56am PDT

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Dinnertime fare at Ryla in Hermosa Beach.

| Wonho Frank Lee

by Matthew Kang and Paolo Bicchieri Updated Sep 8, 2022, 9:56am PDT

2 comments / new

The South Bay is a massive area incorporating Torrance, Gardena, Carson, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, and Lomita, among other municipalities. The part of town south of LAX and north of Long Beach does feel like its own section of Los Angeles County, with a beachy vibe and cultural diversity apparent in its many neighborhoods. Formerly home to three Japanese car companies, the area still hosts a bevy of excellent Japanese restaurants, though Korean, Brazilian, Hawaiian, and even Oaxacan fare are now highlights. Here now are the essential 17 restaurants in the South Bay.

Added: Ryla, Ali’i Fish Company, Akane Chaya, Little China, Old Time Noodle House, Baran’s 2239

Removed: Jame, Yuk Dae Jang, Jus Poke, Jiayuan Dumpling House, Little French Bakery, My Father’s Barbeque, Kotohira, Sugarfish

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

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Ali'i Fish Company

Few of this Hawaiian restaurant’s competitors can claim they source their fish straight from the Honolulu fish auction. On top of that, the team behind Ali’i Fish Company dishes up an impressive ahi burger, nostalgic fish nuggets, and a recently added Lomi salmon (available at the Torrance location only).

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409 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245

Visit Website

A bowl of poke in front of a plant. — The poke bowls at Ali’i Fish Company are not to be slept on.

Also featured in:

15 Fantastic Hawaiian Restaurants to Try in LA

Zam Zam Market

Hawthorne’s Zam Zam Market continues to be one of the best places for South Asian food in LA, with a stripped-down menu that focuses on flavor over anything else. Call ahead to see what’s being served that day, and be sure to get plenty of naan, too.

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13649 Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA

Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan at Zam Zam Market — Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan

Mr. Fries Man

Craig Batiste and his wife Dorothy started putting incredible, colorful ingredients on french fries in 2016, first serving out of their home kitchen and now expanded to multiple locations across Los Angeles and even into Las Vegas. In less than a year, they have more than 20 franchises sold, but it all started here in Gardena. Try the Beyond Meat-loaded fries for a plant-based tray of comfort.

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14800 S Western Ave suite 108, Gardena, CA 90249

Visit Website

French fries loaded with cheese, and faux meat. — Loaded fries with Beyond Meat at Mr. Fries Man

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Old Time Noodle House

In need of cold noodles due to the constant climate crisis-born heatwaves? This Korean restaurant is the answer. The cold arrowroot starch noodle soup is a favorite at this Gardena staple, and perfect for cooling down in the middle of a hot day.

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15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249

Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.

Also featured in:

15 Refreshing Cold Noodles to Keep Cool This Summer in LA

Akane Chaya

This 1991-born strip mall joint features a heavy love of jazz, pork curry, seafood, and Western-influenced dishes. The menu is actually huge — there are spaghetti varieties coming out of the rafters, eight different combos (including “super” versions of the combos), and a number of riffs on pilaf and omelet rice.

Open in Google Maps

1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

Visit Website

For a throwback, 90s-style Japanese meal in Gardena: Akane Chaya.

Also featured in:

The South Bay’s 18 Finest Japanese Restaurants

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop

The longtime Gardena Bowl coffee shop has been a neighborhood destination for breakfast foods and Hawaiian-inflected dishes like wonton saimin and a Royal fried rice plate topped with roast pork. It’s only open for takeout.

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15707 S Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90247

Visit Website

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A post shared by Richie Lee (@r_l_dub_e)

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Love & Salt

Now an established neighborhood classic, Love & Salt serves California-Italian fare from restaurateur Sylvie Gabriele in the former Cafe Pierre space (her father Guy’s restaurant). Chef Tracey Harada oversees the reliable, well-executed menu of pastas, pizzas, salads, and entrees in a bustling modern ambience.

317 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA

Visit Website

Love & Salt

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The Arthur J

David LeFevre’s fancy steakhouse sports some serious retro vibes. The steaks here rank among the best in Los Angeles. Exceptional sides and a diverse wine list round out this ocean-side restaurant that is sure to withstand the test of time with its midcentury modern feel and charming old-school service.

903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA

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The Arthur J

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Little China Restaurant

Step into the worn-out strip mall confines of Little China, and expect to hear only Korean being spoken at the tables. Little China serves some of the best Korean-Chinese fusion dishes in town, like a super-spicy jjampong noodle soup, as well as a terrific gan jajangmyeon, basically a less soupy, less goopy version of the classic black bean paste noodle dish. This is old-school Chinese food at its finest in the South Bay.

Open in Google Maps

18026 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248

Visit Website

The outside of Little China Restaurant in Gardena. — Don’t let the lack of ritz fool you — this restaurant is worth adding to the list.

Ryla

Chefs Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger are dishing up modern Japanese and Taiwanese fare at perhaps the coolest South Beach opening in 2022. The former Laurel Tavern space now sports a snappy Tokyo-inspired cocktail bar and a menu featuring hits like tonkotsu miso ramen, Chinese sausage-stuffed fried rice, and Hokkaido milk bread.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Visit Website

Dishes from Ryla in Hermosa Beach.

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Baran's 2239

Take a load off and throw on a dressy outfit for a visit to this Hermosa Beach restaurant. This place dishes out a swanky brunch, dabbling in the likes of maple pork breakfast sausage breakfast burritos, and is known for its prix-fixe menus centered on clams, black truffles, and, lately, dashi.

Open in Google Maps

502 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Visit Website

Baran’s 2239 Exterior

Madre! Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria

Ivan Vasquez took his Palms restaurant and planted a massive flagship in Old Torrance, serving his mother’s favorite mole and other Oaxacan dishes with a huge list of mezcales. The locals have figured it out, turning Madre into one of the most reliable Mexican restaurants in the city. Try the mole estofado and tlayuda for the full experience.

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1261 Cabrillo Ave #100, Torrance, CA 90501

Visit Website

Entrance to Madre, a Oaxacan restaurant and bar in Torrance. — Madre! in Torrance

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Izakaya Hachi

Torrance has plenty of izakayas and drink-friendly Japanese restaurants, from Wadatsumi to Torihei. Hachi has an impressive menu of after-work Japanese drinking dishes, from pressed saba sushi to grilled chicken skewers.

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1880 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

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Also featured in:

Phanny's

Redondo Beach’s enduring breakfast burrito specialist has an updated coffee menu and fantastic burritos that should provide enough caloric intake for long days at the beach.

1021 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA

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Holding breakfast burritos, cut in half. — Holding breakfast burritos from Phanny’s

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The Whale & Ale

Martin O’Sullivan and his wife Susan took over the Whale & Ale down in San Pedro in late 2020 and converted it to an Irish pub soon after. It remains a staple in the neighborhood and is worth a drive for the pub’s standout fish and chips.

327 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA

Visit Website

The Whale & Ale

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The Chori-Man

With tacos, burritos, and more, San Pedro’s beloved Chori-Man is a neighborhood favorite with quick service, reasonable prices, and amazing house-made chorizo.

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2309 S Alma St, San Pedro, CA 90731

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The ChoriMan

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Colossus

Chef Kristin Colazas Rodriguez’s tiny San Pedro bakery regularly sells out of croissants, cookies, and other delectable pastries well before its posted closing time, which speaks to the place’s incredible popularity. Colazas Rodriguez expanded Colossus to a new spot in Long Beach as well.

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2311 S Alma St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Visit Website

Colossus Bread exterior, with sidewalk. — Colossus in San Pedro

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Ali'i Fish Company

409 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245

A bowl of poke in front of a plant. — The poke bowls at Ali’i Fish Company are not to be slept on.

Few of this Hawaiian restaurant’s competitors can claim they source their fish straight from the Honolulu fish auction. On top of that, the team behind Ali’i Fish Company dishes up an impressive ahi burger, nostalgic fish nuggets, and a recently added Lomi salmon (available at the Torrance location only).

Open in Google Maps

409 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245

Visit Website

A bowl of poke in front of a plant. — The poke bowls at Ali’i Fish Company are not to be slept on.

Zam Zam Market

13649 Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA

Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan at Zam Zam Market — Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan

Hawthorne’s Zam Zam Market continues to be one of the best places for South Asian food in LA, with a stripped-down menu that focuses on flavor over anything else. Call ahead to see what’s being served that day, and be sure to get plenty of naan, too.

Open in Google Maps

13649 Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne, CA

Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan at Zam Zam Market — Biryani and chicken tandoori with naan

Mr. Fries Man

14800 S Western Ave suite 108, Gardena, CA 90249

French fries loaded with cheese, and faux meat. — Loaded fries with Beyond Meat at Mr. Fries Man

Craig Batiste and his wife Dorothy started putting incredible, colorful ingredients on french fries in 2016, first serving out of their home kitchen and now expanded to multiple locations across Los Angeles and even into Las Vegas. In less than a year, they have more than 20 franchises sold, but it all started here in Gardena. Try the Beyond Meat-loaded fries for a plant-based tray of comfort.

Open in Google Maps

14800 S Western Ave suite 108, Gardena, CA 90249

Visit Website

French fries loaded with cheese, and faux meat. — Loaded fries with Beyond Meat at Mr. Fries Man

Old Time Noodle House

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249

Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.

In need of cold noodles due to the constant climate crisis-born heatwaves? This Korean restaurant is the answer. The cold arrowroot starch noodle soup is a favorite at this Gardena staple, and perfect for cooling down in the middle of a hot day.

Open in Google Maps

15325 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90249

Chin naengmyeon, arrowroot starch cold noodles, from Old Time Noodle House in Gardena.

Akane Chaya

1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

For a throwback, 90s-style Japanese meal in Gardena: Akane Chaya.

This 1991-born strip mall joint features a heavy love of jazz, pork curry, seafood, and Western-influenced dishes. The menu is actually huge — there are spaghetti varieties coming out of the rafters, eight different combos (including “super” versions of the combos), and a number of riffs on pilaf and omelet rice.

Open in Google Maps

1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

Visit Website

For a throwback, 90s-style Japanese meal in Gardena: Akane Chaya.

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop

15707 S Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90247

The longtime Gardena Bowl coffee shop has been a neighborhood destination for breakfast foods and Hawaiian-inflected dishes like wonton saimin and a Royal fried rice plate topped with roast pork. It’s only open for takeout.

Open in Google Maps

15707 S Vermont Ave, Gardena, CA 90247

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richie Lee (@r_l_dub_e)

Love & Salt

317 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA

Love & Salt

Now an established neighborhood classic, Love & Salt serves California-Italian fare from restaurateur Sylvie Gabriele in the former Cafe Pierre space (her father Guy’s restaurant). Chef Tracey Harada oversees the reliable, well-executed menu of pastas, pizzas, salads, and entrees in a bustling modern ambience.

317 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA

Visit Website

Love & Salt

The Arthur J

903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA

The Arthur J

David LeFevre’s fancy steakhouse sports some serious retro vibes. The steaks here rank among the best in Los Angeles. Exceptional sides and a diverse wine list round out this ocean-side restaurant that is sure to withstand the test of time with its midcentury modern feel and charming old-school service.

903 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA

Visit Website

The Arthur J

Little China Restaurant

18026 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248

The outside of Little China Restaurant in Gardena. — Don’t let the lack of ritz fool you — this restaurant is worth adding to the list.

Step into the worn-out strip mall confines of Little China, and expect to hear only Korean being spoken at the tables. Little China serves some of the best Korean-Chinese fusion dishes in town, like a super-spicy jjampong noodle soup, as well as a terrific gan jajangmyeon, basically a less soupy, less goopy version of the classic black bean paste noodle dish. This is old-school Chinese food at its finest in the South Bay.

Open in Google Maps

18026 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248

Visit Website

The outside of Little China Restaurant in Gardena. — Don’t let the lack of ritz fool you — this restaurant is worth adding to the list.

Ryla

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Dishes from Ryla in Hermosa Beach.

Chefs Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger are dishing up modern Japanese and Taiwanese fare at perhaps the coolest South Beach opening in 2022. The former Laurel Tavern space now sports a snappy Tokyo-inspired cocktail bar and a menu featuring hits like tonkotsu miso ramen, Chinese sausage-stuffed fried rice, and Hokkaido milk bread.

1220 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Visit Website

Dishes from Ryla in Hermosa Beach.

Baran's 2239

502 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Baran’s 2239 Exterior

Take a load off and throw on a dressy outfit for a visit to this Hermosa Beach restaurant. This place dishes out a swanky brunch, dabbling in the likes of maple pork breakfast sausage breakfast burritos, and is known for its prix-fixe menus centered on clams, black truffles, and, lately, dashi.

Open in Google Maps

502 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Visit Website

Baran’s 2239 Exterior

Madre! Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria

1261 Cabrillo Ave #100, Torrance, CA 90501

Entrance to Madre, a Oaxacan restaurant and bar in Torrance. — Madre! in Torrance

Ivan Vasquez took his Palms restaurant and planted a massive flagship in Old Torrance, serving his mother’s favorite mole and other Oaxacan dishes with a huge list of mezcales. The locals have figured it out, turning Madre into one of the most reliable Mexican restaurants in the city. Try the mole estofado and tlayuda for the full experience.

Open in Google Maps

1261 Cabrillo Ave #100, Torrance, CA 90501

Visit Website

Entrance to Madre, a Oaxacan restaurant and bar in Torrance. — Madre! in Torrance

Izakaya Hachi

1880 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501