San Gabriel Food Secrets: Eat Like a Local
The Restaurant Guide
Leona’s sushi house LA: Michelin Guide ‘23! Choose between the charming sushi bar, the high-ceiling dining room facing Ventura Boulevard, or center patio lounge to enjoy Japanese Peruvian food with an Italian touch. Influencers and foodies alike are raving about Leona’s. Their Michelin-recognized cuisine and crafted cocktails are a must-try. Take your dining experience to the next level. 🌟🥩🍣
DTLA Insider
🇮🇹 Donna’s 🍝 East coast style Italian lands in L.A in one of the 🔥 must try restaurants in the city.
DTLA Insider
🔥 Stumbled upon a little hidden gem of a 🇲🇽 restaurant today and am still 🤯…. Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez🌶🔥 • Tortas Ahogadas, Carne En Su Jugo + more • Michelin Bib Gourmand • 5 STARS 🌟 on Yelp Come and try our delicious Molcajete and pair with our tasty Michelada 🍹with your choice of beer 🍺. 🍴 Have You??
Gluten Free Girls LA
Amara kitchen -A farm to table restaurant with two locations in Los Angeles (Highland Park and Altadena). This cozy cafe has multiple CLEARLY marked gluten free options (desserts and main dishes) and is good for celiacs with no cross contamination when mentioned. Today I had the “green eggs” -two poached eggs (I asked for mine over hard), roasted sweet potatoes, mixed greens, avocado, pesto, beet puree, pickled cabbage, pickled carrots and cherry tomatoes, toasted sesame seeds, served with house-made bread whole grain gluten free bread. The house made gluten free bread was fantastic. The eggs and veggies were definitely good, although next time I would probably order something I couldn’t find elsewhere. I also bought their gluten free chocolate chunk cookie which was excellent. They even make a vegan version. Highly recommend this place and will definitely be coming back.
Kathy
YUME is a hidden gem that offers Japanese dishes with a modern twist 🍣✨ ✔️ Perfect for a date night spot with its cozy minimalist interiors that makes you feel as if you’re in Japan 🇯🇵 ✔️Had an AMAZING meal here and everything was packed with flavors 🫶 You can tell that they only serve fresh fish for sushi and sashimi, so you won’t be disappointed✨
citygirlvibes
LAVO Los Angeles - a sophisticated Italian eatery located in the heart of the Sunset Strip. Always a consistent great time, with delicious food and a lively vibe. The perfect dinner before a night out! Enjoy a selection of LAVO's greatest brunch and dinner hits with our specially curated prix-fixe menus, available July 12th-26th, during the LA Restaurant Week.
Secret Los Angeles
Mr. Beef From The Bear Will Pop Up In L.A. This Weekend Only With Authentic Italian Beef Sandwiches! This weekend only — you can experience Mr. Beef from FX on Hulu’s The Bear in Los Angeles. For two days only, July 13 and 14, L.A.’s Uncle Paulie’s will host this special pop-up featuring Chicago’s renowned Italian beef sandwiches with giardiniera. It’ll be a warm weekend so you’ll also get a chance to enjoy refreshing Italian ice from Coco’s to Go-Go, courtesy of the show’s culinary producer, Courtney Storer who will also be on site. Don’t miss out — sandwiches are available exclusively in person from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
See also
Top Anonymous Recommendations in Fairfax - Discover Trending Suggestions & Local Reviews Near LA
Ally Grammin
Mariscos Zazazá Located in an alley just off the LA River Bike Path you’ll find a lunch window serving up the prettiest seafood plates in a sunlit patio that will transport you straight to a resort in Mexico. The yellowtail tostada with crisped capers is a must and their bottled hot sauces are some of the best in the city.
Gareth
Sun’s out, drinks up, and vibes en el rooftop🌞 LA Cha Cha Chá restaurant's rooftop is your go-to spot for delicious cocktails, great music, and the perfect summer vibe. 🌇🍸El verano esta aquí! Aquí nos vemos 👋
THE ROOFTOP GUIDE
Perch LA with amazing views over the whole city or among the skyscrapers. Located in downtown, and offering fantastic views of the entire city, Perch operates both as a bar and a bistro, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a place to eat and drink. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating options as well as comfortable lounge furniture and a relaxed ambience, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more welcoming spot to watch the sunset while enjoying some drinks. With classy furniture, lush plants, fire pits and fireplaces, and stylish decor that transports you straight to the French Riviera, Perch stands out in more ways than one; Here, you'll be able to shed your worries and the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the moment.
Secret Los Angeles
Billie Eilish’s Favorite Restaurant in Los Angeles The Grain Café is a peaceful spot featuring an eclectic menu of vegan, natural, and organic options, including sandwiches, pizzas, and more. With delicious offerings like sandwiches, salads, and calzones, you have to try the huevos con chorizo breakfast to see why it’s a local favorite (and a hit with Billie too!). Oh, and don’t miss the crepas and chilaquiles for the complete dining experience!
Los Angeles4 everybody
Enchant LA! Sometimes pretty places aren’t equally tasty but I would say this place has both down. I got to dress and have some sweet quality time over good korean flavors (kim chi pasta & bulgogi quesadillas were really good!) 🌸Garden Style Brunch&Bar🌸 ☕Modern Asian Fusion🥂Wine🍸Cocktail Kept things light w a citrus shrimp salad but then indulged in other great menu items. We went for lunch but it’s good for dinner dates tooooo 🤓
Gluten Free Girls LA
Millie's Cafe is incredible and also vegan friendly! Today I went with the vegan/gluten-free waffles (whipped cream is also vegan).. the texture and flavor was perfect. My mother who isn’t a fan of gluten free texture even approved! You can add chocolate chips, blueberries, bananas, strawberries etc.. I also got a Lavender oat milk latte and vegan sausage. Next time I plan on trying the gluten free pancakes! Will definitely be coming back. 10/10
Los Angeles4 everybody
📍 AMBOY FAR EAST CENTER, DTLA It’s the chef that created Egg Slut, the Filipino American egg sandwich connoisseur. His small shop in chinatown makes these specialty burgers and they’re insane! For a special event, i also found his longanesa hot dog on the menu and sisig fries with calamansi! 🍊🍟 Beers was so special too. Paired so well with the meal. You can find this across from Amboy at La Sita and other stores and restaurants around LA. Two Filipino LA brothers brought this over from the Philippines and all the flavors are so good. I’m not usually a beer drinker but the Ube Lager was so unique! (They also have Honey and a Mango flavor). Check them out for a taste of LA Filipino American innovation! 📍 AMBOY
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Time Out LA
Maple Block Meat Co. Barbecue What: $9 five-piece wings, $10–12 nachos, $10 sliders, BOGO drinks When: Mon 5–9pm, Tue–Fri 5–6pm Why we love it: Meat butchered on premise, brisket smoked over peach wood logs, a pitmaster from Texas—this Culver City barbecue joint checks all the right boxes, including an excellent happy hour menu. Steeply discounted bar bites are available before 6pm, including nachos topped with your choice of smoked brisket or pork belly, a set of smashburger sliders and smoky, juicy wings with house white barbecue sauce or honey Sriracha. Best of all, it's available all night on Mondays. For drinks, there's a buy-one-get-one free deal on nearly all drinks, which you can also get the last hour of service any day of the week. (Some top shelf label exceptions do apply.)
DTLA Insider
🦩 Cocktails, Bites, Good Vibes, and Flamingo’s at The Arts District’s 🍹 Lounge. Great Music! Cute cocktails and late night kitchen. Come check us out. 🪩🦩🪩🦩
Los Angeles4 everybody
Chinese in West Hollywood! Modernized Dim Sum fa sho 😋 🥟 Ok, I have one traditional place for dim sum and it is in the SGV, it’s meant to family time and Sunday Breakfast. Soooo, West Hollywood + Dim Sum for dinner never went together in my mind. Buutttttt, BAO DIM SUM HOUSE reinvented that. And I am here for it bc it’s actually good. Shiu Mai (we got chicken) was very hefty, Har Gow was shrimp filled with a light wrap, sauces on the table were on point and other items like Spare Ribs were prepared very traditionally. Now, if you live in LA proper, you don’t always have to go to the valley for your dim sum fix 😋 🥟
Happening in DTLA
LAX-C is a large Asian supermarket known for its extensive selection of Thai and other Asian groceries. The store, often referred to as “Thai Costco,” offers a variety of products, including fresh produce, meats, seafood, spices, sauces, and packaged goods. Its bulk-buying model provides customers with competitive prices and a broad assortment of goods. LAX-C caters to both individual shoppers and local restaurants, making it a central hub for authentic Asian ingredients and culinary supplies in the area. The store’s layout and offerings reflect its commitment to serving the diverse community of Los Angeles with high-quality, specialty items. I go for their hot foods often bc it’s made fresh and so authentically. All a true taste of Thailand in LA :)
Ally Grammin
TARTINE If you are looking for a solid cafe for meetups with friends, brunch with the parents or a spot to work for a few hours - this is the all purpose place. 🥐 All of the pastries are excellent but I have a particular fondness for the seasonal cornmeal tea cake. 🍞 Whatever you order, do NOT skip their bread. Tartine’s country loaf is in regular rotation in my house.
Secret Los Angeles
Have a martini at Musso & Frank Cinephiles, this one’s for you. Pretend it’s the 1920s and take your date out for a romantic night of Old Hollywood charm at the legendary Musso & Frank. Known as the oldest restaurant in Hollywood and often referred to as the “genesis of Hollywood,” this iconic steakhouse in LA, feels like you’ve stepped back into a bygone era. The restaurant was known as the go-to spot for the Hollywood elite, even boasting a secret back room for industry insiders. It’s been memorialized in countless films, most notably Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Cozy up in one of the old-school wooden booths and order their world-famous martini for a night to remember.
Secret Los Angeles
Stowaway This basement-level piano bar is subtly marked by a small arrow-shaped light at its entrance. While lacking a traditional stage, the setting boasts a fairly grand ambiance, featuring a curving wood bar, a 7-foot grand piano, and a charmingly kitschy old oil painting portraying a reclining blond burlesque dancer. The menu offers indulgence with its selection of cocktails. Despite its subterranean setting, the venue’s wooden floors and high ceilings create an atmosphere that easily transports guests away from the basement vibe.
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Time Out LA
Nossa Caipirinha Bar What: $10–11 cocktails and wines, $5–8 beers, discounted food items When: Daily 4–6pm Why we love it: After a short stint as a sit-down restaurant, this Brazilian eatery in Los Feliz flipped into a neighborhood watering hole inspired by the country’s botecos. Now, Nossa Caipirinha Bar offers five well-balanced renditions of its namesake drink—Brazil’s national cocktail—as well as a host of traditional bar snacks like cheese bread and coxinhas (chicken and paprika croquettes). At happy hour, snack on discounted bites like $9 chicken heart skewers, $14 fried calamari and $13 coxinhas.
Secret Los Angeles
Roscoe’s Hollywood Harlem native Herb Hudson opened this Hollywood staple in 1975, and their tasty soul food has been enjoyed by generations of Angelenos and celebrities including Shaquille O’Neil, Stevie Wonder, and Barack Obama. The menu goes beyond the staple chicken and waffles to include classics like corn bread, mac and cheese, and biscuits and gravy. The Hollywood location is open until 4am on weekend nights, but you’ll find a handful of other Roscoe’s outposts in L.A. that are serving food until midnight.
Secret Los Angeles
Grab a sweet or savory slice at Quarter Sheets Quarter Sheets in Echo Park serves up unique savory and sweet slices. Chefs Hannah Ziskin and Aaron Lindell create a menu that feels like an elevated, adult version of a fun kids’ birthday party. Their pizza and cake offerings have earned them “Best Restaurant” rankings from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times in 2023, plus a spot in the California Michelin Guide. Try their creative pizzas with toppings like Funyuns or shrimp cocktail, and don’t miss Ziskin’s gourmet slab cakes. Staff favorites include their Bar Pie and Vodka Pesto. And yes, expect a line when you get there!
The Restaurant Guide
Donna’s LA: Upgraded Italian American classics in a fun, flower-bombed room in Echo Park. Donna’s is inspired by an east coast, red sauce joint. The menu is made up of those Italian-American classics that you expect, but done really well with California ingredients. Here at Donna’s we’re loud and lively, with warm and familiar service. We’ll remind you what comfort feels like. And you’ll have the best night out (since the last time you were here).
Secret Los Angeles
Enter another realm at The Obscure! Shake things up by venturing into the mysterious realm of The Obscure, an exclusive distillery and cocktail bar where ethereal spirits and fine liquors intertwine in the shadows. Illuminated by candlelight, guests will embark on a multi-sensory journey through history, legend, and lore. Each cocktail and spirit tells a captivating story, transporting you with every sip into forgotten tales and untold legends. The Obscure promises an unparalleled cocktail-tasting experience filled with delightful surprises for the curious soul.
Gluten Free Girls LA
BBCM is a chic cafe in West Hollywood. I ordered an oat milk latte and a glutenfree orange cranberry muffin. My gluten-free muffin was moist and tasted great. Wish they had more options, but grateful for the muffin. I asked and they also have gluten free toast (although it’s not listed on the menu). Will definitely be coming back again!
Life by Vivien
Pink Pepper Thai My favorite Thai restaurant in LA is such a vibe - whether you’re dining indoors with lovely floral decor or on the outdoor patio with a breeze and plenty of natural lighting, this spot is perfect for delicious authentic classic Thai dishes. Every dish had incredible flavors and textures and the portions were generous! Here’s everything we tried: Appetizers : Kan Tok - Thai Platter** (you HAVE to try this, it’s incredible, their fried coconut shrimp is made in house!) : Chicken Satay* Soup :Tom Kha soup with Chicken *the broth is so tasty Main : Khao soi Beef Short Rib *noodles are so flavorful : Curry Salmon **salmon is so tender! : Pad Thai with Shrimp *so flavorful! Dessert : Mango Sticky Rice **perfect melt in your mouth flavors : Fried Banana *so tasty, perfect complementary textures I enjoyed every single dish I tried and happily enjoyed all the leftovers for days - it was still so good!
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citygirlvibes
When you’re craving Mexican food and a vibe Mírate! Restaurant + bar in Los Feliz with mucho mezcal. Private events, bottle shop, brunch. So impressed by Mírate, a beautiful Mexican restaurant located in Los Feliz. Each dish was p e r f e c t i o n and the cocktails were just as impressive (best Cadillac Marg ever)!
The Restaurant Guide
JOSÉ ANDRÉS' RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES The Bazaar: a vibrant mix of sophisticated cuisine! José Andrés’ is excited to announce its return to Los Angeles with the opening of brand new restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles at The Grand LA and Conrad Los Angeles. Designed by the legendary Frank Gehry, architect of Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Grand LA represents the completion of his vision for Downtown Los Angeles. The new 305-room Conrad Los Angeles, the contemporary luxury brand’s debut in California, will be home to two original concepts from ThinkFoodGroup. Located on the 10th floor arrival lobby and with sweeping views of downtown LA, a new open-air, rooftop dining destination will offer a Latin- and Asian-inspired menu, as well as a dedicated pool-side menu designed for light and leisurely snacking and sharing. A second original concept restaurant, also located on the 10th floor, will be dedicated to classic Spanish flavors and dishes that come alive from morning to night with California’s vibrant, farm-fresh ingredients.
Discover Local Food in San Gabriel Near LA
If you're a dedicated foodie hunting for the best hidden gems in the San Gabriel area near LA, look no further. With its rich multicultural influence and a plethora of trending eateries, San Gabriel offers a unique dining experience encompassing everything from authentic Asian cuisine to inventive fusion dishes. Whether you're after the perfect brunch spot, tantalizing dinner options, or sophisticated cocktail lounges, here are some local secrets that will elevate your culinary journey.
Authentic Asian Delights
San Gabriel is widely regarded for its diverse and authentic Asian cuisine. This area is a haven for those who crave authentic flavors and new dining experiences. Head over to Valley Boulevard, where you'll find a long stretch of restaurants serving up regional specialties from across Asia. Dim sum enthusiasts can’t miss the renowned Sea Harbour Restaurant, where traditional Cantonese dishes are served with a modern twist. For a Szechuan kick, Chengdu Taste offers spice-lovers a true culinary adventure with its bold and flavorful dishes.
Trending Eateries Worth Trying
In San Gabriel, new eateries are constantly popping up and shaking up the local food scene. One such place is Lunasia Dim Sum House, known not only for its expertly crafted dumplings but also for its vibrant, lively atmosphere. Foodie-approved, this spot is often bustling, so make sure to arrive early. Another trending establishment is Savoy Kitchen, a small but revered joint famous for its Hainan chicken rice and Portuguese-style baked dishes. Frequented by locals, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the unique flavors this community has to offer.
Hidden Brunch Spots
For a leisurely weekend brunch, venture to San Gabriel Square, often simply referred to as the "Great Mall of China." Inside, you can find local favorites like Tasty Garden which offers a diverse menu blending traditional and modern cuisine. Their HK-style French toast and lobster noodles are both hits among patrons. For something a bit more off the beaten path, Banyan Tree Deli & Café offers a tranquil setting and a selection of delightful pastries and hearty brunch dishes. Their Taiwanese beef noodle soup is particularly famous among regulars.
Gourmet Dinner Experiences
When it comes to dinner, San Gabriel has no shortage of exquisite options to satisfy every palate. Chengdu Impression is another standout for Szechuan cuisine, offering dishes that range from subtly spicy to intensely fiery. Their mapo tofu is a beloved signature dish. For those wanting a more sophisticated dining experience, traversing to Bistro Na’s is a stellar choice. This Michelin-rated restaurant introduces diners to high-end, imperial court cuisine previously unseen in the U.S., providing an opulent setting to match its elegant menu offerings.
Craft Cocktails and Nightcaps
No night out is truly complete without a visit to some of San Gabriel’s best spots for cocktails and nightcaps. The Blind Donkey, though a bit outside San Gabriel in nearby Pasadena, is worth the trip for its extensive whiskey selection and expertly crafted cocktails. You can enjoy a laid-back atmosphere perfect for an end-of-the-night drink. In San Gabriel itself, Tokyo Table offers a lively bar scene with creative cocktails incorporating Asian flavors, ensuring a memorable evening.
Insider Tips from Locals
Leveraging the Kikihub platform, you can discover even more local foodie secrets directly from San Gabriel residents. For instance, many locals recommend venturing off the main streets to explore smaller alleys and plazas where lesser-known eateries often surprise with high-quality dishes. One such gem is Northern Café, a restaurant tucked away in a modest plaza yet famed for its hand-pulled noodles and savory dumplings, often raved about in anonymous reviews on Kikihub. If you’re ever in doubt about where to dine next, engaging in a chat on Kikihub can provide real-time advice and hidden dining spots verified by locals.
