The best restaurants in Culver City

In and around Los Angeles, every restaurant that’s been around for more than a couple of decades seems to declare that Frank Sinatra was a regular. In the case of Dear John’s, this was actually true. The steakhouse was a haunt for the crooner and his cronies from the time it opened in the early ’60s. Now, chef Josiah Citrin and the couple behind Rockenwagner Bakery have given this Rat Pack era steakhouse new life, with an old-school-cool ambience and delicious menu of classics with a twist, including a must-order, cheese-stuffed chicken parm and “bougie” tots topped with creme fraiche, caviar and salmon roe. Just know that Dear John's is here for a good time, not a long time—the steakhouse narrowly avoided demolition for the umpteenth time last spring, and is likely to only be around for just a few more years.

Rustic, live-fire Southern cooking gets the seasonal California treatment at Hatchet Hall, one of the city’s only upscale destinations for American Southern cuisine. The airy expanded patio and moody, dim-lit interiors provide the perfect sort of ambience to enjoy Hatchet Hall's blended mix of old favorites, like the now-classic shishito cornbread, which arrives to the table oozing with honey and butter. New head chef Matt Bollinger, previously of Gigi’s in Hollywood, brings new delights like Dungeness crab hushpuppies and Dr. Pepper-braised short rib. A phenomenal pork chop is combined with a bite of blackened peach, everything drizzled with fig and brown butter maple jus. For drinks alone, head to the back, where Old Man Bar serves a slew of great old-fashioneds.

No detail goes unaccounted for at Destroyer, where otherworldly presentation and high-quality ingredients combine for the most aesthetically pleasing (and delicious) brunch menu in town. Helmed by Jordan Kahn, the same critically acclaimed chef behind Vespertine across the street, the pricey, counter service-style daytime café never fails to draw a crowd on late weekend mornings, so be prepared to wait for a seat to eat your strikingly plated food—and to jockey for the limited street parking in the area. Those who have the time and patience, however, will be treated to the joys of unearthing a bite of beef tartare from underneath a tangle of microgreens or digging into Destroyer's luscious avocado confit—a fine dining-esque experience without the sky-high prices.

Housed in a revamped Beaux-Arts-slash-Art Deco building that dates back to the 1920s, this downtown Culver City food hall is living proof that big things often come in small packages. Home to one of the city’s most laidback rooftop bars, as well as a slate of delicious food vendors, Citizen Public Market also hosts weekly trivia and comedy nights that have become a fixture for the surrounding community. Our favorite pit-stop, by far, is the chef-driven fried chicken from Hinoki & the Bird’s Brandon Kida; we’re also partial to Bang Bang's hand-pulled Chinese noodles and spicy wontons. For bar bites, there’s burgers and sausages from WEHO Sausage Co., while allergy-friendly newcomer Noble Rotisserie caters to the lunchtime crowd with delicious roast chicken, fall-off-the-bone ribs and an excellent grain bowl. The only vendor we don't recommend is Uoichiba, the dry-aged fish handroll bar, which offers skimpy portions for the price.) In the near future, acai, poke and plant-based specialist Sustainabowl is slated to open as well.

Flavorful contemporary dishes make this newer Downtown Culver addition stand out within L.A.'s South Asian dining scene, from chicken wings drenched in an Old Monk marinade (India's iconic dark rum) to a lobster moilee, a rich coconut milk curry from the southern state of Kerala traditionally made with shrimp. Modestly priced classics like pav bhaji—vegetable curry sliders—and chicken tikka kebab come loaded with spices, and everything pairs well with Arth's playful desi-inspired cocktails. We particularly enjoyed the jal-jeera mojito, which pairs the popular cumin-based north Indian drink with chili-infused white rum and a touch of peach liqueur. At the bar, a robust weekday happy hour (3–5pm) offers $7 well drinks and shaves $2 off cocktails and small plates like "sexier" curry fries and a crunchy, refreshing masala papad chaat.

Since 2017, one of Brooklyn’s most beloved pizza joints has made a name for itself in L.A. at Culver City’s Platform, where the Westside’s stylish, well-to-do and bicoastally inclined congregate for brand activations, specialty coffee and the bougie outdoor mall’s dog-friendly nearby park. The West Coast team makes quick work of Southern California’s vibrant produce with an ever-rotating menu of appetizers, salads and pastas, though you’ll always find their cult-classic pizza rossa and margherita on the menu. We generally trust the kitchen here, but other evergreen constants include Roberta’s take on bucatini amatriciana and, if you’re in the mood for something meaty, the Peads & Barnetts pork shoulder with salsa verde. Plus, the Culver City outpost boasts a full bar, a pleasant outdoor patio and the convenience of Platform’s adjacent paid parking lot.

Some of L.A.'s best pies and cookies can now be found on the Westside, where award-winning pastry chef Nicole Rucker has opened a long-awaited café expansion on the edge of Culver City. A seriously delicious savory menu includes freshly made paninis, a trio of filling seasonal salads and cheesy scones. There's also coffee, tea and pastries as well as a small retail section towards the back. While café and bakeries normally don’t make that much of a splash, Rucker's baking (and cooking) is just that good—and if you live within a reasonable travel time of Fat + Flour Culver City, consider this a must-visit.

Located at the corner of downtown Culver City’s Main Street, Piccalilli offers Southeast Asian-inspired Californian cuisine in a eclectic indoor dining room and small patio. The food served is similarly wide-ranging, from a Thai chicken katsu to a namesake bread plate with Indian pickled butter. Unlike most of the surrounding eateris, Piccalill strikes the balance between neighborhood restaurant and destination-worthy date night spot, with excellent drinks and craveworthy small plates. We also recommend the restaurant’s happy hour (available daily until 6pm), which includes their must-order miso pork jowl and nam prik wings, as well as bargain-priced beers, wines and cocktails.

From the impish Ted Lasso-inspired “RELIEVE” sign in the bathroom to the menu’s various cheeky asides, this cozy, Austrian-accented bistro in Culver City manages to put “fun” and “fine dining” in the same sentence. Chef Bernhard Mairinger’s dinner menu is full of global influences, but the former BierBeisl chef is at his best with pan-European dishes like chicken liver profiteroles with dark chocolate and a classic veal wienerschnitzel with lingonberry-yuzu chutney. Cheaper dishes like the curry fries and spelt sourdough pizzas appeal to a locals’ crowd. Other standouts include the Kaiserschmarrn (scrambled pancakes) with blueberry compote and the variety of housemade sausages.

The crowds might flock to HomeState and Go Get ‘Em Tiger next door, but we’re more partial to Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer's critically acclaimed, Middle Eastern-inspired rotisserie inside One Culver’s mix of upscale ground-floor retail spaces. The juicy, flavorful roast chicken and mouthwatering schmaltz potatoes are as delicious as ever, while the wealth of vegan and vegetarian options make Kismet Rotisserie an obvious choice for anyone with dietary restrictions. Sip on house carrot gingerade and lemony iced tea inside the snazzy One Culver space; it’s the first Kismet Rotisserie location (there’s also one in Studio City as well as the Los Feliz original) to feature indoor seating. 

This plant-based fast-casual restaurant in Culver City comes from Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, the sisters behind Spork Foods, a vegan catering and cookbook empire. Since opening, Hey, Sunshine Kitchen has become one of the highest rated independent restaurants on Yelp. After one bite of food here, you’ll quickly realize why. The warm, vibrantly colored grain bowls, particularly the Mediterranean chickpea option, pack major flavor in humble packages and can be modded out to your exact specifications. The hot sandwiches and tacos made with plant-based fish, jackfruit carnitas and Impossible beef crumble hit the spot for a tasty lunch or comfort food craving. The attention to detail and overall deliciousness is on par with one of my favorite plant-based restaurants of all time: Chef Tanya’s Kitchen in Palm Springs. Grain bowls, tacos and sandwiches might not sound all that exciting, but Hey, Sunshine Kitchen is proof that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel—you merely need to perfect it.

This neighborhood market and deli is Culver City’s best-kept secret, if you discount the weekday rush of hungry Sony employees around lunch hour. An extensive hidden patio complete with bubbling koi pond complements Jackson Market’s excellent deli sandwiches and tiny array of pastries, but the real gem is the market’s specialty snack and drink selection. Build your own midday meal or snack, relax out back under the trees or stop by for the tasty wood-fired pizza pop-up that runs all day, Thursday through Sunday.

If your ideal brunch runs more along the lines of a greasy spoon than an upscale mimosa joint, this cash-only diner in downtown Culver City is the place for you. Delicious, hearty dishes like biscuits and gravy and country fried steak are most people’s go-to orders here, though you’d be equally as happy with one of their platter-sized pancakes generously studded with chocolate chips or blueberries. Plus, unlike most other breakfast and brunch restaurants in town, S&W’s retro ambience and everyday crowd dials way, way back on the tryhard L.A. vibes, making this locals-only spot our favorite place to let our hair down before 2pm.

Outside of the South Bay, it’s hard to find a great plate of soba: a lighter, slightly healthier Japanese noodle made of buckwheat that might not look like much, but sure tastes great. At Culver City’s Sobar—located technically in Del Rey—each plate of juwari soba is made in-house using a specialized noodle-making machine and comes with your choice of dipping sauce. We recommend the traditional tsuyu, which pairs well with the chewy light grew noodles in between sprinkles of matcha and sea salt. Sides like sashimi, tempura and grilled duck breast complement your meal, but make no mistake—the reason to come to Sobar is in its name.

Alexander Phaneuf and Or Amsalam have brought their incredible baking skills to Culver City with Lodge Bread, a small bakery chain dedicated to big loaves. Their dedication to organically grown, seasonal whole grains put through a naturally levened process results in a selection of bread that has drawn raves from chefs and ordinary eaters alike. At the counter, you’ll find cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, a muesli bowl and cookies, along with loaves of seeded country, whole wheat, spelt and red quinoa wheat. Wednesday through Sunday, you’ll find their Full Proof Pizza nights running nightly from 5 to 8pm—just be sure to get there early, since pies typically sell out fast.

As one of the few traditional Danish bakeries in L.A. County, this Culver City shop dedicated to dough is not for those who shy away from carbs. You’ll want to eat everything in sight here—the braided cinnamon rolls, the macaroons, the nougat crowns straight out of the oven. The kringle, filled with almond paste and custard, is a must-try, though you really can’t go wrong with anything behind the case. Open early Wednesday through Sunday, with plenty of hot coffee in tow, a stop at Copenhagen Pastry is a great way to start your morning off right.

“The only thing better than a Tito’s Taco—is two!” Since 1959, this beloved Culver City walk-up taco joint has served American cheese-covered hard shell meat tacos, excellent chicken tamales and some of the most addicting chips and plain salsa in town. Authentic Mexican food this isn’t, but that’s hardly the point at Tito’s, where affordability and nostalgia combine for one of the best lowbrow meals on the Westside.

Simple, delicious Italian family recipes are the cornerstone of Pasta Sisters, an airy indoor-outdoor restaurant in the Helms Bakery building. Though the family-run shop also has a smaller, takeout-friendly Mid-City location, the Culver City location is much bigger and better-looking, with the same fresh pasta made in-house daily and complimentary foccacia on every table. Unlike other spots, you’re encouraged to build your own meal here, picking a noodle to go with your choice of sauce. Though you can’t go wrong with any combo, we particularly enjoy the tagliatelle with tomato and basil, plus a supplemental dollop of creamy burrata.

Meat butchered on premise, brisket smoked over peach wood logs, a pitmaster from Texas—Maple Block Meat Co. is checking off all the right BBQ boxes. Chef Adam Cole, who grew up eating ’cue in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina, is paying tribute to his roots at this Culver City spot, where lunch and dinner options range from chopped pork shoulder to ranch beans seasoned with meat drippings. Before you even get to the entrées, smoked chicken wings appear under the menu’s snack column, small in size but packing a flavorful punch. Other smoked meats include a pork chop, prime rib and incredibly tender brisket, but the pork spare ribs are the standout choice. Sporting a beautiful rub, the ribs alone are worthy of sitting through 405 traffic.