The Best Restaurants In Pacific Palisades - Los Angeles - The Infatuation (2024)

photo credit: Kim Fox

Pacific Palisades has plenty to be jealous of: palatial mansions, elite private schools, and a cutesy downtown that’s a knock-off version of The Grove (thanks, Rick Caruso). Despite being home to some of the priciest real estate in the country, its tucked-away location between the Santa Monica mountains and the ocean make it feel like a quiet coastal village, the kind taken over by body-snatchers in movies. But when it comes to restaurants, things get dicey. No one needs to go out of their way to eat in the Palisades, but if you’re passing through on your way to the beach or recently befriended a billionaire, here are the spots to prioritize.

THE SPOTS

If you’re planning a nice dinner in the Palisades, have it at Hank’s. The American-ish spot has been a neighborhood standard for years, but recently went under the knife and emerged with a new menu and an indoor/outdoor space perfect for a cutesy Westside date night. The menu has all the bistro staples like steak frites and tuna nicoise, and while nothing reinvents the wheel, it all tastes very good. We particularly love the jumbo shrimp co*cktail (emphasis on the jumbo) and the crackly jidori chicken on a bed of chimichurri.

There is no better scene in the Palisades than Angelini’s front patio during lunch. Stroller moms swap hot preschool gossip while septuagenarians in suit jackets grumble about their bottle of Barolo. Is this location of Angelini just a mall-ified version of the much-better original in Beverly Grove? Absolutely. But for an over-the-top lunch of martinis, spinach lasagna, and an elderly stranger in diamonds telling you to fix the top button on your shirt, no one is beating this high-end Italian spot.

Despite being gutted of almost all charm and originality in 2018, strolling through the downtown Palisades is still a mildly enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. When you get hungry, stop at Flour for a snack. It’s a reliable pizza shop where you point at the slice you want behind glass, the staff throws it in the oven for a reheat, and a few minutes later, you’re out front folding a big, glistening New York-style slice into your mouth. Order the mildly spicy pepperoni, or our favorite, the bianca with generous heaps of ricotta.

Is Pacific Palisades a pizza haven now? No, but it’s nice that the neighborhood has some options. Jemma is a tiny shop from the same people behind Jame Enoteca and Ospi, and a good option if you’re seeing a movie with the kids next door and need sustenance before enduring 90 minutes of Minion jibberish. The medium-thick crust is charred and bubbly and toppings range from aged provolone and pistachio to pepperoni and roasted pineapple. Go with the vodka with spicy fresno chiles, basil, and burrata if you’re feeling indecisive.

The kids are at school, pilates was a breeze, and your chemical peel isn’t until 4pm. Treat yourself to lunch at Sasabune Express. As the name suggests, this is a truncated, on-the-go version of the famed omakase bar in West LA. The quality is not as high as the original, but the fact that you can get a platter of sushi this far west under $30 should be celebrated. Our suggestion is the Combo B, which gets you five thick pieces of nigiri, a roll of choice, and either miso soup or salad.

There are more mediocre Italian restaurants in the Palisades than there are kindergartners with legacy status at Harvard-Westlake. When you’re looking for something different, go to Armav. The sleek Mediterranean spot is slightly removed from the cheesy “Village” area, which makes it a good destination for a quiet solo lunch. The pro-move here, however, is ordering takeout and heading down the hill to Will Rogers. Showing up to beach day with a platter of mezze and smoky chicken shawarma will make you the hero of any friend group.

If you’re upset that a high-end grocery store is on this guide, you clearly haven’t spent much time in the Palisades. This isn’t just the best Erewhon in LA, it’s the center of social life in the neighborhood. Come midday, the place is swarmed with yoga dads eating from the hot bar and Pepperdine kids taking smoothie selfies. But what sets this location apart is the coconut soft serve machine. The frozen dessert flowing from this beautiful contraption is silky-smooth and tastes exactly like the meat of a young coconut.