The Best Restaurants In Hermosa Beach

Vin Folk is the kind of spunky neighborhood bistro everyone wishes they could have in their neighborhood, with fun small plates like gooey headcheese toast and crudo layered with Russian eggplant caviar and a sharp wine list that's not too pricey. Run by two Somni alums, the restaurant sits on a sleepy corner in Hermosa, a block from The Strand. The chefs double as servers, which is occasionally chaotic and ultimately endearing. It's perfect for an unstuffy date night that ends their elaborate tableside chocolate dessert inspired by Filipino breakfast cereal.

If you’re looking for the party on the boardwalk (no, not Baja Sharkeez), head to Attagirl. This clubby Mediterranean spot from the Ryla people has the whicker basket lamps and bumping house music you’d find at Great White, except its idea of “Mediterranean” goes beyond trying to vaguely resemble Mykonos. A night at Attagirl is centered around excellent mezze and charcoal-grilled skewers, like lamb meatballs on creamy semolina, a golden, phyllo-wrapped spinach pie that stays crispy under lemony bechamel, and smoky beef tenderloin kebabs served with a side of zhoug. Throw in a few cocktails and Whitney Houston remixes and you’re in for a fun time.

You know a pizza is special when you willingly burn your whole mouth eating it fresh out of the oven. That’s how passionate we feel about Redwood Pie, a counter-service spot near the boardwalk that makes the best pizza in the South Bay. Redwood’s loosely New York-style pies are a triple threat: crispy, nearly burnt edges, chewy centers, and pulpy hand-crushed sauce that shines in on the tart Jersey pie. Toppings-wise, Redwood sticks to traditional Italian, but it’s been a while since a pizza has tingled our lips like their D-Fresh with pickled chilis and spicy sausage.

Unlike most restaurants that sit 1000 feet from a coastline, Ryla is sexy and pretty cool. Come to this Japanese fusion spot if you’re looking to impress someone who will appreciate snacking on inventive seafood or sipping a couple of rounds of well-made cocktails. The candlelit dining room is loud enough to identify which R&B song is playing but not so booming that it feels like a karaoke party. And practically all of the Japanese-Taiwanese dishes at Ryla are worth braving the traffic on PCH. We especially like their Hokkaido milk bread, tai snapper soaked in a red curry coconut broth, and the Penicillin with tea-infused Japanese whiskey.

A former pop-up gone permanent, this smashburger operation bounced around the South Bay and Long Beach before landing in a breezy space with lots of seating a block from the ocean. Burgers are double-stacked by default (they’ll let you do a single if you ask nicely). The not-too-thin patties have a nicely seasoned crust that droops over the edge of the toasted potato bun, while the mayo-heavy special sauce and pickles add some tang. The best part, though, is the bird’s nest of griddled, crispy, almost-charred onions smushed into the patty. We also appreciate that their burgers come neatly wrapped and never get too messy. Order a side of tots and a local beer to complete the set.

Set back from the beach in a spacious shopping center, Barsha is the kind of unpretentious restaurant that South Bay residents probably don’t want anyone outside their zip code to know about. We’re sorry to them—this indoor-outdoor North African restaurant is too charming and reasonably priced not to share. There’s a good mix of small plates like falafel sliders and roasted cauliflower alongside larger, shareable entrees like juicy lamb meatballs or a rich seafood stew, all of which cost less than $30. And since the owners also run a wine shop nearby, you’ll find a fairly priced list that offers various-sized pours.

This date night spot serves a weekend-only breakfast burrito that’s so popular, you have to order it online days ahead. Our favorite version comes with chorizo, well-seasoned eggs, crunchy tater tots, melted cheese, and salsa verde trying to bust its way through the seams of the tortilla. But you should also come here whenever you require a nice, sit-down dinner. The dinner menu reads like the email chain organizing a potluck, it’s full of odd pairings that end up working together flawlessly. Dishes change pretty regularly, but you’ll find everything from squid ink gnocchi with crab to smoked chicken wings.

Come Fridays and Saturdays, the Hermosa pier and surrounding downtown area turn into a Moscow Mule-soaked paradise. If you’re looking for the heart of the action, get a reservation at Tower 12. The nautical-themed restaurant and bar is located right on the pier and has a solid menu of burgers, pizza, and other things people want to eat while drinking. If you stick around late enough, the space itself will turn into a full party, but for a change of scenery, you’re steps away from every other kind of nightlife as well.

Vista is a big seafood spot on the Hermosa Beach Pier right near The Strand, and it’s the best place to catch the sunset while having a casual sit-down dinner. Both the horseshoe bar inside and tables outside have unobstructed views of the coastline, which is part of the reason Vista tends to be packed whenever the sun’s out. Some other reasons: the excellent lobster roll topped with dill pollen, solid tiki cocktails, and dog-friendly patio policy.