Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Excellent food and fantastic service😊”

“This place is great. Should be way higher than a 4.4. Just wish you made your hot honey spicy again. And maybe prices are a bit high ;) but it’s always crowded definitely recommend.”

“PRO TIP: go to Costco and get $100 DoorDash gift cards at 20% off, then use DoorDash pickup to order ahead at Jyan Isaac for no additional fee. Since you will end up spending $50-$200 here if you’re in Santa Monica for any amount of time, the savings are nice. Works out to one free full bagel gravlax with the works for every $100.”

“Although I was a little put off by the paper plate table settings… this was by far the most delicious food I’ve had… a wildly unexpected treat! Simple yet brilliant flavors using incredible olive oil… it’s my new favorite place! Highly recommended…”

“I wish I took photos of the food but was having such a good culinary experience, forgot to take any. The sake made by Mr. Shunji himself, I'm still dreaming about it.”

“If I have more STARS I’ll give them more than 5!!!! BRAVO! Simply the BEST PIZZA EVER! BEST PESTO SAUCE!!! Amazing and beautiful restaurant near the Santa Monica Ocean boulevard; artfully decorated, Great Sevice! Cozy! This place is insanely a Great Gem near the Ocean, #dreamypizzalovers”

“This is a review by an Italian at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica. The restaurant is in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from the shopping streets. The welcome is kind and the place has warm lights and a very well-attended environment. The cuisine is excellent. The pasta is as good as in Italy. Well done! Italian flavors on the Pacific coast”

“I don't write Google reviews but I had to because this is the best establishment I've ever eaten at. The service was excellent. The staff was kind, checked on us just the right amount, and had baskets that sat beneath the table so purses didn't sit on the floor. The cut salmon sushi roll was fresh. The fish and chips were the best I have ever had in my life. The fries weren't crisp but the flavor made up for it. If I was from here, I would never shut up about this place. But since I'm not, a passionate Google review will have to do.”

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!”

“Nos atendieron muy bien y la comida es fantástica!!”

“Loved the cozy environment especially in the patio area . Food was great! The potato cakes with apples was amazing . Our group of 9 loved all of the food ! Would recommend to others”

“Great surprise how good this place is. Friendly staff, wonderful menu and really well prepared food. Standout is the whole fried fish but the ribs, salads, and appetizers are all standouts. Only draw back - it is beer and wine only.”

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.”

“The food is Delicious, health, Tasty and Excellent custumer service. The owner Tete is super friendly, sweet and humble. I strongly suggest this place.”

“Went here with a friend and was blown away (sounds cliche!) by the level of service I got from a place I wasn't destined to spend more than $10 at. The honestly polite cashier (manager, perhaps?) and her knowledge of all of the various cookies, their ingredients, and other particulars, made my day. Reminded me of how service used to be years ago. The cookies were very good, too, as were the samples I was given. I'd love to come back here when I'm in the area.

Dietary restrictions: Very good assortment of gluten-free cookies, along with conventional ones.”

“Brilliant service high class dining and very high quality food …”

“The food is both eclectic and delicious. The location is both artsy and industrial with warm and inviting staff. I highly recommend this place for a date, business, family, or anything because it’s fabulous.”

“Almost too hip of an atmosphere. Looks futuristic and like a hipster puked all over it but it’s still cute. I miss the old schnackenbergs! This place looks odd in old cute charming uptown Hoboken. It’s very Portland-esque. Good salad tho.”

“I have had many souffle in my life , I personally travel around the world trying the best of the best souffle . This far is the best I have ever had !”

“I loved my dining experience there! The decor is warm and special; the service, impeccable, and the food is beautifully presented and delicious. I recommend the lobster spring rolls, the calamari and shrimp salad, and the duck fried rice. If you really like lemongrass, then try the seared scallops!”

“Upscale southeast Asian-French fusion brasserie with a unique twist in culinary flavors. The Grilled Pig’s Tail with the house made fish sauce was simply sublime. Yum-o’licious!”

“Had one of the best meals I’ve had in years. I live in NY and this beats any of my places there in service and unique and amazingly flavorful food. My friend also had a severe dairy and gluten allergy and they were so helpful in accommodating her. This is hospitality at its finest.”

“Such a wonderful dinner in an unassuming spot. The restaurant was busy, but we still felt like we had an intimate dinner. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, omnivore friendly. Andrew, our server has obviously been in this business a long time. He really added to the upscale experience, helping us through the menu and even being kind and patient with the children at the table. Great place for out-of-town guests that want a guaranteed wonderful meal.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free available and labeled

Kid-friendliness: Might not be the best place for young children for dinner, but I think for tweens and teens for sure it’s great.”

“good customer service. the ambiance is cool. friendly staff. the food is superb♡”

“The sashimi was melt in you mouth great! The appetizer and the skewers were fine and enjoyable.

The staff is super friendly and takes good care of you.”

“A beautiful elegant italian Restaurant with stunning atmosphere and excellent service!! Food outstanding like a trip to Italy !!!! Flavor of the food amazing!! Just a special Place to go again ???”

“absolutely delicious burgers and sauce. the customer service and people working there where really nice and great people”

“Had a nice lunch here. Great atmosphere in downtown Santa Monica right by the pier and across from a parking structure. The restaurant has a nice, swanky, seaside vibe. I had the ceviche and fish tacos, both of which were very good. Would recommend.”

“Solidly mediocre - steak is fine and salad/sides are fine, service was neither offensive nor excellent, interior is sexy but not amazing

BUT one reason I would return is for the banana bread pudding, and I might actually return just to get it. That was the best banana bread pudding I’ve ever had in my life jfc”

“Great food and the owners were incredibly kind. One of our favorite things about vacation 2023. The Greene's from Idaho love you.”

“Sunday brunch was amazing. the smoked salmon eggs Benedict were some of the best we have ever had. the location is ideal definitely get an ocean facing room. The staff catered our every need. We haven't even checked out yet and I believe we're about to book our next stay.”

“We had a spectacular meal last night and our server Allison went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. She recommended the Lobster sliders to start and a wonder white wine which we enjoyed throughout the meal. She spaced out each course so we had some time to savor the unique and wonderful flavors which we so appreciated. The albacore cerviche was one of the best cerviche I have ever had anywhere. And the boar ragu pasta was divine. But the Tikka Massala Chicken was the most delicious presentation of chicken imaginable. We also loved the desert Allison suggested which was an unusual take on peanut butter and whipped cream and fresh berries. Just a delightful way to end the perfect night. Can't wait to return and try more of their innovative dishes.”

“The chef's restaurant is upscale but cozy, with only 5 tables, all across from the open air kitchen. The chef and waiter collaborate to serve you each dish, telling you the ingredients that go into each dish... like little stories. Such a special experience!”

“A very chill place to get coffee in the morning or wine in the afternoon! Can sometimes be tough to get a seat with everyone working on their laptops in the morning, but the space is fairly large (with a nice outdoor patio too) so usually something opens up if you wait.”

“This is my partner and I's favorite spot in all of Ocean Park. Great happy hour, great dinner, and an always good tap selection. I highly highly recommend the chicken sandwich.”

“Everything has a high end clean taste. The chips are always hot, crisp and not greasy. Every taco is delicious and what is especially nice is that you don’t feel bloated or heavy after the meal that can happen at other restaurants.”

“Love that Michael’s has a new front patio bar. Great food and drinks. A classic!”

“Great out of the ordinary wine choices!”

“Picked up baked as well as poached salmon to bring home and was excellent. Will return for the third variety, I think it was BBQ. Also got some nice marinated large white beans. Large selection included lobster arancini and crab cakes plus many raw fish.”

“Great food and drinks 🍹 really good 👍🏾”

“We accidentally went to Xuntos last night and discovered that we loved it! The host and waiter were super friendly and helpful, not to mention patient with all our questions and our slowness to make decisions. The atmosphere and decor was cozy and both down-to-earth and elegant at the same time. Most of all, the food was fantastic! We loved everything we got. It was a bit pricey and also noisy in the dining room, but we'll definitely go back!”

“If you want to go to a bar with perfect seating, great airflow, excellent drinks, flawless service l, a fantastic DJ, a parking lot, a nyc vibe, no one rushes you and you can even reserve a table for drinks…go to the Chestnut Club. My favorite new bar. 14th & Santa Monica Blvd @TheChestnutClub same owners as scopa and black market liquor!”

“Let's start off with breakfast can easily get $40 to $50 a person. But, this is not your everyday diner. I was very pleased with the taste, presentation, and atmosphere. I felt like the service was a little slow for high-end place, but it may have been a one-time thing. When I go here again? Yes.”

“Orla did not disappoint! Based on my experience at Mother Tongue and … by Michael Mina restaurant has earned a I will 100% try it and trust it to be excellent. As I said Orla lives up, from the views to the impeccable service, this place could get a pass on a miss on a food item. We went for Thanksgiving so it was a different menu than usual, and honestly all the items were spectacular, except the Turkey that only one person got, so I’ll overlook that slightly dry Turkey and still go with a must visit on this one. Price points are high, but this is in a Regent and the atmosphere and service can warrant the price tag. Treat yourself!!! Michael Mina has delivered once again.
10/10 - GO

Dietary restrictions: Something for everyone here, service was so on top of any allergies, etc.

Parking: Valet, excellent service, restaurant validates to a reasonable discount”

“Sooo yummy and good service!”

“brakefast jack ,jumbo jack,spicy chicken ice coffee”

“People are really friendly and helpful i love to go there”

“Aletered menu from Australia.”

“It is one of the best customer service I have received, very professional. I was impressed by the flavor on the food, really good menu I have to come back whenever im on the getty museum again”

“We are visiting LA and heard about Bun & Mi. What a delicious chicken bahn mi! We also ordered the tofu noodle bowl and really enjoyed that as well. We will definitely be back on our next visit!”

“Father's Office is a must-visit for any burger lover. Their signature blue cheese burger is a juicy, flavorful masterpiece that will leave you craving more.
The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a solo meal. Be prepared to wait, as this place is always packed, but it's definitely worth it!

■THE OFFICE BURGER・$21.00
Caramelized Onion, Bacon, Gruyére, Maytag Blue, Arugula. You can choose the doneness of your beef patty to suit your preference.

■“BASKET” OF FRITES・$8.00
with Garlic Parsley Aïoli.

■“BASKET” OF SWEET POTATO FRITES・$9.00
with Roasted Garlic & Cabrales Blue Cheese Aïoli.

Many consider THE OFFICE BURGER to be one of the best burgers in Los Angeles, and it's a must-try for anyone visiting Father's Office!”

“Amazing chicken. Simply delicious.”

“Good fare at a fair price...”

“Had the Thai bowl... YUM!”

“What an amazing breakfast! Frank our server was amazing! Split a huge breakfast burrito with my daughter and we had the OG and banana nut pancakes! Perfection! Everything so fresh and locally sourced… this will be our breakfast place every time we visit LA”

“Best nik naks & steak strips ever!”

“It's a cool pub in the middle city neighborhood. There's a long bar and many high tables. The background music was not overly loud. We could comfortably converse with each other. Top notch service. The young man was fast, warm and devoted. All the dishes we had were delicious. Short Rib Poutine and Mussels&Shrimp are my favorites.”

“Friendly, accommodating staff and great, healthy food 😊”

“In A Nutshell:

-Yagul is a Oaxacan oasis.
-I found out about this place while exploring the neighborhood & noticed a lot of people popping in/out.
-Not only that the beautiful smell of Mexican food wafted into my nostrils, so I mentally bookmarked this spot.
-Not too long later, I came in for a nice breakfast.
-The Huevos Rancheros really hit the spot.
-The portion was not too big & everything tasted fresh, especially the beans & rice.

Overall, the service is very friendly & I liked the prices too.”

“Delicioso!!!!! Muy recomendado”

“Old fashioned restaurant, good food great customer service

Parking: They have a small parking lot

Wheelchair accessibility: No ramps,all flat surfaces”

“Great new neighborhood spot! The food is healthy and delicious. Lots of variety on the menu so everyone should have a few excellent choices!”

“My friend took me to the cutest musubi shop after our Pilates class! I asked the guy working there and who was Japanese which one he recommended and I ended up trying the miso beef and the curry pork musubi. Both were so delicious and of course I saw the lychee oolong boba tea so I had to try that too. The staff are super friendly service was quick and the food was yummy! I’m definitely recommending this spot to more people and can’t wait to come back!”

“Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!”

“I'm a huge fan of cheese, and was looking for an opportunity to try some new ones. They had a very bold Parmesan that wasn't overly salty. The 10 year aged cheddar melted in my mouth. The coconut Gouda from Holland was a surprise hit with the table. But my personal favorite was the french triple cream. I'm going to have to see if I can find some when I fly home.”

“Sat down in an outdoor patio for a quick glass of wine and bruschetta Saturday afternoon. Pleasant and helpful wait staff, relaxing environment, definitely recommend!”

“Good food and healthy. Friendly manager and good service ❤️”

“Very good food and the owner very good person”

“Service,drinks.food,ambiance.staff,etc.”

“Amazing staff. Gigi, Tom, Kian. What positive energy and professional service. Food is delicious. Perfect West Side afternoon.”

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!”

“I write for a music and coffee blog called Crooners In Coffeeshops, in which I interview local musicians at local coffeeshops. My writeup reflects the positive experience that I encountered at Caffe Luxxe on our interview date. L.A. based small batch coffee roaster Caffe Luxxe is wonderful example of what can grow from the powerful bond of friendship, specifically one that spans decades like that of owners Mark Wain and Gary Chau. Taking the chance to quit their corporate jobs in 2006, they’ve been able to fuel their business from their personal relationship and their love for European luxury caffe culture. A fun fact, Caffe Luxxe is the first of its kind in L.A. for artisan coffee preparation, and boy golly, it is not one to miss at any of its So Cal locations. The coffee world is your oyster when picking your beverage of choice from their delectable menu of drips, pour overs, and a unique variety of Bevande Di Caffe (including a chocolate-y shaken Caffe Shakerato, a sparkling espresso Caffe Frizzante, and a spiced citrus Caffe Nico). If seasonal specials are your thing, have no fear, because they’ve got those covered too! What more could you ask for?”

“Great food and service. This place never disappoints.”

“Love the Truffle Caesar Salad and the Spicy Salami pizza 🍕”

“Great place and a fun place to be”

“Excellent food and service”

“This pizza is awesome!! The best pizza our family has had in years. The service is also first class Thank you so much!!!!”

“Late night spot - pizza was fine, looks like it is mostly open late for Uber eats deliveries. Dining area is pretty sparse and basic but sufficient. No real service to speak of - one poor guy sort of trying to do everything himself.”

“Favourite restaurant in the world… so good!”

“I will like to give a shout out to the chef. I think his name is Shawn or Sean. When we got to Santa Monica, we looked up restaurants to go have our 26 year anniversary dinner, we stayed at Hotel Delmar right across the street. We googled the restaurant menu, and decided what we were going to have. when we got there, and they brought out the menus, all what we decided to have was not on there. I was crushed. Because I had my mind set on the Halibut. I said it's ok I will just have the Ribeye, mind you I had a ribeye steak the night before. When the waiter came back, my wife asked if it's possible to get the Halibut and he said let me check with the chef. He came back later and said the chef said it's no problem. I was blown away. That was the best Halibut ( besides mine) that I have ever had. Thank you chef Shawn. From one chef to another, thank you. you made my night.”

“Travelled over from Australia and ordered our first American steak and it was absolutely amazing. Ordered the 21DryAge Tomahawk to share. Was honestly the best steak we have ever had!!!!!
Ordered the freshly shucked oysters and wagyu tacos for entree and was also fantastic!
Service was also impeccable!
12/10! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Great food, creative cuisine”

“Incredibly fabulous food. Very professional wait staff. Can't thank Roberta and Elena enough. Thanks so much.”

“This rundown will ensure you enjoy the greatness of Capo. Start with the Filet Tartare accompanied by the grilled Ceaser. Move on to a split pasta plate of the Ragu and Corn Ravioli with truffles. Finish up with the Veal Scallopini while knocking back the last few sips of the incredible Grenache. Yes. I recommend Capo.”

“Okay... we were the only ones in the restaurant from 6:30-8:30. But we could not figure out why!? We were a party of 10 and we had a nice time - but where was everyone? Coachella? The servers were nice, the cocktails were yummy and the food was really good (we've had better but it was really good and nice sized portions). BUT why wasn't anyone there? The room & ambience is cool too. Weird.”

“I had the HiHo Double with fries and a milkshake and honestly have to say that the food was outstanding. Together with the friendly service it made my visit a remarkable one. Will be back in the future.”

“Lovely family business. Great food & drinks, easy parking, inside & outside seating, affordable prices & totally relaxed & comfy athmosfere!”

“Desserts with a crazy flavor, excellent service and the food and coffee meet your expectations and the delicious flavor, I am definitely happy every time I visit them 10 out of 10”

“Margarita flights are ‘da bomb!”

“The perfect burger and delicious fries. 100% delicate... 👍”

“Love this spot, so cute, perfect little stop by and hang. The team inside is too sweet and amazing at their craft. It’s not just a job for them, they’re excited about what they serve.

Sunny & Taylor elevated the short trip for coffee and snacks.

10/10 recommend 7even Seas Coffee Co :)”

“Amazing choices of sushi, wonderful! Very very delicious! We tried a "classical" one with chicken and avocado/mango, one with "oyster", another one with shrimps (our favorite) and the last with salmon. AMAZING AMAZING.”

“The best Honey 🍯🍰cake I have ever eaten! Dumplings, lazy cake, and crepes with homemade (curd) farmer's cheese. Hige recommend 🇱🇹”

“Burritos bout big as hell. Very tasty food, halal tacos. I had to lock in to finish my burrito.

Only problem is there's no public bathroom so when you get nasty eating your birria tacos you can't wash it all off. They have sanitized napkins.

The food is so good.”

“Vanilla birthday smoothie
With almond butter & collagen protein
Was so delicious!!! 🤤
Mmmmmm mmmmm

Slurped it down so fast 🥰”

“One of a kind whiskey-craft beer neighborhood tavern/pub. Absolute Santa Monica / westside institution.”

“All the staff are very welcoming and genuinely sweet..
the pizza is yummy and fresh d;
I work on the same street so I come here often , always good vibes and a clean space”

“My fiancé and I absolutely love this place! Every time we come in the area we drive 3 1/2 hours and this is our first stop every time! We were recently in town and we ate here twice between two days. The food is always consistent and so flavorful! It may look like a hole in the wall, but it is the best food around!”

“My favorite cookie / egg tart bakery… now has perfected the croissants!!! Love them so much and it’s always a good time seeing Paderia at food festivals too 👏👏👏”

“Fun ambiance, good drink selection and it's easy to meet nice people as they host lots of events here.”

“Normally, I love this Starbucks BUT today I left feeling disrespected. Every day, I order 1 or 2 triple espressos with 1/4"milk and extra foam. It was not crowded, no rush, and I ordered espresso with only foam to make it easier. But one barista, who knows me, said things were changing with the new CEO, my drink took too long to make and would stop, and it wasn't fair to other customers. What??? I sympathized with him the other day when there was a wrong order (not mine) and he got frazzled. As for my order, if someone can't measure 1/4 milk and just eyeballs it, that's not my fault. The crew that has been there is tops and this was a mistake. I don't think it's the vib that the new Speedbucks is supposed to send out. Cathy”

“Extremely kind and helpful waitress!!! Great food too❣️”

“Incredibly fabulous food. Very professional wait staff. Can't thank Roberta and Elena enough. Thanks so much.”

“This pizza is awesome!! The best pizza our family has had in years. The service is also first class Thank you so much!!!!”

“The attendant was friendly ! Turkey sandwich and the hot chocolate were amazing ! Definitely recommend !”

“great food, service and ambiance. cocktails are amazing!”

“Such a great experience, amazing vibes and service. Thank you so much Steven !”

“Loved this place from the food to the service to the atmospheric it was great! I definitely recommend it.”

“Such a great experience, amazing vibes and service. Thank you so much Steven !”

“the service is phenomenal lovely atmosphere, very clean, cleanliness is the next thing to Godliness. the staff is friendly, the waitresses are really nice just all around lovely place the view is off the chain thank you penthouse for a lovely breakfast and God bless yours truly Michael and Jeannie.”

“absolutely delicious burgers and sauce. the customer service and people working there where really nice and great people”

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.”

“Great food loved it ! We will b back”

“Nice service and good food 🍱”

“Great Bbq! Great service!”

“Tried the seasonal pre fix dinner. it was quite exceptional and so much food for the price. A little bummed they were out of brussel sprouts but Everything we had was amazing including the craft cocktails.Excellent service.”

“Enjoyed the croissant and a muffin with a mocha coffee”

“Went here for a birthday happy hour and absolutely loved it!

Street tacos are either $1.50 or $2.50 (veggie), and I really enjoyed the Al pastor chicken as well as the brisket. Chicken quesadilla was well cooked and flavorful, served with guac, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

The red salsa was excellent, and I preferred it over the green. Guac was fresh and paired well with the reasonably priced HH beers ($6) and cocktails ($10-12).

Would definitely be back! Happy Hour is from 3-6pm Monday-Friday!”

“The restaurant is super cute. We had the crab eggs Benedict, sugar snap peas and freshly squeezed tangerine juice. The ambience was relaxing and the weather was perfect for sitting on the patio.”

“Great food, creative cuisine”

“I had the HiHo Double with fries and a milkshake and honestly have to say that the food was outstanding. Together with the friendly service it made my visit a remarkable one. Will be back in the future.”

“Great pricy place for breakfast, fancy coffee, pastries. Lines out the door but was doable at 9am this morning on Labor Day Monday. Pricy, food was pretty, but taste was so so. Carrot teff cupcake (small) was very cold and hard-but again pretty! $48”

“I've never seen a menu that flowed so well from one dish to the next. You can tell that ingredients were used across multiple courses. It's very mushroom heavy, so I hope you like all fungi. Atmosphere is very spa-like. Simple designs, earth tones and low candle light. It's a bit on the pricey side compared to other experiences. We may have paid more for NYE and it looked like the same menu as a normal night. No Champagne. Didn't do the wine pairings, already spent over $1k in total for two with 3 glasses of wine. You do get caviar and truffle, and the other ingredients are top notch. Then the pigeon comes out. Squab is a young domesticated pigeon. Sure it's good, but it just didn't fit with the meal. You can get a full pressed duck at the other restaurant (Pasjoli) and I think this concept was carried over; using the the juices of the Squab in the next dish. Finally the transition to sweeter dishes was perfection. The Squab liver truffle with mushroom dust, the hazelnut cream and caviar, and the dish with crumbled black sesame I will remember forever. Service was perfection. You begin and end with tea. Our final refreshing mint tea was too sweet. Parking in the garage underneath the building was easy and costs $12.

Dietary restrictions: Provide in advance

Kid-friendliness: Please no kids”

“I stopped by on a hot day and wanted something refreshing, the staff at the cafe was very helpful in recommending me a smoothie which was absolutely delicious! The space is so chic and will definitely be coming back.”

“Booths in the sort-of shape of basket steamers, a glassed-in performance kitchen and an authentic" way of eating the dumplings (poke a hole and suck out the liquid first --not at all like the inviting Arcadia location a Chinese-American food friend introduced me to a decade ago.

So it's really helpful to know before you go into this slicked up version of Din Ti Fung to consider it more a tribute to the concept of meticulous almost machine-like dumpling making in Taipei, Taiwan by original owners Bing-Yi Yang and wife than a replica.
Wish I had known!

The first week of the hard opening on a rainy day, with plenty of empty tables, this place at the far west side of Santa Monica Place had plenty of empty tables at the end of lunch hour. The outside guard waved us in and the Chinese-American manager acted as though we had come last minute to the Met Gala. (Bowen Yang would do a GREAT skit using him as a role model). Already so not in the spirit of the founders. Even the name: Din ("wok" Tai ("peace of "safe") Fung ("abundance" "plentiful")

It all got sorted out with bar seating and one of the majority American servers who recites the menu and manner of eating the dishes like a Disney guide pro. He also gave us a business-like account of the business end expectations at this place.

Yes, Kurugbuta pork is used in the xialongbao and other dishes, meticulously prepared -- and you can see this in the machine-like precision of the performance kitchen.

Much more expensive than the original location, and with the same customer frenzy as at Century City, I'll wait to go back to Arcadia.

Vegetarian options: spinach that was well prepared and super expensive for one dish of it.”