During the summer months, many Pasadena natives set out for staycations and day trips to the South Bay for much-needed respite from the heat, and also some of the best food L.A. County has to offer, from high-end steak houses to casual beach bites.
The buzziest new place comes from the Simms Restaurant Group family and chef-owner David LeFevre, who helms Manhattan Beach’s legendary haunts Fishing with Dynamite, M.B. Post, and The Arthur J.
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For the latest venture, the group has opened RYLA—a Japanese Taiwanese spot just a block from the beach in Hermosa. Longtime LeFevre collaborator and executive chef Ray Hayashi and his wife, Cynthia Hetlinger (who both worked with Michael Cimarusti at Providence) are running the kitchen where Hayashi’s childhood cuisine is married with the best local California ingredients.
Hayashi was born in Taipei and grew up in the South Bay with his parents, who were also in the restaurant business. His mother’s and grandmother’s influence shows up in some dishes on the menu, such as the Hokkaido milk bread with a tobiko nori spread.
Other must orders include the hot chicken karaage, truffle fried rice with Chinese sausage and the Agedashi Meiji tofu with Santa Barbara uni and salmon roe. In an interesting twist, the white sesame Caesar with traditional little gems, anchovy, and parmesan also includes a surprising “secret” ingredient: peanut butter in the dressing but it (oddly) melds beautifully. For dessert it’s matcha tiramisu or brown butter mochi cake.
The end result is a great spot to meet friends for a drink in the bar-lounge, take your family for an early dinner out on the patio, or tuck into a cozy banquette in the main dining room with a date.
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Another top toque and restaurateur in the South Bay, David Slay, is also on the move further south with Slay Hermosa, a more casual arm of his Slay Steak & Fish in Manhattan Beach, and designed by Theresa Fatino of SLS, W, and Andaz West Hollywood fame.
Slay restaurants—including Slay Italian Kitchen, which is also in Manhattan Beach—have become local staples in just a few short years. All use fresh veggies from the Slay Estate & Vineyard in Santa Barbara County, and feature Slay and Slayer wines—Rosé, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir—grown and produced on the Central Coast.Top dishes at Slay Italian Kitchen include broccolini with a tonnato sauce with tuna, pureed with olive oil, capers, and garlic; burrata drizzled in a pepper-and-strawberry sauce and house-made “jam of the day”; pizza with a two-day fermentation that renders a dense sourdough crust; and the signature nine-layer lasagna, hand-rolled and baked with bechamel and Bolognese.
For the new Hermosa venture, Slay partnered with The Bottle Inn and Martha’s in the old El Gringo two-story space with an ocean view. The menu has a lower price point and more casual California cuisine, with salads, seafood, and veggies grown on the Santa Barbara farm.
Slay, who grew-up in St. Louis working in his father’s restaurant (also called Slay’s) remains involved in day-to-day operations and is actively in the kitchen at all his restaurants—and logs about 7 miles a day walking between them to personally greet customers.
Other top South Bay Spots:
Manhattan Beach
The all-white décor of Esperanza Cocina de la Playa, designed by Gulla Jónsdóttir (Kimpton La Peer), is a beautiful setting for strong fruity margaritas, ceviche, and Mexican fare.
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Love & Salt is a staple for pizza, pasta, and salads with indoor-outdoor seating and a lively bar scene.
For taco Tuesday, head to Tacolicious, a casual spot loved by locals that features fancy street tacos with high-quality ingredients and good drinks.
El Sombrero has been a family-owned classic Mexican staple for 30 years. The staff is friendly and it’s near the beach with an outdoor patio and strong margaritas.
For burgers and beer on tap, sitting outside at Simmzy’s near the Manhattan Beach pier is the move. It’s owned by the Simms Group, so the quality is top notch.
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If you find yourself in the Manhattan Village mall shopping for beach gear, Joey Manhattan Beach is great for poke bowls, and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream nearby is consistently voted No. 1 in town.
Hermosa
From breakfast to brews, Hennessey’s Tavern is a popular local Irish pub with beach views.
Francophiles should make a beeline for Dominique’s Kitchen for French bistro fare.
Redondo
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For fun tapas and other delicious Spanish food, Gabi James in Redondo is a must.
If you want to dine on the harbor but away from the bike path, The Portofino Hotel & Marina is a great perch for brunch at BALEENkitchen with an East Coast vibe and endless mimosas.
Rancho Palos Verdes
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For a fine-dining, multicourse, Mediterranean-focused dinner overlooking the peninsula, award-winning mar’sel at Terranea Resort is the perfect spot for sunsets.
