The 11 best restaurants in Silver Lake, LA
From ramen to ceviche, explore the best restaurants in the Silver Lake neighbourhood of Los Angeles, including places with patios for al fresco dining
Head east of Hollywood in Los Angeles and you’ll find yourself in Silver Lake, a creative neighbourhood dotted with low-key bars, boutique hotels, artisanal coffee stops, quaint cafes, and unassuming restaurants hosting some of LA’s best Asian and produce-driven food. Fusing grit and glamour, Silver Lake’s restaurants boast eclectic dishes, award-winning wine menus and shaded outdoor patios. Starting at Sunset Junction, where Sunset Boulevard meets Santa Monica Boulevard, find restaurants hidden under arching trees and in former fire stations. From family-run classics and buzzing brunch spots to inventive newcomers placing a subversive spin on traditional cuisine, here are the restaurants to try in Silver Lake, LA.
Where to eat in Silver Lake
Ceviche Project
Best for: Seafood fans, shared plates, intimate setting
Location: 2524 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Price: Plates from 18 USD
Almost the entire menu at Ceviche Project consists of raw seafood, especially inventive ceviche dishes. Take the Tai Snapper, diced fresh and gently tossed with cucumbers, jicama, carrots, cilantro, pineapple, and a jalapeno and ginger leche de tigre for a subtly sweet and savoury bite. Cevichero Octavio Olivas is a delight to watch as he prepares your order from behind the marble-topped bar. Order a Mexican Michelada cocktail made with fresh shrimp stock before digging into several of the ceviches, the Peruvian scallop shooters, and fresh oysters to share.
cevicheproject.com
Pijja Palace
Best for: Indian sports bar, group dinners, adventurous eaters
Location: 2711 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 17 USD
Pijja Palace is a quirky newcomer gaining attention for its unconventional bar fare served with an Indian twist. Dishes are hearty and best enjoyed when shared, from the batter-heavy and crispy dosa onion rings to the okra fries served with a tangy lemon sauce. Of all the dishes, the malai rigatoni is the star, featuring a tomato masala sauce with cream and coriander atop al dente rigatoni. Save room to taste the malted chai soft serve for dessert, or a homemade soda, served from a vintage soda machine. This is a sports bar, so screens line the walls, showing the latest games.
pijjapalace.com
Spoon and Pork
Best for: Filipino comfort food, pork lovers
Location: 3131 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 17 USD
Spoon and Pork was known as one of the best food trucks in the city, serving Filipino comfort food. Rave reviews continue at its brick-and-mortar location in Silver Lake. As its name suggests, the menu is heavy on pork, though you will find tasty fried chicken and beef dishes. The popular Patita dish comprises a hulking chunk of pork shank, slow-cooked and deep-fried in a vinegar, chilli, and garlic sauce. From the small plates, the Adobo Belly Nigiri packs flavour into a small bite, featuring a juicy pork belly speckled with furikake and chives.
spoonandpork.com
Night + Market Song
Best for: Dinner with friends, vibrant interiors
Location: 3322 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 17 USD
When chef Kris Yenbamroong opened Night + Market Song in West Hollywood, it became a buzzing celebrity hangout. His Silver Lake establishment still retains a bustling atmosphere, where bright colours and playful decor set the stage for enjoying Thai street food. Alongside popular plates from the original location, including the pad see ew and crispy rice salad (a cool and crunchy mix of ginger, peanuts, cilantro, pork, and chilli), you’ll find exclusive plates like the startled pig salad – tender grilled pork served with fresh Thai basil and light citrus dressing.
nightmarketla.com
Silverlake Ramen
Best for: Casual dinner, comforting ramen
Location: 2927 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Price: Mains from 17 USD
Silverlake Ramen is now a franchise with more than 20 locations, but it all began on West Sunset Boulevard. The best ramen here is the house specialty, The Blaze. Broth is cooked for hours on end for a thick and creamy texture that’s rich in umami and served at just the right temperature for a soothing sip. This restaurant may have one of the longest lines you’ll see in the area, but once you have a spoon of this comforting broth, you’ll soon know why.
silverlakeramen.com
Same Same
Best for: Thai food
Location: 2835 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90026
Price: Mains from 13 USD
Silver Lake is no stranger to strip mall restaurants, but stepping into Same Same on quickly whisks you from Sunset Boulevard to Bangkok, complete with dim lighting, lively chatter, and delicious drinks. The wine bar at Same Same is as much of a draw as its spicy Thai options, with a rotating list of wines that span flavour profiles from citrus and stone fruit to berry, pepper, and more. There’s a great selection of beers to enjoy here as well before you tuck into soups like the Tom Yum, the pad see ew noodles, or a hearty bowl of pork belly fried rice.
samesamethai.com
Blair’s Restaurant
Best for: Pasta lovers, date night
Location: 2901 Rowena Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Price: Mains from 17 USD
Blair’s white-brick exterior stands out on a corner of Rowena Avenue in Silver Lake. Dishes are made using local produce and meats, with highlights including gnocchi served with kale, sausage, and pecorino cheese; tender braised short ribs with leeks and polenta, and smoky grilled octopus. Open from 5.30pm daily, you can easily while away an evening at this neighbourhood restaurant, sharing pizza, pasta, and tiramisu for dessert. Sit out front for excellent people watching.
blairsrestaurant.com
L&E Oyster Bar
Best for: Relaxed neighbourhood oyster bar, seafood, walk-ins
Location: 1637 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90026
Price: Mains from 15 USD
L&E Oyster Bar is a much-loved neighbourhood hangout with stellar seafood. Order oysters raw by the dozen to sample the variety on offer that day, along with the cast iron cornbread and a wedge salad to start your meal, before moving onto hot plates like the crab linguine, fish and chips, or lobster mac and cheese. Visit for Happy Hour, between 5 and 7pm each day.
leoysterbar.com
Hot Tongue Pizza
Best for: Gluten free, vegan pizzas
Location: 2590 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Price: Mains from 14 USD
At Hot Tongue Pizza, the mantra is ‘Don’t let the lack of dairy and meat cloud your judgement; this is one of the best slices in the city,’ and they’re not wrong. Vegan and gluten-free pizzas are downright delicious, with a dough baked in-house that’s airy, crisp and thin. The gluten-free Detroit-style pizza is topped with marina, mushrooms, spinach, garlic, and an almond ricotta that’s rich and creamy. The same almond ricotta features on the thick-crust Sicilian, pan baked with that gooey pull we’ve come to love and expect from cheese-topped pies.
hottonguepizza.com
The best restaurants in Silver Lake with outdoor patios
Botanica Restaurant and Market
Best for: Brunch, gluten-free, outdoor seating
Location: 1620 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 16 USD for brunch, 24 USD for dinner
Botanica excels at showcasing fresh produce with big, bold flavours. Botanica’s light-filled space is a cheerful setting for brunch complete with vegetable-forward cocktails, from yuzu mimosas to mezcal with fresh beet juice and cilantro. Don’t overlook the brunch sides, from seasonal jam and cultured butter to ultra crispy bacon. For sweet lovers, the Cake for Breakfast – brown sugar almond cake topped with a citrus packed orange marmalade and mandarinquats – will make you forget all about pancakes. The majority of the menu is gluten-free, and there is a lovely back patio for outdoor seating. After your meal, wander to their market to pick up marinated olives, spiced honeys, homemade sauces, granolas, and natural wines.
botanicarestaurant.com
Bacari
Best for: Open-air dining, brunch
Location: 3626 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 13 USD
This indoor-outdoor restaurant occupies an outdoor courtyard adorned with lush greenery and wooden accents, reminiscent of a luxurious Balinese treehouse. Dishes include handmade pastas like the Oaxaca, featuring a smoky romesco sauce, and the pillowy ricotta and beet gnocchi, while a popular weekend brunch menu boasts chilaquiles and shawarma tacos. Whatever time of day you go, make sure to order their fries, topped with a secret sauce and a fried egg.
bacarisilverlake.com
El Cochinito
Best for: Cuban sandwiches, casual lunch and dinner
Location: 3508 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 12 USD
El Cochinito on Sunset Boulevard proves that family-run eateries are some of the best for authentic recipes. Since 1988, this local Cuban stop has been providing succulent, slow-roasted pork, crisp plantain chips, and one of LA’s best flans. Its Cubano sandwich is the star of the show, filled with slow-roasted pork butts seasoned in lime and spices. It’s the little details that make all the difference, from adding the thinly sliced pickles just before pressing the sandwich to ensure a crunchy bite, to topping and smashing sweet plantain chips into the Cochinito Sandwich. Enjoy yours outside on the laidback patio.
cochinitola.com
Pine & Crane
Best for: Noodle lovers
Location: 1521 Griffith Park Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Price: Mains from 10 USD
Pine & Crane is a casual, contemporary restaurant serving affordable Taiwanese dishes. The menu here is compact, featuring salads, handmade wontons and potstickers, crispy rolls, and noodle and rice dishes. The noodles are a must-try, particularly the Dan Dan noodles, which are cooked al dente for a delightful spring, and served with cucumbers for a refreshing reprieve from the heat that comes from the chilli oil. For small plates, the crunchy beef roll is a favourite, while the sea salt cream tea with boba makes for a fantastic drinkable dessert. Dishes are served in a light and airy setting, which unfolds to an outdoor seating area, framed by trees.
pineandcrane.com
Edendale
Best for: Brunch, comfort food, large parties
Location: 2838 Rowena Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Price: Mains from 21 USD for dinner, 15 USD for brunch
Finding Silver Lake restaurants without hefty lines is tough, but thanks to its large size, Edendale regularly has tables for groups looking for relaxed dining with stellar drinks. The restaurant is housed in a former 1924 fire station, with a large bar nad two patios for al fresco dining. Order a plate of chilaquiles stuffed with chorizo or the enchiladas for a great vegetarian brunch option, and ask for a side of super crispy fries.
theedendale.com
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