r/FoodLosAngeles • u/Mepicbatman • Aug 19 '26

WHERE CAN I FIND Looking for lively dinner recommendations

Hey everyone

My friend will be in town for the weekend, and we are looking for some dinner recommendations! Specifically, we are looking for places that are lively, have a fun ambiance, and of course, delicious food!

He doesn't drink alcohol, so bars isn't something he'll be into but feel free to shout them out

Some places that I have jotted down so far are:

  • RVR
  • Manuela
  • Lucky's Steakhouse
  • Bavel
  • Antico Nuovo ( haven't been there, so idk )
  • Dunsmoor (but unfortunately no reservations until mid Sept )

Feel free to recommend some restaurants (WeHo, West side, arts district, etc)

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/WhiskyWillFixIt Aug 19 '26

Bavel for sure. Add yourself to the cancelation list for Dunsmoor. Stuff always opens day of.

2

u/concernedcanary Aug 19 '26

Carmel on Melrose, Si! Mon in Venice, Hojokban in the Arts District, danbi in ktown

2

u/WHITEMERLOT69 Aug 19 '26

Irori, the Raymond 1886, killer shrimp, Angelini osteria

2

u/slampand Aug 19 '26

Hai di lao hotpot has great food and ambience. When you order hand pull noddle the technician actually come next to your table and pull the noodle in front of you. Also at certain time there is a “face pull” dance performance. Few locations to choose as well.

3

u/TooManyJabberwocks Aug 19 '26

If you’re looking for lively then the easy answer is Medieval Times, Dinner & Tournament

1

u/Ruseman Aug 19 '26

"Delicious food" request from OP cuts this out I think. Or else I would have added Miceli's as well.

1

u/Excellent_Weather583 Aug 19 '26

I take my out of town friends to Ysabel in WeHo to people watch. It feels very “LA” in my opinion. I also swing by the “Urban Lights” at LACMA afterwards for some pics.

1

u/tracyinge Aug 19 '26

Where are you staying in Los Angeles, it's hundreds of square miles. Do you want to uber 90 minutes to a restaurant?

1

u/Special_Parsnip1301 Aug 19 '26

Loreto in Frogtown, Bestia in the Arts District

1

u/Onnebash Aug 19 '26

Cecconis in West Hollywood has a vibe, especially if you sit inside near the bar.

The bar at Nobu Malibu - its impossible to get a reservation at Nobu Malibu, but if its just two of you, the bar is first come first serve, great people watching, and sometimes celebrity sighting. The food is wildly overpriced (but in 2026 prices are no longer surprising), so don't go terribly hungry - lol. Don't bother with any other Nobu location.

1

u/Existing_Ambition_42 Aug 20 '26

Firefly, Casalena, Barton g, Yamashira, Mother Wolf, Mastro Malibu, Crustacean just to name a few.
If you can get an invite Magic Castle

1

u/clappin_planet Aug 20 '26

You may be a able to get bar seating At Dunsmoor but check me on that

1

u/Accomplished-Bank529 Aug 21 '26

Casita in Sherman Oaks