Southern California’s coastal dining scene is heating up – with an exciting wave of restaurant openings, fresh menus, and innovative culinary concepts.
From Malibu’s new laid-back wine bar and gourmet marketplace, to Santa Monica’s elevated Pakastani-Indian cuisine, to Marina del Rey’s casual patio, and Long Beach’s new multimillion-dollar refreshed panoramic waterfront lounge in view of the Queen Mary, there’s never been a better time to plan a summer outing and dine outside.
Whether you’re craving chef-driven cuisine, inventive cocktails, fresh seafood, or globally inspired flavors, these latest additions are serving up delicious reasons to plan your next foodie adventure along LA’s iconic coastline.
Pastrami Breakfast BurriHo at HiHo Cheeseburger Marina Del Rey
While HiHo Cheeseburger is famous for their 100% grass-fed wagyu beef burgers – voted as the Best Burger in LA by KTLA – the expanding burger chain’s menu is now more than burgers on locally baked buns with house-made pickles, alongside hand-cut fries and made-from-scratch pies.
Now, throughout summer until Labor Day, the Marina Del Rey location situated right on the marina is offering the new Breakfast BurriHo every Saturday from 9am to 11am (or till they sell out).
The breakfast burrito is made with pastrami crafted from 100% grass-fed Wagyu raised by First Light Farms, soft scrambled eggs, melted cheese, spicy slow-cooked onions and crispy HiHo fries.
HiHo will also be serving two different cold brews from RISE, making it a great Saturday morning stop in the Marina.
Wine Sips at Wally’s Malibu
Wally’s famed LA wine bar, hybrid restaurant, and gourmet marketplace expanded this year to Malibu. Now guests can sit outside at Wally’s Malibu in view of the canyons, over a fine glass of wine, in the temperate Malibu air.
Their all-day menu makes the perfect date starter – since you can share caviar, cheese boards, sandwiches, and truffle dishes OR grab and go items to take home or to the beach. For dinner, the smashed Wally’s Burger is a fan favorite along with the Beef Short Ribs. Try a refreshing Sancerre, Malibu Spritz, or our personal favorite – Wally’s pickle beer Michelada, with the perfect spice mix kick!
Lunch at Matu Cheesesteak Calabasas
Matū & Matū Kai expanded their ever growing Matu Cheesesteak dynasty to Calabasas at The Commons, right next to HiHo Cheeseburger and Sugarfish
Now you can get that 100% grass fed Wagyu beef steak and cheese at Matu Kai Brentwood, Matu Beverly Hills, Matu Cheesesteak in Pasadena, and Matu Cheesesteak Calabasas.
Add a glass of red or white wine, beer, or Mexican coke. to your order. Sit outside next to Caruso’s pond of Koi fish, aquatic turtles and statues of his kids at various ages.
For $24, the Cheesesteak that can come with or without long hot peppers on a freshly baked sesame roll, is very satisfying and super filling. They put heating instructions on the wrapper if you take one home or can’t finish.
Cocktails and bites at Fuego Waterfront Lounge at The Maya Long Beach
The new and improved Fuego Waterfront Lounge at The Maya, Long Beach received a snazzy multimillion dollar refresh recently with new furnishings, decor, and fire pits. This beverage-forward coastal bar and lounge, in view of The Queen Mary, is a perfect escape when the temps soar.
The relaxing Latin-inspired waterfront lounge is ideal for day or night, but makes the ultimate spot for fireworks on the 4th of July or summer sunset sips and dinner bites. Order a handcrafted cocktail with shareable dishes. Mixology Master Preston Crespo concocted a whole new refreshing beverage menu – like the Shoreline Spritz, crafted with berry-infused tequila, peach, simple syrup, lemon and sparkling wine; and Crimson Coastline, where Latin vibes meet a tiki lounge, made with Havana Club Puerto Rican rum, sherry manzanilla, passoã, blood orange, lime.
New dishes have been created by Chef Luis Torres – like Branzino a la Plancha with tomatillo, mango, charred onion, lemon, and black garlic and Hamachi Crudo with cucumber, aguachile, avocado, mango, jicama, and serrano.
The bar and lounge are open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday through Saturday until 11:00 p.m.
No need to leave The Maya after a few drinks – a few feet away you can walk to a Mayan-inspired hotel room with a balcony overlooking the bay. Dip in the pool, rent a jet ski next door, or take a tour of the Queen Mary, just a short walk away.
Plus, Fuego’s new morning coffee and pastry program – Café de Fuego – features local Long Beach gems Sheldrake Coffee Roasting and Colossus Bakery. Order up fresh roasted daily coffee blends and indulgent pastries such as seasonal muffins, butter and chocolate croissants; and made-to-order croissant breakfast sandwiches and chorizo burritos.
Reservations can be made on OpenTable. Fuego Lounge is hot! @themayalongbeach
Dinner at Khan Saab Santa Monica
Chef Imran’s Michelin Bib-Gourmand-recognized menu brings the adventurous flavors of his Pakistani and Indian cuisine to the west side, a block from the ocean. Arriving from Pakistan some 25+ years ago, Chef Imran shares how the spices of each cuisine are similar but the preparation and timing is not. Chef Imran is proud to be facilitating the third popular Khan Saab location after Fullerton and Hawaiian Gardens.
Order some of our favorite menu items:
Butter chicken with naan 🫓
Sloppy Khan like a spiced beef sloppy Joe
Charcoal Smoked beef kebab
Tableside Sesame Leaf Bhel Puri (Pakistani street food) made with Crackers rice puffs • peanuts • vermicelli • mint • tamarind • pomegranate • chili garlic • chutney – a crunchy tart bhel with real West Coast swagger
Curious eaters will want to try Apricot Curry Salmon, Mantoo (beef dumplings), Dal Lala Missa (split yellow lentils), slow simmered Lamb Rogan Josh, and sweets like Rasmalal Peach Rose Milk Cake with rose petal milk and Joconde sponge cake.
Find exciting Mocktails here that compliment the tender meats and centuries-old South Asian street food – with bold spices like a Pina Colada and spicy Seedlip jalapeño Devil’s Kiss.
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