50 Best American Restaurants near Topanga

“Bright refreshing cool drinks“

“We got married at the Inn of the Seventh Ray on October 10, 2026, and we could not have picked a better place. Of all the compliments we heard that night, the most frequent one (after how great the bride looked) was simply what an incredible venue it was.

The setting does a lot of the work for you. Tucked into Topanga Canyon under the trees, with the creek and the fountain and the lights coming on as the sun goes down, it feels like a different world twenty minutes from the city. We held a traditional Hindu ceremony under a mandap, followed by cocktails, dinner, and a dance party, and the grounds handled every one of those transitions beautifully. Our guests kept wandering off to explore and coming back with the same look on their faces.

The team is the other half of the story. Jared, the venue manager, was straightforward and responsive through contracting and billing, and the group tasting gave us a real sense of the food well ahead of time. The dinner itself was excellent, with the sea bass a particular standout, and the bar kept the drinks flowing all night. The bride's signature cocktail, a recipe the bar came up with, was a huge hit. But the real standout was Krystal, the in-house wedding coordinator. She ran our planning meetings, answered a hundred questions over six months, handled some creative layout challenges for the mandap, and on the day itself she was the calm center of everything. Point person, problem solver, and occasionally talk therapist. If something went wrong that night, we never found out about it.

We planned this wedding ourselves with no outside planner, and the Inn made that possible. Five stars without hesitation.“

“WoW , the food , the view, Supernice Crew . Worth everything ! We come back . / Swedish Guests“

“I met my friend for breakfast yesterday morning at 8:30 am. Since it was so early, we were able to grab a four-top table on their patio, just outside of the open-air, stylishly beachy restaurant.

We both ordered coffees, a latte and an Americano. She had the overnight oats bowl, which looked delicious and filing, and I had the avocado toast on sourdough. So fresh and good!

The staff were very nice and friendly, and this is a great, laidback place to have breakfast.

There is a large parking lot in front of the restaurant; paid parking only.

I will come back and bring my boyfriend! Great location across the street from Venice Beach, too.“

“The food was very good. I dined solo and had chicken liver mousse, the yellowtail crudo, the peach and tomato burrata salad, and the crab cake. The mousse was rich and interestingly paired with pickled blackberries and honeycomb. The crudo was delicious with the refreshing citrus. The salad too felt very fresh and like I was holding on to late summer. The crab cake was good, the sauce had a nice balance of spice and sweetness, it was very salty which is not unexpected with crab. The service was kind and attentive. I was very pleased with my experience and would return again if I'm back in Santa Monica.“

“Exquisite creative brunch!“

“I keep going back to this place, and usually try something new. Every single dish is delicious. This place is owned and run by people who love to eat fresh, nutritious, delicious food. And it shows. 100% recommend“

“We had a wonderful time! Everyone at the table enjoyed their food selections. My personal favorite was the Mezze Platter. We received excellent service from all the staff! I had booked an outdoor table and upon arrival, the staff gave us the option to move indoors if we wanted to due to the heat wave. We decided to keep the outdoor table and we experienced a wonderful sunset and a lovely breeze. The staff offering the indoor option was a nice touch on their part! I can't wait to go back to the restaurant!“

“Great food and fabulous cocktails“

“Country Kitchen is a great spot for a delicious and satisfying meal in Malibu. The food was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared, and the service was friendly and welcoming. The relaxed atmosphere made it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Overall, a wonderful dining experience and definitely worth visiting!“

“what an amazing experience from the service to the food to just sitting under the stars it was fantastic we loved our dinner“

“I celebrated Mother’s Day on the 12th of May 2024 at Joey in Woodland Hills. Very friendly atmosphere. Friendly welcoming . We had a very good and friendly service from Kavin. Good food. Nice presentation.“

“Loved this place, glad we could stop by here for some lovely food and drinks…. We were a bigger group of 8 and they do have sitting in the back for big groups but guess 8 was the upper limit…
I tried BEYOND BURGER and it was good, not great but liked it overall. My friends tried protein plate, fish and taco etc and everyone loved the food
I also had tequila based cocktail which was nice
The server was very kind and the vibe of the place was good
Overall would surely recommend visiting them if you are in the area“

“10/10 Recommend. When I’m in the area, I always gravitate to this spot. I love everything on the menu.“

“I was very impressed by the friendliness and service with Ollo for a recent catering delivery. I called around to several places and with very slow response times and abruptness directing me back to the website for Uber delivery. The host and manager Spencer followed up on the order and went out of the way to make sure it was a great experience for the group and the stressed out person (me:) trying to coordinate for the group. Highly recommend!!“

“I'm hearing VERY PROMISING reviews about the quality of the waffles here, yes. I'm being told that the waffle quality is near (or surpassing!) the standards required.“

“Excellent service and enjoyed the St. Patrick’s Day Menu! Thank you for a great experience.“

“I did the takeout but I had to have the Pinot pasta with sausage but the chicken dinner which I wish I could remember the name of that special someone ordered? Was one of the best meals I’ve ever seen in my life and ever eaten… I had to have a bite of hers lol! The penne pasta with sausage was beyond yum!“

“I had a wonderful stay at Malibu Beach Inn! The hotel facilities were truly exceptional. The location right on the beach is absolutely stunning, and the views from the rooms are breathtaking. The rooms themselves are elegantly decorated and extremely comfortable, making it a perfect place to relax and unwind. The staff at the hotel were incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring that every aspect of my stay was enjoyable. One of the highlights of the stay was meeting Realda. She was the most gracious host and her attention to detail was incredible. She kindly upgraded our room as it was my sisters birthday, we had a cake in the room along with a sweet birthday card. She packed up a bag of towels and freshly baked cookies we could enjoy on the beach. She was amazing! Malibu Beach Inn exceeded my expectations in every way, providing a luxurious and unforgettable beachfront experience. I can't wait to return and make more cherished memories at this exceptional hotel.“

“The bar at the Valley Inn is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in LA. Yes, it’s tiny but get there early, secure your seat and you’re in for a ride of the greatest cocktails served up by a ladies and gentlemen’s gentleman - the maker with the shaker, Bill. Seriously, make a friend of this guy and then introduce him and the bar to your favorite people - only your favorite people! The food in the restaurant is great but a tad expensive but the bar will become your new happy place. Bravo“

“Great food and even better service.“

“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!“

“Great tasting food! Highly recommended.“

“Friendly bartenders & awesome food! 🍔“

“Amazing service, come and see Shelby“

“I have to share how great Judith, the manager, was today. I messed up my to-go order and put two chicken tenders instead of chicken tenders and chips. She not only not charged me for the chips after explaining the situation but gave me quite a large portion. I know chips are cheap but this small painless interaction was just so appreciated. I’ll go out of my way to come back here“

“Best food to enjoy with your love ones .. I recommend this place 100% and it’s not expensive for the portions you get in your order! Thanks Dogs Haus! 🍔 🍟“

“We had a very nice dinner here inside on a Tuesday night. I loved the whiskey cocktail which is brought smoking to your table. We shared the cheese plate and gen ceasar and the servings are quite large and perfect for sharing. The BBQ scottish salmon is a real standout and the fries and blistered spinach great sides. They also have a very nice selection of wines by the glass. The staff is very attentive and we enjoyed the night thoroughly.“

“The experience was amazing at Sugar Palm. The server, Alfred, was so sweet and gave us great recommendations! The steak frites were to die for but if you like more of a lighter meal, definitely try the seared ahi tuna. It was so fresh and the sauce was incredible. Their pineapple margarita was also VERY delicious! You won’t go wrong with anything on the menu.“

“Just went tonight. The smash burgers are to die for. The staff is the best! Will definitely be back! 💖“

“Great service @ amazing food!“

“They are by far the best steak I have ever had. We went there on a whim and they were booked but found a cute table for us by the fire. It was the most memorable meal with my husband. We are eternally grateful for the experience and service we received.“

“Excellent customer service . Food is delicious , all waitress are very attentive. Recommend“

“Love Taverna Tony! Great food and location. ❤️“

“Came here on a Saturday night to have some food and drinks with friends. They don't make reservations, instead, they put your name on the list so you still have to wait for a table. We only had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table on a busy Saturday night. The service was great, as it didn't take too long for the waitress to notice us and get our drinks order. Ingo's Tasty Diner is Great place to meet up with friends. Quiet without getting silent and the food is amazing. The drinks menu was extensive. Portions were good and I didn't feel like going into a food coma after leaving. Try their Brussel sprouts, it's delicious! Get ready to spend some $$$, as this place is pretty pricey but worth the price in my opinion. There is no parking, expect the metered parking on Wilshire.“

“Two of us went for dinner on a Thursday night at around 7:30. It was busier inside than outside but we sat outside and it was really nice and easy to hear each other talk.
Our waitress was very, very nice, extremely helpful and had such a great attitude. In fact, the friend that I went with had lost his home in the Palisades fire so he went to the restaurant the day after and one of the waitresses said that he smelled kind of like soot. He explained how he lost his house the day before. They said to him to sit down, relax and order whatever he wanted and drink whatever he wanted and it was on them. How nice is that? That's how the people are there.
The food was really good. We shared a chicken salad and the blue Burger which came with fries. They were both really tasty and good.
We each had a cocktail and they pour their drinks in big glasses which is nice.
I would not hesitate to go back if I were looking for a casual, no-nonsense restaurant with even better service.“

“We liked it so much we had to go two days in a row. Service was good especially the bar staff on the patio. First day, hubby had the burger…amazing and I had the Tortilla salad…wow!! The white iced tea was refreshing. The second day we shared the crab cakes and the Lobster sliders and those can’t be beat!! The mimosas were delicious because they fresh squeeze the orange juice every morning. If we lived closer this would be a spot we would frequent! It is a must if you are at the Seaport Village in San Diego!!“

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

“I was visiting family I haven’t seen for awhile and wanted to eat Jerry’s deli what was my surprise urban plates took over I looked at the menu and decided to try it big portions, healthy , comfort food service was great specially was clean I will definitely come back soon.“

“I had the scallops & the chocolate cake and it was great, the staff were all amazing from the host to the runners/busters with specific credit to Kitty & Anita for helping me and guiding me in the right direction. I definitely recommend you come by if you’re in the area!“

“How does Father‘s Office only get 4.3 stars? This is my dream bar (not that I dream about bars): warm, intimate, unpretentious, truly awesome food offerings, and then of course there is the beer. In LA, for beer, there is no peer.

To those entitled and aggrieved victims of life’s indignities, i.e. commenters who faulted FO because of what is clearly spelled out on the menu:
NO KETCHUP
NO DOGS, EXCEPT FOR SERVICE ANIMALS.
WE DO NOT PERMIT ANY SUBSTITUTIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO ANY OF OUR MENU ITEMS.
- then please be aware that there are plenty of other bars for you to hang out in until hopefully, eventually, you reach adulthood.“

“It's a very quaint looking restaurant. The music was wonderful. The staff was great. However, the food is extremely expensive and somewhat bland. Whoever seasons the fish barely used salt and there's aren't salt and pepper shakers on any of the tables. I requested salt and was given the hard bits that doesn't absorb into the food. I appreciated the effort though.“

“WOW!! Pretty darn good for a picky eater!!! Cushiony soft potato bed of cheese topped with all the tender loving fixings and perfectly cooked butter garlic shrimp. Even the Stubborn pineapple cream soda made an impression. Nothing is typical about this unique eatery. If you want to fly away from LA in just 10 minutes for the tastiest comfort food, visit Captain Potato where 🥔 are served on a 🛩! Clean, cool, creative! 👌“

“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!“

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

“We needed a place to eat dinner late on Friday night and found Henri's. They were closing in 15 minutes but gladly allowed us to sit and order. We didn't want to make it hard for them so we just ordered breakfast for dinner and it was delicious! We are picky in our bacon and hashbrowns and want them cooked very crispy. They were the best we ever had! The next day we came back for breakfast for real and pretty much ordered the same thing. Unfortunately it must have been a different cook. Although it was good and plentiful it was not cooked as nicely as the night before. Definitely NOT a deal breaker cause Henri's is really very good and the staff is exceptionall - both visits. We could tell it is a local favorite and that is always a good sign.“

“My family loves to dine here!“

“Excellent food and service“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“The cold platter was fantastic! Love the atmosphere. Love the decor. Great experience!“