Best Lunch Restaurants in Santa Monica

234 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Water Grill - Santa Monica restaurant

1. Water Grill - Santa Monica

4.6

Exceptional(6024)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Santa Monica

Booked 72 times today

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Water Grill Santa Monica is an iconic seafood destination to enjoy the first catch of the season and a deep variety of fish, lobsters, crabs, oysters and shellfish on a robust menu that changes daily. Located on Ocean Ave. across from the Pacific Ocean and steps away from the Santa Monica Pier, Water Grill Santa Monica is the perfect place to dine, celebrate and host an event for business or pleasure. New product arrives from boat-to-table in a matter of hours from our exclusive seafood distribution company and our chef’s preparations allow the high-quality product to shine. Consistently rated as one of Santa Monica’s top seafood restaurants, Water Grill Santa Monica also offers customizable private dining options for business meetings and special events.

A photo of Loulou Rooftop Restaurant and Lounge restaurant

2. Loulou Rooftop Restaurant and Lounge

4.4

Awesome(858)

Price: Expensive

• French • Santa Monica

Booked 46 times today

Experience the "Joie de Vivre"At LouLou, food, entertainment, fashion, and art converge into a unique, one-of-a-kind destination.LouLou’s carefully crafted menus showcase French Mediterranean flavors with a classic California twist, while honoring the generosity of artisanal and homemade ingredients, as well as local organic produce.A carefully selected wine list offers a tasteful array of wines from both France and CaliforniaNever bowing to the ordinary, whether it’s a legendary brunch, after work cocktails, elegant dinner, or corporate event, LouLou will always deliver an experience to remember.Ample parking is available in the building. We are located on the rooftop level. Suite 300

3. Tar & Roses

4.8

Exceptional(4246)

Price: Expensive

• American • Santa Monica

Booked 40 times today

Tar & Roses is a globally inspired culinary experience. Chef Andrew Kirschner has transformed his kitchen into a local and welcoming home, focused on the element of the wood fired oven to bring out the best flavor in our dishes. Coming straight from the visionary mind of our award winning chef, our menu is created with only the highest quality ingredients and fresh, local products. This attention to detail helps makes our food a perfected craft which will inspire you to be adventurous, in the most approachable and delicious way possible. When you step into Tar & Roses, you'll feel like you are coming home. Our entire staff awaits your arrival with warm smiles and thoughtful service ~ please, come share a meal with us!

A photo of Benihana - Santa Monica, CA restaurant

4. Benihana - Santa Monica, CA

3.9

Excellent(4109)

Price: Moderate

• Japanese • Santa Monica

Booked 91 times today

Welcome to Benihana, a dining experience unlike any other! Our guests are seated at communal tables in groups, where your personal chef will perform the ancient art of Teppanyaki. Watch as we slice and dice, preparing a meal that will dazzle your eyes as well taste buds, whether you choose mouth-watering steak, tender chicken or succulent seafood. You can also enjoy sushi prepared by a talented sushi chef and indulge in a specialty cocktail.

5. The Surfing Fox

4.2

Awesome(102)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Santa Monica

Booked 25 times today

The Surfing Fox is a chilled-out gathering spot serving up coastal California cuisine on a plate (or in a glass!) with a generous side of good times and vibes. Whether you're spending the day hanging ten or hanging out, come take it easy with us from dawn to dusk.

A photo of Kappo Miyabi Santa Monica restaurant

6. Kappo Miyabi Santa Monica

4.5

Awesome(69)

Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese • Santa Monica

Booked 17 times today

Kappo (かっぽう / 割烹) means cooking food with knives and fire. In simple Japanese terms, means cutting, chopping and cooking food with knife, and so on. And means boiling, cooking food with fire. So the combination of these two Japanese characters are a different expression of cooking with a knife and fire. Kappo is a dish that is improvised by the customer's order and can be enjoyed at the counter or at the table just in front of the kitchen without much formality. From now on, Kappo will be held in Miyabi restaurant, Santa Monica. Miyabi (雅) is one of the traditional Japanese aesthetic ideals, meaning "elegance," "graceful" and "courtliness". There are a lot of complexities of Japanese cuisine, including not only food, but also visitors, music, and order of food. So, there is a burden because of the needlessly cumbersome, expensive, and unnecessary formalities, and we focus on foods that are only used to show off the cooking skills of the chefs and customers.

7. Blue Plate Taco

4.4

Awesome(975)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Santa Monica

Booked 30 times today

Blue Plate Taco is a coastal Baja-meets-Santa Monica destination on Ocean Ave. We are dedicates to creating all our food from scratch including the agua frescas and margaritas from the bar, the tortillas are made by hand fresh all day, and our salsas are made daily. The entire menu is fresh, light and delicious. We hold most of our tables for walk-ins so if you don't see any reservations, don't fret! We'll get you seated after a short wait while you're admiring the Pacific and taking in the famous Santa Monica pier.Reservations are limited to 90 minutes, we hold reservations for 10 minutes.

A photo of True Food Kitchen - Santa Monica restaurant

8. True Food Kitchen - Santa Monica

4.4

Awesome(1538)

Price: Moderate

• American • Santa Monica

Booked 34 times today

True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in Santa Monica for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious.

A photo of Sushi Roku - Santa Monica restaurant

9. Sushi Roku - Santa Monica

4.7

Exceptional(1143)

Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Santa Monica

Booked 17 times today

Sushi Roku combines the finest, freshest fish from pristine waters around the globe with the kind of artistry that can only be provided by a mature sushi chef ensuring superlative traditional sushi, together with a splash of California innovation. Sushi Roku is a pioneer of contemporary sushi, incorporating diverse, non-traditional ingredients from Latin America (e.g. jalapeños) and Europe (e.g. olive oil) into its edible works of art. This unique culinary experience that bridges past and present is the result of an eagerness to embrace new ideas and a profound respect for tradition. Sushi Roku’s bold and diverse menu also offers an array of hot and cold specialty appetizers and an extensive selection of exotic entrées. Delivery Available through ChowNow.RobataBar, located behind Sushi Roku features robatayaki style skewers, tapas style sashimi dishes, and sushi.

A photo of Ye Olde Kings Head- Santa Monica restaurant

10. Ye Olde Kings Head- Santa Monica

4.5

Awesome(275)

Price: Moderate

• American • Santa Monica

Booked 7 times today

Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica, California has been open for over 40 years. It has developed an amazing reputation as among the most recognizable, finest British pubs in the USA. We have a casual comfortable dining room with Fireplace in the cooler months and an outdoor heated patio where patrons can sit and enjoy the restaurant’s delicious food. There is also a Private Dining room available and Afternoon Tea is served Mon - Sat 11.30am-4pm. (Private room also available for Baby & Bridal Showers)Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica provides patrons with the look and feel of Britain right in California. It has something that will appeal to everyone and offers a traditional British Breakfast and British favorites such as Fish & Chips, Bangers and Mash and Shepherd’s pie, along with some healthier options, Salads, Curries and Vegetarian dishes. Come taste Britain in the heart of Santa Monica.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Incredible restaurant! We have been here twice now and couldn’t recommend it more. Each dish is unbelievable and the service is top notch. If you’re looking for flavorful dishes with a cozy ambience for date night or any special occasion, this is your place!
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Tar & RosesPrice: Expensive• American• Santa Monica
•
4.8
B
BernadetteVIP
Los Angeles •17 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We had a lovely dining experience at Water Grill, Santa Monica. Our server, Melissa was lovely, genuinely personable, and it was evident that she loves her job because her expertise and positivity shines through. Our dinner selections were deliciously satisfying and capped off nicely by a scrumptious key lime pie. This spot is a gem and we definitely will be visiting again soon :)
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Water Grill - Santa MonicaPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Santa Monica
•
4.6
S
Shawne
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Loved the brunch. A friend took me for my birthday and then I brought my family and friends back so they could enjoy the lovely brunch with amazing food and great service.
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Loulou Rooftop Restaurant and LoungePrice: Expensive• French• Santa Monica
•
4.4
I
Iris
Los Angeles •6 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 Dec 2024
We were there around 3 pm on Christmas day and the young lady at the front desk was warm, welcoming, and efficient. After checking in early, we only waited a short time for our table. Our server was Joseph and he was also very welcoming and efficient. He made us feel like our business was valuable. He asked numerous times if we needed anything and was prompt to bring whatever was requested. Our chef was Nmemon (spelling??) and he did an excellent job in preparing our food. We come to Benihana's frequently and will continue to do so with employees like Joseph and the front desk hostess. Thanks for an outstanding Christmas dinner.
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Benihana - Santa Monica, CAPrice: Moderate• Japanese• Santa Monica
•
3.9
G
Grace
Las Vegas •1 review
4.0
Dined on 8 Dec 2024
Very nice place for breakfast or brunch. Very cute ambiance, friendly service and delicious food. Notes: I would sit indoors as the view outside is more street than ocean and the street there has a lot of traffic. Parking at the hotel valet is expensive even with validation, so if you have time to park in one of the local structures and walk over, that's a more economical choice.
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The Surfing FoxPrice: Moderate• Californian• Santa Monica
•
4.2

Best Lunch Restaurants in Santa Monica

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234 restaurants available nearby

1. Water Grill - Santa Monica

2. Loulou Rooftop Restaurant and Lounge

3. Tar & Roses

4. Benihana - Santa Monica, CA

5. The Surfing Fox

6. Kappo Miyabi Santa Monica

7. Blue Plate Taco

8. True Food Kitchen - Santa Monica

9. Sushi Roku - Santa Monica

10. Ye Olde Kings Head- Santa Monica

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