There’s no shortage of enticing Marina del Rey restaurants
Self-proclaimed foodies will feel right at home in Marina del Rey. This coastal city in Southern California is a destination for all things delicious. The area’s proximity to Mexico gives many of the Marina del Rey restaurants access to amazing Latin-inspired flavors. Close access to the ocean allows chefs to have access to some of the freshest seafood available.
However, the list of restaurants doesn’t stop at Mexican and seafood eateries. You can also find delicious Italian, Asian, Indian, and American cuisine. Enjoy fresh seafood for lunch and a grilled chicken and mixed greens dinner. From breakfast until happy hour, Marina del Rey has you covered with dozens of delicious menu options. You’ll soon realize that finding somewhere to eat won’t be a problem. Deciding on just one location for your next great meal might be more challenging though.
1. Enjoy artisan French toast and American classics with a Japanese twist at 26 Beach
No matter what time of day it is, you can find something delicious at 26 Beach. Located at 3100 Washington Boulevard, the owners bring their Japanese heritage to American classics to create culinary delights like Chef Katsu’s Original California Roll Hamburger.
For the less adventurous burger fans, you can find classic burgers like The 26er. You can also order entrees like the Orange Rosemary Salmon, the Red Chile Pork Chop, and the Seafood Pasta, if a burger isn’t your style.
Even though the burgers are famous at 26 Beach, you’ll also want to visit the eatery to enjoy their brunch menu. From 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the week, and until 4:00 p.m. on weekends, you can dive into a world of deliciousness.
As one of the top Marina del Rey restaurants for brunch, it devotes an entire page of its menu to French toast. You can find mouth-watering flavors like s’mores, churro, tiramisu, lemon curd, peach melba, and apple-cinnamon. To round out your brunch adventure, you can order one of the Pasta Scrambles or Royales, which are served with scrambled eggs over brown rice. With salmon, crab cake, and French toast, this restaurant delivers. No matter what you order, you’re sure to be happy with your meal.
2. Have a taste of India in Marina del Rey with Akbar Cuisine of India
Just a little down the road from 26 Beach at 3115 Washington Boulevard, you’ll find Akbar Cuisine of India. With an ever-evolving menu of unique and authentic Indian food, you can continually delight your taste buds with delicious creations from Chef Avinash Kapoor.
Serving both lunch and dinner, you can begin your culinary adventure with starters like the Chicken Kati Roll (roti stuffed with diced chicken, onions, tomatoes, and spices) or the Cheese Naan (bread stuffed with cheddar, parmesan, and cream cheeses).
You can then explore the menu to find dishes that contain veggies, lamb, chicken, or shrimp, depending on your tastes that day. Akbar Cuisine of India also serves many delicious rice-based dishes, including Banarsi Pilao (veggies, nuts, raisins, and Basmati rice) and Akbari Biryani (curried lamb, chicken, and shrimp in rice).
To complement your meal, you can also add a variety of red and white wine, or order the Gulab Jamun, which are milk balls in honey syrup. The dining room is well decorated and creates a charming atmosphere for diners. We can’t think of a better way to end an amazing meal at Akbar Cuisine of India.
3. Experience Baja Cantina, a renowned Mexican eatery in Marina del Rey
For over four decades, Baja Cantina at 311 Washington Boulevard has been serving up enticing Mexican food and drinks in Marina del Rey. The business opened its doors in September 1975 in a space that was once an apartment for men who worked at the nearby oil well. At that time, Baja Cantina was mostly a flower and hobby store, but it officially transformed into a breakfast and lunch spot in the early-1990s. The locals couldn’t be happier with the change.
The menu is organized by lunch and dinner dishes. For lunch, you can find starters, including the Coconut Prawns and Mauro’s Golden Nachos, to get your mouth watering. From there, you can decide whether you want to enjoy a salad or the soups of the house (Sopas De La Casa). If you’d prefer something a little more filling, you can order burgers, sandwiches, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and classic combos like tacos.
When it’s dinnertime, which is any time after 4:00 p.m., you can order small plates and starters. Some favorites include the Taquito Sunrise and the Chile Verde Skillet. Like the lunch offerings, the dinner fare includes Mexican classics like burritos and quesadillas, just in much bigger portions. You can also find dinner items like the Santa Fe Rib-Eye and the Guadalajara Carnitas Fiesta. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. You can find other things to do in Marina del Rey afterwards by taking a walk along the blvd. Takeout is also an option for diners on the go!
4. Get a taste of Italy at C & O Cucina in Marina del Rey
Following the trend of Washington Boulevard restaurants, you’ll find a gem of an Italian restaurant called C & O Cucina at 3016 Washington Boulevard. If you’re looking for huge portions of classic Italian food, you’re in the right place. As one of the top Marina del Rey restaurants, the portion sizes at C & O Cuisine never disappoint, and you’re likely to leave with leftovers for later.
Since 2003, the restaurant has been a cozy destination for delicious food and refreshing drinks. As you eat, you’ll notice that the walls are covered with photos of Italian American immigrants, family members of the owners, and famous Italian Americans. There’s also a separate lounge where you can grab a quick drink or bite to eat.
The C & O Cucina menu is divided into lunch, dinner, and wine. From 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., you can order lunchtime favorites like the addictive Killer Garlic Roll Panini. Some of the most popular options include the Meatball Sandwich, the Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich, and the Chicken Pesto. Each sandwich comes with fresh fruit or French fries. Fresh ingredients are used for the most delectable meal.
For dinner, there’s a wealth of options to fill your stomach and satisfy your taste buds. You can find starters like the Calamari Fritti with the Chef’s Special Marinara Sauce and the Rosemary Chicken Ravioli. For the main course, you can order different types of pasta with various meats, cheeses, and sauces. You’ll have trouble deciding whether you want the Fettuccine Pesto or the Pappardelle Shrimp.
5. Find fresh-fish sushi at Sugarfish in Marina del Rey
At 4722 Admiralty Way in the Waterside Center, you’ll find a popular restaurant that only serves fresh-fish sushi. In a bright and airy atmosphere, you’ll enjoy sushi that has been prepared according to Japanese tradition. Under the direction of the master chef, the restaurant prepares each day’s menu based on what’s most flavorful.
Adding to the deliciousness of the sushi is the fact that this Nozawa-style sushi is made according to several principles to ensure the highest quality and taste. The chef uses the best fish every morning, simplicity and balance accent the flavor and texture, the sushi is never chewy or fishy, and the rice is warm and loosely packed to melt in your mouth.
Sugarfish offers both a lunch and a dinner menu. For ease of ordering, you can order the Trust Me option. This includes several different types of sushi for less than $30. You can try the Tuna Sashimi, Toro Hand Roll, and Yellowtail Sushi, along with several others. There’s also a Trust Me Lite option that’s designed for smaller appetites.
For dinner, you can also order the Trust Me and Trust Me Lite sushi samplers, but they cost a bit more than the lunch servings. Additionally, you can order a la carte or limited availability items, like the Pink Lobster and Oysters (sashimi), to put together your dream sushi dinner. To wash down your meal, you can order beer, wine, sake, tea, soft drinks, or water.
Because the sushi chef knows best, Sugarfish reserves the right to decline requests for extra sauces, salts, or rice. They also recommend that you eat all dishes as soon as they arrive and that you don’t dip sauced dishes, except for the sweet shrimp, into soy sauce.
A quick tip for visiting these hot Marina del Rey eateries
As with most popular restaurants, it’s always a good idea to make a reservation before you visit. You don’t want to deal with the disappointment of stopping by during the dinner rush and finding out there won’t be tables available for several hours.
Additionally, with the uncertainty caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many restaurants may have limited hours or only offer delivery and pick-up options. In fact, their hours and options can change at any time. As such, your best bet is to always check the restaurant’s website or social media pages for the most current information before visiting. After a delicious meal, check out the nearby Marina del Rey nightlife scene.
Move to Marina del Rey to enjoy these eateries every day
Looking to let your inner foodie shine but don’t know where to start? If you want amazing french toast for breakfast and sushi for dinner any time of the year, you should consider joining the Marina del Rey community! Find your own private apartment and join the family today.