Thread: South Bay Restaurants: Need to know the best of EVERYTHING

My family and I am coming to town and my Dad, who lives in Redondo, always says he knows the latest and greatest places down in the South Bay to grub.

Unfortunately for us he always takes us to the places my step mother likes.

This is utterly PAINFUL for my wife and I because she has the absolute WORST palette on earth. Let's put it this way, she thinks cooking tacos is a gourmet home cooked affair. But I digress.

I know restaurants are always opening and closing so things that I may have liked when I lived there or last visited could be gone. Always good to have input from those that live there on a day to day basis.

So I need to know from my HIGHLY intelligent and informed friends of LGK where is the all the best places to eat in the Redondo/Hermosa/Manhattan/Torrance areas.

The following categories must be covered but I am open to suggestions as well.

- Sit down burgers ( I know In N Out obviosuly) heard about BFD, Buffalo Fire Department in Torrance?

- Mexican (this should be interesting)

- Pizza

- Sushi

- Italian

- Fish/Upscale

- Steak/Upscale

- Subs/Sandwiches

- Dessert (for our little guy and my wife, the sugar heads)

This will be a huge help when my dad says that dreaded question aloud:

"What do you want to do about dinner sweetheart?"

Then I can cut the stepmother off and interject with a MUCH better suggestion!

My family and I thank you!

South Redondo: El Burrito Jr, Riviera Mexican Grill
North Redondo: Rice Things, Broginos,
Hermosa: Big Mikes, Grannys Deli, Underground, Silvios, Brothers Burritos, Beach Hut, Paisanos, Banzai Beach, Ragin Cajun
Torrance: Vinces Spaghetti, Rascals

Extra Credit: Wilmington: Tacos El Gallito (yellow taco truck on pch)

There's worlds more but those are all my personal favorite places.

- Sit down burgers: Buffalo Fire Department Torrance is good as is their wings, Good Stuff in Hermosa and Redondo, Lazy Dog in Torrance (Del Am) or cheesey Johnny Rockets in Torrance (Del Amo) or the Galleria (Redondo)

- Mexican: El Gringo in Hermosa or Redondo, El Burrito Jr in Redondo, La Villa in Gardena, Casa Pulido in Redondo

- Pizza: Rizzos in Torrance, LampPost in Torrance

- Sushi: Rah in Torrance (Del Amo)

- Italian: Bottle Inn (Hermosa), Broginios (Redondo), Scarpelli's (Torrance), Lomeli's (Gardena)

- Fish/Upscale: McCormick and Shmicks (El Segundo), Flemmings (El Segundo)

- Steak/Upscale: Houstons (Manhattan Beach), a little on the lower scale Black Angus(Torrance) and even lower Sizzler (multiple locs)

No Catergoy: Paul Martens in El Segundo has excellent "organically grown cuisine with great appetizers. The Depot in Torrance is also very good and upscale. Their chef is also the chef at BFD.

Hope this helps!

I have to agree with the last response... Lomeli's for Italian is excellent. Small restaurant and dark, but great food. La Villa is awesome for Mexican... the owner John is a great guy. Also good for Italian and pizza in particular is Hank's Pizza one block south of PCH and Hawthorne. Another great place is BJ's Pizza at the Del Amo Mall, and the Jerry's Deli across from it has an excellent selection of desserts. Finally, you can't go wrong with Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach if you are into that!

Italian - Second on Broginos, Mama D's in Manhattan/Hermosa, Fritto Misto in Hermosa

Mexican - Riviera Mexican and Ortega 120 both South Redondo.

Middle Eastern - Zayna's in South Redondo

Steak - The Bullpen South Redondo,

Burgers/Pub Grub - Simmzy's Manhattan (great craft beer selection too) Hudson House (South Redondo) Redondo Beach Brewing (Riviera Village)

Chicken - Poulet du Jour (Hermosa)

Seafood - Rock N' Fish (Manhattan) Kincaids (Redondo pier)

Cajun - Ragin Cajun, New Orleans Cafe (both Hermosa)

Thai - Chaba, Siam I Am (both South Redondo)

German/Continental Europe - Dolce Vita (Riviera Village, RB)

French - Creme de La Crepe (HB and RB)

Hawaiian - Back Home in Lahaina (Manhattan)

So many more.

Thanks for all the great feedback. Food karma has been given.

But reading all this has made me so hungry.........

I have more!

Cuban: Havana Mania (Redondo Beach)

Hawaiian: Kings Hawaiian (Torrance) The Loft (2 Torrance locations)

Breakfast: Martha's Corner (Hermosa), Pollys on the Pier (Redondo) Uncle Bills Pancake House (Manhattan)

Vegetarian: The Spot (Hermosa)

I agree with the Rajun Cajun, husband is friends with the owner. Once or twice a year the owners mom will come down from Louisiana and host a Cajun cooking class!

Originally Posted by Prime

My family and I am coming to town and my Dad, who lives in Redondo, always says he knows the latest and greatest places down in the South Bay to grub.

Unfortunately for us he always takes us to the places my step mother likes.

This is utterly PAINFUL for my wife and I because she has the absolute WORST palette on earth. Let's put it this way, she thinks cooking tacos is a gourmet home cooked affair. But I digress.

I know restaurants are always opening and closing so things that I may have liked when I lived there or last visited could be gone. Always good to have input from those that live there on a day to day basis.

So I need to know from my HIGHLY intelligent and informed friends of LGK where is the all the best places to eat in the Redondo/Hermosa/Manhattan/Torrance areas.

The following categories must be covered but I am open to suggestions as well.

- Sit down burgers ( I know In N Out obviosuly) heard about BFD, Buffalo Fire Department in Torrance?
Tin Roof Bistro in Manhattan Beach
Home

- Mexican (this should be interesting) - The yellow taco truck on PCH. Rosa's la Cabana in Torrance or La Capilla in Torrance

- Pizza Pavich's Brick Oven Pizza for artisan or Bonello's for NY style (neither place is sit-down)

- Sushi - Kanpachi in Gardena

- Italian - Raffaello Ristorante in San Pedro

- Fish/Upscale - Admiral Risty or Kincaids (since you want upscale)

- Steak/Upscale - The Steak House for wagyu beef
THE STEAK HOUSE :: MENU :: Art of Steak Magic of KOBE :: Beef in Japanese Kappo Style :: ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????

- Subs/Sandwiches - Busy Bee Market in San Pedro

- Dessert (for our little guy and my wife, the sugar heads)
Patisserie Chantilly for the freshly baked Choux aux Sésames
Ptisserie Chantilly

This will be a huge help when my dad says that dreaded question aloud:

"What do you want to do about dinner sweetheart?"

Then I can cut the stepmother off and interject with a MUCH better suggestion!

My family and I thank you!

If like Japanese Cuisine, try Musha in Torrance or Izakaya Bincho in RB for small plate meals (Both of these have good amibiance/atmosphere). Hakata Ramen for, uh, ramen. Sanuki no sato in Gardena for Udon..

There is Al Noor in Hawthorne for Pakistani.

Kotosh for Peruvian/Japanese.

Beijing Islamic in Harbor City for Western Chinese cuisine.

Lomita Thai is good too.

Bruddah's in Gardena for Hawaiian

Flossie's in Torrance for fried chicken/Southern/Soul foor.

Originally Posted by mcognac13

I have more!

Cuban: Havana Mania (Redondo Beach)

Got to agree with this. Really good food.

I live in Long Beach, but when my wife and I come down to the South Bay, this is one of the handful of places at which we usually stop.


The others are:

Mexican: Leo's (Lawndale,on Inglewood Ave, south of the 405)

http://www.bing.com/local/Details.aspx?lid=YN77x876976&q=leo's mexican restaurant Lawndale%2c California&qt=yp&tid=c1aa

Excellent, reasonably priced food; been there since 1948.


Peruvian: El Pollo Inka (several locations in the South Bay)

http://www.elpolloinka.com/

This is one of our favorite restaurants anywhere. Give the Lomo Saltado or Vainitas de Pollo a try.


Good Luck!