Despite this neighborhood’s really small size, there are still tons of great food options around. Discover some of our top picks here.

For some people, Marina del Rey is a magnificent food destination. With the enclave sitting by the water and the number of restaurants in the area, it can certainly be a good place to hit if you’re after a nice dining experience.

Others, however, think that the area is too cheesy with bland dining options. They definitely have a reason to believe so but a number of good eateries found here can change your mind. It’s just a matter of finding the right diner to visit if you’ll ask us.

And since we’re already on this topic, we’re sharing with you some of our favorite dining destinations in the neighborhood.

Best Restaurants in Marina Del Rey

Brennan’s

Location: 4089 Lincoln Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

In a culturally diverse city such as L.A., it can be quite a challenge to be considered unique. But Brennan’s continue to be considered as such over the years, mostly because of its legendary turtle races held every Thursday. Nowadays, though, it’s also becoming a great date spot, thanks to the upgrade it got after changing operators.

With the facelift came more space for various kinds of fun activities that can make a date more exciting and a menu update. They now offer a full bar run by the Simms Restaurant Group, so you can definitely opt to eat there, too.

What to order:

Shrimp Cocktail
Pizza
Fried Chickpeas
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs7Gm59BlMk/

Salt

Location: 13534 Bali Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Most folks visit Salt for its amazing views of the marina but its food is also drawing diners in. Put together, it’s a great place for celebrations or when out-of-towners come to visit.

What a lot of people don’t know about this place, however, is that it offers amazing happy hour deals. It runs from 4 to 6 PM during the weekdays and will let you enjoy very affordable apps and drinks and get the best seats in the house.

What to order:

Maine Lobster Pasta
Fish and Chips
Fried Alaskan Cod Tacos
Fried Chicken Bucket

Morfia’s Ribs And Pies

Location: 4077 Lincoln Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Morfia’s Ribs and Pies is one of those places that are easy to miss since its pretty small and sits in between a bar and a carwash. However, you should still keep your eyes peeled for it, especially if you’re craving for some Texas BBQ because they offer authentic ones. People rave about their juicy sauce-drenched ribs and generous servings.

Unfortunately, the place is small with only 5 tables. You can grab them to go, though, so you can always just enjoy them at home.

What to order:

Texas Brisket
Baklava Cheesecake
Peach Cobbler Pie

Mendocino Farms

Location: 4724 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Mendocino Farms may have other locations around L.A. but their MDR outpost is still worth mentioning for obvious reasons. If you haven’t tried this place yet, you should correct that right away, especially if you love amazing sandwiches.

Just like all the other Mendo’s around the city, their food is fresh, generous, and flavorful. As they’re also very convenient to eat, they’re also perfect for picnics by the marina. Just remember to order online in advance so you can skip the long lines in the store.

What to order:

A Study of Heat
Kurobuta Pork Banh Mi
Chef’s Picks
Secret Menu items

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtFeTx1geAS/?hl=en

C&O Trattoria

Location: 31 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Deemed as an institution in the area, the C&O Trattoria continue to draw in people for its generosity and beautiful location. It sits near the water so it’s a must to grab a table outside and they have enormous servings that are already great for sharing. On top of these, they’ll also give you unlimited Garlic Knots which can already be filling in itself.

Aside from the food, the place itself is always lively. There are nightly sing-a-longs, so if you love to dine in restaurants with boisterous atmospheres, this place would be a great choice for you.

What to order:

Penne Arrabiata
Fettucine Sun-Dried Tomato
Linguini Mare
Shrimp Ravioli

https://www.instagram.com/p/1ObDsoohx_/

Irori Sushi

Location: 4371 Glencoe Ave B4, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

A go-to date spot in MDR, Irori Sushi has this rule that you have to remove your shoes at the door. It can be quite weird because it’s one of those well-loved strip mall sushi places, but since the food is good, taking off your footwear is just a tiny setback.

In exchange, you’ll get to enjoy really fresh fish prepared in many different ways. They have a creative range of sashimis and sushi, so you’re in for a unique dining experience when you visit.

What to order:

Toro Trio
Chef Special Rolls
Urchin
Salmon Blue Crab

Settebello

Location: 13455 Maxella Ave #250, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Settebello might be another casual chain that you can find elsewhere but it doesn’t mean that the one in MDR doesn’t deserve to be appreciated. Besides, they still offer the same amazing pizzas, so there’s really no reason to give it the snub.

The most special thing about this joint is that they have some of the most legit Neapolitan pizzas around. The flour used in their pizza dough and the other ingredients they use are imported from Italy to really achieve their food’s authenticity. This results to a unique mouthfeel for their pies that, when combined with their tasty recipes, can really have you coming back for more.

What to order:

Margherita DOC pie
Settebello
Specials

Cafe del Rey

Location: 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

To be very honest, a lot of people come to Cafe del Rey for its views. It sits right on the marina so you’ll get to watch the yachts parked outside. The place itself is pretty upscale so expect to see corporate types.

The Wednesday bottomless brunch offers a great reason to visit, though. Not only is it reasonably priced but the menu is quite spectacular, too.

What to order:

Kobe Burger
Cured Salmon Toast

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtEng8fBr45/

Tender Greens

Location: 13455 Maxella Ave, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Considered as the pioneers of the build-your-own-salad movement, Tender Greens is now a chain restaurant with new locations around L.A. This isn’t a bad thing, though, especially since this place has seen lines that go around blocks during its early days. The atmosphere now is more relaxed so you can better enjoy your healthy meal in peace.

What to order:

Tuna Nicoise
Endless Summer Bowl
Your own customized plate

John Diep

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Founder, Editor-In-Chief // A native Angeleno. John studied engineering at UCLA; founded Schmoozd, an offline social tech networking event in LA with 30,000 subs; ran a startup accelerator (StartEngine). Worked for several major brands like Toyota, DIRECTV, Hitachi, ICANN, and Raytheon. A mentor at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Entrepreneur School, Dr. David Choi. And advises a dozen local LA startups building amazing tech in various industries; and invested in some. // Let's Connect: john@lastartups.com