What to order at Din Tai Fung Santa Monica

Must order
Pork xiao long bao, spicy wontons and garlicky string beans
Editor tip
Join the waitlist before you shop; the third-floor patio tables catch the ocean air and clear fastest at lunch.
CuisineTaiwanese
Price$$
NeighborhoodDowntown
HoursLunch and dinner daily
Last verified

Book food experiences in Santa Monica

Gourmet Hollywood Walking Food Tour★ 3.2 (2)

Guided tour · 3 hours

Gourmet Hollywood Walking Food Tour

Step into the glamor of old Hollywood as you dine at historic restaurants once graced by silver screen legends. Explore top-rated contemporary fare and diverse immigra...

from$167 Check dates

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Location

Address: 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Also in downtown

KazuNori ★ 4.4

$$ SushiDowntown

KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.

OrderThe five-roll set, toro and blue crab included

TipNo reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.

Sugarfish ★ 4.1

$$ SushiDowntown

Sugarfish serves the Nozawa-school Trust Me on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, warm loose rice and cool fish in a set menu that rarely misses a beat.

OrderThe Trust Me set, finished with the hand roll

TipNo reservations; go at 11:30 sharp or mid-afternoon to dodge the wait, and default to the Trust Me.

HiHo Cheeseburger ★ 4.3

$ BurgersDowntown

HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.

OrderDouble cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries

TipThe mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.

Full downtown food guide →

More casual dining in Santa Monica

KazuNori ★ 4.4

$$ SushiDowntown

KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.

OrderThe five-roll set, toro and blue crab included

TipNo reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.

Sugarfish ★ 4.1

$$ SushiDowntown

Sugarfish serves the Nozawa-school Trust Me on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, warm loose rice and cool fish in a set menu that rarely misses a beat.

OrderThe Trust Me set, finished with the hand roll

TipNo reservations; go at 11:30 sharp or mid-afternoon to dodge the wait, and default to the Trust Me.

HiHo Cheeseburger ★ 4.3

$ BurgersDowntown

HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.

OrderDouble cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries

TipThe mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.

Cha Cha Chicken ★ 4.2

$ CaribbeanOcean Avenue

Cha Cha Chicken has smoked jerk chicken under the palms on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica since 1996, a family-run Caribbean shack steps from the beach.

OrderJerk chicken plate with fried plantains

TipIt runs one of the most lenient BYOB policies in town; bring a bottle and eat coconut fried chicken outside.

Heavy Handed ★ 4.3

$ BurgersMain Street

Heavy Handed smashes short-rib-blend patties on Main Street in Santa Monica, beef tallow fries and Straus soft serve from a pandemic pop-up made good.

OrderDouble smashburger with beef tallow fries

TipDouble smash with American cheese, fries in tallow, soft serve after; the line moves faster than it looks.

Ghisallo ★ 4.4

$$ PizzaOcean Park

Ghisallo blisters Neapolitan-and-New-York-style pies on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, with arancini, radicchio salads and a semi-hidden back patio.

OrderSquash blossom pizza in season, the diavola year-round

TipThe back patio is the seat; squash blossom pizza when it is on, diavola otherwise. Wine list stays well priced.

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