Shirube is a japanese restaurant in Downtown, Santa Monica.
Editorially verified August 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Shoyu butter corn ribs and the mentaiko udon
Tip: Sit at the bar for the courtside view of the charcoal grill; the mentaiko udon disappears early on weekends.
Address: 424 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Order: The Godmother with the works, hot peppers included
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Din Tai Fung folds its xiao long bao on the third floor of Santa Monica Place, garlicky string beans and spicy wontons with an ocean-view patio queue.
Order: Pork xiao long bao, spicy wontons and garlicky string beans
Tip: Join the waitlist before you shop; the third-floor patio tables catch the ocean air and clear fastest at lunch.
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.
Order: The five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
Tip: No reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
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.
Order: The Trust Me set, finished with the hand roll
Tip: No reservations; go at 11:30 sharp or mid-afternoon to dodge the wait, and default to the Trust Me.
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.
Order: Double cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries
Tip: The mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Order: The Godmother with the works, hot peppers included
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Din Tai Fung folds its xiao long bao on the third floor of Santa Monica Place, garlicky string beans and spicy wontons with an ocean-view patio queue.
Order: Pork xiao long bao, spicy wontons and garlicky string beans
Tip: Join the waitlist before you shop; the third-floor patio tables catch the ocean air and clear fastest at lunch.
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.
Order: The five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
Tip: No reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
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.
Order: The Trust Me set, finished with the hand roll
Tip: No reservations; go at 11:30 sharp or mid-afternoon to dodge the wait, and default to the Trust Me.
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.
Order: Double cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries
Tip: The mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
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.
Order: Jerk chicken plate with fried plantains
Tip: It runs one of the most lenient BYOB policies in town; bring a bottle and eat coconut fried chicken outside.
