What to order at Holy Basil

Must order
Bangkok crab fried rice and pad kee mao moo krob
Editor tip
Owners Deau Arpapornnopparat and Joy Yuon plan seven-day service and brunch in 2026; until then dinner books out.
CuisineThai
Price$$
Neighborhoodmid-city
HoursWed-Sun 17:00-21:00
Last verified

Must order: Bangkok crab fried rice and pad kee mao moo krob

Tip: Owners Deau Arpapornnopparat and Joy Yuon plan seven-day service and brunch in 2026; until then dinner books out.

Location

Address: 2828 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90404

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More restaurants in Santa Monica

Cobi's ★ 4.5

Southeast Asian$$$main-streetDinner nightly from 17:00; Sat-Sun brunch service

Cobi's cooks Southeast Asian food in a florid Main Street bungalow in Santa Monica, a Bib Gourmand room of curries, dumplings and wood-grilled plates.

Order: Pork dumplings, nasi goreng and a wok-tossed curry

Tip: The Michelin Bib Gourmand crowd books ahead on Resy; the weekend brunch sitting is the calmer way to get a table.

2104 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Crudo e Nudo ★ 4.6

Seafood$$$main-streetSun-Wed 12:00-21:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-21:30; happy hour daily 15:00-17:00

Crudo e Nudo runs a chalkboard of daily raw fish on Main Street in Santa Monica, chef Brian Bornemann dry-aging ikejime catch from Baja up to Monterey.

Order: Daily crudo flight and the tuna tartare with seeded loaves

Tip: Wine director Simona Topuzovska pours biodynamic small growers; the daily happy hour 15:00-17:00 is the value window.

2724 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405 Book →

Water Grill Santa Monica ★ 4.5

Seafood$$$$ocean-avenueSun-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00

Water Grill Santa Monica works a daily-changing seafood list on Ocean Avenue, live Alaskan king crab tanks, shucked-to-order oysters and wild local fish.

Order: Live spot prawns in season, plus a dozen cold-water oysters

Tip: Ask what came off the boats that day; Santa Barbara spot prawns are charcoal-grilled when the traps are running.

1401 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

The Lobster ★ 4.2

Seafood$$$ocean-avenueMon-Thu 12:00-21:00; Fri 12:00-21:30; Sat-Sun 11:00-21:30

The Lobster has watched the Santa Monica Pier from its Ocean Avenue perch since 1923, grilling Maine and spiny lobster above the beach crowds.

Order: Grilled lobster or the lobster roll with truffle parmesan fries

Tip: Book Resy for a window at golden hour; the lobster roll at the bar is the affordable route.

1602 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Ivy at the Shore ★ 4.1

American$$$$ocean-avenueTue-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri 11:00-21:30; Sat 10:00-21:30; Sun 10:00-21:00; closed Mon

Ivy at the Shore keeps its bougainvillea-draped pink facade on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, an American menu served on the same florid patio since 1985.

Order: Crab cakes and the fried chicken, plus a gimlet on the patio

Tip: Brunch runs to 13:00 weekdays and 14:00 weekends; the patio people-watching is the real product.

1535 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401

1 Pico ★ 4.3

Californian$$$$ocean-avenueDinner nightly; weekend brunch

1 Pico is the oceanfront dining room at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, coastal Californian cooking with Southern Italian leanings above the sand.

Order: Whatever the seasonal coastal tasting plates are, with a Route 66 centennial cocktail

Tip: Ask for a window table at sunset; the Coast cafe downstairs covers the casual all-day beach service instead.

1 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405

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